The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi,
I am trying to find out as much of the history of my guitar as I can. It is a 1966 Emmons bolt-on push-pull, double-10, black mica, serial number 2736 on the inside of the endplate.
What I do know is that a few years ago the guitar came to California (where I acquired the guitar) from Steel Guitars of Nashville.
I would like to find out about its history prior to Steel Guitars of Nashville.
Does anyone know this guitar or this serial number? Anyone used to own this one?

Thanks!
Cliff

According to Warranty Registration, PSG was built in 1980. Was sold to Herbert Music Company out of Charleston West Virginia.

Dear Emmons, thank you very much for your help. I really appreciate you taking the time to confim that, but I am a little confused: I believe this is a 1966 bolt-on push-pull guitar with the number 2736 being from the early series of "invoice numbers" used before Emmons started the XXXXD format for serial numbers. How could it be from 1980? Was this a factory reproduction? I am attaching a photo of the guitar and the "invoice number"on the end plate. Note that there is no "D" after the numbers.

Thank you,
Cliff

I sent the following to the Emmons company some time ago. The inquiry may have fallen between the cracks, so I will post here in hopes that someone may see and reply. Thanks in advance to my friends at Emmons.

Dear Friends,

Could you please provide whatever records or information you may have on my D10 Push-pull?
The serial number is 1263. Black mica with metal necks.

I do hope you can help me, as I love this guitar, it is in very good and original condition, but I wish to know all there is to know about it.

Thanks in advance.

Regards and best wishes.

John Widgren
Wilton, CT
www.johnwidgren.com

Hey John,
if your number has a "D" stamped after it, according to this chart: http://www.steelguitar.com/resource/pus ... ull_sn.htm it would be 1968.....Does that seem right to you?

Guitar appears to be mid 60's. Probably not the original end plate.

Definately not 1980!

Doug

I am going to go through the invoices and try to find the original bill of sale. Give me a couple of days to do this... We have all paper work going back to as eary 60's... The only thing we see different right now (your photos), is that you should have a name plate instead of a sticker. The underside of your body is flocked black instead of red for the 60's time... That not saying that someone over the years did some work on this PSG. Also, looks like the screws are incorrect for the bolt-on. Again minor stuff... Don't worry let me do some digg'n and I will pass on what I find... In regards to the Carter web site, We do not support or endorse the significance of their material, ie Serial Numbers. Carter should remove the Emmons Serial Number List. This way "confusion" could be eliminated. Regards, Talk to you soon.

I will also check and find out information for you as well and post back.... Regards.

That is awesome...thank you! I look forward to hearing what you find.

Cliff

So when you bought it you where told it was a '66 guitar?

I am surprised that Emmons would state that your guitar should be flocked red rather than black. That is clearly a mistake on their part. There were 1965 Wraparounds with black flocking -- I have one with the invoice number 2137. I also have a transitional Bolt-on with the invoice number 2283 that has red flocking and always has. So, for a period, guitars could be flocked either red or black. I have also heard of at least one Emmons flocked brown.
Cliff, you have a 1966 invoice number Emmons pre-dating the switch to the serial numbers with the Letter designation -- 1090D, for example, which is a 1967 Double Ten.
The earliest Emmons numbering system I have is on my #2 which is ES130002.
The next numbering system I have on a guitar is on my #5 which is 764005 which means July 1964 number 5.
My #8 is 1164008W which means November 1964 Emmons guitar #8 with wood necks, which was an option.
After May or so in 1965 Emmons switched to using the number appearing on the order invoice.
In 1967 (give or take a few months) Emmons switched to using the number with a D, for example, to designate double tens. This sort of started with the number 1001, however neither 1001 or 1002 have Ds, but I believe 1003 D exists.

Thank you for that excellent information, Chris. Much appreciated!

Cliff

I concur with Chris. The black pick-up top,decal,neck, tuning screw springs, pick up wire, and general apperance look like that of a '66 era model.

Serial numbers from that era are confusing. Post some more pictures, I'd love to see them.

Certainly not an 80's model.

Doug

I guess most of us can see that 2736 is a -66 model.
2736D is a 1979 (maybe sold in 1980?) so it's just a little error from the Emmons people.

Dag

Chris, I know of 2 66's flocked brown. Original for sure.

Doug, you've come a long way fast. Just last week you were asking Forum members to help date you're PP.

My '66 D-10 bolt-on is #2615

FWIW, I never questioned the year, I know already that it is a '66; what I was interested in was finding out with this post is about the guitar's history. Perhaps Emmons will find the original invoice (that would be pretty cool), or a previous owner will recognize the number.

Thanks everyone for your help,
Cliff

Bobby, yeah! Still need help on the S-10 serial number. Can you help? The D-10 is for sure not a 1980's model. I built hundreds of those and can tell from the pix it is not from that era.

Doug Palmer

Doug.......I received the new P/P bellcranks you made. They look perfect.

Doug, I replied to your PM......bb

Emmons Guitars wrote:Also, it looks like the screws are incorrect for the bolt-on.

I've seen those same type screws on most other bolt-ons as well.

I have an Emmons p/p with serial number 1002.
I have always assumed this was a 1966.

Dag Wolf wrote:I guess most of us can see that 2736 is a -66 model.
2736D is a 1979 (maybe sold in 1980?) so it's just a little error from the Emmons people.

Dag

Yeps... if you look at the Emmons post, 2736D is in the subject line.

Rick

That salmon color is pretty ugly Erv......I think you should sell it to me!
It probably doesn't sound as good as a black one anyway

Kevin,
I wouldn't want you playing an UGLY guitar!
BTW: It isn't salmon, it's "China Red"!