The Steel Guitar Forum

A friend of mine gave me an old Fender 1000 pedal steel that use to belong to his dad.

The guitar seems to work as far as it makes sound when plugged in, the tuning keys turn very smoothly and I was able to tune up the guitar.
However the guitar is definitely not in great condition.

The cables appear to need some tightening, and the pedals have extra metal pieces welded on to them to make them wider.

The paint on the body is definitely not original.

If I wanted to refurbish this guitar sometime in the future, how difficult is it to find parts for this thing?
Particularly, the pedals.

I tried a Google search and came up with nothing.

As it is now, it's not exactly a "looker" but man it's fun to play.


Thanks,

Rick

That's great, Rick!
I'd like to check it out sometime.
Cool,
Pete B.

Post some pics, Rick!

Pete,

We'll have to get together soon.

I'm gonna be in and out of town over the next two weeks, but I'll try and call you to see when we can get together.

Bent,

I'll post some pics soon.
I have to look for my camera.
It's around here somewhere.


Rick

Rick, Fender Steel Forum:

http://z8.invisionfree.com/Fender_Steel_Forum/index.php

Low traffic, good info. HTH.

I have a Fender 1000. Here's how I set it up:

It's really easy to work on!

Describe your pedals. I may have a complete and loaded rack for you. I have a few colors to choose from -- blonde, walnut and burst.

What is your case covered with? Describe your pedals.

Well, I found my camera.
Here's a picture of the Fender 1000.

Bob, thanks for posting your copedant.

Chris, I'm not sure if this picture answers your question about the type of pedals on this guitar.
As you can see, the previous owner welded pieces of metal to the pedals to make them wider.

I would like to have the pedals restored or replaced back to their original condition (or as close as possible).

Thanks to everyone who replied to this post.


Rick

I kinda like what the guy did to those original pedals. Email me and we can discuss what your options are.

Chris

Chris Lucker wrote:The three pedal racks I mention above are now spoken for with one saved for you is you wish.

Hi Chris,

I just now sent you a pm.

I might possibly be interested in these pedals.

Thanks,

Rick

Clearly not the original finish!

I like the wider pedals too. The spacing between pedals is pretty wide on these guitars. My foot sometimes slips off of them. This modification probably makes the guitar easier to play.

b0b wrote:Clearly not the original finish!

I like the wider pedals too. The spacing between pedals is pretty wide on these guitars. My foot sometimes slips off of them. This modification probably makes the guitar easier to play.

Yep, she's funky lookin'.
The guitar sounds pretty good though.

Geez, now I might have to think about just setting this guitar up and playing it the way it is for a while.

Thanks,

Rick

Leo made this guitar for Gypsy Rose Lee.

Rick, i you are looking for parts, let me know - some I have, some I can find, some I can make.

It'd be interesting to se the underside as well - to look for previous knee lever installations, changed turnbuckles/pulleys, etc.

We do have most of the info up on the Fender Steel Forum - of course, with those pedals and paint job this is an anomaly, but it still looks like a nice score.

There are several copedents used - E9 is not usually preferred because of the 1st string breakage problem (or 3rd, depending on whether you use the lower-8 or top-8 of 10-string E9), but tuning down to D9 works (as does polishing the heck out of the bridge and nut!!)

The second neck could go with C6, Fender's A6, a version of Sneaky's B6 (some of us on the Fender Steel Forum go that route as the primary neck copedent), Ed Bierly has a nice Sacred Steel tuning - the really cool part is that you can change copedents in about 15 minutes!

On this one, since it's already ben modified, you could add a second pickup to one (or both) necks or even 3 pickups (which is what I have on my 400.)

Nice score!

(PS - cable tightening is done at the turnbuckles that are connected to the pedal rod levers. Might be good to see a picture, but generally you want them snug - overtightening will cause the strings to return out of tune)/

Jim,
Here are some pictures of the Fender's underside.
I don't see anything that looks like someone might have tried to install knee levers.










Thanks,

Rick

Chris Lucker wrote:Leo made this guitar for Gypsy Rose Lee.

Blue is one of my favorite colors. Probably up close I wouldn't think the blue Fender is sharp, but I like what I see in the picture.

And, what a deal!

Now, you're a cablehead.

Yeah, mechanically it looks like a "virgin"!

Feel free to send email for maintenance/adjustment setup tips.

Sorry guys. I've been out of town for a few days and I'm just now getting around to replying to everyone.

I'm home just for this evening, then I'm off tomorrow morning again for a couple of days.

Stephen Calhoun,

"Blue is one of my favorite colors"

The color is actually growing on me.

Jim Sliff,
"Yeah, mechanically it looks like a "virgin"!
Feel free to send email for maintenance/adjustment setup tips."

Thank you so much for your offer to help.
I'll keep that in mind if I run into any problems.

Rick

I wouldn't touch the pedals unless you have visions of selling it as a collector's item, and there are so many of these around that a collector would have no trouble finding an original. I think most pedals are too narrow.

I'm not struck on the color scheme, but then, that's all a matter of personal taste. Refinishing with paint is no big deal. You just strip the instrument down, sand down the existing paint until it's level and respray. Sometimes the paint is cracked and you need to remove it all. I would avoid paint stripper as it sometimes sinks into the wood and eventually attacks the new paint. Refinishing the instrument as polished wood is a much bigger task, as you need to completely strip ALL the old paint and then re-stop the wood. But I don't believe Fender 1000s were ever sold as polished wood, and so, in the knowledge of the fact that it would be painted in the factory, the wood often has many imperfections.

Jody Carver is the one to talk to about that. He's the best expert on Fenders you will find: he used to sell them for Fender.

Alan Brookes wrote:I wouldn't touch the pedals unless you have visions of selling it as a collector's item

I'm not planning on selling this guitar at all.
It belonged to my friend's father. At this point in time, I'm planning to get it set up and play it as is.

Thank you very much for your advice.

Rick

Rick, you've got a good friend and I think it's awesome that you are going to give this orphan guitar a new home. Congrats, as I think these guitars have a classic and truly original sound.

Look ! Another BLUE one !

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT