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Post new topic Converting Melobar Power Slide to 8 strings.
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Author Topic:  Converting Melobar Power Slide to 8 strings.
John McCall

 

From:
New York, New York, USA
Post  Posted 26 Sep 2012 11:05 am    
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I have a Melobar V10, made around '81. I'm looking to get some work done on the bridge and nut to widen the string spacing.

Several NYC guitar guys have have declined the project because it involves a little metal work.

Anyone had this job done on a 10-string Melobar? Anyone got a recommendation as to a repair person who can understand and execute a job like this?
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Stephen Cowell


From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 26 Sep 2012 8:51 pm    
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This guy can do anything, and he's not far from you:

http://www.timeelect.com/

One of the best in the business. Expect to pay for it.
Custom metal fab not a problem at all.

Don't tell him I sent you, btw.
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John McCall

 

From:
New York, New York, USA
Post  Posted 27 Sep 2012 6:07 am    
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Thanks, Stephen.
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Stephen Cowell


From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 27 Sep 2012 8:49 am    
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John, please post back to this thread and let us know how it went (or whatever else you did). GL!
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chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 27 Sep 2012 10:01 am    
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seems like a simple task to fabicate a new nut and bridge.

vise, hacksaw, file and drill.
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John McCall

 

From:
New York, New York, USA
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2012 4:46 am    
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Stephen,

My e mail to Rich bounced back. I called him. It wasn't easy keeping him on the topic. He didn't know what a Melobar was, and asked me to e mail some relevant links. Which can't be done because his e mail is all screwed up.

This turned into a monologue about his chronic e mail problems, which turned into a monologue about his efforts to find a pedal steel player who could interpret the music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

So we left it that he'd get back to me once he's gone online to see what a Melobar is.

How long since you've had work done with this guy, and why is it you don't want him to know you recommended him?
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Stephen Cowell


From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2012 5:12 am    
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John, we both used to participate in a forum (newsgroup, actually) called alt.guitar.amps. I haven't been back in a long time... he left before I did. We have political differences... I have no personal connection with Rich, just seen his work on his website. I trust him to do top-notch work.
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John McCall

 

From:
New York, New York, USA
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2012 6:59 am    
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Just to be clear, he never did any actual work for you?
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Stephen Cowell


From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2012 7:37 am    
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Exactly. I have no personal experience with his work. That said, he is a well-known premiere luthier and amp tech... check out his website and make your call.
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John McCall

 

From:
New York, New York, USA
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2012 11:44 am    
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I already checked out his website. And called him. Remember?
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Jim Cohen


From:
Philadelphia, PA
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2012 11:48 am    
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Remember what? Wink
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John McCall

 

From:
New York, New York, USA
Post  Posted 2 Oct 2012 10:10 am    
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I haven't heard back from this un- emailable person, so I'm moving on; does anyone else out there know a repair person who could help with a job like this?
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Michael Lee Allen

 

From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
Post  Posted 2 Oct 2012 11:58 am    
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deleted

Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 2:36 pm; edited 1 time in total
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David Mason


From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
Post  Posted 2 Oct 2012 4:09 pm    
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Quote:
...turned into a monologue about his efforts to find a pedal steel player who could interpret the music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra.




(!) I actually got as far as figuring out the slow, brooding arpeggio-type stuff like "The Dance of Maya" but then those 1/128th note licks in the Super-Locrian mode played in 19/8 time kinda threw me a bit - check back in a few weeks!
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Ted Smith


From:
Idaho - shot of Jeff Peterson, Ted and Smith Curry "Nothing but the taillights tour"
Post  Posted 2 Oct 2012 6:43 pm     Use Bronze
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Try to use Architectual Bronze 1/4" angle for the nut and simple brass 1/4" rod for the bridge side - not really that difficult for any machine shop. DON'T use plastic or bone...
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John McCall

 

From:
New York, New York, USA
Post  Posted 3 Oct 2012 4:34 am    
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I hear you, Ted.
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John McCall

 

From:
New York, New York, USA
Post  Posted 15 Oct 2012 2:17 pm    
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DeWitt Jr. at Scotty's had a new saddle piece machined and the nut ground down, and stuck it in the mail back to me. Took all of 48 hours. Invoice to follow, and in all likelihood will be about what it cost me to FedEx the parts to St. Louis in the first place.

Melobar modifiers take note!
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Matt Berg


From:
Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 16 Oct 2012 12:52 pm    
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John McCall wrote:
DeWitt Jr. at Scotty's had a new saddle piece machined and the nut ground down, and stuck it in the mail back to me. Took all of 48 hours. Invoice to follow, and in all likelihood will be about what it cost me to FedEx the parts to St. Louis in the first place.

Melobar modifiers take note!


Please post pix and pricing info if you'd be so kind....
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