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Topic: Epiphone Electar Zephyr 8 String unusual add on |
Tony Palmer
From:
St Augustine,FL
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 9:29 am |
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So I’ve seen many vintage lap steels but I’m not familiar with the “cluster†attached to the head section of this lapsteel. A friend sent me the photos so I didn’t examine it in person to see what they do. Any idea?
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Sierra S10 (three!), Peavey 112 and 115, Benoit dobro, Beard Model E dobro, Beard Roadophonic, MSA Superslide, Dean Nickless custom dobro |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 9:34 am
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The bridge end has been modified also.
It looks like that cluster was added in an effort to raise the tone of certain strings.
I see they've even added a roller nut.
What confuses me, though, is how you are supposed to operate it with your bar hand, unless you play the guitar left handed! 
Erv |
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Tony Palmer
From:
St Augustine,FL
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 9:54 am
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Erv, I didn’t even notice the bridge modification!
What the heck? Someone did some pretty creative work on this back in the day.
Here’s one more photo
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Sierra S10 (three!), Peavey 112 and 115, Benoit dobro, Beard Model E dobro, Beard Roadophonic, MSA Superslide, Dean Nickless custom dobro |
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 10:18 am
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| I'll bet it was hooked to some pedals of some kind, some way,,,cables?,,,,rods?,,,, |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 4:01 pm
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Looks very similar to Rico Turchetti’s instrument.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 5:06 pm
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| Quote: |
| Rico Turchetti’s instrument... |
Whoa! Toilet chains! There was an old time player in my area many years ago who played a home made pedal steel guitar and he used toilet chains for the raises. One time after a gig he proudly demonstrated how easy it was to pack up his guitar. Just remove the pedal rack and the chains collapse, and everything goes into a burlap bag! He told me that everything you need to build a pedal steel guitar can be purchased at a hardware store. What a character!
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My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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Tony Palmer
From:
St Augustine,FL
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 5:17 pm
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Holy cow, Mike, this might be his steel. I’m in Rhode Island, my friend who owns the steel is in Rhode Island and Rico Turchetti was from Rhode Island
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Sierra S10 (three!), Peavey 112 and 115, Benoit dobro, Beard Model E dobro, Beard Roadophonic, MSA Superslide, Dean Nickless custom dobro |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 5:30 pm
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| Very cool, Tony! |
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Frank James Pracher
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 7:16 pm
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Some of the pictures it looks to me like Rico's steel is a 7 string like the one in this thread...
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=179361
But clearly the mechanism is the same or similar.
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"Don't be mad honey, but I bought another one" |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Daniel McKee
From:
Corinth Mississippi
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 2:06 am
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| that is a very cool instrumental. I'm almost certain I heard some pedal changes in that so my guess is it very well could be that instrument. Either way thats a super cool find. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Tony Palmer
From:
St Augustine,FL
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 6:27 am
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For those who have been to the Country Music Hall of Fame, you know it is LOADED with many rare and/or famous guitars and steels. Some are on display because of who owned them but a good amount have historical significance. Of course this is not my guitar, but do you think I should encourage the owner to contact them? I have no idea how they acquire pieces nor if they would even be interested.
But it’s clear this has significant history to it.
???
Note: before I found out this information (thanks guys!) I dismissed the modifications as superfluous and homemade and advised him to simply remove them to restore it to its typical eight string vintage lap steel condition. Now I’m not so sure! I believe he has the stand and pedals as well.
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Sierra S10 (three!), Peavey 112 and 115, Benoit dobro, Beard Model E dobro, Beard Roadophonic, MSA Superslide, Dean Nickless custom dobro |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 6:56 am
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This guitar should be preserved as is. Honestly, I would not think the HoF would be interested in it, and it very well could end up in their basement.
There might be some some local (Providence) museum that would welcome the addition. I wish I could recall the name of the Providence music store that used to be an Epiphone dealer and sold many Epi steel guitars. It will come to me eventually.
I have recordings of Rico and he was a terrific player. Here's one Tony Locke posted, Tenderly: https://soundcloud.com/anthony-locke/rico-turchetti-and-his-pedal-steel-live-on-the-arthur-godfrey-show
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Mitch Drumm
From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 10:45 am
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Here's a pic of 3 generations of the Petteruti family, taken in 1997. The music store in the Olneyville section of Providence Rhode Island where Rico took lessons was founded by the elder Joseph "Buck" Petteruti, sitting in front.
The original store dated back to the early 1930s. They had another location in Pawtucket from the early 1950s forward. Apparently both were known as Twin City Music House.
Petteruti's other students included Paul Gonsalves and Bobby Hackett. His son, to the right, is a long-time Rhode Island area bassist.
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Tony Palmer
From:
St Augustine,FL
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 11:07 am
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So is it any wonder we have TWO pedal steel guitar organizations here in Rhode Island?!
We have some serious history with the instrument 😀
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Sierra S10 (three!), Peavey 112 and 115, Benoit dobro, Beard Model E dobro, Beard Roadophonic, MSA Superslide, Dean Nickless custom dobro |
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J Fletcher
From:
London,Ont,Canada
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 4:09 pm
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| Wow! That's some brilliant playing by Rico Turchetti . |
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Tony Palmer
From:
St Augustine,FL
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 6:32 pm
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Ok here’s the latest (sorry beating this dead horse into ground!):
Turns out fellow who owns it has all the cables and pedals and stand. I’ve gotten so curious about this contraption not to mention Rico’s amazing playing, I’m going over to his house and will try to assemble the thing, tune it and god forbid maybe play a little something on it if it’s at all possible. I can imagine what it will take to get the pedal action tunable but he doesn’t live far away and it might be fun. I’ll document it with a video for posterity’s sake! 😜🤔
Wish me luck
_________________
Sierra S10 (three!), Peavey 112 and 115, Benoit dobro, Beard Model E dobro, Beard Roadophonic, MSA Superslide, Dean Nickless custom dobro |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 6:56 pm
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| An incredible and historic instrument! Thanks for sharing. |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 7:04 pm
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That is so great, Tony!
Good job on all this! Have fun!
That Arthur Godfrey Show recording is some incredible playing by Rico  |
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Joe Breeden
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 14 Sep 2018 9:46 am
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| Very interesting article. Really enjoyed. Keep us posted. Joe |
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