Emmons SKH Good Or Bad ? I can handle the truth.

Instruments, mechanical issues, copedents, techniques, etc.

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Mike Archer
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skheads

Post by Mike Archer »

thanks Jay!!
my ole mind dont keep good figures anymore hehe
glad you like cd randy!
bless you all
mike :o
Ron Brennan
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Post by Ron Brennan »

Hello Randy, Mike, Jay, Et Al...

I'm a long, long time non-pedler, new to PSG. Recently acquired an "83" Emmons D10 SKH 8 & 5 from the Bobster. Serial 077L. I run it through a Hilton pedal, RV3 and into my old Fender Concert Amp 4 10" speakers.

Did a lot of reseach here before I made the step. Always loved the PSG, but had concerns about the mechanical nature of the PSG in general. Thanks to you guys on this Forum & Steeler friends, I changed my mind. I also chatted on e-mail with the Emmons people. They are wonderful to deal with. Class act!!

I am having a wonderful time transitioning. This Emmons SKH has expanded my horizons on steel and is just out of this world. Wished I had done it long ago. I couldn't be happier with it. IMHO:The tone is to die for. It stays in tune with very, very little attention. I am very fussy about this.

I checked the scale and cabinet measurments on my SKH that Jay supplied this morning. They are exactly right. I will check tonight to see if there are any rivets underneath, whether it makes a difference or not.

Randy, I hope you enjoy your SKH at least half as much as I am mine. I am confident that you will. TX

Rgds,

Ron
JCFSGC member 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Fender Stringmaster D8,
"83" Emmons LeGrande 77L SKH D10 8 & 5,
"67" All Original Telecaster & Original Owner
"86" Peavey Factory Modified NV 400,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10"s, RV-3, Upgraded chip set GE-7 EQ, CH1 Chorus, DS-1, Hilton, BJS Bar.
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Curt Langston
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Post by Curt Langston »

for some reason they dont break strings much i guess due to the shorter scale and they most always sound very good
I believe the reason they do not break strings as often as the longer LaGrandes is because of the shorter length of string in the keyhead.
All have a 241/4" scale or string length. Regards, Jay Thompson
Yes, but they have different keyhead string lengths. Shorter lengths in the keyhead have proven to decrease string breakage. Along with lower profile, "tuning key-to nut" ratio.

Carter showed us that the lower profile keyhead design helps decrease string breakage by keeping the sharp bends as minimal as possible.
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Mike Archer
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skh

Post by Mike Archer »

Curt
yes thats all true
i guess when i said scale i was thinking for some reason
overall lenth of the steel itself
but your right it makes some difference on breakage
of strings
mine is now 8 and 5 with no up knee but lkl added
i had bryan adams put another knee on it for the c6
neck.....drop string 9 a tone and a half and raise six string
whole tone....there are some cool changes with this
e9 is emmons mostly but for pedal 4 drop 5 and 6
together this ole emmons has worked well for me
thanks for your post and info
and it is black hehe :lol:
Randy Gilliam
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SKH

Post by Randy Gilliam »

I Got to play the SKH 15 or 20 Minutes It Sounds Great . Sustain Is also Good . When I Get The Levers switched I Will Try it On a Job. Could Not have been happier It is Great.Randy.
Ron Brennan
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SKH

Post by Ron Brennan »

Randy,

Good on you!! :D

By the way, for a laugh, I checked my SKH for rivets as someone suggested above. No rivets...guess I'll have to take my new rivet gun back to Home Depot for a credit!! :lol: TX

Rgds,

Ron
JCFSGC member 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Fender Stringmaster D8,
"83" Emmons LeGrande 77L SKH D10 8 & 5,
"67" All Original Telecaster & Original Owner
"86" Peavey Factory Modified NV 400,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10"s, RV-3, Upgraded chip set GE-7 EQ, CH1 Chorus, DS-1, Hilton, BJS Bar.
J Fletcher
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Post by J Fletcher »

It should be mentioned that the early LeGrandes had a different changer than later ones. Early ones had supports between the fingers, and I think this changed after five or six years to the current style.
This should account for some differences in sound between early and later models...Jerry
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Mike Archer
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emmons

Post by Mike Archer »

all i can say is :lol: :lol:

i checked mine for rivets and all i found was
a great changer and steel guitar
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Dave Mudgett
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Post by Dave Mudgett »

I've been working a bit on my SKH - I also see no rivets anywhere. The changer appears to be held in place with small hex-head machine screws and a couple large of phillips-head machine screws. Mine's an '85.
Chris Bauer
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Location: Nashville, TN USA

Post by Chris Bauer »

My black 8x8 SKH was one of the guitars I should have never let get away. Its sustain wasn't the greatest for some reason but, despite that, it recorded better than any other guitar I've owned.

I'd love to have it back.
Randy Gilliam
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SKH

Post by Randy Gilliam »

Thanks Ron,Fletch,Mike,Dave,and Chriss. I will Carry My rivet gun On my Side with the holster So if They start Popping I Will start Shottin Hopefuly it Will Be Sighted In. If you come Hear me Play and I Pull The rivet gun out Please Take Cover. Randy. My SKH is serial Number38 L ? What year might it Be. thanks Randy.
Ron Brennan
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Location: Orlando, Florida, USA; Formerly, Edison, NJ

SKH

Post by Ron Brennan »

Randy,

Glad your having a good time with that rivet gun...My rivet gun is only good for Airplanes. No place to put "em" on my SKH. :wink:

My Emmons is 077L and was made in May of 1983!! How did I know that? The wonderful folks at Emmons keep imaculate records. If you e-mail them your serial #, they can & will tell you, who, what, where & when data on yours or any Emmons they made.

This is another good thing about Emmons, they have great down home, genuine Customer Service, a rare thing these days.

Lastly, the sustain on this beauty is more than I have ever known. Fer sure the Hilton pedal and RV3 help... the sustain on this SKH guitar can outlast a Humpback Whale's breath on the way down to 10,000 ft... Enjoy..... :D TX

Rgds,

Ron
Clyde Lane
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Post by Clyde Lane »

What holds the two piece changer fingers together?.....Rivets
Clyde Lane
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Mike Archer
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skh emmons

Post by Mike Archer »

well ive had 4 skh emmons and i have not had any
changer problems at all.......mabe others have but i have had great service with all of mine
after all mine is 24 years old so if something does break
ill fix it .......heck its cheaper then a new steel one that
cost 3000.00 + and besides the wait
ive had 2 long legrandes and several push pulls and for the most part they have all been great steels :o
Randy Gilliam
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Emmons SKH

Post by Randy Gilliam »

The only Push Pull I Ever had Was a few Of the Cars I sold Over The Last 29 Years. All I know is All the Emmons I Have Heard Sound great. I Have Had 4 all pull guitars With very few problems.Going to play San antonio Stock show today 3.00 Till 6.30 hope Youall Can Go. Randy. b.h.m.w.b.com.
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b0b
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Re: Emmons SKH

Post by b0b »

Randy Gilliam wrote:Bob I know you are joking?
Actually, I wasn't. I didn't know what SKH meant. Initially, I thought you were talking about SKB cases, but then the post didn't make any sense.

I think we all have to remember that many readers here aren't experts, and that even seasoned players like myself have gaps in our knowledge of the instrument. Often you see people asking what's the difference between push-pull and all-pull. You can't expect anyone but a die-hard Emmons fan to know what SKH means.
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Randy Gilliam
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SKH Emmons

Post by Randy Gilliam »

bOb You are 100 percent Correct . I Found Out about the short key head emmons Right here on the wounderful Forum. I Have learned a lot and met some wonderul People ere. Keep up The Great Work bOb And hopefully All of us Can Support This Great steelGuitar Forum. thanks bob And all who Have commented. Randy Gilliam.
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Richard Argus
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Post by Richard Argus »

Hi Randy,
Have you still got your Le Grande III?
How does it compare to the SKH?
Richard
Barry Gaskell
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Location: Cheshire, UK

Post by Barry Gaskell »

Hi Guys
My twin ten SKH is 094L. I bought it from Syd Spiva and flew it to England. It's certainly the best guitar I've ever had. I broke many strings with my Bud Pro III, but I haven't broken one on the Emmons. Strangely enough I 've just bought some parts from Emmons and I got an E mail back asking what an SKH was !. Maybe young blood at the factory. It had the humbuckers on it originally and I've put a Wallace on the 9th neck and it really sings, I love it.
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Mike Archer
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skh

Post by Mike Archer »

hey Barry we know what skhs are dont we!!
great ole steels for dang sure
mine does not break string either
plus great tone
be blessed my friend
mike
JW Day
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Supports

Post by JW Day »

I have 033-L. It has the spacers between the rollers. This is one of the best guitars to stay in tune that I have ever played. String breakage is almost nill, compared to some of the other brands that I have played. I have no idea how many were made with the spacers, but they seem to be in demand. I have had A number of people inquire about this one. Some one tell me the amount on the spacer guitars, if known. JW Day
John McGuire
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Post by John McGuire »

Mike Archer, I now have 1 of your old black Emmons SN 175 L I bought it from George , I love it, have no problems with it and it sounds fantastic! Even with me playing it. I wouldn't trade it for 2 of anything else.
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Mike Archer
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skh d10

Post by Mike Archer »

yes john that steel is the real deal my friend!
i now have one just like that one but a bit earlyer
than yours
the reason i sold that steel is i got the big idea that
i didnt want to play c6 anymore WRONG so i went with a sd10 pp which was also a great steel no doubt didnt fit me to well i guess you have to wear a steel to be happy
and the tone of the skh fits my sound very well i think
you will love that steel the more you play it for sure
and its simple to make changes as well
hey be blessed and send me your address if you dont have it ill send you my gospel cds with that steel of yours on them
and the r/tracks and there no charge
god bless
mike
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Mike Archer
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skh

Post by Mike Archer »

right on JW! :wink:
only thing better then having one skh emmons is having
2 and at least one pp to pick every now and again
if i had th bucks that is................ :lol:
John McGuire
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Post by John McGuire »

Thanks for the offer Mike. I emailed you my address.
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