Jim Palenscar

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 13 Jul 2007 10:08 am

I just returned from a little visit to Oceanside and wanted to offer two cents on my experience wth Jim at Steel Guitars of North County.

As many of you may recall, last fall I sent my Emmons D10 Legrand III to one of the 'big' time guys around Nashville to get some work done, a little copedant change, a knee lever change and general tuneup as I had purchased this guitar used. As you may also recall, it was a less than satisfactory experience (though he didn't charge me a lot of money) and he had the guitar 11 (yes ELEVEN) weeks...the returned guitar had an incorrect copendant on the C6, pedals did not return to 'in tune', compensators were not touched or adjusted. And the final straw....instead of the nice naughahyde rod and leg bags that was with the guitar, it was returned with a flimsy jean material leg bag.

Ok, enough about the past.

I had called Jim several weeks ago and told him I needed a serious tune up on my guitar and we set an appointment (wow!) for me to come in. I know he had a lot of things to get done, but Jim wanted to budget time for me since I was driving such a distance. I drove down to Oceanside from San Jose (about 450 miles) and met Jim and his lovely wife Karen this past Tuesday morning a little past 10 in the morning.

I have to say walking in to Jims shop is like walking into a bit of Steel Guitar heaven. Over 30 pedal steel guitars, many lap guitars, amps, accessories, a complete machine shop, stage, comfy couch. And of course all the great graphics on the walls. We chatted for a bit before getting down to business.

In a sense, it was like going to a new doctor. Jim asked me a lot of questions about my playing, what I didn't like, what I was looking for, and took a lot of notes along the way. We probably spent the better part of an hour doing this with me behind the guitar pushing pedals and levers, Jim reaching in to make an adjustment here and there and making a recommendation about one thing or another.

The guitar then went on the bench, where Jim showed me all about compensators, spring tension, o rings, showing me how one thing relates to another.

I had figured about two days of work were due to get things in order. Jim had the guitar ready at 6PM. I had planned on staying the night anyway, so I asked if I could pick it up in the morning. No worries.

I came in Wednesday morning to find my completely polished guitar sitting plugged in on the bandstand in the shop ready to play. We chatted for a bit and I went to the guitar to check it out. Well, it was like nothing I have experienced in 35 years of playing....the guitar felt like it was built for me, every pedal, every knee lever in perfect position with perfect throws. And, the intotation was as precise as I think you can make it on these mechanical beasts. All the possible splits were in tune. Half stops felt like half stops for the first time. We removed one of the 8 knee levers cause I just couldn't figure out how or why I would need it. And it just played like buttah!

Then, as Jim chatted with another customer, I took a handful of the steels on the floor and plugged them in for a try; guitars I've never played and in some cases never seen. That took the next hour and a half. I had to leave and now I had time for a bass lesson in LA on my way home.

Well, I've dragged on here, but I am damn envious of Jim Eaton, and John McClung, Mike Perlowin and all the rest of you So Cal steelers who are so close to the shop. I'd be in there every week if it was within 50 miles. I believe that Jim represents the very best in what customer service is about, but it's not like it's a job for him. It is clear that he really loves what he does and takes great pleasure in seeing the smiling face of a fellow steeler as they play away.

I got home yesterday and had my regular Thursday night gig in San Jose. It was as good as any recent playing experience I have had. New licks were flowing and old ones were in tune and in place.

Thank you Jim. You not only fixed the guitar, but brought a little new zip into me as well.

SS

PS....ok, so it's more like 2 bucks than 2 cents. Worth the price of admission. YMMV

Mike Wheeler · Post by **Mike Wheeler** » 13 Jul 2007 10:31 am

Very nice story, Stephen.

I, too, have great praise for Jim. I needed a pedal rod and asked him if he could supply one. He could have said yes, and made a couple of bucks...but he didn't. Instead, he said the shipping would be more than the cost of the rod and offered suggestions as to how to acquire one at less cost!! THAT convinced me that Jim is as honest as the day is long, AND that I can trust his advice. He really does lookout for our mutual best interests.

Jim is a great asset to our steel community, and I hope to meet him face to face one day and tell him so!

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 13 Jul 2007 10:47 am

Well, my 150 mile drive is not quite the same as you 450 mile drive, but I guess I'm a bit closer to Oceanside. LOL Going down to see Jim next tuesday!
JE:-)>

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 13 Jul 2007 10:50 am

Steve,It's about time your guitar is working right...I know that it's been quite a thorn in your side.I met Jim for a minute in Mesa this past Jan. and found him to be a good guy.Somehow that 450 mile drive sounds like fun to me...living up here.When I lived in Texas Jerry Blanton was the guy who could fix anything,I have a couple of friends who can help me up here,but I still plan on getting my butt down to Jim's store in Oceanside some time,That would be fun,Stu

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 13 Jul 2007 11:45 am

Stu

And when you do, let me know. I'll grudgingly make the drive to see you...

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 13 Jul 2007 12:13 pm

Steve,Lunch is on me!

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 13 Jul 2007 1:54 pm

I've never heard a bad word about Jim P!

I also had a great expierience with Jim and his work shortly after he opened his shop.

I called him and told him I needed a knee lever kit for the Emmons I had at the the time, Jim fabricated it in his shop, then I made an appointment and drove from Kingman Az. to Ocean Side, had my guitar done and I was back on the road home. Wow!!

And he's a great guy to boot!!

Larry

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 13 Jul 2007 5:38 pm

Stephen Silver wrote: and he had the guitar 11 (yes ELEVEN) weeks...

At least you got it back without having to wait a long time. The well known restorers-fixers have kept my guitars from two to four years. (..and they still came back with the wrong copedent and unplayable.)

Jim Palenscar helped me a lot with my Sho-Bud when the parts that I had ordered wouldn't fit together, wouldn't fit on the guitar, and wouldn't operate correctly. I had just about given up on my Sho-Bud but thanks to Jim it is now a very nice guitar.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 13 Jul 2007 6:17 pm

I can only second the opinions of everybody else, except I'm about 90 miles away from Jim's shop.

Let us not forget Southern California's other steel guitar mecca, Blackie Taylor's shop in Riverside.

Ironically, both Jim's shop and Blackie's are on streets named Mission.

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 13 Jul 2007 6:49 pm

I'm blushing. It was a pleasure helping you Steve- and everyone else- this is a great community of folks and I'm lucky to be a very small part of it. Thanks so much for the compliments- I'll continue to try to be worthy of them.

Marc Weller · Post by **Marc Weller** » 13 Jul 2007 9:55 pm

I hereby nominate myself to the presidency of the Jim Palenscar fan club. Jim turned my unplayable Pro II Custom into a keeper in a couple of hours (75 bucks). I'm maybe a couple hours drive from his place but I haven't had any occasion to return since my Bud is working perfectly. Thanks again Jim. I need to get you up to Bakersfield for some nitro action.
MW

Jon Hyde · Post by **Jon Hyde** » 15 Jul 2007 8:30 pm

I mentioned this in another thread but it bears repeating! I was recently in Anaheim for business and I brought my 6139 Sho Bud with me hoping that Jim could fix my RKR which I just couldn't get to work right. Long story short, Jim went well out of his way to make me welcome - he fixed the lever and added a cool set screw to allow me to to change the angle of the lever (but you can hardly see it even if you're looking for it!) and I had the good luck to hang out, play steels and talk with this cool and knowlegeable guy. He showed me a couple of licks and was about the most hospitable guy I've met in a long time. I wish I could stop by his store every week. Nothing like this cool shop in Seattle, I promise you that!

Ray Harrison · Post by **Ray Harrison** » 16 Jul 2007 10:08 am

You guys go ahead, rant and rave about Jim, It's his past experience as a Vet that lets him understand all you steel animals so well. He understands all your grunts and groans.
Ha ha
He is a great guy.

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 16 Jul 2007 1:55 pm

LOL, I forgot to mention that with my steel tune up Jim offered, at no additional expense, to neuter and declaw me.

I'm still smarting from the declawing.

SS

Jon Hyde · Post by **Jon Hyde** » 16 Jul 2007 9:40 pm

a picture being worth a thousand words...

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 17 Jul 2007 5:58 am

He Truly is a "Jim" of the steel world!!!!

ed packard · Post by **ed packard** » 17 Jul 2007 6:27 am

Mr JP,

For those that may not know, tell them why you switched from vet to steel guitar shop owner/operator.

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 17 Jul 2007 12:57 pm

Adult onset asthma made me switch- the docs said if I wanted to breathe I needed to not work with dogs and cats (after 30 years- go figure)~~ so- this is way less stressful and I get to listen to great music all day and have no employees so life is really good! Thanks again for all the nice words- I'm floating around here these days

Jim West · Post by **Jim West** » 17 Jul 2007 3:03 pm

Jim is my friend and it is always a pleasure to hook up with him a discuss whatever. Jim came over to my shop yesterday and then bought me lunch, it doesn't get much better than that now does it. Jim has put his heart and soul into his store and it shows everywhere you look. When I get over his way (about 10-12 miles) I always stop in to see him and relax in his store, it's just so comfortable in there. He recently had all the logos of the major steel builders painted on his wall. You are in steel friendly territory when you're in Steel Guitars of North County.

BTW, I was there Saturday and counted 37 steels. It is absolute heaven!!!

Thanks Jim!!

Matt Chase · Post by **Matt Chase** » 17 Jul 2007 3:06 pm

Hey Jim, I used to be a small-animal vet as well!

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 17 Jul 2007 3:22 pm

I just got home from another visit with Jim today.
I got off easy this time, I only picked up a new leg bag for my D-10PP. lol
Jim was doing a "post-op" check-up on my good friend J.W's SD-12PP and had her singing like an angel in no time.
Can't wait for the next reason to head south again!
JE:-)>

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 17 Jul 2007 3:55 pm

Jim is awesome. I just got my guitar back from Jim, and it plays and looks far better than I had hoped. His service is excellent, and he goes out of his way to make sure that everything is the best it can be for the individual player. Jim is also extremely generous with his his time, and very patient. Each time I've been to his shop I've left with a lot more knowledge and understanding about steel guitars than I had going in. His shop is great, too: lots of beautiful instruments, and cool people.

Thanks Jim!

Daniel Iribarren · Post by **Daniel Iribarren** » 19 Jul 2007 7:44 am

I bought my first (and only) steel from Jim a couple of years back. Jim was very accomodating in getting the steel out to me here in Germany, always there to answer the subsequent dumb questions and just generally a great guy to deal with. This is a great thread to publicly offer up my gratitude. It's a long commute from here, but hope to visit the shop one of these days too. Thanks again, Daniel

Joe A. Camacho · Post by **Joe A. Camacho** » 19 Jul 2007 9:57 am

Every time I walk into the shop I know that I'm going to leave knowing a hell of a lot more than I thought I would ever know about steel guitar. Jim's got a wealth of knowledge and an incredible showroom of guitars. If you're looking for a particular guitar give Jim a call he probably has it.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 19 Jul 2007 6:02 pm

spoke with the man today an is sending me my m.s.a
parts out today. he is a champ in my book
hope to meet up with him in st louis....

p.w

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