10 Strings,,with legs,,,and keyless!!

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 9 Mar 2020 6:10 am

Just finishing up on this one,,,first one I've built with legs. And after 40-50 guitars, I'm finally getting close to the finish I've been looking for. Those that remember Tom Pettingill and his beautiful Tru-oil finishes on natural woods,,,it has been very difficult if not impossible for me to obtain on a stained surface,,,but with this guitar I feel like I'm getting close (now that my hands have just about worn out,,,LOL,,,murphy's Law huh??)

Glenn Wilde · Post by **Glenn Wilde** » 9 Mar 2020 7:29 am

Beautiful!

Joe Elk · Post by **Joe Elk** » 9 Mar 2020 7:29 am

Very Nice!
Joe Elk Central Ohio

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 9 Mar 2020 7:38 am

The late Tom Pettingill set the bar high for tru-oil finish, which unlike lacquer or poly, is not a "Layer" on top of the wood. This is actually a mixture of shellac that is rubbed into the wood, gradually filling all the pores until it achieves a super smooth,,or dense surface,,so that it will polish,,,like a polished stone. Very durable and very repairable!!! A lot of rubbing,,,LOL!!!

I don't think Tom ever did a stained surface,,which is much more difficult due to the danger of removing the stain while increasing the grit of abasive.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 9 Mar 2020 7:42 am

That sure is a unique, beautiful instrument.
What is the scale length?

Erv

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 9 Mar 2020 7:45 am

Sonny that is beautiful, just plum beautiful!!

LaVern Skarzenski · Post by **LaVern Skarzenski** » 9 Mar 2020 3:15 pm

Very Nice!! The finish sounds like something I would like to try. Thanks for posting.
LaVern

David Weisenthal · Post by **David Weisenthal** » 9 Mar 2020 6:20 pm

Wow, a great 50's spaceship vibe to that beauty. Totally unique! Well done.

Gene Tani · Post by **Gene Tani** » 10 Mar 2020 4:37 am

Wow, pushing the state of the art out further! (or maybe further out...)

I got a 10 stringer from Sonny last year, great ax, beautiful wood/fit/finish, great components/tone, stays in tune, easy string change (to answer a frequent question with keyless heads)... perfect!

pix https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... t=#2850565

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 10 Mar 2020 6:37 am

Thanks for the kind words from everyone!!!Erv,,,23 1/4" scale.
Not sure how many more these old arthritic hands can build,,,yet I keep thinking of ways to make the next one better,,LOL,,I need to turn the clock back about 20 years or so.

There are a couple more of Tom's ideas that I am trying to include in my next one.

Tommy Detamore · Post by **Tommy Detamore** » 10 Mar 2020 6:49 am

Fantastic Sonny!

I want one

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 10 Mar 2020 7:09 am

Beautifully done, Sonny. I sure miss Tom. He could spend hours on the phone describing his finishing process. He poured his soul into every build, and it was evident that he loved what he was doing. Wish I could see this one in person...it looks fantastic. Iâ€™m pretty sure heâ€™d be proud of you.

Joe Kaufman · Post by **Joe Kaufman** » 10 Mar 2020 7:46 pm

That is a real beauty!

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 11 Mar 2020 8:23 am

Sonny, if youâ€™re at the show bring this one upstairs... Iâ€™ve got some folks (including me) whoâ€™s love to try it!

Joe Rouse · Post by **Joe Rouse** » 11 Mar 2020 10:36 am

I am proud to announce that the red guitar Sonny Jenkins has displayed is now mine. I ordered this guitar from Sonny after Thanksgiving and picked it up today. It is everything I had hoped for. Great tone, beautiful red finish, and not heavy(arthritis- right shoulder) and did I say it's beautiful. Sonny and I have known each other for a number of years and I knew him as a craftsman. To say I'm a happy camper is an understatement. If I had the money I'd order another today.
Anyone wanting and not ordering is missing out. Thank you My Friend and Brother Sonny Jenkins....God Bless Brother

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 11 Mar 2020 2:23 pm

Hey Stephen,,,I'd love for you to try it,,,unfortunately I won't be coming to the show this year,,but,,fortunately the guitar now belongs to Joe,,,LOL.

Joe,,,you ordered it around Thanksgiving???,,,,man,,I didn't know I was THAT slow,,LOL!!!!,,you are waaayyy too kind to an old cripple,,LOL,,but I appreciate the kind words from a true friend and brother!!!

Hopefully our merciful Creator will allow me to build another one before I have to hang it up,,,

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 11 Mar 2020 3:02 pm

Sonny Jenkins wrote:Hey Stephen,,,I'd love for you to try it,,,unfortunately I won't be coming to the show this year,,but,,fortunately the guitar now belongs to Joe,,,LOL.

Dern! Well... I've already got one of your 10-string creations, and I'll have it upstairs at the show.

Billy Gilbert · Post by **Billy Gilbert** » 18 Mar 2020 9:01 pm

Great job Sonny!! Joe sent me a picture of it as soon as he got it. That looks like a new style keyless head. Where are the screws that hold the strings??

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 19 Mar 2020 6:07 am

Thanks Billy,,,they're at the other end,,,the bridge!!!

Billy Gilbert · Post by **Billy Gilbert** » 19 Mar 2020 6:34 am

I thought they might be at the bridge end but didn't look closely at that end.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 26 Mar 2020 4:53 pm

Thatâ€™s a cool one Sonny!

Joe Kaufman · Post by **Joe Kaufman** » 26 Mar 2020 8:00 pm

Very nice guitar!

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 27 Mar 2020 11:57 pm

Nice! I love the sculpted style and the Shnobel on the tuner end is a nice touch. Looks seaworthy.
Indeed - the finish!

Gene Tani · Post by **Gene Tani** » 28 Mar 2020 3:27 pm

Jim Pitman wrote:Shnobel on the tuner end

Do i have a Shnobel?

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 29 Mar 2020 6:55 am

Yes you do - that pointy thing.

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10 Strings,,with legs,,,and keyless!!

10 Strings,,with legs,,,and keyless!!

Got me a Jewel