Question for Ricky Davis re: Fulawka

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Jan 2006 2:59 pm

Ricky,
I just took delivery of a like new D-10 Signature model Fulawka. I got it from Al Brisco in Canada.
It came with Ed's humbucker pickups and in reading some of your past postings, I understand you worked with Jerry Wallace on some TruTones for your Fulawka. Would you recommend that I put some TruTones on the Fulawka or stick with Ed's humbuckers?
Thanks,
Erv

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 25 Jan 2006 5:25 pm

As a Fulawka owner , I`d be interested in any opinions on the stock pick-ups or any others . Ricky or anyone care to respond ?

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 25 Jan 2006 5:49 pm

I was eying that guitar for a while. What a beauty indeed........you're lucky, Erv...enjoy!!

You should put up a pic for the crowd.

Jan Jonsson · Post by **Jan Jonsson** » 26 Jan 2006 3:01 am

Hi Erv,

Did you get that brown Fulawka that Al has had for sale since last summer? If so, you've got a beautiful guitar. I was very close to buying it last year, but something else came up ... Ricky's old Blue Darlin'.

Here's a discussion regarding the Blue Darlin' and the Jerry Wallace pickups that Ricky put on it:

Discussion regarding the Blue Darlin'

-- Jan

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Janjo's home page
Gear: Sho-Bud Pro II Custom 8+6, Fulawka D-10 8+8, Fender Deluxe 8, Marrs/Fluger Cat-Can, Fender CS Nocaster

[This message was edited by Jan Jonsson on 26 January 2006 at 03:01 AM.]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 26 Jan 2006 7:36 am

Yes, that's the guitar I bought from Al. I had been eyeing it for quite a while and finally succumbed to a GAS attack. It is really a beautiful piece of work.

Ed uses two cases in which to contain it and the guitar arrived without the case containing the legs, pedal bar, pull rods, etc. I had a panic attack and thought: "Oh No!!! They've up and lost the second case!!!!" I contacted Al and he said this happens quite often and the second case should arrive in a day or two. It did!

It is fun just to look the guitar over and see the work that Ed Fulawka does to his guitars. You can really see the hand tooling that is evident. He is a master craftsman and it is no wonder that there is such a long wait to get a new guitar from him. That is the primary reason for going with a like new trade in.

Ed has a feature on his guitars that I have never seen on any other pedal steel. There are two little knobs on the back apron that are "crossover" knobs. They are for the right knee levers and you use them to activate the changes for either neck you are playing. I have separate right knee levers for eack neck on a couple of other guitars but this is a much better idea.

I'm sure that I'll discover some other surprises when I get to examining the guitar a little further.

I'll be taking some pictures soon and get someone to post them for me.

Erv

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 26 Jan 2006 9:21 am

Hey Erv; good going on getting that Fulawka Al had on his site...drop dead gorgeous man.
Yes Jan; pretty much sums up what I think in the link he provided; on that discussion of the single coil verses Ed's Humbucker.
I thought Ed's pickup sounded and responded MIGHTY Fine also; as here's an example of the Blue Darlin' Fulawka with Ed's humbuckers in a song.
One More Once More
And Jan has the example of the single coil TrueTone on that link he provided....you can compare in that particular way if that makes a diff. to ya.
Have fun with it...and I know Jan LOVES his Fulawka....
Ricky

Post by **Joey Ace** » 26 Jan 2006 10:09 am

I've played and carefully inspected that guitar at Al's.

You got a good'un, Erv!

Eddie is a master craftsman.

Jan Jonsson · Post by **Jan Jonsson** » 26 Jan 2006 10:20 am

...and I know Jan LOVES his Fulawka....

Oh, I definitely do!!! It's sure is a pleasure to play ... and sometimes I stumble on notes and phrases that are surprisingly nice. That Ricky mojo is still in there somewhere, I guess.

And Erv: you're welcome to send your pictures to me. I'll gladly host them for you. Anything for a guy with Scandinavian "antics" ... Uff-Da?

-- Jan[This message was edited by Jan Jonsson on 26 January 2006 at 10:28 AM.]

Tim Jones of Kansas · Post by **Tim Jones of Kansas** » 26 Jan 2006 11:12 am

Sounds like good stuff.

And on another point:

I always enjoy Dale Watson's bluesy sound.

Tim Jones )~Fender 1000 and NOTHING more.~([This message was edited by Tim Jones on 26 January 2006 at 11:13 AM.]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 26 Jan 2006 2:36 pm

Jan,
Thanks for the offer! I will get some pictures taken shortly.

Erv

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 27 Jan 2006 8:11 am

Ricky,
I played that link with you and Dale Watson and the "Blue Darlin'" sounded great. I would like your opinion as to the pickup you preferred.
Erv

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 27 Jan 2006 8:20 am

Erv; I did say my opinion in the discussion link that Jan provided above, and here's what I said:

I loved the Fulawka Humbuckers that Ed hand winds for all his steels; but I'm a single coil guy and wanted to know the difference...and it really brought the nuances out that are there.

So I Prefer a Single Coil.
Ricky[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 27 January 2006 at 08:21 AM.]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 27 Jan 2006 2:23 pm

Thanks, Ricky!
I guess I'll get a hold of Jerry. He's redoing some Fender trapazoidal pickups for me now.

Erv

Jan Jonsson · Post by **Jan Jonsson** » 1 Feb 2006 10:43 am

Alrighty, here are some pictures of Erv's new Fulawka. Just as beautiful as I remembered it ... Sweet! Only thing missing now are some sound clips to illustrate its sonic beauty.

-- Jan

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Janjo's home page
Gear: Sho-Bud Pro II Custom 8+6, Fulawka D-10 8+8, Fender Deluxe 8, Marrs/Fluger Cat-Can, Fender CS Nocaster
[This message was edited by Jan Jonsson on 01 February 2006 at 10:52 AM.]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 1 Feb 2006 11:05 am

Thanks so much, Jan!
I took Ricky's advise and am going to have Jerry make up a couple of TruTone pickups for the Fulawka. I'll have to determine for myself what sounds better to this old left-handed Norwegian's ears.

Erv

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 2 Feb 2006 11:55 am

I don't want anybody to go into cardiac arrest or anything, but I'm thinking of putting Sho~Bud fretboards on the Fulawka. I've already got some coming from Bobbe-Poo, a set of black ones and a set of white ones.
What say you?
Erv

Rich Young · Post by **Rich Young** » 2 Feb 2006 12:55 pm

I heard Ricky playing the Fulawka back when he was still playing with Dale, and man, what a great sounding steel. You could hear every note, but it wasn't loud. Absolutely great tone.
Now, the driver has something to do with that

, but still, what a great sounding steel!

Jan Jonsson · Post by **Jan Jonsson** » 3 Feb 2006 4:14 pm

I took Ricky's advise and am going to have Jerry make up a couple of TruTone pickups for the Fulawka.

Sounds like a good move, Erv. I'm very happy with the TrueTones in my Fulawka.

-- Jan

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Janjo's home page
Gear: Sho-Bud Pro II Custom 8+6, Fulawka D-10 8+8, Fender Deluxe 8, Marrs/Fluger Cat-Can, Fender CS Nocaster