The Steel Guitar Forum

I am a new member and have obtained a Thomas PSG, I am looking for Pro's & con's and information and history and a site where I might find out more about them. Any thing will be a help for me.
I have been reading the forum for over a year and don't recall even seeing Thomas PSG's mentioned but once and I can't remember when & where. When I search for Roy Thomas on the net I get a lot of hits but not the right ones

click below
http://www.pedalmastersteelguitar.com/

Wasn't the man who built the Thomas guitars named Barry Thomas and was from California? I seem to remember him moving to Arizona or somewhere with his construction co. I spoke with him a number of years ago about building a handicap guitar for a late friend of mine and he told me then that he was moving and would let me know if and when he set up his equipment to build steel guitars again. The only one I ever saw was a red U-12 that he made for Jeff Newman. It was a very precisioned guitar that played and sounded great.

Oh well, a little advertising for Roy Thomas can't hurt....sorry.....

The Thomas guitar was indeed built by Barry Thomas in central California.

Thomas, a multi millionaire, built steel guitars as a hobby, and spared no expense in having the finest tools available, and getting the best wood and other materials so that he could build the best guitar he possibly could. I've never tried out one of his guitars, but they are reputed to be first rate.

I guess he got bored with building them and moved on to doing something else.

Actually, Barry didn't get bored with building them. He moved (I think) to Arizona to get his son set up in a rental equipment business. His son flaked on him and he ended having to stay and run the business. HE got re-married and I believe they moved to Oklahoma. My friend is the one who works on Barry's CNC machines, and he told me that Barry wanted him to fly to Oklahoma to set up his machines. Barry made a great guitar.

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Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler

I've been playing a Thomas for about ten years. It would be very easy for me to purchase just about any guitar I want, but I stay with my Thomas. It's a good axe and extremely easy to play. I just put in a Bill Lawrence LXR 16 pickup and I love it more than ever. Barry didn't turn out a whole bunch of steels. I've got one that he made for himself. I can't think of any cons, just pros...

Thank you all for the replys.
So Barry Thomas was the builder. That will give me another starting point, some one local had given me the name of Roy Thomas but I could not find any thing but Pedal master steels on his contacts.

The Thomas I have has Dallas PSGA on the front it is Dallas Cowboy model with the logo star on the front Cowboy Blue & Grey color with lots of Chrome. It is a double 10 String, 8 pedals with the star embossed in each pedal and has five knee levers.

It has the name Thomas on the front, but I have not found any Model or Serial number yet. But I don't know where to look for them.
Thanks again for all the help.

Your description doesn't really sound like one of Barry's guitars. A Dallas Cowboy model doesn't ring a bell. I doubt he had machinery that embossed 'stars' into the pedals, having been to his factory in Modesto to buy mine. But he DID build the worlds smallest pedal steel which was played by Jeff Newman. It's always possible that someone had one of his guitars and decided to further customize it in the manner you describe.

Actually I was just informed by e-mail that Barry did build that guitar for a Dallas Show. Sorry.

Just a note on the Dallas Guitar, I was working with Barry at the time he built the guitar, I am A Big Cowboy's fan, it was my idea to build the guitar, and put the star in the front of it. We were going to the Dallas show and I knew it would sell there, Russ Hicks fell in love with it, he was in the booth quite a few times to play it. It's funny , the guy that bought it was not a football fan, he sceen the star in the front of it and thought of it as the "Star Of David", (not me) and bought it..Barry is in OK now, theres talk of him starting back up again, so far it's all talk...one thing about Barry, you never know what he is going to do, He did build a fine guitar..

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[url=http://david_wright1.tripod.com/]My Web Page[/url]
Sierra Guitars

Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300

I have one of Barry's steel guitars (SD-10) and I love it. I wish he was still building them.

David,
There was a beautiful D-10 sunburst setting next to the Dallas Cowboy guitar. I, like you, have seen thousands of guitars and I've never seen one more beautiful than that one.
I would walk by it and drool from both sides of my mouth. Barry would laugh and say "give me $10 and it's yours".....I couldn't find anybody that would loan me 10 bucks.
BB

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If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!

According to "Switchbard" I see three
Barry Thomas' listed in Oklahoma.
One in Edmond, one in Chickasha, and one in Paden. Best regards, LBH

Hi Bobby!!!
Yes I do remember that guitar, I sold 5 guitars at that show, it was a great show for Barry, he got all of them built and then quit...looking forward to seeing you in Dallas my friend....

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[url=http://david_wright1.tripod.com/]My Web Page[/url]
Sierra Guitars

Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300

I had a double 10 Thomas for several years that was a well built & sounding guitar. Barry was very helpful whenever I had a problem with it. I think I still have his Oklahoma phone # if anyone needs it. He told me he went through a divorce & moved to Arizona & then on to Oklahoma. He said he wanted to start building guitars again, but setting up his business & his time for church left him pretty short on time to start the guitars again. I also think he didn't have all the equipment he originally had when building them. He told me that he eventually built over 1000 of his steels. Mine was a good looking blond mica with a maple inlaid neck. I like the tone of my Mullen better now though.

Bobby.......you indeed have good taste...I worked that show with Barry...I first met him in Modesto and he was playing a single made by Ivan Ward.....anyway, David did an awesome job that year and used a smoke grey burst U-12 Thomas. The late Dick Miller came by several times ( many times ) and finally told me " I've been all over this show and that sunburst is the finest looking guitar at the show. I'd have given you the ten bucks just so I could come look at it from time to time.

Hi Larry,
We both know Barry wouldn't have loand out the ten spot!!!

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[url=http://david_wright1.tripod.com/]My Web Page[/url]
Sierra Guitars

Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300