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Topic: Tom Pettingill |
Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 2 Mar 2021 12:54 pm |
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I joined the forum about 4 years ago. I remember when everyone was posting of Tom's untimely death. I know he was an awesome builder. I was wondering if he was a gifted player as well? He sure made some nice lapsteels Anyone one who owns one is a lucky man.
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 2 Mar 2021 4:45 pm
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Tom was not a player but he excelled in his craft and was a good friend to all.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Rick Barnhart
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 2 Mar 2021 5:55 pm
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When Tom was building my first Pettingill, I asked if he could send a sound sample or to play over the phone. He said, “I’m just a hack, you don’t wanna hear me play.” I never found out for certain if he was just being modest. What a great builder he was, though!
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Clinesmith consoles D-8/6 5 pedal, D-8 3 pedal & A25 Frypan, Pettingill Teardrop, & P8 Deluxe. |
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Ralph Czitrom
From:
Ringwood, New Jersey
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Posted 3 Mar 2021 10:44 am
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Tom was a man of many talents: he knew so much about woods, pickups, steel guitar and music history, and his craftsmanship was superb. Over a few years, I learned a lot from him during our discussions while he was in the process of creating the three guitars pictured below. But he was also a bit of a mystery man: I tried to meet up with him a couple of times while on business in the San Diego area, where he lived, but I got the impression he wasn’t interested in a face to face. After he passed, I tried to find something about him on the web, but it was like he never existed, except on the Steel Guitar Forum. However, his Facebook page lives on...
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 3 Mar 2021 11:16 am
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| I played one of his 8 string lapsteels tuned to a sacred steel tuning and it was truly amazing sounding. And absolutely gorgeous to look at |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 3 Mar 2021 11:17 am
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Ralph, those are flat out gorgeous guitars. Tom seemed like a nice guy. We exchanged a bunch of emails as I was considering getting one of his Cub models but then he was gone. There are a lot of mystery figures in the history of steel guitar. When the web trail goes cold, how will future generations know who he was and what he created? If b0b's servers don't go to the Smithsonian, 25+ years of the Forum go out into the ether.
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 3 Mar 2021 11:20 am
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Ralph, Tom also used to post frequently at the Gear Page under the name Quarter.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 3 Mar 2021 11:46 am
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| That bell shaped sunburst is sa-weeet! |
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Ralph Czitrom
From:
Ringwood, New Jersey
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Posted 3 Mar 2021 12:22 pm
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| Scott - The sunburst is a long scale reimagining of a 1938 Recording King AB 104 (Roy Smeck model). It originally had a gold foil pickup, which didn’t do the guitar justice. We were fortunate to have a certain well known luthier (initials TC) sell us one of the two types of pickups he puts in his guitars.The result is a one of a kind... |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 3 Mar 2021 12:28 pm
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| What a great concept, and made even better with Todd's help. |
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 3 Mar 2021 3:41 pm
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| Yes Ralph,,I got the same impression,,,I talked to him many times via email about tru oil finishes,,he was a master at that. I even tried to find an obit,,or how he died so suddenly,,his age,,,Nothing. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 3 Mar 2021 6:26 pm
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I believe it was a hear attack, Sonny.
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
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Posted 4 Mar 2021 7:54 am
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Tom built 4 lap steels for me....all 001 models.
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=165014&highlight=fps001
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=194982&highlight=jyd001
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=206958&highlight=southern+belle
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=296907&highlight=pettingill+shovelhead
He was a genius with woods/aesthetic designs, etc. He knew pups inside and out and had access to some knowledgeable people for those questions he didn't have an answer for. He knew finishes and wasn't shy about experimenting with his works.
We corresponded occasionally when we weren't conspiring on a new build. He LOVED the challenge of a new build...the thrill....the anticipation and hope of what was in his mind and how it would turn out in reality.
To wit, on our last build, the Shovelhead, he told me that delivery would be delayed by a month because he just didn't like how the finish turned out, he thought it should be better and so he went and took the old finish all the way down and started anew.
He was a plumber by vocation/trade and making lap steels was a hobby for him. He build himself a steel that he kept in Open D for playing around.
He last wrote to me on 01/03/17, saying that he had a case of the flu that he caught from a niece over the Christmas holiday. Two days later he passed.
I had absolutely NO LUCK at all at finding an obit anywhere for him. I miss our chats and think of him every time I play one of his steels. RIP Tom.
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Four Pettingills and a Clinesmith Aluminum. Fender Blues Junior. Quilter Mini-101. |
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Aaron Johnson
From:
Lemoore, CA
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Posted 4 Mar 2021 6:30 pm
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| I never had the pleasure of working with him but I do own one of his last guitars. It's the only lap steel I'll never part with. |
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