The Steel Guitar Forum

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Edit: finally got some good weather so I updated the post with some better pictures.
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Just got this one finished up and she has a sweet voice. Two pickups and 6 way switching offers lots of tonal possibilities.

Some basic specs
24" scale
one piece quilt maple body
cocobolo rosewood fretboard, control covers, pickup rings, and knobs
mother of pearl markers and logo
string through body cocobolo bridge with a phosphor bronze saddle
custom wound BG-Pups nickel covered humbuckers with 6 way rotary switching
corian nut
vintage style 3 on a plate lollipop tuners


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Yet another example of first class workmanship. Finishing second to NONE! Tom, what is that nut made from?

Thank you for sharing the pics.
Regards, Allan.....

Absolute eye candy, Tom.

A Dream Guitar Tom!
Congratulations on a beautiful masterpeice.

Roy

Thanks Allan, Rick, and Roy

Allan .. the nut is Corian, its fairly easy to work with and sands and polishes similar to bone.

Here are a couple more detailed shots of the bridge assembly. Its a set / glued bridge much like as done on an acoustic. As you can see in the first pic, I extend the brass tubing liners into the body. This helps with the coupling of the bridge to the body, adds some froward shear strength, and makes it easier to accurately set the bridge once the finish is done.

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That brass tubing idea is great - I really like what you did there.

Tom, that is absolutely gorgeous, like all of your work. A real stunner. Do ya think you could incorporate the electronics so that a few of those 5 position settings could be 'dobro-simulator'? Now that might actually get me to trade you some money for one... just a notion...

Woof Woof, Growl Growl. That's a beauty.

Thanks Chad, Jim, and Richard

Jim ... I don't see any reason you could not incorporate an on board effects unit. You could take something like the Bobro and build it in. Sounds like a fun project to me

Tom Pettingill wrote:Thanks Chad, Jim, and Richard

You could take something like the Bobro and build it in. Sounds like a fun project to me

Tom,
You are having too much fun already.

James.

Tom Pettingill wrote:Jim ... I don't see any reason you could not incorporate an on board effects unit.

You don't see any reason why EYE couldn't do that?? Hah! Well, that's just cuz we haven't met yet. I'm a total dunce when it comes to such things, believe me.

SWEET!! I love what you did with the tubes and the bridge area with the cocobolo trim. You are an artiste' sir.

GORGEOUS!
Tom, how many man-hours invested?

Thanks again all

James ... LoL no such thing as too much fun!

Jim ... Let me re phrase that , I don't see any reason we /I could not incorporate an on board effects unit. The players side blank cover area should be big enough to house an on board effects unit with a battery box in the back. I've not actually used one of the resonator effects unit so I could not comment on how well they do or don't work.

Steve ... your #1's bridge is setup the same way. That whole bridge design has been working out great. It takes more time to do them that way, but I think the payoff is worth it.

Rick ... I did not keep track of the time invested and I'm not sure I want to know, but its a bunch. 100 years from now no one will care how long it took anyways, they will just sit back, smile, and make her sing.

Beautiful Tom! Any chance of some audio samples?

Thanks Steve .. unfortunately I don't have any recording gear at the moment. I had / have a Line6 Toneport, but it seems to have given up the ghost.

Tom you are the Maple Man. your slogan should be "have maple -will build"You have become a standard for excellence in building lap steels.Between yours and the Clinesmiths,the beauty abounds!!! Gary

Thanks Gary its pretty easy to make nice maple look good. The hard part is paying the price for the fancy stuff.

Great stuff as usual Tom!

Great job Tom.
Very creative and unique stylings.
Todd

Another beauty Tom! I love your designs and extraordinary attention to detail!

Fred

Wow, that is a piece of artwork. That is a mighty fine and tasty craftsmanship. Any sound clips?

Thanks Mike, Todd, Fred, and Will, your kind words are much apreciated

Will, unfortunately I don't have a way to record anything at the moment. Even then, I'm a hack and couldn't do it justice anyways. I've come to the realization that my talents are best suited to creating them and not in playing them. I'm lucky that I'm easily entertained by the simple melody's I can play.

Fantastic looking instrument. You are the man for beautiful lap steels Tom

Thanks Bill Wish I had a way to record, she has a sweet voice. I'm quite happy with the phosphor bronze bridge saddle, sweeter and more lively / articulate than brass and a bit warmer than steel.