Frying Pan Construction.

Bob Russell · Post by **Bob Russell** » 19 Dec 2011 9:40 pm

Holy cow, Benjamin - that thing is fantastic! Congrats!!

Mike Anderson · Post by **Mike Anderson** » 20 Dec 2011 8:12 am

It's Frypan Fever! Sheer beauty...is that a Lollar horseshoe?

Benjamin Franz · Post by **Benjamin Franz** » 20 Dec 2011 7:02 pm

No, Ross made the pick-up as well.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 21 Dec 2011 7:13 pm

Some nice slow Hawaiian music would really show off the tone....

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 22 Dec 2011 3:51 am

Benjamin, with so much attention to detail in your guitar, am I right in assuming the maker Ross Coole is also a steel player? Also, when you say you tried one of his other frying pans, how many has he built?

Benjamin Franz · Post by **Benjamin Franz** » 22 Dec 2011 4:26 am

Hi David,

I don't think Ross is really a steel player per se. I think he is just really into frypans because, as he recounted to me, he walked into a bar when he was a young man and saw a guy playing one and it stuck with him ever since. (This is the only time I've heard of an original frypan in Australia). He also recounts going to the patent office in DC not too long after on a trip to the States and after enquiring about the general area where he might find the patent for the frypan, he went to a drawer, opened it and the first thing he pulled out was the patent for the frypan!
Ross has built I think three or four solid body frypans of six and eight string variety and different scale lengths, but this is the first hollow neck, and it took him quite a number of attempts and research to get the hollow body cast, but now that he has done mine, he is extremely confident in the process.

And when I can, I'll try and record some Hawaiian type stuff for those that have asked, but I apologize in advance as I'm no Hawaiian master!

Benjamin Franz · Post by **Benjamin Franz** » 22 Dec 2011 4:28 am

I should also add that Ross makes very fine acoustic guitars, ukuleles, and dobros!

Mike Anderson · Post by **Mike Anderson** » 22 Dec 2011 8:54 am

Benjamin, does Ross take international orders, or does he keep his luthiery strictly local? Because I think it's a safe bet this post could generate new business for him.

Sorry for so many questions...

aloha,
Mike.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 22 Dec 2011 9:43 am

10 string frypan, anyone?!

Benjamin Franz · Post by **Benjamin Franz** » 22 Dec 2011 3:08 pm

Mike, you should email Ross and ask. I can't imagine why he wouldn't do international orders. I'm hoping this post will generate some orders for him!

Mike Anderson · Post by **Mike Anderson** » 22 Dec 2011 8:25 pm

Please see your PMs Benjamin.

And just quickly wanted to say that it's a joy to see Lucky Oceans playing. I am just getting to know his work with AATW and as a solo artist, and your videos show he has lost NO ground as a result of his illness! What a super player.

Benjamin Franz · Post by **Benjamin Franz** » 22 Dec 2011 9:37 pm

Too right Mike! I used to go watch Lucky play when I was a teenager, long before I ever had thoughts of playing steel guitar, and was fortunate enough to play bass in a band with him for seven years or so, still before I ever dreamed of playing steel. I guess hundreds of gigs standing over his right shoulder must have put the idea in my mind and hopefully some of his technique rubbed off.
Fortunate thing for me that he moved out to Western Australia in 1984!

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 23 Dec 2011 10:12 am

WOW! I'm very impressed!

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 28 Dec 2011 3:47 pm

lovely! It's great to see this kind of work to keep these guitars alive. I met a guy who knew a guy that used to work for Rickenbacker - he told me they still have enough 'old stock' parts to make about 80 'new' model A's. Why don't they?

Then again - a guy who knew a guy is as solid a source as an urban legend

Benjamin Franz · Post by **Benjamin Franz** » 28 Dec 2011 5:10 pm

Ross Coole's email contact is rosscoole@hotmail.com. If anyone is interested in one of these, I encourage you to get in contact with him!

Benjamin Franz · Post by **Benjamin Franz** » 28 Dec 2011 5:12 pm

And Chris, I guess with your Christmas find you won't be needing a new one!

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 28 Dec 2011 6:27 pm

Thanx for the contact info, just sent an inquiry.

Matthew Dawson · Post by **Matthew Dawson** » 29 Dec 2011 7:27 am

Amazing!

Matthew Dawson · Post by **Matthew Dawson** » 29 Dec 2011 7:27 am

Amazing!

Matthew Dawson · Post by **Matthew Dawson** » 29 Dec 2011 7:28 am

Amazing!

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 2 Jan 2012 8:17 pm

Being the first real "electric" guitar produced, it still lives on, and still loved for it's tone.

Former Member · Post by **Former Member** » 3 Mar 2012 10:14 pm

So, here's some pics of my nearly finished 8 string lefty frypan....

Ross wanted to pass on that he also has a SOLID frypan long scale, that is un-drilled, and ready for electronics that he'll let go for 2K..

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 3 Mar 2012 11:26 pm

I never did get a reply from him, and have spent the $$ for one of these beauts on other well deserved guitars. Guess it's time to start saving again.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 6 Mar 2012 2:16 pm

I got a reply from Ross yesterday, maybe this thread being bumped helped that, and certainly got me spurred again towards a potential order. He's willing to entertain the aspect of a 10 stringer, something he says will be a new venture, and might become the only 10 pan in existance, until someone else jumps into the fire, or beats me to it. It'll be some time before I'm ready to commit, but before xmas is the goal. Yet I'd be almost as stoked to grab the mentioned 8 long body that's available and accomodate one of the horseshoes I've got awaiting such a venture. What a great time to love guitars!

Mike Anderson · Post by **Mike Anderson** » 7 Mar 2012 9:15 am

Ron Whitfield wrote:What a great time to love guitars!

What you said Ron. Lately the GAS has reached an all-time fever pitch with me - in inverse proportion to the amount of available guitar cash as luck would have it. Been lusting after the Hallmark Deke Dickerson and the rare-as-rocking-horse-road-apples Bigsby BY-50 reissue as well as various steels.

It's frustrating but very, very motivating.