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Topic: Questions About Derby Guitars |
Billy Henderson
From:
Portland, AR, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2009 6:33 pm |
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I have a few questions about the Derbys if you don't mind.
Is Derby still in busines?
All the Derbys I have seen pictures of they have E 66 pickups, so how does the Derby sound?
Is the Derby as good as an Emmons or a Mullen? Your opinion of course
Thanks in advance |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 13 Dec 2009 6:46 pm
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Ron Elliot sounds really good on his Derby, Standard E66,and other pickups available as per their website.
http://www.steeljj.com/derby/
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2009 7:29 pm
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Billy, I played a Derby for a while. They are simular to an Emmons but have a sound of their own. I always wondered what one would sound like with a 705 on it. If it wasn't for the love of my Rittenberry I would probably still have mine.
As for as I know they are still in Business.
Try 502-957-1059 to find out.
BD
_________________
Custom Rittenberry SD10
Boss Katana 100 Amp
Positive Grid Spark amp
BJS Bars
Z~Legend Pro,Custom Tele
Honor our Vet's.
Now pass the gravy. |
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Dick Sexton
From:
Greenville, Ohio
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Ray McCarthy
From:
New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2009 11:55 am
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Charlie Stepp, the builder of Derby guitars has passed on, and I don't know if they're still being made, but they're terrific guitars. Many of the big guys use or have used them, including Buddy Emmons, Terry Crisp and Tommy White. It's my understanding that Charlie Stepp had been a salesman for Emmons Guitars before he began making the Derbys.
I have an SD-10 that I got used from Billy Cooper's, I put a TruTone in it and it plays and sounds great, stays in tune--a real quality machine. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 14 Dec 2009 1:18 pm
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I acquired a Derby SD-10 a year or so back and was stunned at how good a guitar it was. I liked it so much I started wondering about getting a D-10 to replace it, but inexplicably found myself trading the Derby for a Mullen RP SD-12.... 
Don't get me wrong - I went into it with my eyes wide open, and the Mullen is excellent, and I hope will satisfy my curiosity for once and for all about Ext E9th 12-string steel.
More and more, though, I'm pondering another Derby. I have two Emmons LeGrandes that will remain my 'go to' guitars, but I see the same build-quality in Charlie's wonderful steels, and the fit and finish may be a touch better.
There's a beauty right now on 'Instruments For Sale' (the dark red one), but it needs at least one, maybe two more 'knees' for me. Money's tight, too, but I WILL have another Derby one day.
Great guitars!
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Joe Harwell
From:
"I've never been bad." ........ Many, LA
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Posted 14 Dec 2009 9:51 pm
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I don't think there's a better built guitar.
Good as Emmons or Mullen.
But has it's own unique sound.
I've got an E66. Bought several others
to play around with but never have
tried them yet.
Always a joy to sit down to it as is.
No regrets.
_________________
Joe in LA
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak & the strong; because, someday in life you will have been all of these". |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 15 Dec 2009 1:26 am
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The best way to find out if there are new Derby's being made would be to call Margit Stepp.
I was planning on adding a few new pulls to mine so
I need to get a few parts. I will try to call her today and post my findings here.
The Derby is a very good steel. |
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B.Jenkins
From:
Parkersburg, WV...U.S.A
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Posted 15 Dec 2009 8:13 am Derby
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After I got my Derby SD-10, I called Charlie's wife,
and she said that she had 3 D-10 left, that Charlie built, and when there gone there won't be anymore Originial Derby's.
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Ray McCarthy
From:
New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 15 Dec 2009 10:23 am
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| If you check out the patent info on Dick Sexton's post you'll find out about some interesting things Charlie Stepp did in the design of his changer to enhance the tone of the guitar. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 15 Dec 2009 12:21 pm
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| ray..i saw the patent but it looked a little tedious. could you share some ideas of what the differences were? |
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Ray McCarthy
From:
New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 15 Dec 2009 2:52 pm
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Chris, under "Summary of the invention" in section 1, It refers to a "large V-shaped notch is placed in the body of one of the lever members and this enhances the pure tonal qualities of the vibrational characteristics of the string". (Don't ask me how)
And in section 5 it makes reference to spacers that keep all the parts of the mechanism from contacting one another--which would dampen the tone.
Whether or not this all actually worked or not is probably--like everything else in the PSG world--a matter of opinion. One thing's for sure, Charlie Stepp had TONE in mind when he designed these guitars!
Derby SD-10 (#316), TruTone, NV-112 |
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Dick Sexton
From:
Greenville, Ohio
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Posted 15 Dec 2009 4:30 pm
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| Ray, I find this stuff very interesting. How steel makers have approached the "Chase For Tone" differently, maybe. The Derby changer always has its un-raised(un-pulled raise or lower changer segments) in contact with the "Stop Member", no. 129 on the patent sheet. With a slight stretch of the imagination, this might be defined as body contact. A phrase coined as, BCT by one manufacturer. However, checking my own Derby, I find that the stop member referred to as 129, is actually the "End Plate" and not steel the body. Hummmm. Interesting... not a lot different then my Marlen, except the contact occures much closer to the changer shaft on the Derby. The vibration isolating washers are another thing altogether. Ole Charlie was one smart fella, I think... Filed for the patent in 1990. Hummmm. |
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Dennis Wallis
From:
Arkansas
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Posted 15 Dec 2009 8:42 pm
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| I have Derby SD-10 built in Jan of this year . Obviously one of the last ones made . It is one fantastic guitar . Everyone says it sounds great .It plays great too . One of the best guitars I've ever been behind . I have other guitars and this one is as good as anyh of them maybe better in some ways . You can't go wrong with a Derby Steel . *** |
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Philip Sterk
From:
Nashville, TN
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Posted 19 Dec 2009 8:49 am
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I bought my D-10 new, a month or so after Charlie had passed. I tried a lot of different guitars but when it came down to it, the Derby was my choice.
It's a solid machine, that feels as good as or better than an Emmons to sit behind. The phrase "they don't make them like they used to..." comes to mind, except Charlie did...and he made it with all the neccessities of a modern steel guitar.
With that said, the ONLY thing I would change (and will when time/money allows) are the E-66 pick-ups. They are just a littlte too thin on the top end for my tastes. But, electronics are electronics. The guitar construction speaks for itself. |
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Dennis Wallis
From:
Arkansas
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Posted 19 Dec 2009 10:52 am
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| Phillip, try adjusting the mid range . That seems to be the key to getting a good tone on these guitars . I had to fiddle with it quite a bit until I found the sweet spot . But it sounds great after that is accomplished . The E-66 pickups are very good . I use them on all my guitars except my old Sho Bud which I'm keeping all original . I do use one in the latest model LDG and it sounds great in it also . |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 19 Dec 2009 11:22 am
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Interesting. When I first got my Derby (fitted with E-66s) I was delighted with its sound just noodling here in the house.
John Widgren (a staunch Derby proponent), however, suggested that I might like it better with a stock Emmons s/c pick-up. As I was enjoying it 'as it was', I did nothing about his recommendation but, once I started taking it out on jobs, I found it lacking in warmth, and couldn't wait to get back playing one of my Emmons LeGrandes.
Strange - it sounded great in my music-room, but I was constantly fiddling with my amp when I was on a gig.
Well, my Derby's gone now, but, when I get another, I'm going to try Emmons pick-ups - with the Derby's outstanding build-quality and action, it'd be just perfect, I bet!
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Gary Preston
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2009 1:10 pm
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| I think the Derby was somewhat designed after the Emmons .Charlie worked there for a long time i hear . I dont think i have ever heard one that didn't sound great . Would be great if someone could take over where Charlie left off . The first time i ever saw a Derby was at the Kentucky Steel Show .They sure looked well built to me . We need the competition in the steel guitar industry i think . |
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Philip Sterk
From:
Nashville, TN
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Posted 19 Dec 2009 1:18 pm
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Dennis,
Thanks for the good words. I'm always trying new things out.
Roger,
You hit the nail on the head. Live, big venues and small... I find I have to do a lot of "knob twisting" regardless of what amp I use, 112 or Fender bandmaster, etc...every stage is different. E-66's are good electronics. I DO like them for recording. They get a really "smooth" tone.
I just think there is a better pickup out there for what I do to be myself and speak my own voice on the steel guitar. I'm not a "tone chaser". I believe that you make the best with what you got, and when you can experiment, you shoot for better. Some effects sound great with the E-66, especially a fuzz as compared to an overdrive, when it's time to do that thing. Otherwise, for your standard "steel guitar" tone, I like to use a boost pedal to add a little sparkle. E-66 is a humbucker. It's going take away some of that "something" that a single coil will always bring (besides the hum). Electricity in venues are all over the place with that nasty 60 cycle hum, especially in NYC. So, I definately need and admire a good humbucking pickup.
I also have an old Sho-bud that I used to play a lot. I had Jerry Wallace do a rewind on the original single coil with a coil tap that had a tone that could make all the honky tonk angels cry, but in most venues, if your playing something delicate, the hum is down right embarassing.
Eventually, I'm going to try some Bob Hoffnar's Tonealigner pickups when I can. Also like to try some original 705s when I can.
As far as my Derby is concerned, I wish I had another one. |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 19 Dec 2009 1:35 pm
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| As far as my Derby is concerned, I wish I had another one. |
Ditto |
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Glyndon Woosley
From:
LaGrange, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 8 Jan 2010 9:43 am
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I own one of the first ones (at least that's what I understand the number stamped on the plate indicates 003), and I think it's as good as any I've played. I wish I could have talked more with Charlie and got some "history" concerning it.
_________________
Sierra Session D10, Rickenbacker, Fender, Session 400, Classic 30, Harke |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Jan 2010 11:13 am
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I, as well as Ron Elliott; prefer the Geo. L. 10–1 P/U in our Derby PSG's! Better Low & Upper-Mid Range response to combine with the Highs!
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<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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