Another Billy Knowles Masterpiece

Duane Dunard · Post by **Duane Dunard** » 23 Oct 2013 12:33 pm

An awsome complete rebuild by Billy Knowles for Larry Gerdeman's Emmons. A 1997 model custom heartwood/flamed maple body, factory built for Tommy White. Hats off to Billy!

Lynn Stafford · Post by **Lynn Stafford** » 23 Oct 2013 12:55 pm

Whew...that's what I'm talking about

What a gorgeous guitar

I bet it sounds and plays like a million bucks.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 23 Oct 2013 1:22 pm

I have a photo of Tommy White sitting behind this guitar at the Ryman. I will certainly try to find it - scan it and post it here. As I remember - TW was sitting next to either Donna Hammitt or Pee Wee Rogers in the steel section.

It might have been the first night the Opry went back to the Ryman. I think that was 1996.

Jim Means · Post by **Jim Means** » 23 Oct 2013 1:48 pm

Larry,
NOW I understand why you wanted to pick it up personally. That is drop-dead gorgeous! You are one lucky picker!

Jim Means

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 23 Oct 2013 2:35 pm

Awesome !!!

Kenneth Kotsay · Post by **Kenneth Kotsay** » 23 Oct 2013 3:10 pm

How on earth do you do it, it's a brand new Emmons, sent down from Heaven by John Hughey.

It's just too shocking, this steel should be placed in an all glass enclosure, never to be played, just to be looked at.

KEN

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 23 Oct 2013 3:57 pm

Oh my!

That is one sweet guitar.

Larry Gerdeman · Post by **Larry Gerdeman** » 23 Oct 2013 7:58 pm

Robert if you could find and post that picture I would be forever grateful. It plays and sounds great. It will be played in very selective places. Thanks again to Bill Knowles for a great job also to Duane Dunard for posting these pictures.

Frank Raines · Post by **Frank Raines** » 24 Oct 2013 2:02 am

>>There`s more to come from Billy<<, next week I`ll be going down to pick up my orig. SD10 PP that he total rebuilt for me

, I`ll have him post some pictures of it.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 24 Oct 2013 4:08 am

Larry - Look for this photo next week. It will take me that long to look through my photos and get it scanned.
I will also get a jpg. to you.

Tim Tyner · Post by **Tim Tyner** » 24 Oct 2013 7:07 am

I think this is not only the prettiest laquer Emmons I have ever seen but the prettiest laquer guitar of all that I have ever seen.Billy continues to amaze me with his talent.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 24 Oct 2013 7:20 am

Awesome... and how rare to see a wood neck LeGrande.

Brandon Halsey · Post by **Brandon Halsey** » 24 Oct 2013 8:01 am

Awesome looking guitar! I hope to have one that looks like that one day. I bought my first steel from Billy. He even fixed it for free one time after I tried to change the copedent and got it all messed up. Really a great guy...

Dave Diehl · Post by **Dave Diehl** » 24 Oct 2013 9:49 am

Great job indeed Billy. There are only a couple wood neck LeGrandes out there. Here's another...

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 24 Oct 2013 11:01 am

I am a lucky guy indeed to call Billy one of my oldest and dearest friends plus living close enough to visit and witness his dedication and magic on these instruments.

Will Hart · Post by **Will Hart** » 24 Oct 2013 1:42 pm

Beautiful job Billy. Congrats Duane on one gorgeous guitar

Martin Weenick · Post by **Martin Weenick** » 24 Oct 2013 3:54 pm

Beautiful !!!!! Does anyone know if that is a maple deck ?

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 24 Oct 2013 5:47 pm

It is a maple neck.
Thanks to Bob Littleton for a great paint job.
Will, yours if just like this one. Beautiful guitars.

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 24 Oct 2013 6:53 pm

it is a purple heart top

Larry Gerdeman · Post by **Larry Gerdeman** » 24 Oct 2013 7:41 pm

Does anyone know how many wooden neck LeGrande II's were made mine is the only one I've ever seen.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Oct 2013 7:59 pm

That is drop-dead gorgeous! It's my favorite color scheme by far. Wish I were in a position to commission one from Billy...

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 24 Oct 2013 8:01 pm

Skip Mertz has a lacquer body with wooden necks, I used to own it, my mistake to have ever sold it.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 25 Oct 2013 1:05 pm

Double U-OOOOOOOO-Double U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful Billy!
Jerry

Sid Hudson · Post by **Sid Hudson** » 25 Oct 2013 1:18 pm

Billy Knowles is a Master Craftsman!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 25 Oct 2013 1:45 pm

did billy build this one originally or is he getting all this credit for polishing up an originally beautiful steel?
unless they've been abused, steels don't need a complete refinish, etc. i don't imagine tommy abused it.
i completely redid a junker p/p in '99 and it still looks beautiful today.
just curious. not saying this is the case here, but there seems to be an unsettling trend by new well off buyers to have any steel 'refurbed' even before they have seen it.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Another Billy Knowles Masterpiece

Another Billy Knowles Masterpiece

Wowzer!!

Emmone SD10 PP

Deck

Emmon

deck

Skip