messages from Ron Lashley Jr to the steel guitar community.

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 28 May 2002 1:39 pm

EMMONS: THE STANDARD TO WHICH ALL OTHERS ARE JUDGED!

Frank Estes · Post by **Frank Estes** » 28 May 2002 2:33 pm

Right on, Reggie!

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Frank Estes - 1978 Emmons D-10 8+6 #2441D

B.Jenkins · Post by **B.Jenkins** » 28 May 2002 2:52 pm

Huh????? what others???

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 28 May 2002 5:05 pm

Jimbeaux,
I think it represents something around 20% of the market share, counting both Extended E9 and full universal guitars. My point and, I believe my friend Al's, is that most other mfgrs continue to make 12's without losing money to the point of ceasing production.

I know Bruce Z has made 'em for near 25 yrs that I'm aware of, and Bud Carter much longer than that. Sierra, Mullen, Fessenden, and most other major brands make 12's. Only exceptions I'm aware of are JCH (to my knowledge) and Emmons.
It has disappointed me much of my playing career that, even though Emmons has always had a sound I was after, they didn't make a guitar that met my needs -- a 12 string. I finally ended up with a push-pull that certainly has the sound, but the mechanics don't lend themselves well to the complexity of the required changes.

Just my take on it. I don't think mfging 12 strings has caused any economic duress on any major pedal steel manufacturers. One can only speculate why Emmons never built an all-pull 12 string.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 28 May 2002 5:47 pm

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Larry. I thought Al was saying that U-12's were gonna be the wave of the future.

Jimmie Misenheimer · Post by **Jimmie Misenheimer** » 28 May 2002 6:19 pm

Larry, They (Emmons) did. Mike Clark in Indianapolis has one. I've worked on it a time or two... Jimmie

Jimmie Misenheimer · Post by **Jimmie Misenheimer** » 28 May 2002 6:24 pm

Larry, I'm sorry - I misread your response. I thought you said they didn't build a p/p 12 string. Too damn much heat today... Jimmie

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 28 May 2002 8:47 pm

I love those Emmons guitars. I have 3 now and am looking for #4. Nick

My Website:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/bna/a/m/am1070/page12.html

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 28 May 2002 9:11 pm

I hope they bury #1554-D with me though, I'd hate to have to do without it, even then, we've been together for 30 years. Might as well spend eternity together. Ruined my whole life, sure had fun though. Sure glad it can't talk. Emmons guitars? There are no others, really. Mike Weirach, just put it where I can reach the knee levers. [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 30 May 2002 at 06:52 AM.]

Michael Dene · Post by **Michael Dene** » 29 May 2002 8:38 pm

Richard
Thanks for your post and to Ron Lashley for asking you to post it. I ordered a new Emmons D10 through our local antipodean agent 2 months ago and am excitedly counting down the days 'till it arrives. Nah..that's not true....Im counting the seconds!!!
Feels like being 5y.old and counting the sleeps 'till Christmas.
Everything I've read here confirms my original decision to buy a LeGrande II, although I hope the waiting time isn't TOO long.

Michael
'75 Fender Sho-Bud S10

Richard Plummer · Post by **Richard Plummer** » 30 May 2002 2:49 pm

Wanted to let everyone know that my friend Tony Orth sent me an email,that his new Emmons arrived at the dealership today.He will go and pick it up on Saturday.He has a big gig and he wants to play his old steel till then and since he is comfy with it,till he has time to sit down with the new guitar.He said the dealer claims it is everything he could have hoped for.
I know he will love the guitar.There is now doubt. Richard

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 30 May 2002 4:26 pm

Mike Weirach, just put it where I can reach the knee levers.

......Where the sun doesn't shine?

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 30 May 2002 4:30 pm

U-12 ROCK

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http://hometown.aol.com/damirzanne/damirzanne1.html

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 31 May 2002 6:09 am

Mike Weirach, just put it where I can reach the knee levers

He only needs to reach TWO of them, however -- sunshine

or no sunshine.

U-12 ROCK

Yes, Damir, I've been trying to tell people that for almost 30 years.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 31 May 2002 at 07:13 AM.]

Tony Orth · Post by **Tony Orth** » 31 May 2002 7:23 am

Richard,
Thanks for gettin' the word out.

Yes, it is all that I expected.
Such a beautiful sight. I did drop by the dealer's yesterday afternoon just to stare at it. Okay......so I played it for a few minutes and I've decided to go ahead and pick it up this afternoon for tonight's gig.
Call me fickle but I'm dehydrated from all the drooling. It's time to play.

For those of you who are curious, it's black, high gloss mica, SD10, LeGrande II with 3&5. I chose the 108 humbucker pickup.

I ordered it last November and, so, it's been a six month wait. This was no problem for me as I understand Ron's delays due to his suppliers' shipping schedules.

Hey, I'm even impressed by the case. It has a simulated tooled leather look and feel. The design is western and classy looking, and I like it. I'll get some pics posted just as soon as I can get my hands on a digital camera.

To anyone else who's waiting on an Emmons...
Please be patient. You will get it, and you will love it.

Tony Orth

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 31 May 2002 10:10 am

If Ron Jr is anything like his dad,,,he is a prince,,,,,

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 31 May 2002 at 07:14 PM.]

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 31 May 2002 1:04 pm

Jim Cohen- What I neant by "future trend" is the handwriting is on the wall.

There will be more S10 and S12"s sold in the next few years.
Larry Bell explained it quite well.

Maybe they will be about 50% singles and 50% doubles.
A single neck is lighter weight and less expensive.

I sincerley wish that Ron Lashley at Emmons will again build a S12. It would be a winner.

When players recognize the great players that are playing a single neck.

Larry Bell, Jr. Knight, Reece Anderson, Joe Wright,Bill Stafford, just to name a few, are playing everything on a S12, then they will know that it can be done!....al

Richard Plummer · Post by **Richard Plummer** » 31 May 2002 2:57 pm

I hate to change though.I guess it is the human animal in us all.I have gotten used to my double neck.My question is this.Do you on a s-12 use the same guage strings on the bottom that the c-6 uses.I like the lows of that neck.Also Zane King who used to be an exclusive U-12 player now has switched from his ZB to an Emmons legrande.I wonder what that says?

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 1 Jun 2002 10:08 am

Richard,
Speaking only for myself, I can use (and have used) C6 sets, adding only high strings to cover the 1st and 3rd. If the C6 set is intended for D on the top, that works fine for my second (which I tune to D anyway). Many of the string mfgrs do offer sets of E9/B6 U12.

Go to Scotty's or Bobbe's site to see the gauges for some of the popular sets -- they use many/most of the same gauges going from the top down on E9 or the bottom up on C6.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro