The Steel Guitar Forum

I recently acquired a double NINE...I am guessing it dates from around '63-4. Is that right?
Has anyone else seen one of these? 6+2. I just added a LKR to the E9 neck. Also,in the spirit of the old 60s albums and Pete Drake,I stuck my name on the front with nice shiny letters from Wal-Mart.
It is pretty stiff mechanically but what a SOUND!

Beautiful, and yes, early. It has the flat-back pullers. The keyhead is interesting too. It's an early "super-gumby" for a Perm, I believe. But it has ball-end rollers. Likely the only 9-string heads they still had available? Neat guitar!

John, it is a later Super Gumby. The early Super Gumby keyheads had no rollers.

Here is a 1957 D-8 updated to D9 in 1959 and a couple spare keyheads I have in the parts pile.

When I acquired my FT in 1971 the 8th perdal lowered the 3rd string on C6th, and the 9th pedal had the now standard 8th pedal pulls on the 9th pedal.
This was from the factory in 1967.

Having retired June 1, 2013, I'm considering taking my FT down and having it refurbished in every way--refinished, everything metal chormed for some bling, new white bkground fretboards, and adding some knees more than the standard 4 on it now. The effort would be to make it far better than it was new--but considering the effort needed, I remind myself I am now retired. Been a while since I have posted.
Greeting to all FT owners. Wish you all the best. Larry

Chris,
I didn't think they were making the "Super Gumby's" that late. Yours have the two mounting screws too. Is there enough material on a rollerless keyhead to machine it to take ball-ends as rollers? Or would that lower the string height too much?
Just curious.
JB

John Here is the twin for that one, I am working on the restoration of it now.

Bob!
Wow! They are twins! Mine is going down to Ricky for levers.

John, mine has 3 knee levers, but I am going to replace them. Let's see what yours looks like underside also.













Mine is out now getting refinished,should be back soon. What are the odds of two of these with the same cabinet?

Bob,
I can't find a serial number on mine.

John, I think mine is one of the much later models they made. It has the newer style key head with button back Grovers, adjustable return Springs, closed back changer, and quick disconnect pedal rods like some of their later guitars. Should be a nice guitar when it's finished.

Here is mine! Does anybody know how old it is?

We'd need a few more closeup pics to speculate better about the age. Is that a double nine? I have a double nine with 6 pedals,2 knees[now 3-I added one recently]. I would love to know how many 2x9s they made.

Here are some more pictures of my fingertip guitar, I bought it from a man who said he wanted to learn to play, but never did much with it. Pictures are self-explanatory, the second picture is of the serial number underneath. It is stamped once into the frame, and once into the body, the same number. Last picture is a detailed picture of the tuning mechanism, and yes I know one of those acorn nuts is missing! But that one doesn't have a change on it anyways

I would love to find the Jeff Newman D-12. I have a 68 permanent that needs total restoration. I also have an early 70's perm that has pro II style belcranks.
The 68






The 70?





I may have the new one traded for a fingertip. I don't have a shop anymore so restoring the 68 myself isn't possible.

I would love to find the Jeff Newman D-12. I have a 68 permanent that needs total restoration. I also have an early 70's perm that has pro II style belcranks.
The 68






The 70?





I may have the new one traded for a fingertip. I don't have a shop anymore so restoring the 68 myself isn't possible.

I have finished the restoration on the S 10 Fingertip guitar. I had the cabinet completely refinished, and inlaid the name and card cluster on the front. This is the same guitar that I posted photos of a few posts back. Everything's been completely rebuilt, has four new knee levers, and a rewound pickup from Harry Jackson. This guitar plays wonderfully, and has a sound that is second to none, here are a few photos the finished product.

Way to go Bob! It's stunning!
JB

There is quite a bit of interest in Shobud Permanents lately, that I changed the title of this thread.

So anyone have some cool pics of perms? We would love to see them!

Here's my '59 Perm:
I have Grover Stay-tite tuners on this guitar--the new 18:1's. This guitar tunes up easy now. It is an awesome sounding guitar.

Beautiful guitar James!

Stratosphere pickups?

Chris Lucker wrote:Stratosphere pickups?

Yepper.

Bob Muller wrote:I have finished the restoration on the S 10 Fingertip guitar. I had the cabinet completely refinished, and inlaid the name and card cluster on the front. This is the same guitar that I posted photos of a few posts back. Everything's been completely rebuilt, has four new knee levers, and a rewound pickup from Harry Jackson. This guitar plays wonderfully, and has a sound that is second to none, here are a few photos the finished product

Hi Bob,
great job!
I'm curious. Would you please tell me the action of the LKL?
Many Thanks
Daniel

Daniel, the set up for the S-10 Fingertip is as follows:
RKR lower #2 Lower #9
RKL Raise #1 Lower #6
LKR Lower #4 Lower #8
LKL Raise #4 Raise #8
Hope this is what you wanted to know.