First To Use Laminate?

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 5 Jan 2003 8:00 pm

Was Emmons the first to use laminate to cover a steel guitar? Whose idea was it? Buddy's? Was it a request from a buyer?

Surely one of you "old guys" will know the answer to this one. (Old being defined as older than my short 49 years!)

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 6 Jan 2003 12:29 am

I believe it was Emmons, the story I heard was Buddy was upset about a cigarette burn on his Bigsby and wanted something that would protect the guitar.

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 6 Jan 2003 7:19 am

I would proberly kill the dude that was/is stupid enought to lay a lit cigarette on my PSG !!

Now while I don't have a problem with smokers,I do expect them to treat my axe with some respect. The same goes for beer drinkers.(which I do) I wouldn't even think of placeing a "Bud" on my Steel or my amp.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 6 Jan 2003 7:58 am

The story is on the Internet somewhere, but as I recall, Buddy wanted a durable finish as he had burnt the finish of his Bigsby with cigarettes. He and Ron Lashley tried a fiberglass-type finish but it was too expensive. Ron was the one that came up with using Formica. Buddy liked the combination of black and polished aluminum/chrome and the rest is history.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 6 Jan 2003 8:16 am

I guess I'm not sure of what the definition of laminate is. ("is" sounds like Clinton?)I always thought that was what my old two-neck Supro was covered with back in 1949?

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 6 Jan 2003 8:22 am

I agree with Gene. Buddy came up with the idea for covering the Emmons guitar... first with mica glass and ultimately formica..., but MOTS had been used for years to cover instruments. I'd say that the Harlin Multi-cord was the first pedal steel with laminate covering.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 6 Jan 2003 11:09 am

If you look at it from a production point of view, laminate wins hands-down over a labour-intensive laquered real wood finish.
I suspect this was the real reason to use Formica.

Earl Foote · Post by **Earl Foote** » 6 Jan 2003 11:19 am

So, can you really lay a lit cigarette on mica and not damage the mica?

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 6 Jan 2003 11:30 am

I think you can if you don't leave it too long.

Lit cigarettes didn't bother the Pakkawood we used at Dekley at all.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 6 Jan 2003 12:00 pm

WEll you'll have to Kill Buddy then...cause he's the one that layed the cigarette...ha
Ricky

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 6 Jan 2003 2:30 pm

Which is the preferred laminate - Formica or Wilsonart? Does one produce a better tone than the other?

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 8 Jan 2003 10:27 am

Well Ricky....

I guess the only reason Buddy's still alive is that he burnt HIS axe,not mine !!!

(BTY) I BSs'ed and had a good time talkin' with "Buddy" at the "NTSGA SuperJam" last nite. I wish everybody could meet this "Legend" player and see just how truely a person of his fame,can be and is a true,geniune(sp) down to earth guy.

I,as a person not worthy to pick up his broken strings from the floor,was listended to and accepted into the arena of PSG players,by a man the whole world accepts as the foremost definative PSG player ever to put a bar to strings.