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First To Use Laminate?
Posted: 5 Jan 2003 8:00 pm
by Lee Baucum
Was Emmons the first to use laminate to cover a steel guitar? Whose idea was it? Buddy's? Was it a request from a buyer?
Surely one of you "old guys" will know the answer to this one. (Old being defined as older than my short 49 years!)
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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande
Posted: 6 Jan 2003 12:29 am
by chas smith
I believe it was Emmons, the story I heard was Buddy was upset about a cigarette burn on his Bigsby and wanted something that would protect the guitar.
Posted: 6 Jan 2003 7:19 am
by Bill Crook
I would proberly kill the dude that was/is stupid enought to lay a lit cigarette on my PSG !!
Now while I don't have a problem with smokers,I do expect them to treat my axe with some respect. The same goes for beer drinkers.(which I do) I wouldn't even think of placeing a "Bud" on my Steel or my amp.
Posted: 6 Jan 2003 7:58 am
by Jim Smith
The story is on the Internet somewhere, but as I recall, Buddy wanted a durable finish as he had burnt the finish of his Bigsby with cigarettes. He and Ron Lashley tried a fiberglass-type finish but it was too expensive. Ron was the one that came up with using Formica. Buddy liked the combination of black and polished aluminum/chrome and the rest is history.
Posted: 6 Jan 2003 8:16 am
by Gene Jones
I guess I'm not sure of what the definition of laminate is. ("is" sounds like Clinton?)I always thought that was what my old two-neck Supro was covered with back in 1949?
Posted: 6 Jan 2003 8:22 am
by Herb Steiner
I agree with Gene. Buddy came up with the idea for covering the
Emmons guitar... first with mica glass and ultimately formica..., but MOTS had been used for years to cover instruments. I'd say that the Harlin Multi-cord was the first
pedal steel with laminate covering.
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
Posted: 6 Jan 2003 11:09 am
by richard burton
If you look at it from a production point of view, laminate wins hands-down over a labour-intensive laquered real wood finish.
I suspect this was the real reason to use Formica.
Posted: 6 Jan 2003 11:19 am
by Earl Foote
So, can you really lay a lit cigarette on mica and not damage the mica?
Posted: 6 Jan 2003 11:30 am
by Jim Smith
I think you can if you don't leave it too long.
Lit cigarettes didn't bother the Pakkawood we used at Dekley at all.
Posted: 6 Jan 2003 12:00 pm
by Ricky Davis
WEll you'll have to Kill Buddy then...cause he's the one that layed the cigarette...ha
Ricky
Posted: 6 Jan 2003 2:30 pm
by Lee Baucum
Which is the preferred laminate - Formica or Wilsonart? Does one produce a better tone than the other?
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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande
Posted: 8 Jan 2003 10:27 am
by Bill Crook
Well Ricky....
I guess the only reason Buddy's still alive is that he burnt HIS axe,not mine !!!
(BTY) I BSs'ed and had a good time talkin' with "Buddy" at the "NTSGA SuperJam" last nite. I wish everybody could meet this "Legend" player and see just how truely a person of his fame,can be and is a true,geniune(sp) down to earth guy.
I,as a person not worthy to pick up his broken strings from the floor,was listended to and accepted into the arena of PSG players,by a man the whole world accepts as the foremost definative PSG player ever to put a bar to strings.