Do They Really Sound Like A Push Pull Emmons?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 9 May 2008 4:03 pm

Tommy, if every "Emm-a-holic" (or even a good percentage of 'em) could play like you do, I might believe some of what they say!

Until then, I'll guess I'll jus' be happy with ma' "Tupperware".

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 9 May 2008 9:14 pm

Wow Donny, can't believe you said that!

I can recommend a good lawyer!

Yer a good boy Donny!

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 9 May 2008 10:14 pm

Bobbe Did you Trade your Edsel in? I Have Anouther Offbread Comeing Next Week . winter Will be here Soon I May use It For Firewood. Wait It Aint Made out Of wood. Oh Well. $:\$

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 9 May 2008 10:42 pm

Tommy White question:

Tommy, in 1999 I bought from you the second Emmons you sold that fall. The first you sold was a 1976 D-10. I got from you the 1982 8/6 Emmons you were using on the Opry before switching to a Derby for a while. That 1982 guitar had a sparkly sonic quality to it.

What, if anything, did you have done to those pickups? Was the wire bigger in diameter? Different magnets?

I wish I never sold the guitar but I got the Red Belly fever and could not be satisfied with a later Emmons. I have been told by a fine Emmons restoration man who independently noticed the same quality about that 1982 guitar that the guitar now has different pickups and that the sparkle is gone.

Did you have custom pickups in that guitar?

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 10 May 2008 12:08 am

Hello everybody, my name is Danny Bates and i am an "Emm-a-holic"... (head bowed in shame)

There's a lot of truth to Donny's statement. Playing any steel guitar is like an addiction. Much like a drug addiction, you get used to the sound and must have it.

I am an "all pull" and a "push/pull" owner. I fight those tractor pedals only for the tone. That makes the "Emm-a-holic" disease worse. I wish I never owned a push/pull because now I gotta have that drug for life.

Analogy:
Push/Pull = Harley,'57 T-Bird. Heroin addiction
All pull= Gold Wing, Mercedes, Cocaine addiction

We're all addicts for the steel guitar.

"Can't we all just get along?"
Rodney King

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 10 May 2008 3:46 am

Set up the push pull properly and it will stay in tune and play as good as any guitar. This is Danny from SGN - quiet but very knowledgeable on setting up pedal steel guitars. Nice guy too.

You will see one or two cardboard ears lying on the workbench. Bobbe must have ripped them off of one or two of his customers.

....................................................................................................

Ron Mawn who lives near me has a lighter action on his P/P pedals after tinkering around with it.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 10 May 2008 9:18 am

Donny Hinson wrote:
When I hire a contractor, I look at and judge him by his work. I could care less what's in his tool box.
Yes, Donnie, but I bet he cares a whole lot about the brands of tools he uses. A lot of the PP allure seems to derive from the pleasure it gives the player.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 10 May 2008 9:59 am

danny...i like the analogy, having owned a '55 panhead, an '86 wing, a zum and p/p's, and growing up in the drug era...

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 10 May 2008 12:46 pm

All right Chris! If you ever get down this way you better give me a shout & stop by! Mi casa es su casa Senor. I'll be playing this event July 25
http://www.thunderinfresno.com/index.php?n=1&id=1

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 10 May 2008 12:46 pm

Donny Hinson wrote:Tommy, if every "Emm-a-holic" (or even a good percentage of 'em) could play like you do, I might believe some of what they say!

But Donny, if you don't play as good as Tommy either, does that mean you don't even believe yourself???

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 10 May 2008 1:39 pm

Chris,
That Particular Emmons guitar was sold to you just as it came from the factory to me. Nothing but stock pickups. I have no idea what the pickups were wound to. I just know it was a great horn. Like so many others, I should have kept it.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 10 May 2008 4:57 pm

But Donny, if you don't play as good as Tommy either, does that mean you don't even believe yourself???

Duane, I think it's pretty obvious, but I'll spell it out anyway. I'm not the one here continually trying to make make everyone believe what I'm playing is the best. I'm not the one here continually trying to give everyone else a damn complex because they play something different. I'm not the one here continually claiming there's some "magic" in a stupid guitar. And lastly, I'm not the one here calling everyone else a "cardboard ear" or thinkin' they're a weirdo because they're not ga-ga over a certain brand.

I don't much care what anyone uses, you can play whatever you like. The constant bragging, though, about your personal favorite (no matter what it is) gets very old after awhile. Builders and dealers will continue to do what they gotta do to sell something. Why not leave the "selling" to them? As a player, I'd think you would want to be respected and liked by everyone - not just those that play the same rig you do.

Think about it.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 10 May 2008 7:06 pm

Donny, don't get upset, I'm as bad as anyone here about pushing my humor to the breaking point. You are an old friend, I hate to see you angry,

I don't even sell some brands I like, but I do like some brands I sell

.

We are really all friends here (I hope) so I'll try not to push any of your buttons that might make you punch me next time you see me.

Let's all have a good time here and just remember, the only one that really knows what he's taling about is ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,me!

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 10 May 2008 8:48 pm

Donnie Not Trying To Bragg or Rile Anybody up' I Just Like Buying and Selling Steels and amps. I Love The Chance Too Get To try Them a Few Days And Sell Them and Get More. I am Not Buddy Emmons And Dont Imagine You are Either.I just Love The steel and Play Every Chance I Get. Your Forum Pal Randy.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 10 May 2008 9:13 pm

Ok Randy, buy more from me, it's been a while!
Bobbe

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 10 May 2008 9:16 pm

Hey Bobbe I Check your Site almost every Day. You Will get some More Money Out Of me Your Pal Randy.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 10 May 2008 9:53 pm

Hello to all my steel guitar friends. My name is Nick Reed and just like my good friend Danny Bates. . . .I too must admit, I'm a "Emm-o-holic".

But it ain't such a bad disease to have.

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 10 May 2008 10:13 pm

Dang, dude - I was just pulling your chain a little, Donny - calm down!

Heck, I don't care who likes what either. There's other brands besides Emmons that people brag up that I don't necessarily care for, but there's no problem, even if they said that it meant I don't have an ear. I had one guy tell me I needed to have my hearing checked (and he was on the offense) because I didn't find a particular mod very pleasing, necessarily, but I don't get my hackles up at people who do love it and brag it up, at all.

I was only trying to loosen you up a little; you're getting too worked up over the p/p tone. To say it isn't the best, even by a long shot, is a perfectly acceptable answer - many well respected people will agree. I love it but I also will agree that it isn't the ideal tool for every job.

Anyway, ease up on the Emm-a-holics - people like to go on about things they like. You don't have to let one "cardboard ear" remark, which I'm sure was not meant to be offensive, make you come out swinging against all the other Emm-a-holics.

Hello, my name is Duane and I'm an Emm-a-holic.

"Hi, Duane!"

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 11 May 2008 4:34 am

My name is Russ and I'm a split tail, fat back guy ... but my steel is a ZB?

Russ

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 11 May 2008 5:25 am

I apologize, Duane. I often get too involved in this stuff. And I don't mind someone buying something and then telling the world they like it, that's fine too. Of course, anything can be (and often is) taken to ridiculous extremes. And anything can be repeated only so often before it evokes the "Oh no, here we go again..." response from me, whether it's a good product or not. I hear a recommendation once or twice from someone, and I think..."Good information, thanks for telling me. After I hear it dozens of times from the same person, however, it begins to sound like Billy Mays shouting his way through another stupid "Oxy-Clean" commercial on TV.

I don't care how good "Oxy-Clean" works, 'cause frankly...I'm sick of hearing about it.

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 11 May 2008 5:52 am

I ordered an all-pull from Ron Jr, (never met him before) in 2002. He had this one, a lacquer, available so I bought it. He told me what to do in case it was delivered damaged, it wasn't, and I am still happy with it. Later, I drove to Emmons in N.C. to get a modification done. I found Ron and his family to be some of the friendliest folks I've ever done business with. I took the guitar down, sans case and he let me use one of his to return home which I shipped back. While I was there, there were psg lined up on the tables with work orders, one, I remember was being built for John Hughey and he was redoing another for another famous musician. I amazed at how skillfully he worked on mine, and I am not in the league with any of these guys, and I just had a great time during my visit. I was most pleased with the cost he charged me. Recently I acquired an Emmons PP that was owned and used by a very famous musician and it has the best tone I've ever heard. I seldom have the energy to set it up and play it, but I have the greatest pleasure thinking of him playing it and at one time it was in his home; then too I suppose that's why some us collect things.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 12 May 2008 7:19 am

Billy Mays huh? I thought it was just me that he drove crazy. I can't hit "mute" fast enough when I hear that irratating yelling voice. I'd never buy anything he barked about,

Donny, you made a good point there.

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 12 May 2008 1:17 pm

By the way guys, have you checked out the new post about Buzz Evans, playing a Mullen? I don't get out much and had never heard of him, but if anyone knows of a dealer selling his CDs I'm very interested.

Michael Pierce · Post by **Michael Pierce** » 12 May 2008 1:21 pm

I ordered the Buzz Evans CD directly from him via email. Absolutely fantastic.

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 12 May 2008 1:42 pm

Michael, what is his web-site address? I tried his name and didn't get anything. Thank you.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Do They Really Sound Like A Push Pull Emmons?

Edsel

Tommy White Question

Donnie

Steels