For sale: 1965 Emmons wraparound, serial # 2171. Emmons setup 8+7. Pickups are “original†rewound by Jerry Wallace to 16K. Fretboards were replaced 20+ years ago with white line Emmons fretboards. Original Kluson tuners have been replaced with brand new Klusons.
Very interesting guitar with a rich history. I have been trying to determine the exact history of this steel ever since I purchased it in about 1990. Have not come to any definitive conclusion but it appears to be one kind—at least it's the only one I've seen like it. It’s possible it could have been a “transitional†model between the classic wraps and the bolt-on; notice the two holes behind each changer that seem to have been where the changers might have been mounted. If that is the case the changers were replaced with the more conventional changer mount. There is also an extra row of tuning holes on the endplate, presumably to accommodate a split tuning system of some sort. The only Emmons guitars that I have heard of that had this were the 1964 that was built for Buddy Emmons (owned by Dave Robbins) and the 1965 built for Weldon Myrick that I had presumed (as did a number of other people) this one to be. I no longer think that this is the Weldon Myrick steel as you can watch YouTube videos of him playing it and it doesn’t look the same. The decal is in the wrong place and it’s bigger to name a couple of things. The decal on this steel is the original—probably. It is the decal that you normally see on the bolt-on era guitars and could be that it was changed when and if the changer swap was done. I have spoken to many of the folks that I would consider experts on Emmons history and there does not appear to be any definitive conclusion as to what it is.
I do know this: the serial # dates it to 1965, it has the classic wraparound necks, and it sounds great. I'm asking $7000.00 for it. Serious buyers please send me a private message if you want more info or more pictures.
As I recall, quite a few years ago someone (maybe Herb Steiner) made a comment about Rick Price and Jim Loessberg both being previous owners of this guitar.
Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande
There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.
That is true Lee. I bought this steel from Jim Loessberg in the early 90s and Jim purchased it from Rick Price. I asked Rick what happened before that and he told me he purchased it from guy named Tiny Williams who got it from Forrest Culpepper. I think all of these guys are from San Antonio. That is the history of this guitar according to Rick.
Marty Muse wrote:
I do know this: the serial # dates it to 1965, it has the classic wraparound necks, and it sounds great. I'm asking $7000.00 for it. Serious buyers please send me a private message if you want more info or more pictures.
Well....I do believe that this guitar sounds great.......but then a 2x4 would sound great with you playing it Marty:)
From what I've been told by Weldon and Buddy only two of those were ever built with three rows of tuning holes. One for Buddy that Dave Robbins owns and the one built for Weldon.
Johnny "Dumplin" Cox
"YANKIN' STRINGS & STOMPIN' PEDALS" since 1967.
Johnny Cox wrote:From what I've been told by Weldon and Buddy only two of those were ever built with three rows of tuning holes. One for Buddy that Dave Robbins owns and the one built for Weldon.
I've got one
3 rows of tuning holes
Invoice # 2255
Bought it in the early 1980's in Southern Calif.
That's cool and interesting, Garry. I wonder if there are others? Are there three rows of screws? Is there a functional reason for the third row? Did you buy it from a dealer or from an individual? Would it be possible for you to take a close up photo of the end plate and then of the changer from the underside of the guitar? Did you buy it as is or did you add the badge on the front?
Sorry for all of the questions. Just trying to determine what is going on with these guitars. Thanks for posting.
Johnny, did Weldon ever say what became of that guitar? He did tell me that if it was his steel, that he used it on most everything that he recorded with Connie Smith, with the exception of Once A Day, which was a Sho-Bud. He also said that the overtones on that steel were so out of control he filled the necks with wood and kept it that way. I regret that I never asked him what he did with it.
I took these photos of Weldon playing his Emmons. These are on display in his display booth in the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville. You can clearly see the same third row of holes in the end plate.
Marty, I don't want to hi-jack your thread. I hope you sell your guitar.
It's a bargain at your asking price. I'm asking 7.5K for mine.
We should start a new Emmons 3 screw hole thread in Pedal Steel.
Last edited by Garry Vanderlinde on 14 May 2018 7:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Garry Vanderlinde!! hey I remember at the Jeff Newman school Buddy looking at your steel and commenting he thought he had that steel at one time, due to some weird extra change on the guitar.
Thanks Bill! Do you own that guitar Nick? It seems that a lot of the Emmons guitars of that era could fall under the category of one of a kind. Very cool looking cabinet.
Henry, Marty addressed your question in his first post.
There is also an extra row of tuning holes on the endplate, presumably to accommodate a split tuning system of some sort. The only Emmons guitars that I have heard of that had this were the 1964 that was built for Buddy Emmons (owned by Dave Robbins) and the 1965 built for Weldon Myrick
This guitar no longer has whatever parts Emmons INC used to get a PP to split tune. My question. Does anyone know how they did it? Did Buddy Emmons ever address this question at the Ask Buddy Forum? Does the Dave Rollens guitar still have split tuning possibilities? Same question applies to the split tunable Bolt ON guitar of Weldons?
Garry Vanderlinde!! hey I remember at the Jeff Newman school Buddy looking at your steel and commenting he thought he had that steel at one time, due to some weird extra change on the guitar.
I think it was the 3rd row of holes in the changer that he was referring to, and maybe the C6th changes on the 9th pedal. But it doesn't have enough original knee levers.
Jeff told me "Never sell that guitar"!
Bill, really great to hear from you! We had some fun
