Who likes their Fessy

jerry harkins · Post by **jerry harkins** » 9 Oct 2005 8:30 am

I just ordered a new Fessy SD10 and I'm looking foward to try it out when it gets here. I've known Jerry a long time and I know he builds a great guitar, so I thought it was time I tried one out.
What do you Fessy owners like about your guitars ?

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 9 Oct 2005 9:31 am

I was a die hard Emmon PP user for over 20 when I ran into Jerry. I really liked him, and bought a guitar sight unseen from him, which took a bit of a leap of faith. To make a long story short, sitting at that guitar was like coming home for me--I found the tone I had been looking for, played great, looked great, and the Emmons' never got played again. To make it even better--every producer, engineer and artist I work with noticed the sound and commented that I had never sounded better. So now I own a couple (a mica SD10 with 4 and 8, and a Mark Giles lacquer body D10 with 9 and 11), and am getting ready to add a third to the arsenal (a mica D10).

But you know the best thing about it was I got to know Jerry, who was not only great to work with as a builder--always willing to try anything you wanted (and mine are fairly complicated guitars)--but a great human as well. I'm proud to play his guitars, and even prouder to have him as a friend.

(oh yeah, I got to know Mark Giles also from this, another one of the finest in our community, and a great friend also).

Did I mention I love his guitars?

Tucker Jackson · Post by **Tucker Jackson** » 9 Oct 2005 10:50 am

What I love about my Fessenden can be stated in one word: Tone.

Well...let's make that three words: Tone and Sustain.

Enjoy your new guitar, Jerry. I think you'll be very happy with it

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 9 Oct 2005 11:03 am

Fine instruments and a fine fellow who makes them.

Jim Harper · Post by **Jim Harper** » 9 Oct 2005 12:18 pm

Jerry, you gonna love your guitar. I have one that Jerry built for me. It is D-10. Red Lacquer with 8-6. Like some of them have posted it has lot,s of tone and sustain.I have not had no trouble with it at all.It has B.L 9-10,s.Jerry build,s a beautiful guitar. Holler at me some time. ==Jim Harper

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 9 Oct 2005 1:07 pm

These aren't mine, but they sure look great!!!

<center>

Jeff Bradshaw · Post by **Jeff Bradshaw** » 9 Oct 2005 3:08 pm

Hi Folks, I have been playing Fessenden guitars for a while now and will say that Jerry's guitars are as good as any guitar that I have ever owned. And yes it's true...Jerry is a very fine fellow and I am very glad to be his friend. Best regards. ..jeff bradshaw

Ron Bryson · Post by **Ron Bryson** » 9 Oct 2005 3:32 pm

I traded my black mica SD-10 Fessy in on my lacquer D-10. True-Tone pickups, plenty of the tone that I want! I love mine..

[This message was edited by Ron Bryson on 09 October 2005 at 04:36 PM.][This message was edited by Ron Bryson on 09 October 2005 at 04:38 PM.]

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 9 Oct 2005 4:17 pm

Autry Andress asked me to post this for him-He sure likes this beauty. I like mine too-use it for recording all the time.

JB

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Fessenden D-10 8&8
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 9 Oct 2005 4:19 pm

And add Buddy Cage to the list...

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Fessenden D-10 8&8
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 9 Oct 2005 5:07 pm

I started on a mica SD10 years back. When I bought a D10 from Jerry, the sustain scared me!

On my third, an SD12.

Drew

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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden D-10 8/8, Fessenden SD-12 5/5 (Ext E9), Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 9 Oct 2005 5:15 pm

I like mine, it is a '98 model, with 8 & 8, just a basic blue mica guitar. It currently has Danny Shields pickups in it and plays and sounds great.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 9 Oct 2005 7:58 pm

Jerry's building mine as we speak/read. I can't wait. This will be my first brand new guitar built to my specs. I'll let ya'll know how it turns out.

Robbie Bossert

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 9 Oct 2005 10:31 pm

Who doesn't like their Fessie?
Ain't met one yet.

I think I played that orange one, or at least it's sister at ISGC,
and was realy happy to make it's aquantance.
And Jerry's too.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 09 October 2005 at 11:32 PM.]

Dean Parks · Post by **Dean Parks** » 9 Oct 2005 11:57 pm

If you liked the orange one, you should hear a black one!

Fessy in Barcelona

-dean-

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 10 Oct 2005 4:02 am

Dean, did you get hired to play while they burned down the city, or what? What is that??

p.s. Oops, yes, I'm also another satisfied Fessifier.[This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 10 October 2005 at 05:02 AM.]

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 10 Oct 2005 5:24 am

Who does the painting on Jerry's fancy lacquer
models with all the inlay etc.???

Dean Parks · Post by **Dean Parks** » 10 Oct 2005 6:12 am

Jim-

That's the "stage left" back/side curving wall, lit with those colors, at the Palau de La Musica in Barcelona. (Just before soundcheck)

-dean-[This message was edited by Dean Parks on 10 October 2005 at 07:15 AM.]

Danny Kuykendall · Post by **Danny Kuykendall** » 10 Oct 2005 6:15 am

Any input on the weight of the Fessenden? I'm searching for a guitar (D10)that sounds similar to a ZB but significantly lighter.
Danny

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 10 Oct 2005 7:12 am

Jay,

That's Mark Giles on the lacquer finishes and inlay (with a couple of exceptions). Mark does the best work in town

...
www.fessendensteelguitars.com [This message was edited by John Macy on 10 October 2005 at 08:50 AM.]

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 10 Oct 2005 8:51 am

I call my SD-10 "Glide" because everything about it is so Smooooooooooooooooooth! There is a photo of me and glide on the Fessy site that was taken at "Pearl_Jam" 2 yrs ago.
JE:-)>

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Emmons D10 8/4 P/P -75'
Fessenden SD-10 3/5
MSA SD-12 4/4 - 76'
76'Session 400
86'Nashville 400
Bandit 112

[This message was edited by Jim Eaton on 10 October 2005 at 09:52 AM.]

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 10 Oct 2005 9:41 am

I've always been partial to the 'vintage steel guitar sound'. After playing just about every brand out there, ones that catch my ear are the three brands I own today: Emmons, Sho-Bud, and Fessenden. The first two need no introduction, but the Fessy holds its own in this elite company. It's the one I'll take on the road because of its combination of a modern mechanism and a sound that's reminiscent of Sho-Bud and ZBCustom guitars -- at least, to my ears.

Jerry not only builds great guitars, he is willing to work with his players to give them what they want. I know that anytime I have a question about any aspect of the guitar, Jerry will help me sort it out. He has done so many times -- sending me parts and spending how ever much time is needed to help me add this or tweak that to my satisfaction.

There are many great builders these days and Jerry Fessenden is among the very best -- at designing and building a guitar that plays great, stays in tune, and sounds like I want a pedal steel to sound. I can't ask for more.

Info on my Fessy: http://www.larrybell.org/id39.htm

Thanks, Jerry -- you're a daisy!
<img src = 'http://www.larrybell.org/images/BombLarge.jpg' </img>
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 10 October 2005 at 10:46 AM.]

Bill Rogers · Post by **Bill Rogers** » 10 Oct 2005 12:06 pm

I'm a new player, and after doing some research, mostly on the Forum, I ordered a new SD-10 last January. It was delivered in February, and I love this guitar. Dealing with Jerry was a pleasure and he gave me some good advice on the Day setup. When I called him with questions he always took the time to answer them and gave me some good advice on how to get started on my steel. Great guitar, great guitar builder.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 10 Oct 2005 1:19 pm

What pickups are standard....Truetones?

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 10 Oct 2005 3:35 pm

Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between mica and lacquer on a Fessy?

Brad