She's A Beauty ... 8 String Walnut / Tiger Teardrop

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

Moderator: Brad Bechtel

Post Reply
User avatar
Tom Pettingill
Posts: 2246
Joined: 23 Apr 2007 11:10 am
Location: California, USA (deceased)

She's A Beauty ... 8 String Walnut / Tiger Teardrop

Post by Tom Pettingill »

Just got this one finished up for fellow forum member Ronald Smith, she is a beauty with a sweet seductive voice.
The walnut is some beautiful quarter sawn Pennsylvanian stock that was cut and milled some 30 years ago.
I was lucky to get enough for this one and a 6 stringer thats in finish right now

Some basic specs

25" scale, 3/8" string spacing
walnut and tiger maple
figured walnut bridge and control covers
Grover tuners
carved headstock volute
pickup is a custom made 3/8 spaced humbucker from Pete Biltoft of Vintage Vibe
fret markers are .032 aluminum and aluminum bezel surounds for the paua abalone
bone nut
hand rubbed Tru Oil finish

And some pics


.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Top
User avatar
Rick Barnhart
Posts: 3046
Joined: 23 May 2008 2:21 pm
Location: Arizona, USA

Post by Rick Barnhart »

Oh my, Ronald you're gonna LOVE that guitar. Tom built a gorgeous 6 string teardrop for me and it's looks and tone are outta this world. You made a wise choice in builders!
Clinesmith consoles D-8/6 5 pedal, D-8 3 pedal & A25 Frypan, Pettingill Teardrop, & P8 Deluxe.
Top
User avatar
Ronald Smith
Posts: 605
Joined: 29 Sep 2008 7:59 am
Location: LA (Lower Alabama), USA

Shes a Beauty

Post by Ronald Smith »

Rick,

I don't know what to say except, WOW!!! That is a good looking gal to me. I just hope I can get some good music out of her. If I were a musician that might happen. Since I'm not, you can bet I'll have a ball trying.

Thanks to you Rick and to you Tom, I'll take good care of her.

God bless all,

Ron
Top
User avatar
David Soreff
Posts: 230
Joined: 4 Feb 2009 11:04 am
Location: North Las Vegas, NV
Contact:
Contact David Soreff

Post by David Soreff »

C'mon Tom,
How are you gonna go and do that to me?!?! Just when I decided that the last steel I saw was the one I wanted, you go and do this to me. I just can't buy 2 of them....or can I? (My wife would just love that)

Dave
Top
User avatar
Tom Pettingill
Posts: 2246
Joined: 23 Apr 2007 11:10 am
Location: California, USA (deceased)

Post by Tom Pettingill »

Thanks guys :)

Rick ... glad you are enjoying your steel, its a wonderful guitar with a great voice, those True Tones never disappoint.

Ron ... can't wait for you to start having some fun with her, after all, fun is first and foremost what its all about.

David ... you need one for yourself and one for your wife :)
To add to the choices, I've got a couple new and very cool styles just starting the build cycle.
Top
User avatar
Chuck Huffman
Posts: 321
Joined: 12 Mar 2009 3:41 pm
Location: Sonora, California, Now Living in Siloam Springs, Ar. USA

Post by Chuck Huffman »

Wow!!!!! What a beauty, Ron that's not fair, but you deserve it.

Your pal, Chuck
ZumSteel SD-10 5-8, GFI Ultra SD-10 3+4, Goodrich V/P, Boss DD3, FenderFM, Vegas 400. Learning to play for my Savior, Jesus......
Top
Stephen Abruzzo
Posts: 1183
Joined: 20 Jan 2009 5:34 pm
Location: Philly, PA

Walnut Teardrop

Post by Stephen Abruzzo »

Tom or Ron.....so what tuning do you have her strung to? Sweet git! :D
Top
User avatar
Ronald Smith
Posts: 605
Joined: 29 Sep 2008 7:59 am
Location: LA (Lower Alabama), USA

Tuning

Post by Ronald Smith »

Stephen,

I'm not sure what we came up with to start with. It will be used with a C6 or with an E9 most likely. Prob. C6 will be the main one since I have played around with that tuning and it has become more useful for most of what I like. I have never until recently tried to play C6, so I guess we'll just kinda wait and see!?

Tom can tell us what he has it strung with. He told me but I forgot, ole buzzard can forget, can't he?

Thanks and God bless all,

Ron
Top
Grant Cuthbert
Posts: 17
Joined: 17 May 2009 8:49 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by Grant Cuthbert »

that is one very unique guitar! congrats ronald!
Top
User avatar
Tom Pettingill
Posts: 2246
Joined: 23 Apr 2007 11:10 am
Location: California, USA (deceased)

Post by Tom Pettingill »

Thanks again all :)
Ron that's not fair, but you deserve it.
It was my pleasure to build a steel for Ron, he is a great guy!

Steve, its strung in a C6 with some Scottys semi flats.
Top
User avatar
Mark Roeder
Posts: 895
Joined: 25 Sep 2007 11:22 am
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Post by Mark Roeder »

Another beautiful guitar Tom. What is your finish?
Top
User avatar
Doug Freeman
Posts: 351
Joined: 30 Oct 1999 12:01 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Post by Doug Freeman »

Each one more refined and beautiful than the last, it would seem. Great work, Tom. Like the looks of that pickup. How would you characterize the difference in response and tone between it and the Wallace 8-string pickup you've used a lot in the past?
Top
User avatar
Roger Palmer
Posts: 190
Joined: 12 Nov 2008 3:54 pm
Location: Rossendale, UK

Post by Roger Palmer »

really nice work tom....again :D
Top
User avatar
Tom Pettingill
Posts: 2246
Joined: 23 Apr 2007 11:10 am
Location: California, USA (deceased)

Post by Tom Pettingill »

Thanks Mark, Doug, and Roger :)

Mark .. the finish is Tru Oil, its been around forever and is primarily marketed as a gun stock finish.

Doug .. the pickup shares a lot of similarity with the True Tone as they both use individual rod magnets in their construction.
Though, when I first fired it up it reminded me very much of the Lollar Console Grand 8's I've used, or what I would imagine an HB version of that pickup would sound like.
Top
Gregg McKenna
Posts: 424
Joined: 20 Apr 2002 12:01 am
Location: South Windsor, Connecticut, USA
Contact:
Contact Gregg McKenna

Post by Gregg McKenna »

Very nice, keep up the good work.
Top
Roy McKinney
Posts: 1169
Joined: 14 Oct 1999 12:01 am
Location: Ontario, OR

Post by Roy McKinney »

Ron, I know what you intend to do with this ax down the river. But in the meantime you could just ship it out here to me to get it broke in. It would fit in real nice with the forest here and not look out of place.
TC Friend, Roy
Top
User avatar
Ronald Smith
Posts: 605
Joined: 29 Sep 2008 7:59 am
Location: LA (Lower Alabama), USA

The Beauty

Post by Ronald Smith »

Fellows and Gals,

The Beauty came in today and WOW!!! She even looks better than the pictures. Tom really did his thing with her. Now I have heard is said many times on this forum, "Tone To The Bone", well this lady has tone to spare. That pickup is just what I wanted. I tried it with one of Keith Hiltons digital sustain boxes and boy what control can be exicuted with the box and the tone control of the Lady. Now, I just need to be able to play it as it should be played. Gonna have a ball trying for sure.

Thanks to all for your comments and wishes, I shall give her a good home.

Thanks again all and may God richly bless all of you,

Ronald Smith
Top
User avatar
Tommy Gibbons
Posts: 447
Joined: 2 Jan 2009 2:23 pm

The NAME---

Post by Tommy Gibbons »

Come on Ronald, tell everybody...What's the guitar's name?

This is art at another level...

Tommy
Mullen SD-10 RP, Evans SE-200, Line 6 POD XT, Peterson Flip Tuner, Geo. L Cable, Hilton Pedal, and D2F Covers for all.
Top
User avatar
Ronald Smith
Posts: 605
Joined: 29 Sep 2008 7:59 am
Location: LA (Lower Alabama), USA

Beauty

Post by Ronald Smith »

Ok all, her name is Miss "Maple Nut" it kinda matches her style.

Thanks all,

Ron
Top
User avatar
Dwight Lewis
Posts: 2438
Joined: 20 Jun 2008 6:07 pm
Location: Huntsville, Alabama

Another " WOW"

Post by Dwight Lewis »

WOW, that guitar is surely a piece of mastery. Excellent work, and attention to detail. Ron, GOD is GOOD isn't HE.

DWight
Dekley (PRS-10C), BMI S12
Top
User avatar
Tom Pettingill
Posts: 2246
Joined: 23 Apr 2007 11:10 am
Location: California, USA (deceased)

Post by Tom Pettingill »

Thanks again all :)

And Ron, like I said before, it was my pleasure to build her for you.
A lot of love goes into each instrument I build and I am very happy she has a great home where she will be loved and enjoyed for years to come!
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Steel Without Pedals”