Bigsby plank style by Todd Clinesmith

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 10 Aug 2011 12:40 am

Back in the mid to late 90's, when I was involved building the "P.A. Re-Issue"(of the Bigsby)console steels, Herb Steiner (who got the third one)suggested that we build a double eight (lap style) Bigsby steel. I would have like to continue in that direction but too many factors existed that were seemingly prohibitive in building them. It would take an extreemely talented,motivated, and dedicated individual to take over and expand on what (The Great) Paul A. Bigsby started and what Dave Peterson and myself carried on for awhile. That individual is Todd Clinesmith and I am in awe of the work he has done. The time,effort, and monetary investment that he has put forth since he acquired the remaining original Bigsby inventory from me(back in 2008) has clearly shown to be a "labor of love". Besides being a master craftsman,he is also a very fine player of the instrument. I first saw one of Todd's guitars at the H.S.G.A. show last October and I was (needless to say) quite impressed. Many players wanted "the Bigsby sound" but could not find or afford an original. Some also did not want the weight of the triple neck console pedal models which I was offering. Todd's guitars will affordably put Bigsby sound in most players hands. Mr. Bigsby is smiling down from above.

Great work Todd. I'm enjoying my beautiful Clinesmith custom 7-string rosewood and spruce Dobro that you made specially for me. P.W.

Todd Clinesmith · Post by **Todd Clinesmith** » 11 Aug 2011 8:48 am

Thanks alot Paul... I sure appreciate it.
You certainly are grade A.
Todd

Gregg McKenna · Post by **Gregg McKenna** » 15 Aug 2011 5:34 pm

Very nice work Todd.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 27 Apr 2018 3:21 pm

Dose Todd do all that beautiful aluminum casting u know that seems to be a lost art..

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 27 Apr 2018 5:44 pm

Beautiful! What's the scale length of the single and double eight? Also any YouTube vids?
Beautiful!

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 27 Apr 2018 8:00 pm

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````Minor aside... I used to be savagely opposed to those raised frets for two reasons. First, it just seems to be extra work with no appreciable improvement. I have a minor "thing" about that, money goes to GOOD product, not extraneous work; it's a mere taste issue I know, either idiotic; or, not. Like, woo. wat-eever.

Far more important, "frets" initially snork the simplest, best capo for a steel imaginable, just cram some-thing under there. The bump requires a search for something "H"-shaped, to ride over the lump and secure a bar of... some-thing on top. WAAH!

But as I dug into the (bumped) MSA Superslide, I found I liked the way the H secured the bar better, and opened a greater variety of "nut" possibilities. A Shubb-Pearce SP-1 on it's side, section of a triangular aluminum 12" architect's ruler; Hands-down winner, the mid-section of the handle of a Farberware Silicone Spatula:

www.amazon.com/Farberware-Classic-Spatu ... B005NKJVQG

The spatula handle itself looks like toughened-up nylon, glass-filled nylon like... Tortex the pick, Zytec the knife handles, big industrial yellow glass-filled plastic mop buckets; that stuff. And, MY new "nuts" atop Li'l Farby? Nylon or brass, or ultem or steel or ferrous steel (GREAT git slides!) or the 1/4", lo-ong pencil erasers from automatic pencil sharpeners; A PENCIL-> woah. At the 5th, 7th, 9th (beware) frets, 12th, 17th, 19, 24th frets - behind the bar, weirdness abounds.

I KNOW this is long, extremely peripheral; but... you're welcome anyway.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 28 Apr 2018 5:57 am

How about this beauty? This is my D-10.

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 28 Apr 2018 6:09 pm

Mike Neer wrote:How about this beauty? This is my D-10.

WoW Mike,
Wonderful looking 10 string, but we gotta find a better name than a "Plank Steel"?
Todd's work deserves the right name. Any ideas on that?

Best wishes and a great time playing it,
Andy

ps. What tunings will you be using?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 28 Apr 2018 7:32 pm

Andy DePaule wrote:
Mike Neer wrote:
ps. What tunings will you be using?
I got this one a few years ago. I've mostly used my own expansions of C6 tunings, but I haven't played this much since I got my cast aluminum S-8. I'm happy with just the one neck, though somewhere in the back of my mind I'm always conspiring.

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 28 Apr 2018 8:39 pm

Mike Neer wrote:I haven't played this much since I got my cast aluminum S-8. I'm happy with just the one neck, though somewhere in the back of my mind I'm always conspiring.

Funny you say that, Much as I love the new T-8 and I do. I still prefer playing the Aluminum S-8 because the string spacing seems the perfect fit for me and my fat fumbling fingers.
Actually considering getting another S-8 next year and a double stand from Deluxe34 to hold them both.

Would be easy to take to gigs on my motorbike too.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 29 Apr 2018 10:21 am

Nicest lap build money can buy

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 29 Apr 2018 12:37 pm

WOW! Ten stringer! Looks amazing...

Mark, what's your tuning!

Todd Clinesmith · Post by **Todd Clinesmith** » 1 May 2018 7:17 am

Thanks Johnie for digging this up.
I still build these when a customer asks for one, but they are not on my web site. I am building a 8 string model right now for a customer.
The scale length is 24.5

I do not take on my own aluminum casting. It is a lost art. Even the foundries have a hard time making porosity free castings, or close to porosity free. All castings will have unique pours and slight imperfections. I have dealt with many foundries that cannot get it right . It can be very frustrating . But after many years of doing this, I have some great foundries I work with and trust.

Pat Piette · Post by **Pat Piette** » 7 May 2018 3:22 pm

Wow, the ten's are beautiful. Out of of curiosity, what tuning would you use?

Todd Clinesmith · Post by **Todd Clinesmith** » 7 May 2018 5:48 pm

For the 10 string guitars there are many choices for tunings. I would say the most requested are extended C6 or E13 tunings.

Here are a few examples from high to low:
C6:
G,E,C,A,G,E,C,A,F,C
B,D,E,C,A,G,E,C,A,F ( strings 1 and 2 lower voiced than string 3 and 4)
B,G,E,C,A,G,E,C,A,F ( string 1 lower voiced than string 4)

E13:
G#,E,C#,B,G#,F#,D,B,G#,E
G#,F#,E,C#,B,G#,F#,E,D,E

The Steel Guitar Forum

Bigsby plank style by Todd Clinesmith

Wonderful looking 10 string, but....

Re: Wonderful looking 10 string, but....

Re: Wonderful looking 10 string, but....