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Topic: Mission to Marrs. |
Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 19 Feb 2005 7:02 pm |
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I got back after a week in Nvl Friday at 1am, had to work all day starting at 6am, and today. In short I'm fried.
It turned out as good as I thought it would. And Then Some!
(At a hundred pounds including the ATA Texas Case filled with guitar, CDs motel soap, towels and various souvineers, I can safely say it's not made out of Upsidasium™  )
I have many pictures, MANY thanks, and many observations to post.
For now, I'm fine tuning the half stops etc, still unpacking, and in general still floored by my experiences in Nashville.
Pertaining to the Marrs, this thing is a masterpiece. Jeff and Duane really did it up good, and I was offered every courtesy I could have imagined.
Experience and Picture wise, I'll be adding many of both.
I can't start, as I'm still floored by the whole thing.
Lots of people I need to thank, bless their hearts.
I'll figure out where to start before long.
EJL
[This message was edited by Eric West on 19 February 2005 at 07:06 PM.] |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 20 Feb 2005 1:08 am
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| I am thoroughly convinved at this point that custom shop guitars are the way to go. I'm thinking Duane Marrs, Mike Cass, Bobby Bowman, etc. The quality of work coming from Duane marrs and Jeff Surratt is just a cut above. Like getting a dragster out of a speed shop. |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 20 Feb 2005 3:55 am
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Great Post Title!!! Bravo!
Looking forward to Pix, and a full review! |
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Carl Williams
From:
Oklahoma
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Posted 20 Feb 2005 5:12 am
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| Eric, welcome back to the planet! Can't wait to get the call from Mr. Marrs to get started on my LDG! Looking forward to your pic's and story on your trip to Tune Town! Carl |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Feb 2005 9:32 am
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Kevin. I can't describe the difference, but I'll try.
I'll start with "cabinet drop".
With the AB combo, I see about what you could call "2 cents" on the high E, and I can NOT see the needle move on the lower E.
I can now safely say that my WORN OUT PIII had about 5 to 9. It's a wonder I got paid for playing it...
The addition of verticals is going to take some getting used to. I think the cowboy boots are going to get more use on my panhead.. Bs to Bb on the LKV and I'm stuck on a good Middle Vert. I lower the As, but I don't see a need for it. Raising the F to a G is a great change for "travis" bass lines.
It's also set up so that I can add a 5 6 whole step lower on the 4th, but I'm simply too swamped to get to it.
There are a lot of things that are going to get "tweaked in" the way I will want them.
The FIRST thing I did was put a piece of leather between the necks.
As far as craftsmanship, I've NEVER seen a guitar or undercarriage that was neater, NO flaws in either the finish, no missed screw marks, no drill dances, or anything I wasn't expecting except the BEST looking setup I've seen.
There are at least five changes that I have now that I didn't before, and Jeff suggested some REAL nice ones, like raising the Eb to E with the F#s. Akso the A to Bb on the C neck with the RKR.
Considering Lloyd Green, Herb Steiner, Tommy White, Bruce Bouten, and a few "lesser knowns" have chosen Jeff under Duane to build and work on their guitars, there must be more than good reason to expect a larger operation, as the number of Sho~Buds seems to be getting larger rather than smaller.
If I start posting pictures, and relaying my experiences right, I won't get to sleep tonite.
As it is, I slept probably ten hours the whole trip, put most of a thousand miles on the poor Mitzi Galant. The little co-eds on the flight home will attest to the fact that I didn't even have time to properly shower after the first night...
I have NEVER been treated so well by people that I had never met.
I am in a swamp as to who to thank the Longest and loudest. It ends up with me mentioning somebody last. I talked to Duane about it yesterday, and he said to mention him last, bless his heart, but I CAN'T.
The final bill was MUCH less than I expected with all the extra work and changes, and I found myself demanding to pay a pitifully little more for a couple parts that he all but "threw in". If I paid what I think it's "worth", I'd be paying on my overdraft protection for a year. I feel cheap becuse I didn't demand to pay more for it, let's put it that way.
I need a way to organise the names Lloyd Green, Bobbe Seymour, John Hughey, Bobby Knight, Lynn Owsley, Mike Sweeney, Tommy White, Russ Hicks, Jeff Surratt, Duane Mars, AJ, Debbie, Brandella, Mr. Texas Case, and the Sky Cap that saved me 170$ in an order that they appear with NONE of them last, and ALL of them first. ( As it is, it took a half hour to get them in this order.
I'll push the Enter button, while I'm shaking my head, and go for it.
This one is always going to have a "long post" disclaimer on it.
Wheew..
I got a LOT of pictures, and am going to set her up outside when the weather clears this week.
Anybody that want's one done had better get it in there, the list isn't getting any shorter.
EJL |
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Scott Denniston
From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2005 9:28 am
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| Can't wait to see it Eric. I'm even more thrilled (if that's possible) with mine than the day I got it. It's so unique. It's also the best sounding steel to my ears I've ever played. To have this Professional that just plays like a dream, well....many thanks again to Duane & Jeff! |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Feb 2005 6:11 pm
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I've honestly been so swamped that I haven't even got all my stuff unpacked.
I have never had Verticals before, and am figuring out how to deal with the needed height, and balancing a few of my double stops. I've got a BUNCH of new changes, and just got the idea from MVA to sharp my C#s on the middle one for the C6.
I was basically given enough spare parts so I can make some more changes, and adjust the depth etc of the verts. I'tll take a while.
A FLOOD of pictures is forthcoming lest anybody doubt it.
I've been working since I got back to catch up and pay the bills, but I wouldn't have missed the trip for the WORLD.
Darn nice guitar.
EJL |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 21 Feb 2005 9:18 pm
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| Congrats, Eric, post me on your gig schedule and I'll come over and slobber on it some.... |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Feb 2005 9:53 pm
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Will do Dave. A couple weekends at the Flying M and then a wednesday gig closing for some act at Jubitz and I haven't checked but probably Flying M etc..
I just set the E9LKV in about 4 inches, and am going to do the same with the C6 tomorrow. Easy deal. Also balanced my half stops on the F#s which finally worked, but like an Emmons it takes a lot of retrying til you cet the holes, stops right.
Like I said, I'll be posting pix by the weekend, I just can't stop for now.
EJL |
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Dave Burr
From:
League City, TX
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Posted 2 Mar 2005 9:23 am
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Alright Eric, the weekend has come and gone... We're anxious to see pictures and hear more about your trip!!
Respectfully,
Dave Burr[This message was edited by Dave Burr on 02 March 2005 at 09:24 AM.] |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 2 Mar 2005 4:51 pm
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I know I know.... I'm doing a little painting and fitting tonite, and have most of it all set up in what's left of my mind..
This weekend for SURE.
EJL |
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kbdrost
From:
Prospect Heights, IL
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Posted 2 Mar 2005 6:50 pm
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I sent Duane a deposit to get my Pro III Custom re-habbed. I'm in line, but don't know the order. I guess the waiting really is the hardest part.
------------------
Ken Drost
steelcrazy after all these years
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