The Steel Guitar Forum

What it is, I think, is its to small to see .
zero replies for maybe that reason, Ive tried to figure it but yeah i think the pic is to small.

click View Image and then use ctrl + to magnify the pic to 3X2 Inches.
Still don't know what it is but the lines it is standing on could be steel guitar strings

Thanks Bent. I think it is a frame for a vintage steel guitar, either a fender or shobud. I will try and improve the picture.

it's a Sho-Bud Ballwin Crossover frame

Its an Abacas.

Kevin Hatton wrote:Its an Abacas.

Either a Crossover frame, or part of a gargantine harmonica

It's a fence I installed on my front porch. Keeps the pigs on one side and the dogs on the other.

I've seen that on ebay......the ad said it was the frame to a Sho-Bud pedal steel.The pics with the ad make it seem that this frame was in a fire as it looks black.....I believe the starting bid was around $100.

Not sure if you can see it since it's completed but that's right. Shobud frame went for 45 bucks.

http://shop.ebay.com:80/270663115176

It's the grate out of my Mum's old fireplace !!

Let's help TB understand what this really is/was.

It is actually the frame from a 1967-1970 Sho-Bud Baldwin Crossover model steel.
It came in two versions. The standard version was a rough textured aluminum casting and painted black. There were also a few Custom versions of the casting that was polished.
A properly setup Crossover sounds fantastic, but is heavy! Due in large part to the 10 pound weight of this frame.
below are a couple of pics to show how the frame actually looks installed on the guitar.
I hope this sheds a glimmer of light on the subject.
Cheers!
Benton

despite of having a real good laugh abut all of the other answers ,
let´s thank Benton for his informative explanation and beautiful pictures.
But would you please tell us something about the lever at the end under the tuners of the guitar?

pit

My post is not a joke.

Its the secret to Pete Drake's Tammy sound. My guitar sounded so much better with that frame. That is truth.

The lever of course allows the pedals to be switched over to the other neck. Hence the name crossover. Mine worked great. Some complain of throwing it out of tune. Not possible on mine. Mine was built by Duanne Marrs who looked at it before his death. He thought it may have been built in 1966.

I´m sorry Mark and everybody else, didn´t mean to offend!
But still, would you be so kind and shead a little light on the crossover mechanism? I can´t see from the pictures how it´s working. Thanks a lot....

pit

Hi Pit!
The lever you refer to operates the changeover mechanism. You may need to enlarge the picture using (Ctrl +) in order to see the details more clearly.
The lever is connected to the cross rod at the extreme right of the picture. This cross-rod is connected to each connector via two 1/8 stainless rods and the brass fittings seen. The connector "Hooks" face to the left on the "E" neck and to the right on the "C" neck. As you currently see in the picture, the guitar has the "E" neck engaged. IE, all 6 pedals and the knee lever are operating the "E" neck. If the lever were to be moved in the opposite direction the connectors on the "E" neck will move to the right (disengaging) and the connectors on the "C" neck also moving to the right will engage. At that point all 6 pedals and the knee lever will be operating the "C" neck.
I hope this helps.
Cheers!
Benton

Thanks, Benton!

The first step was to get the frame sandblasted and then powder coated black. I had to make temporary legs and I will explain that in my next post.

Until I get some chrome legs I made some temporary legs from 1/2" threaded rod, inserted into some 1/2" water pvc used by plumbers and then inserted into 3/4" plumbertsa pvc - I then sprayed them silver!!

benton: do you have the serial number for your guitar? i had one long time ago. just wondering how close it was to the date of yours....thanks jack

Hi jack!

My Crossover Serial number: 7094. It was built in 1969, and assembled by Duane Marrs.

Cheers!
Benton

benton: mine was ser. # 7545, i bought it feb 28 1970. very good guitars....thanks jack