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Author
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Topic: Pictures of PST 13 - Ed Packard's BEAST
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Per Berner
Member From: Skövde, Sweden
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posted 04 February 2005 08:02 AM
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With kind permission from Ed himself, here are some enhanced photos of his 30" scale 14-string super steel: 
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Per Berner
Member From: Skövde, Sweden
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posted 04 February 2005 08:04 AM
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And some more: 
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Per Berner
Member From: Skövde, Sweden
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posted 04 February 2005 08:06 AM
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And the last ones: 
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Ray Minich
Member From: Limestone, New York, USA
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posted 04 February 2005 09:35 AM
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Wow! Thatsa lotta parts. Beautiful. Howzit sound? The pedals are really great looking, lotta hard work went into this creation. How many cross rods?
There look to be "fins" between the pull rod tuning nut stacks. Was that end plate machined from a solid chunk including the suspected "fins" or are the "fins" something else. My compliments to the fella that spent all the time at the buffing wheel too.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 04 February 2005 at 09:44 AM.] |
ed packard
Member From: Show Low AZ
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posted 04 February 2005 09:50 AM
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Ray;
Cross shafts = machined to hold 20...17 are used.The "fins" are probably the plates between the changer fingers. The compression springs behind each bell crank keep the rods/barrel nuts from falling out of the bell crank slots when all the strings are removed. End plates are 3/8" thick solid. Re sound, ..got good reviews at the AZ show. I like it (no big surprise there!). The Spectrum analyzer data holds the truth of the matter.
[This message was edited by ed packard on 04 February 2005 at 12:20 PM.] |
Dean Parks
Member From: Sherman Oaks, California, USA
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posted 04 February 2005 10:12 AM
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ed-what guage on your 3rd string (assuming it's E9)? -dean- |
Travis Bernhardt
Member From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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posted 04 February 2005 10:33 AM
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That's inspiring! I'd love to hear it.-Travis |
ed packard
Member From: Show Low AZ
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posted 04 February 2005 10:37 AM
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The smallest string gauge is 0.011". I just put them in a different order like as in C6 configuration.The 0.011 = G# for the E9 folk...It = E for my C69 tuning structure on the longer scale = 29.730" |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 04 February 2005 12:15 PM
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Run for your lives, it's GUITARZILLA!That's awesome, Ed...a beautiful poece of work! I'd love to hear you play it.  |
ed packard
Member From: Show Low AZ
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posted 04 February 2005 12:29 PM
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DH; I don't think so...even I don't like to hear me play...it or anything else for that matter!!!Wait till you see its baby brother...at Dallas. |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 04 February 2005 12:54 PM
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You tune it JI, or ET?
Seriously, that is a machinist's work of art! I'd love to hear it![This message was edited by Stephen Gambrell on 04 February 2005 at 12:56 PM.] |
ed packard
Member From: Show Low AZ
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posted 04 February 2005 02:43 PM
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Steve;
It is mostly Sierra Session series hardware, with PST additives. Great job of assemble and adjusting by Tom Baker. Surprise,..extra machining by Don Christensen.Re the tuning...straight up with maybe a tiny tweak...because when using the 13 series necks each tone in a seven tone chord is a possible root, a 3rd, a 5th, or any other interval. |
Jennings Ward
Member From: Edgewater, Florida, USA
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posted 04 February 2005 08:15 PM
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NOHING BUT FANTASIC, ED. I SURE DO APPRECIATE QUALITY,, AND I AM SURE THAT IT HAS ITS OWN DISTINCTIVE SOUND.. SOUNDS LIKE NOTHING ELSE, I HOPE.. I WOULD LOVE TO RUN A FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST AND A SPECTRUM ANALIZATION, JUST TO SATISFR MY EGO.... THANKS ED. AMD GOOD LUCK WITH IT.......JENNINGS.....PS,,,, THANKS FOR THE CHORD AND TUNING CHARTS..........------------------
EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +
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Tom Gorr
Member From: Three Hills, Alberta
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posted 07 February 2005 05:57 PM
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cool...!I think I'll start a thread on another one of Ed Packard's treasures! Stay tuned! (haha..cough..cough) |
Frank Parish
Member From: Nashville,Tn. USA
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posted 08 February 2005 05:02 AM
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How much does it weigh? |
ed packard
Member From: Show Low AZ
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posted 08 February 2005 07:42 AM
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FP et al.
The vital stats for the BEAST are:
Body length = 35"
Scale length = 29.730"
Top plate width = 8"
Body bottom = 9.5"
skirt depth = 3.5"
Body/skirt thickness = 1/4"
End plate thickness = 1/2"
Body/rails/pedals/etc. material = 6061 T6
Changer = 4&3.
Changer and tuner integrated into a single unit.
Changer and tuner assembly on players left.
10 pedals, 7 levers, and a lok.
Pedal leverage/feel...adjustable, bell crank and both ends of pedal rods.
Lever feel...adjustable at bell cranks.
Two pickups.
Hollow neck, drop in/on neckplate = circuitry/illumination, and other "stuff".
Tuning = C69...like the uni E9 but extended.
Basic musical necks = C69,F6,G6,E9,A9,CM13,Cm13,C13,CM13s4,C13s4, and more.
String gauges and tensions like 12 strings +0.095 for string 14.
Strings at both ends are on 11/32" centers.
Neck tension = 372 pounds total.
Weight = 51 lbs without case (Sho-Bud professional = 50.5 lbs on the same scale).
Fastest string change in the industry.
Change in the "E"(0.014 string)with P1P2 activated = 3 cents on VS-II tuner.
Chord count beats any PSG that I have seen.
Chord location covered in another thread, plus via direct Email.
Wheeled case ala Sierra.
Comments = Too long, too wide, and built backwards!=> Sho-Bud Prof' D10 is -1.5" L, +4.0" W, has 6 more strings.
Sustain & Tone = Same comments as other makers/owners...but backed up via instrumentation = frequency spectrum analyzer...see & hear the evidence at Dallas.
FEA vibration/stress analysis now underway.Wait till you see the BABY BEAST = S10 E9 24.25" scale, string top leveling, 3X5 with the PST hardware; See it at Dallas![This message was edited by ed packard on 09 March 2005 at 01:44 PM.]
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David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 08 February 2005 11:17 AM
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Ha! I know a harpist that has more strings than that, and every one can be a root. But, seriously, Ed, that's a beauty. Some day I'll have to hear it. |
Ricky Littleton
Member From: Steely-Eyed Missile Man from Orlando, Florida USA
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posted 11 February 2005 07:10 PM
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Instead of "Guitarzillia" how about "Steelzilla" or "Pedalsaurus"?What a machine!!!! Ricky ------------------
Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd, Peterson VS-II Tuner
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Boss Comp./Sustain, Ibanez Auto-Wah, PX4 Pandoras Box
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James Quackenbush
Member From: Pomona, New York, USA
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posted 12 February 2005 04:41 AM
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WOW !!....This beast is BEATIFUL ....
Almost a 30" scale ?....WHEW !!... This thing must sustain till the cow's come home and then some !!....Great work Ed, I'd sure be interested in a retrofit of the changer and bridge for my older Sierra if it's possible ....Jim[This message was edited by James Quackenbush on 12 February 2005 at 04:42 AM.] |
Doyle Huff
Member From: Broken Arrow, OK USA
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posted 12 February 2005 09:18 AM
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Great job Ed. You should be very proud.
Doyle |
ed packard
Member From: Show Low AZ
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posted 09 March 2005 12:15 PM
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A belated thanks for the nice words Doyle.Back from the DALLAS show where the Baby BEAST was shown. It uses the same PST hardware as the BEAST, but in a more understandable manner. If Per Berner will be so kind as to post them, I will supply the photos. Agani, the assembly was by Tom Baker of SIERRA.
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Andy Greatrix
Member From: Edmonton Alberta
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posted 09 March 2005 12:26 PM
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What are the string spacings at the nut and bridge?
Thanks in advance. |
ed packard
Member From: Show Low AZ
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posted 09 March 2005 01:40 PM
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Strings are on 11/32" spacing at both ends. |
Greg Vincent
Member From: Los Angeles, CA USA
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posted 09 March 2005 01:42 PM
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Amazing piece of work! But this instrument's lineage can be traced directly back to the guitar and belongs to that family of instruments. Why must it be labeled a "HARP"!?!?! This only serves to mislead. We should take pride in our guitar heritage, not obscure it! -A Nit-picker (Sorry, this issue is a pet peeve of mine -GV)[This message was edited by Greg Vincent on 09 March 2005 at 01:43 PM.] |
ed packard
Member From: Show Low AZ
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posted 09 March 2005 01:57 PM
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Hi Greg;
You are right, it's great grandfather was a guitar, ..laid flat and tuned to an open string chord, but:That was an acoustic "box".
It had 6 strings.
It had no changes (pedals and levers). The next step was an electric 2X4.
It had no changes (pedals and levers). The next step had changes (pedals).
It was called a harp by the makers! Why?
Because concert harps have pedals. The present (PSTL C69 BEAST) has these guitar attributes:
Several string gauges.
That is about all! No tuning pegs.
No E length neck.
14 strings.
10 pedals.
7 levers + a lok.
Changer and Nut on the opposite ends from the "PSG".
Played with a Zirconia bar (not steel).
only STEEL in it is in the screws and axles. But as Robert Burns said, .."A rose by any other name..." Is LA above water level yet?
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Ray Minich
Member From: Limestone, New York, USA
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posted 09 March 2005 02:26 PM
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Thanks for bumpin this Ed. When this thing isn't in use as a musical instrument you could probably land Bobbe's airplane on it |
Bill Ford
Member From: Graniteville SC Aiken
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posted 09 March 2005 06:17 PM
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Ed,
From a retired machinest point of view, I would love to check it out..Looks super in the pics,and the folks that assembled it,has got to be first class.Bill |
Greg Vincent
Member From: Los Angeles, CA USA
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posted 10 March 2005 09:17 AM
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Thanks for the reply, Ed. Yes we're drying off here in L.A. --slowly!Your points about your fabulous instrument are well taken. I'd like to add this reply to our friendly argument: A fundamental reason I feel the instrument is not of the harp family lies in the way it is played. While the right hand plucks the strings in the manner of a harpist, the left hand is altering the pitch of the strings by changing their length, which is a very guitar thing to do. Anyway, it's a fantastic looking instrument and I hope I get to hear it in person one day! -GV |
ed packard
Member From: Show Low AZ
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posted 10 March 2005 09:58 AM
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Voila m' Greg!
Just to continue the fun....string length, like guitar, but also Double bass, viola, violin, mandolin, banjo etc.. Not sure where the various Zithers fit into the scheme of things. An Autoharp uses a variation on left hand blocking. Picking methods are up in the air as the standard guitar is sometimes picked with finger picks, bare fingers, or flat picks. One good teacher/picker plays the PSG with a flat pick. Some play the PSG with bare fingers; arguments for each side in there. The concert harp has 47 strings (tuned C diatonic I think) with 7 pedals that can raise or lower the strings by 1 halftone. My BEAST has 14 strings (not 47) but 10 pedals and 7 levers. The harp string lengths are various, but fixed except for the method of pedal change (shortens and lengthens the strings). If we consider each octave (12 frets) as a "set" of strings, we get closer to the 47 string "concert harp" string count. One of the big harp makers has an electric harp. Actually, my friend and super builder Tom Baker, put the label of Electric Concert Harp on the BEAST to needle me. You will find that label on Bill Staffords album = GOING HOME, ..blame me...because of Bill's string section style, and the inclusion of Dvorak's 9th symphony (Going Home). From an "evolution" standpoint (with appologies to any fundamentalists), we seem to object to being called monkeys, chimps or others bi-peds with similar ancestry, ..maybe the PSG would feel the same way (anthropomorphized view). Whatever one wants to call it, it sure can be made to sound pretty in a variety of genres! |
Greg Vincent
Member From: Los Angeles, CA USA
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posted 10 March 2005 10:14 AM
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quote:
Whatever one wants to call it, it sure can be made to sound pretty in a variety of genres!
Agreed, Ed! Hope we get the opportunity to meet some day and carry on this discussion in person! -GV
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