The Steel Guitar Forum

Brad,
I had a black mica SD-10 Fessy, I now have a lacquer D-10,(see above)
If anything, the lacquer guitar is maybe a little fatter,fuller tone. I love the tone of mine.
Ron

Simply put it has everything, tone sustain looks and it doesn't break strings and stays in tune.I almost never have to touch it from day to day playing at home. I had a sho-bud pro model that i was constantly tuning.
mMine is a red mica SD10+4 and i love it
thank you Jerry.

Jimmie

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<font size=1>Drew Howard - website - Fessenden D-10 8/8, Fessenden SD-12 5/5 (Ext E9), Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3</font>

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Drew Howard on 10 October 2005 at 05:32 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Drew Howard on 10 October 2005 at 05:32 PM.]</p></FONT>

Jay,
Jerry will put whatever you want on a guitar. Both of mine came with BL712's, but I didn't like that pickup on my guitars -- one ended up with a 912 and the one in the picture now has a TrueTone which is my current pickup du jour. Looks like Jerry's installing a few too. I know he also likes the Jim Pittman pickups.

Brad -- that would be a good question for Dr. Cohen. He's had the experience. I personally don't think there's much difference, but I never owned a lacquer Fessy. Mark Giles certainly makes gorgeous bodies.

Drew -- the white looks great -- esp on that dark guitar. White board is really nice and the white pickup top really sets it off. PRETTY GUITAR
(not to mention that work of art Ron has -- all Jerry's guitars are handsome, but that stain is to die for)

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<small>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


<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 10 October 2005 at 09:59 PM.]</p></FONT>

The top photo is a rosewood/maple metal neck Fessy (cabinet by Dick Miller) from 1995 now happily owned by Wayne Franco, an excellent guitar that I replaced with the coco bolo/maple woodneck (cabinet by Mark Giles) shown below.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association


<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 11 October 2005 at 06:23 AM.]</p></FONT>

Brad--

I own both--a D10 lacquer and a SD10 mica. They both sound awesome, not as much difference as you might think. The lacquer has a sort of compressed tone if that makes sense. It's really not a lot warmer than the mica, has a little bit less sustain (which is still huge), and has a nice punch. The mica one is my favorite, it records really well--sits in a track really nicely. Bright, without being harsh, and a great midrange that lets you pull it into the track and it still sings. Both guitars have BL 710's (as will my new one).

My next one that will be started shortly will be a D10 mica with wood necks--can't wait to see how that turns out

Here's mine:

<i>"If you're fussy, get a Fessy"

I love mine. Got it this spring. U12,can see it on my bands web site. Joe
www.willowcreekband.com

WOW!! I think everyone loves their Fessenden. Those are some beautiful guitars.
Looks like I made a good move!

Who else likes their Fessenden?
Come-on it's time to Fess-up.

Link to my wood body D-10...I think by Dick Miller
http://www.benzianlist.com/fess.html

I like it!!

Check out the new Robert Randolf Fessy

PS--the custom flamed finish is by Mike Winchester of East Montpelier, VT.

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by John Macy on 18 October 2005 at 04:35 PM.]</p></FONT>

I love my Fessy I never heard a more pleasant sound coming from a Steel Guitar.Jerry sure does build a great Pedal Steel guitar,They look,play.and sound great.

I get my brand new S-10 (1-1/2 frame) on Wednesday. Black mica. I can't wait. Never had a "new" steel before. My '77 push/pull sd-10 is not happy about this one bit.

Brad

I like mine! I rarely play my Emmons these days.




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<small>Bill Moore...
my steel guitar web page</font>

I've got a brand-new Fessy and its just soooo nice. Mark Giles and Jerry Fessenden are quite a team. I met them both at the Dallas show last year.

I can't imagine anyone doing a better job on the wood and the inlays than Mark. Its beautiful and flawless. And Jerry did a great job on the hardware part too. One thing real important to me is having everything line up level and straight and it sure does. Of course the tone is great and the sustain is wonderful!

I'll submit a photo or two when I can...I'd love to show it off. Anyhow, I'm sure having a good time practicing on such a very fine instrument. And its the prettiest of all too...it would get first prize in a beauty contest.

Fessy's have a huge, FAT tone. I've heard it suggested that it's because he uses thicker wood than most builders. It's true that they're not the lightest guitars on the market. And there are some quirks to his design, like the pedal rods attaching on the opposite side of the pedals from most brands, larger than normal-sized tuning nuts, no bushings on cross-shafts, no lock-washers on knee lever stop screws. . . but Jerry strikes me a as a very pragmatic guy, and the things he "leaves off" (compared to other designs) don't seem to really be necessary or affect the performance of the guitar - at least not negatively. . .and maybe they have something to do with the sound. . . there's definitely a very straight-forward elegance to his mechanics. And I swear his bellcranks are the easiest ones to work with for setup changes.

Great guitars. The only other thing I would say to a prospective buyer is to sit behind one and make sure it's ergonomically comfortable - Jerry's a pretty big guy, and his steels are roomy-feeling, which I'm sure is another reason why a lot of people like them. Different from compact designs like Carter, Williams, GFI.

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"And there are some quirks to his design, like the pedal rods attaching on the opposite side of the pedals from most brands..."
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Hey, Paul, I'm wondering if this is still true? The last few new guitars I've seen have the rods attaching to the left side of the pedal (as viewed from sitting behind the guitar). Just like most other brands.

Either way, as you pointed out in a post last year, it's very easy to switch the rods around to attach to the opposite side of the pedals. I made this change on my SD-12U, and it moved the pedals over to the right a little bit, making them line up better with the left knee lever cluster. So, thanks for posting that info describing how easy it is to make the change.

I love both of mine, especially my D-10. Great guitars at very fair prices.

Count me in, with a Red U12. My Carter hasn't left the case since I got the Fessy, and I sold the Zum. Thinking about ordering a new one.

I also believe that the Fessy is easier to work on that the Carter or Zum.

Tucker - I don't know, maybe he did change that. Haven't seen a new one recently. . . but yes, it's not a very big project to switch them, just gotta drill a few new holes on the bottom side of the pedal rack. I would think you could ask Jerry to do this for you on a new steel.

There's lots of happy Fessenden owners out there. I saw Tommy Whites new Guitar on the Opry Live show, it was purtty!!!!!!!

Jerry builds a great guitar!
You owe it to yourself to try one out.
Anyone else want to Fess-Up about this great guitar?

<SMALL>I love both of mine, especially my D-10</SMALL>

Yeah, rub it in, Bob...