BMI & Anapeg Keyless Guitars
Posted: 7 May 2003 5:04 am
In 1988 when I first met Noel Anstead he had his prototype keyless guitar in Tamworth during the country music festival in January. I had only just ordered and paid for my BMI keyless. When I had spent time with Zane Beck in late '78 & early '79 he told me about this pedal steel that he wanted to make that "fit into a saxophone case". Well, when I received that guitar in late '88, I knew that he had achieved that before he passed away in '85. Don Fritsche built me a beautiful guitar that I still play to this day. I specified that I wanted it with the small body (just the neck on a base). Don Built that guitar in the plain dark blue formica finish with Zane's tuning ... what a fine builder!!
When I saw Noel's prototype, I knew that he was making something equal to the brilliance of Zane's design. I said, at the time, that I should have ordered an Anapeg instead as an aknowledgement of its immaculate finish. However, I'm glad that I got the BMI (my third) as it has proved to be a fantastic guitar.
I've just returned from a visit to Noel to see my "soon to be Anapeg". Just like the BMI, it's been a while coming ... I ordered it just on 4 year's ago. However, last year, when Noel said that his own guitar and mine were next in line, I encouraged him to finish his own first ... which he did. Anyone who has seen that guitar would be in awe of the beautiful piece of extemely rare ringed gidgee from which he made its neck. In combination with the finesse of his perfectionist engineering, it is a unique guitar up there with any of the other fabled instruments talked about on this forum. Noel is a great fan of gidgee ... so much so that he goes on expeditions to search it out. Usable wood is rare and beautiful as well as being dense and hence, quite heavy. He told me that he had often taken note of an individual tree over a period of years.
I chose my guitar to be made from a light wood ... leopard ash ... because I want a blue finish with gold trim ... just like the prototype I saw in '88. A slight advantage in weight (not much) enhanced by a small body design.
Since building his own guitar, Noel has been gearing up to complete a bunch together (being an easier process than one by one, I believe). Hence, what I saw, was a frame, cut and dressed front, back, top and neck wood, and various mechanical & electrical parts. I got to see his latest version of the mechanism in mock up form. It's just so well made that I'm overwhelmed by his extreme focus that addresses every minute detail. I was also able to go for a "fitting" (to correctly position the two rkl and two lkl levers) using his new guitar as a model. Noel has also devised a transverse lever adjustment tha will help here.
Anyway, for those Anapeg orders awaiting, I can assure you that the wait will be more than worthwhile. Remember that the Bigsby wait list was about the same.
Graham
When I saw Noel's prototype, I knew that he was making something equal to the brilliance of Zane's design. I said, at the time, that I should have ordered an Anapeg instead as an aknowledgement of its immaculate finish. However, I'm glad that I got the BMI (my third) as it has proved to be a fantastic guitar.
I've just returned from a visit to Noel to see my "soon to be Anapeg". Just like the BMI, it's been a while coming ... I ordered it just on 4 year's ago. However, last year, when Noel said that his own guitar and mine were next in line, I encouraged him to finish his own first ... which he did. Anyone who has seen that guitar would be in awe of the beautiful piece of extemely rare ringed gidgee from which he made its neck. In combination with the finesse of his perfectionist engineering, it is a unique guitar up there with any of the other fabled instruments talked about on this forum. Noel is a great fan of gidgee ... so much so that he goes on expeditions to search it out. Usable wood is rare and beautiful as well as being dense and hence, quite heavy. He told me that he had often taken note of an individual tree over a period of years.
I chose my guitar to be made from a light wood ... leopard ash ... because I want a blue finish with gold trim ... just like the prototype I saw in '88. A slight advantage in weight (not much) enhanced by a small body design.
Since building his own guitar, Noel has been gearing up to complete a bunch together (being an easier process than one by one, I believe). Hence, what I saw, was a frame, cut and dressed front, back, top and neck wood, and various mechanical & electrical parts. I got to see his latest version of the mechanism in mock up form. It's just so well made that I'm overwhelmed by his extreme focus that addresses every minute detail. I was also able to go for a "fitting" (to correctly position the two rkl and two lkl levers) using his new guitar as a model. Noel has also devised a transverse lever adjustment tha will help here.
Anyway, for those Anapeg orders awaiting, I can assure you that the wait will be more than worthwhile. Remember that the Bigsby wait list was about the same.
Graham
