The Steel Guitar Forum

I just acquired all the Parts etc. that the late FREEMAN GOUGAR had in his production of stated guitars. If anyone has any problems or needs concerning these guitars I will be glad to assist.Freeman did a lot for steel guitars and didn't receive the credit he deserved. I have the last unfinished Cougar and plan to finish it and keep in my collection of Historical Steel items.Thanks everybody for supporting Freeman. Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works.

Ed....I also have an unfinished Cougar Little Boss which thanks to several Forum members (notably Maurie Junod) I should get in the shop to assemble any day now. Maurie was good enough to spend the time preparing me detailed measurements since all I ended up with was a box of parts from Mark Cowgar. There are a few things missing which I can improvise but may be in touch. Are you planning to start manufacturing any instruments?

I don't plan to build any "Cougar" guitars.I will try to help anyone that has one to find any parts or solve other problems on their guitar. Hopefully I can help keep the "Cougar" name alive because "Freeman" did a lot for the Steel industry. If you need help call me. Ed

ED....please check your mail since I may get you to help with a part. With your help and some painstaking diagrams made up by Mauie Junod, I should get my Little Boss playing tunes soon. Freeman's words to me were, "...you are really going to like this guitar, it is a honker". <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by William Steward on 14 July 2003 at 06:21 AM.]</p></FONT>

William- I have been having computer problems, send me another E-mail and your phone #. I may call you. Ed

Hi Ed,

I think I have lost your 800 number and I can't seem to get you by email. It is almost a month now the shobud pedal board 31 1/2" and the three rods you promised me have not arrived yet. Do you have them? Have you sent them? Where are they?. This was supposed to be a summer project for my boy and I and school starts here in a week. Please let me know!!

Regards, Brian Henry
P.O. Box 1347
Trenton GA 30752

Hoo Boy. Here we go again.

After spending almost 90 hrs this past week trying to solve problems like finding brand new tuning keys for a 1937 lap steel, Questions like "What size thread are on Fender 400" and "Do you have parts to convert my D10 to a D11", I think it,s time to go home and take my Dogs a walk. Ed

After having bought a POS guitar from this guy at an inflated price that arrived a month late, I'd say don't do business with him. Sorry to be brutal but....CH

Chris- Thanks for the plug.I deal with thousands of customers all over the world. I sell my merchandise with a warranty and I expect my customers that if they have a problem to contact me personally. If you were unhappy or had a problem why didn,t you contact me? I have been in business almost 50 years and statistics show that for every unhappy customer there are many times more happy ones. I guarantee the parts and services I provide you will not find at your local SuperStore. ED

Chris-So that the Forumites get " THE REST OF THE STORY" , the POS you are talking about was a LITTLE BUDDY serial # 71.I shipped it 10-20-2000 with Case ,Bar, Picks, Cords,strings and other items. It had a 1 yr warranty on parts and labor and your purchase price to be applied to a trade up. Since FREEMAN COUGAR ( The Builder) is no longer with us,you have a very collectable guitar. ED

Hey Ed, that may have been a bit harsh on my part. My main complaint was that the guitar was late, and I had to do a tour without it. It made me look bad, and that's no good in this business. Sorry to sound like a jerk. Get somebody to help you so you can follow up on your delivery times. Sorry again to sound like a jerk. CH

Chris, having heard good things about Ed from other forumites.
I have also heard, "Other points of view".

I suspect that if you had told him you had a tour and absolutly needed the steel by a drop dead date, or be professionally embarrassed,
it would have gotten to you on time.

If you didn't say that... well then it arrives when it arrives in the normal pipeline of how humans, with too much on their plates, get things done.

Just 2 cents of observation and no personal invlovement. I have never done business with the man, so it remains hearsay, in both ears.
(edited)<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 23 July 2003 at 10:56 AM.]</p></FONT>

Ed Please let me know about the Shobud pedal board. I have done business with you before and I know you have a good track record. Please let me know how it is coming along. Regards, Brian

Brian- It's on the way.If I didn'd get 50 Viagra E-Mails a day, I could use that time getting out more orders. If we could somehow link the Steel Guitar Forum to all these Viagra E-Mails think how many people could find out about Steels. Maybe I shouldn't say this but-"How about a "UP" lever link???? ED

Ed. Please post or Email me your 800 number. I need to buy some parts from you.

By the way to counter the negative post that was listed here I will say that I purchased parts from Ed and received nothing but fine service!

... just remember when dealing with Ed or Bobbe or whoever it may be in the business.... we only have to deal with ONE person, that ONE person has to deal with HUNDREDS of us! From working custoemr service for years, I learned one thing, EVERY customer says their order is a 'rush job' and 'needs it yesterday'.... All you can hope to do is put all the rushes in order received, and process accordingly. I've only ordered strings through Ed but his service was top notch.
It's absurd to expect a one man shop to be able to deliver the 'same day service' that a big store like a 'guitar center' or 'musicians friend' can deliver, however, we like to deal with the one man show's for their knowledge. I personally don't mind waiting a few days longer for something when I KNOW it will be RIGHT every time. Why do we opt for a 5star restaurant over McDonalds for special occasions? We know we'll get the food quicker through mcdonalds, but the quality won't be the same as you'd get from a 5 star restaurant.
Complaining about the quality of the isntrument you bought (the Little Buddy), you should always think of the 'you get what you pay for' situation. I would bet you paid a LOT less for that little buddy than you would have paid for a brand new Zum, so why complain that it doesn't handle like the Zum? You don't complain if you buy a Ford Escort, and it doesn't have the power or performance of a Ford Mustang, since it was 1/3 the price.
Finally on waiting lists. Look at the Zum and the Emmons Lashley LeGrande, how often do you place an order for one of those and have it shipped the same day? Last I heard, both mfr's have a 6+ month waiting list.

Bob Hatcher- My number is 1-800-749-3363.My answering machine is out now and I sometimes have to leave to run erronds. But keep trying. E-mail ednaylor@zoomnet.net. ED