The Steel Guitar Forum

Nope. Send it to me. I got this thing to make into a D12 with one neck non pedal. Just trying to get it cleaned up and functioning with the parts I have. You know me, I am a softy for an old steel that needs some work. I have already fixed the cracks in the body, polished one end plate to a nice satin sheen and the changer is so gunked up with old black tar dried lube. I just took it apart to clean it before I try to get some pulls working. I think there is a good chance I can get a few working.

Try this Bill.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=123543

That is the same guitar I got a few weeks ago. There are pics there showing some parts that were on it that I did not get. I was looking for a basket case D12 and boy did I get one. The seller sent me these pics of the guitar all put together with some strings on it and when I got it, it was NOT together. The pics made it look like the E9 neck was at least functional but it was not. All the rods and underneath stuff was taken apart. I am going to do my best to get the guitar back on the air and functioning as a D12 with a non pedal neck on the back and the front neck I am working toward setting up in a non pedal tuning and having the pedals just change to another chord or another variation on the tuning, rather than playing licks ala E9. It would be less critical in the mechanics if it were set up like that.

It is a shame to not at least make an effort to get an old instrument like this playable. You take under consideration that the wood in this thing is 30 or 40 years old and there is some potential here for some interesting sounds. I enjoy tinkering on these. Sometimes the effort is worth it and sometimes it is just too much.

The changer is fingertip changer....the body is made by someone else...could
of been Leonard from Marlen....but there were many builders back then; that
traded parts and tried new things and built their own steels that never
marketed....>so that looks like one of them.
It is not a Marlen and it's not a sho-bud....so there ya go.
Ricky

Thanks Ricky! This guitar confused the heck outa me!

Ricky Davis wrote: It is not a Marlen and it's not a sho-bud....so there ya go.
Ricky

It's a Bud-len or a Marl-bud.

Also, not meaning to make the seller out to misrepresent the guitar. I just thought from the pic that the guitar was at least together and in some manner functioning. Now I will have to figure out the Sho Bud fingertip mechanism and how it is all hooked up and adjusted.

Might be a Sho-Mar.

From Duane Becker's website:
"prices for these Fingertips during their production run varied from eight to twelve string; single,double, or triple neck. "
But,,,,,,, Where are they?

Hey John B. check out the finger tuners on this one. It was just listed on ebay.

James, that's not a Fingertip, it's a Permanent. But then, you probably knew that.

Yes Herb, so correct you are!! My interest in this guitar was only that the fingertuners are like the ones on my fingertip. Typical is the acorn nut/fingertuner, like on John Billings and Craig Davidson's for instance. Another transitional point of interest in the world of shobuds.

This is the third or fourth auction for this guitar. A very, very nice Permanent. All wood cabinet, no endplates. Notice also that it has an adjustable scale length. There are quite a few parts missing underneath though. I'd love to buy this guitar, but, right now, for me, it's too much moola!

Bill Hatcher,
The changer you pictured is the same principle of the 2nd generation MSA (the one with 4 holes in the endplate)that sorta reminds you of a pp. I had the one that I owned apart, and the finger is the same, they just pull differently.

Ricky D. would probably come closer to knowing, except the one who built it.

Bill

James when you come to the Quad Cities we need to compare notes.

Next year Craig, I should have my '67 fingertip finished and playing at Quad Cities Show. Won't happen this spring--to many things happening. I will be playing the Blonde, most likely, but I WILL be there this spring.

Hopefully, Mike Neer will post some pics of the S-10 I missed 'cause a Forum server was down! It'll be the only S-10 I've ever seen!

Well, thought ya'll might like some pictures of my fingertip I finally completed. Tone to die for, and plays remarkably well.

It's beautiful, James! Wonderful job. I was kinda surprised to see it for sale. Glad to see you recovered your senses.

Don't you just love it when someone does a restore on an old guitar like this. Good job James...glad you didn't refinish it, sorta keeps the "look",battle scars, etc need to be left there. JMHO

BTW, what did you use on the bottom side finish?

OOPS edited to say...looks like you did refinish, my bad.

Bill

Bill Ford wrote:
BTW, what did you use on the bottom side finish?
Bill

Grease Bill, lots of grease----------------------elbo grease, that is. That pretty shine was hiding under all the tobacco and nasty residue and crud. The Mother's polish coaxed that natural metal shine out of hiding.

My Fingertip is a single neck, but only because someone removed one of the necks and installed a pad!

Jason Hull wrote:My Fingertip is a single neck, but only because someone removed one of the necks and installed a pad!

Want to post some pics?

THIS IS MY FINGERTIP:
I am not quite finished yet but it is close.I have used a lot of john coop parts, new knee levers,rods,finger brace,pu mounting plates ect.Has very good pedal action,tone, and seems to be working out very well.

Bob! Another beautiful job on a very beautiful guitar!