The Steel Guitar Forum

For those who already saw this on Facebook, apologies from the Department of Redundancy Department.

I built a new D-8 Console. The look is largely inspired by the old Magnatone Lyric from the early fifties, but my own take on it, with more modern features. 24" scale.

One of the salient features of this guitar is the movable pickups. I made a sliding track mechanism for the the pickup mounts that allows them to move 20mm forward and back (you saw it here first, folks…). This allows for a very wide tonal range, especially when combined with the "coil split" switch or transformer tap, or whatever you call that function on an Alumitone pickup.

I photographed it with two different fretboard styles because I still haven't decided which ones to use. The black ones are printed on vinyl, and mounted to a plastic board. Those aren't hard to make, and the design possibilities are unlimited. The white plastic ones are made the old fashioned way. Clear plastic, painted white on the back, then the fret lines cut in from the back with a table saw, and the dots milled and filled in with paint. I also made a set of brass nuts and bridges, but so far, I'm digging the sound with the aluminum ones, and the guitar has lots of sustain. I'll try to get something recorded with it soon.

Beautiful piece of work!! Can't wait to hear how it sounds...

Billy Easton

What a lovely D-8. I'm torn about the fretboards. I think the black ones are more aesthetically pleasing but I feel like I line up better with the contrast on a white fretboard. Plus you put a lot of work into the white ones. That's got to make you play better, right?

gorgeous.

Beautiful

wow ! That is beautiful !! I love the choice of woods and I am a fan of the white fretboards. that is simply stunning. i have a cd of yours you recorded of your guitar and steel playing that is great ! Very talented man !!

fabulous!!! i would have gone with even more travel for the PU.

Fantastic Jerry!

Absolutely beautiful!!!! If you have a schematic diagram, I would like to have a copy.
Joe Elk

Thank you for the kind words. Bill, I know what you mean about the pickup travel, but in this design, the pickups are mounted on the lower body, and the neck drops in over it. That means there's a practical limit to how much material can be removed without compromising the strength of the neck. Plus the aesthetics of having a large hole there. This is more about having an adjustable "sweet spot". For example, if it sounds too thin after you flip the tap switch, you can compensate by moving the pickup to the left. It's plenty of movement for a significant tonal change (it's actually more like 24mm of travel). If anything, I should have offset the hole a little more to the left, as there's really no need for it to go all the way back to where it touches the bridge. Anyway, it was just an experiment, and I'm pleased with the result. It's something I've never seen on a manufactured steel guitar, although I'm sure there are tinkerers like me that have done something similar. I suspect that now, other builders will try it, too.

What a lovely steel, Jerry! I'm just waiting for the parts for a single 8 that's my summer project, and although I've taken a great deal of inspiration for mine from the National New Yorker, I see a couple of details on yours that actually help solve a design difficulty. Thanks.
And I LOVE that little bit of protruding tailpiece!

My favorite thing about the modular Magnatone style design is the neck-to-neck balance—something which the Fenders lack.

Jerry, I'm positively giddy looking at your creation. I'm in love with the white fretboard. Also, the controls are optimally positioned for pinky swells!!!

Thanks, guys! Jeff, you're right, I did place the volume and tone knobs where they could be operated with the little finger. Pinky swells and tone wah's!

I finally got something recorded with my recently completed double 8 console. This simple Bebop tune was my attempt to write something in the style of the late bassist and composer Oscar Pettiford, who was always one of my favorites from the Bebop era. It's a little loose here and there, but I hope you will enjoy it.

https://youtu.be/NHlykkNsbLw

Jerry Gleason wrote:Anyway, it was just an experiment, and I'm pleased with the result. It's something I've never seen on a manufactured steel guitar, although I'm sure there are tinkerers like me that have done something similar. I suspect that now, other builders will try it, too.

your playing is just great!!!!

jim flynn at lonestar steels in tx makes some sliding pickup set ups on his guitars if you want that feature. i had him put that on a 6 string pedal guitar.

Absolutely love the craftsmanship and the video. Too bad all these amazing builders are over in the U.S. And not the UK

Great job as always Jerry. Wonderful playing and tone.

Todd

That was VERY good, Jerry thanks for posting that.

Thanks, guys! I appreciate all the nice comments. Sorry it's taken me a few weeks to get a video up.

Jerry Gleason wrote:I finally got something recorded with my recently completed double 8 console.

This is FANTASTIC!

Great tone and playing!

Wow, this guitar looks and sounds fantastic and the playing is brill.

I'd like to know what string brand and amp was used.

Thank you for sharing this!
Steffen

Thank you. Steffen, no amps were used in the making of this video. the steel and guitar were recorded direct. I only mic'ed the bass. As far as strings, nothing special. I stocked up on singles a while back from the sgf store, so they are probably GHS nickel wound. The wound strings were already well on their way to wearing out by the time I recorded this, but it still came out ok.

Bravo, Jerry!

Beautiful guitar, wonderful sound and excellent playing … what else is there to want? …. Well, maybe a CD with your steel playing ...

-- Jan

Nice job, Jerry! I like the look of the white fretboards myself. This makes the guitar look like an updated Magnatone double neck (not a bad thing, in my opinion).

Great job Jerry. Love the looks and sound of your guitar. Playing is great too.