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Post new topic Ralph Mooney's home made pedal steel
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Author Topic:  Ralph Mooney's home made pedal steel
Dave Zirbel


From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
Post  Posted 1 May 2011 6:32 am    
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Has anyone here seen this guitar close up, or can you explain how the changer and pulls worked?



DZ
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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps
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Herb Steiner


From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
Post  Posted 1 May 2011 12:28 pm    
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That guitar burned up in a fire at Mooney's car port, and he buried it in the desert outside Las Vegas. Of course, the way Vegas has grown, it could be underneath a house in a subdivision somewhere.

Moon told me the whole story awhile ago, but he's gone now and I guess the mechanicals are buried with him.
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 1 May 2011 5:02 pm    
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That was his Magnatone that he modified. He told me the pedals were tied on the legs with chicken wire straight across. On one of his earliest record dates for Wanda Jackson, she saw him setting up his pedals and said to the producer, "You better go get me someone who could play." Laughing
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Dave Zirbel


From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
Post  Posted 1 May 2011 5:56 pm    
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I thought it would a long shot if anyone here has seen that guitar. He only played it for a few years in CA and Nevada, right?

That guitar sounded great on those early Buck and Wynn records. I'm asking because I favor the tone and timbre of non pedal guitars. How great it would be to have a pedal steel that sounds like my Stringmaster!

Maybe I'll call Blackie Taylor. The few times I've stopped by his store he's told me stories about sharing gigs with Ralph. Maybe he's seen it.

Thanks guys.
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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps
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Benjamin Franz

 

From:
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Post  Posted 1 May 2011 6:40 pm    
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Hey Dave, I got my 50's Fender 400 in the ball park tone wise with a pair of 50's stringmaster pickups, wired up to blend in the same manner as a strinmaster.

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Charles Davidson

 

From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 1 May 2011 8:12 pm    
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Not sure but think Wanda Jackson told the producer AFTER the session,I want him on all my sessions from now on.[Just what I heard] YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.
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Paul Norman

 

From:
Washington, North Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 2 May 2011 3:03 pm    
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They changed their minds when they realized old
Mooney's talents didn't they?
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