The Steel Guitar Forum

Yo Bobbe, I got the Maurice guitar from Jimmy Roy, in trade, for a beautiful sounding triple 8, and it wasn't working at all when I got it.

I'll always be very grateful to you for selling me the other ones.

Bobbe-26 BIGSBYS-WOW!
Chas-the S-10 Maurice guitar was the one I was thinking of when I mentioned You-I know that you did not initiate all the modifications to that one-and it was definitely in need of your work-everything you did was in effort to restore a fine instrument (albeit one with issues)to great working condition as you did with the Ernie Ball Bigsby when I owned it-Thank You

David, can't speak for the Gibson, but having owned a Stringmaster I'd say the Fender has more highs and lacks the buttery midrange that the Bigsbys have. Again, I think this is because of the difference in PU design more than the body construction ( which I'm sure also has an affect to a some degree ). I have two guitars at the moment that I can compare side by side, a Sho Bud permanent and a Bigsby. While the Bud sounds terrific, Bigsby still walks away as a winner with its' big, fat, clear full tone. And I think these two guitars are a close comparison, having a similar cabinet construction ( maple wood, metal endplates, raised necks, etc. ) and both being made in -63.

delete

Every time I re-read this thread and look at the pictures,(which is often) I want to know . . .

Hey Mike Neer---so what did you order?? I think I'm starting to develop "sympathy" waiting anxiety!

This is a great looking, exquisite steel guitar.

If it sounds as good as it looks, it will be worth a mint!

Will someone in the near future put an MP3 on the SGF and let us hear it?

Aloha
Don

Hi Don,
I'll try and post a sound clip here in a few weeks. Although I am having a hard enough time loading some photos of my T-8 wood neck guitar.

BTW I am only about 3 hours south of you.... you are welcome down any time.
Todd

The Clinesmith T-8, roll your orbs over this puppy. The young lady is Todd's daughter, a future Hall of Famer:

BTW I am only about 3 hours south of you.... you are welcome down any time.
Todd

That sounds like an invite, Todd. I would like to take you up on that offer. I might plan a mini-vacation down that way.

And of course, anytime that you are up this way you
are welcome to stop by. There are quite a few SGF members here in the Portland/Vancouver area. We could have a get together and even jam a little.

How does that sound?

Aloha,
Don

Would it be wrong for me to say that that the Clinesmith steel guitar could quite possibly be better than the original? After all these years of me playing Bigsbys,(still do), I feel that these guitars might quite possibly be superior to the originals.

I was very disappointed to hear a person that should know better)call these guitars "knock offs" of the original design the other day, it was a shame he was only a fan of the man and not the great steel guitar.

I will be replacing my "true Bigsbys" with this Clinesmith steel as soon as I get it. Sure, the original is worth a lot more because of its heritage, but I'm going to be playing this great Clinesmith, EVERY WHERE! With pride.

The future is bright for the sales of a guitar of this quality, I promise you the tone, playability and investmant will be three great reasons to invest in this truly great instrument.
Todd's great quality has been proven in the guitars/dobros he has already built, the quality continues, he's already building his own heritage into these great guitars.

The price he is charging today may be a fraction of it's future worth. Wish I had a dozen!

Great things in the future, I'm sure.

(Now hurry Todd, I need my guitar!!!)

Bobbster!!

Do not view these steels while driving or opperating heavy equipment.

What an endorsement from Bobbe on the new Clinesmith's!

Wow ... that is a simply stunning steel
Finding all that sweet birdseye is no small feat either!

Wow, a triple 10 with woodnecks!!! Now we know how Tom Morrell's guitar looked like when it was brand new. Todd, that is simply amazing!!

Chas thanks for posting the photos. Yes my daughter had to be in there. Maybe she will be the future of steel guitar?? I did buy her a Rickenbacker wood body 6 string in Red Bluff CA. I had this crazy vision I would drive into Red Bluff and find a Wright Custom sitting in a pawn shop. Well I found nice Ricky for cheap as a boob prize.

Don, Yes thats an invite. I would come up to Portland for a steel get together. Theres alot of steelers your up your way. That sounds like a blast. Do you know John Stein ?... or known as Doc Stein? I met him last year in Weisser Idaho and was really impressed with his 7 string Dobro playing.

Bobbe, Can't wait to get your guitar in your hands. The foundry is supposed to start casting the 10 string parts with in the next week or so. I will give it my all to live up to your expectations. Thanks so much for the positive post.

Tom, you know what it's like to wood hunt. I have driven hundreds of miles, and dug through thousands of board feet of Birdseye maple. I am heading out thursday to do it again. Although sometimes I will call a supplier and put an order in, but I sure like picking it out myself.

Jussi, thanks. Actually it's a T-8. I was going for the 1946/7 Joaquin Murphy guitar. Minus the additional tone knob on top.

Thanks to all the positive posts. I brings me great joy to be building these great guitars.
Todd

off topic

Todd Clinesmith wrote:... Although sometimes I will call a supplier and put an order in, but I sure like picking it out myself....

I love going on the hunt for wood, Its like I'm a kid again hunting for treasure

I'd be happy to trade my Rondo SX lap steel for one of those, Todd.

"Jussi, thanks. Actually it's a T-8. I was going for the 1946/7 Joaquin Murphy guitar. Minus the additional tone knob on top."

Well, duh, I guess it was all that birdseye that made me see double/triple/whatever... But ok, I guess now we know how Murph's guitar looked as brand new ( I sure know how it looks now )

This thread is just too fascinating to let it linger in 2008

My friend Hank Jones has a Clinesmith lap steel similar to the one Mike Neer sometimes uses in his videos. Hank's steel looks and sounds fantastic.

Tony L.

Rick Barnhart wrote:This thread is just too fascinating to let it linger in 2008

Agreed, its always a pleasure to see Todd's fine work

I'm very fortunate to own guitars built by such master builders as Todd Clinesmith and Tom Pettingill.

I would agree, some threads are worth revisiting. The mystic of the Bigsby story is always interesting.......

I'm hoping it won't be long before I am playing my next Clinesmith.

I will soon be offering my PA Reissue 10-10-8 for sale, if anyone will be interested in it. Pedals on both 10-string necks, and a non-pedal 8 string neck up front. It has the last two original Bigsby 10-string necks in existence.