The Steel Guitar Forum

George,

I've been / am working on an email to send you. Trying to brainstorm and compile Q/A to refine a venture platform.

Hopefully I can get that done before the fat lady rides in on the cows coming home.

Best Wishes,

Count me in for wanting to purchase a set of five if someone ventures into this opportunity. I would gladly pay $125 for a set of 5 white panels with two holes for the volume and tone controls on the audience side if it can be done.

Ditto, if they are substantial strength and have identical mold reliefs.

...but then they won't be originals.

I'd buy a entire perfect repro Bakelite if priced right.
If they're done 'right', it's like buying a perfect Shelby Cobra repro, who cares that it ain't original, it still kicks major ass and get's da girls!

You are right- they won't be originals, but 99% of the non SGF people looking at it will not know - or care. I did make some wooden Koa plates like the picture Steve Hamill posted - and even had David Lindley sign the upper treble panel, but I really like the black & white look. If I were ever to sell it (doubt it!) I would certainly let the buyer know the plates are not original. I am like Ron in that I am not too anal about 100% originality - as long as it sounds good to my ears.

Hi Denny,

I'm on the Big Island right now, but ai believe I might have a full set of the B6 plastic plates. At home in Caa. ....one has been repaired but works fine.

I'll get home on Sept 2 ( next sunday). If you haven't heard from me within a week remind me...I'd be happy to send them to you free of charge.

Best,

James

This ^^^ is what makes our little forum great, just a (sniff...) beautiful thing.

BTW, James, REALLY been enjoying your playing this year on tour, sounding like you seriously mean it!

Hello Panda Folks,

Here is the latest on the Retro fit plate adventure.

GeorgeBoards Manufacturing has made the financial decision to take on this adventure - Amusing it is feasible to do so -

I have received a full set of plates to take to my retro plastics folks for inspection of "Can they do it". 3 of these plates are broken and repaired.

In the hopefully positive response of Yes, I will have the 2 un-broken plates negative molded. (Outside top and center square)

After that I will be asking for the remaining plates to be loaned for molding.

Please note: I will not be able to use Broken and repaired plates for the Retro molds. (Players side top, and both lower plates)

I can say that it looks like the originals were injection molded similar to model airplane type molds.

Please fully understand that, All of the above estimates - figures and so on are just that, Estimates and Speculation, I have no realistic prices figured out.

After Discussion with Denny Turner and other willing donors of these parts ---
The consensus of a realistic sales retail price Ceiling to the final buyer would at $200.00 per set of all 5 elements.
GeorgeBoards will do everything in our power to bring this in at below the consensus price ceiling.


I will know much more on Tuesday when I go the the plastics shop to see what they say.
Everyone keep your fingers crossed that this will work out for all of you Panda owners that want to purchase Retro Fit front plates.

That's good news, George.
I am working on a war era B6 right now, and one thing I noticed is that the plastic plates seem to shrink somewhat over time, and the bolt holes on either side of the longer upper bout panels do not line up perfectly with the threaded receptacles inside Bakelite body.

In my case it has caused one end of the plates to break off around the bolt hole since the holes are so close to the edge of the plastic. I am not sure if this will also be an issue with the new plates, or if a pattern is taken from a plastic plate that has shrunk if the holes will line up properly.

It might be best to take the pattern off a metal plate. It makes me wonder if it might be better to offer metal plates that can be painted white, or black, or chromed or whatever. Just my two cents.

When they invented Bakelite they had no experience of how it would stand up over time. There are very few old Bakelite objects around which haven't warped in time, so Bakelite is rarely used nowadays. It was used extensively for model railroad boxcars and wheels. Over time the wheels have disintegrated and the boxcars have warped sides and roofs. I wonder what other plastics will warp over time that we don't know about yet.

Hello to all from GeorgeBoards

We have got it going on for you Panda Owners who need replacements and those of who want to protect your originals.

I can discuss Details with Interested folks.