The Steel Guitar Forum

Carrie, I'm glad that you are getting better and relapses only remind us of the love that your granddaddy shared with us. He has made a lasting impression on me in the short time that I knew him. Even though he constantly told me that he liked me but he liked my wife better.javascript:emoticon(':)')...

Christmas 2008 I met Buddy for the first time when he and Carrie took time out from their family to make my best Chritmas's ever. He and my wife secretly had made a deal to allow me to get my first steel guitar, which was a dream I had for a long time. He began to give free lessons with the purchase...

Bill,

Now thats what I call talent!!!!

dh

Hello AJ

It wasn't a hard hit at all. I was carrying my guitar to a jam (completely assembled). When I was taking it out of the back seat of my pickup, the wind blew the door into the leg that did not have pedals forcing it outward. I was sick over it.

Darrell Hodges

Thanks Bill,

I'm just glad to be back making noise again.

Darrell Hodges

Hello again forumites, Sorry I haven't replied...I've been busy getting caught up on the practicing that I missed while my horn was broken. Here is a couple of pics for anyone that is interested. Notice the penny in the hole where the switch once was. Now my guitar may not be worth two cents but I d...

Hey Bill, I just viewed your site and was wondering how to determine what the best size bar is for me? I am a new player (10 months) using the bar that was given to me by the previous owner. It is an Earnie Ball but it seems small in my fat hands.(':lol:') Also will you be at the Texas Steel Jambore...

Tony, The best bet is to very carefully pry the mica off and have a cabinet shop cut new formica using your pattern. They have a machine that will cut smoothly. Follow the directions on a can of contact adhesive. Veneer blind louvers are great for getting it in place before sticking it down. Usually...

The coating sounds more comfortable but if you get in a bind I have used hairspray and it works great. Just dip your fingers in it an slip them on a few minutes before playing. Happy twanging psg'rs.

Darrell Hodges

Welcome to the forum Zach. Im a beginner also (Started playing last December). Get a good instructor and supplement with books, tapes, and software if possible. Another great help to me was Mickey Adams on Youtube. When my instructor was under the weather I watched his beginner steel videos, stoppin...

NEW UPDATE, I'm back in the saddle again!! I had the end piece welded yesterday and he also built up behind the plate for extra support. I had it pinted and reassembled last night and restrung by midnight. I found some texture paint at Lowe's that matched perfectly. I even baked it on in the oven. I...

Hey Don, Another thing to consider is the cabinet drop when you have to press harder on the pedals because of spring tension. This all causes the tone to go lower especially the pedals in the middle. I'm with you, there is a problem if the tone does not come true when you release with normal spring ...

Thanks Bill, I have finally after much prep work, removed the end piece myself. I didn't have to derod or anything. As far as the finish I believe I can come up with that fairly easily. I was in the furniture refinishing business for several years. The wrinkle may be a bit of a challenge but as long...

UPDATE!!!! As I began to disassemble the guitar, I realized that the top is not connected by screws only the sides. I was able to pry back the mica enough to get to the four side screws and noticed that the plate moved. I didn't even have to derod or anything. Just removed the 22 screws that held th...

Hey Tony, You may not believe this but I have just charted out the rods and their positions using string locations 1-10 and holes abc for raises and cd for lowers. I just may be on the right track for a change. The changer pillow block or "stops" as I was calling them are mounted to the en...

I have already spoke with Gene and he says that my guitar is unrepairable. He says that the frames have changed over the years and this one is obsolete. I really don't understand why I should scrap the whole thing. Its just a crack in the end plate. That's why I am attempting this feat. Thanks Darrell

I have to completely disassemble my GFI with a broken end piece to have it repaired. Is there anything I need to watch out for? I plan to make photos and mark each piece as I remove it noting the position and connection. Any advice here will help! Thanks, Darrell Hodges http://bb.steelguitarforum.co...

Well...thanks from all of you who commented on my problem. I just spoke with Gene and he says that my guitar is not repairable. I am unsure what I will do now but I haven't given up. I will most likely go the weld/solder route.

Thanks Again
Darrell

Thanks for the comment Jim. I actually broke the end piece when the wind caught the back door of my pickup and blew it into the leg forcing it outward.
I just hope and pray that Gene can get me a new one so I do not have to worry about the weld/sordering rod.

Darrell

Thanks John, I do have a message with pics in to Gene and I have given him a call too. I am now waiting for his reply to see if he can find an older model end piece. The design has changed a few time over the years.

Darrell

Hey John, in the picture it does look like a void but it is merely the paint that buckled in the crack. The area that the leg screws into is distorted below the crack as it is not flush to the side rails like the other side. I can pull it back into place by using a clamp without the leg in place. Th...

Thanks for all your comments. The lower neck opening I really believe is factory because the paint matches. The finish is a black wrinkle paint with a fine grain wrinkle. By what I have read on Gene Fiends reports the aluminum frame is made of 6064 T-6. I am very interested with the new kind of weld...

Hey Mickey, I too would like to hear the outcomes of this study. Are you going to include a GFI in your studies? I am a newbe player...started playing a GFI in December and some day I would like to upgrade if necessary. By the way you have been a great inspiration on You Tube with all your insrtucti...

Hey Stan, There is a man in Dallas that gives free instruction on you tube by the name of Mickey Adams. He cannot give you the emotion but he gets close to the licks that JH played in "Look At Us". see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR33BSyw4AY&feature=related. I have learned so much f...

I have a broken end piece on my 70's model GFI steel guitar. This piece is made of aluminum and is the end that the levers and springs attach to. It is cracked just above the leg where the screw holds it together. Any suggestions how to fix this or find a new end piece would be most appreciated. htt...