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World's Heaviest Steel Guitar ???
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The Steel Guitar Forum
Bar Chatter Archive
World's Heaviest Steel Guitar ???
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This topic was originally posted in this forum: Wanted To Buy |
| Author | Topic: World's Heaviest Steel Guitar ??? |
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Ed Naylor Member Posts: 1827 |
posted 25 April 2001 05:03 PM
Anyone know what Steel is the heaviest? I just received a HOWARD D-10 and it must weigh 100 lbs. This will go in my collection of "Unusual" guitars. I would like any info pics, etc of the Howard. Who built them and when?? Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works |
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Chris DeBarge Member Posts: 811 |
posted 25 April 2001 05:20 PM
My vote is for the Fender 1000. |
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Bob Tuttle Member Posts: 774 |
posted 25 April 2001 05:20 PM
Ed..... The Howard steel guitars were built by Tom Mcormick in Grand Prairie, Texas during the late 60's and early 7o's. I worked for him for a short while. He was building steels and amplifiers. He had some very good, though unusual ideas. And you're right, they were heavy! Nearly the whole guitar was made of phoenolic. I have some 35mm color slides of one of the single ten guitars and some of the amps. I'd be glad to send them to you if you'll e-mail me mailing instructions. Thanks, Bob |
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chas smith Member Posts: 3168 |
posted 25 April 2001 05:43 PM
I put a vote in for the Russler, did I spell that right? One of the accessories was a forklift. I have a quad-8 Wright pedal guitar that's a contender, Barbara Mandrel's quad-10 Wright is even more. There was that 'Worlds largest steel guitar' Bigsby that Larry Briggs got that really was a piece of furniture and my Guitarzilla is in there. |
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Ed Naylor Member Posts: 1827 |
posted 25 April 2001 06:18 PM
Bob Tuttle- I am having some E-mail problems. My mailing address is 3124 Scioto Tr. Portsmouth, Ohio. 45662. I will be happy to get any info. By the way I will send you a picture of Roy Rogers and Trigger on the Mural here in Portsmouth. In the pic will be 3 famous Steel Players. Ed |
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Lee Baucum Member Posts: 3201 |
posted 25 April 2001 06:59 PM
The world's heaviest steel guitar? Usually, the one I'm carrying at the time! And it gets heavier after the gig. Lee, from South Texas |
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Al Marcus Member Posts: 7471 |
posted 25 April 2001 07:23 PM
Chas. I had a Rus-Ler (that is how to spell it) built by Russ Russel in Phoenix for me. It was heavy but the Howard was heavier. Ed- I took over playing with Gene Diffie in Phoenix, we playd at the "Rawhide" in Scottsdale, it was a complete western town , main st, walls around it , with saloons and all. Quite a tourist spot. They made western movies there. |
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Gary Walker Member Posts: 1446 |
posted 25 April 2001 07:34 PM
In '68 I took delivery of a Sierra D-12 on a Brads-Rack which was chrome plated. The guitar was all metal body which moved all of the time stretching and shrinking with the temp. The rack was like a table and went into a case larger than the guitar, then the guitar sat on top and when you clamped everything together, a tornado would not move it. It was a beauty but it took a lot of potatoes to move it around and load it, but it never danced on the stage with you and in an earthquake it was safe to hide under, Gary |
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John Bresler Member Posts: 607 |
posted 25 April 2001 07:39 PM
I dunno, but I think a D-8 Bigsby was mighty HEAVY. That's why they had handles on both ends so 2 people could move it. |
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PAUL WARNIK Member Posts: 1417 |
posted 25 April 2001 07:57 PM
The Chief Mac Thomas Bigsby triple 10 string neck with 15 pedals and extended cabinet and endplates currently owned by Larry Briggs is probably the largest and supposedly was in the Guiness Book Of Records for being the same-A few other noteable "heavyweights" are my 1954 quad neck Bigsby with 2 eights and 2 tens and five pedals also my triple neck Jack Homan Bigsby has a cabinet extended four inches each end and an extended width lower neck plank-both Bigsbys need two guys to take them out of the case without getting hernia-also the triple neck Sho-Bud owned by Chas Smith has top neck 16 string with two 11 string necks in center and bottom with 11 pedals and mahogany wood cabinet is another back breaker |
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BobbeSeymour Member Posts: 5664 |
posted 25 April 2001 08:01 PM
A double neck Bigsby weighs 41 lbs. Is that heavey to you? Add 19 lbs for the case. This is with 6 pedals,Double 8 ,aluminum necks,and Herbert H. Hise changer.Paul Warnick,where are you? |
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BobbeSeymour Member Posts: 5664 |
posted 25 April 2001 08:04 PM
Sorry Paul,guess we both were answering at the same time! Not all Bigsbys were heavey. Bobbe |
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Buddy Buddy Member Posts: 271 |
posted 25 April 2001 11:04 PM
Back in the mid-sixties, Shot built a four-necker for Herby Remington. I think it was slid, along, more than it was carried off the ground. "Little" Buddy. |
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Ray Montee Member Posts: 4090 |
posted 26 April 2001 01:28 AM
My 4 neck, 32 string Bigsby with six pedals and case weigh in at a mere 105#. Aluminum necks.... Not bad, huh? |
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Jack Stoner Sysop Posts: 8119 |
posted 26 April 2001 03:24 AM
The Fender 2000 I had (D-10) with two cases, may not have been the heaviest but probably isn't far behind as far as Pedal Steel Guitars. |
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Bob Tuttle Member Posts: 774 |
posted 26 April 2001 06:37 AM
Ed Naylor... I'm getting some prints made off of the color slides. As soon as I get them back I'll mail them to you. Should take about a week. Bob |
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Jody Carver Member Posts: 7455 |
posted 26 April 2001 09:20 AM
Checking for the heaviest guitar???? EASY Stand upright,,,hands at your side,turn your head to the right...." COUGH" while placing Now same procudure as above,,,turn your head to the left" COUGH" while placing your left hand on your "groin" if no lump or lumps are found,,,,get a heavier guitar,,,or add a few bricks inside the case to give it that extra Any lumps below the groin??? e mail me and let me know where you got the "prescription" [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 26 April 2001 at 09:22 AM.] |
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Jody Carver Member Posts: 7455 |
posted 26 April 2001 09:23 AM
Checking for the heaviest guitar???? EASY Stand upright,,,hands at your side,turn you head to the right...." COUGH" while placing Now same procudure as above,,,turn your head to the left" COUGH" while placing your left hand on your "groin" if no lump or lumps are found,,,,get a heavier guitar,,,or add a few bricks inside the case to give it that extra Any lumps below the groin??? e mail me and let me know where you got the "prescription" |
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Jody Carver Member Posts: 7455 |
posted 26 April 2001 09:25 AM
No Not a Double Post.... Just Checking the lumps twice to make sure
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Craig A Davidson Member Posts: 1722 |
posted 26 April 2001 09:36 AM
I had a ZB once with cast iron changers underneath. I swear it took two guys to move it. Great guitar but too heavy. ------------------ |
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Bobby Lee Sysop Posts: 14849 |
posted 26 April 2001 09:46 AM
My Sierra Olympic S-12, built in 1978, weighs 90 lbs. in the case. I think that MSA and Sierra D-12's from the 70's are the heaviest production guitars ever made. There are probably a few unique instruments that are heavier, though. |
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RickRichtmyer Member Posts: 2522 |
posted 26 April 2001 10:26 AM
Yeah, b0b, like Johnny Cox's T-10/10/11, triple neck Zumsteel. ------------------ |
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Lee Allen Member Posts: 50 |
posted 26 April 2001 10:39 AM
I had a 1964 and 1965 Miller Custom Double 10 push pull and it took two guys to carry the thing. Solid birdseye maple solid front legs. Got a Sho~Bud cross over and it was like a feather next to that Miller. The Miller's had handles on the end plates too,they sure wern't there for looks. [2] Sho~Buds and a sore back Lee Allen |
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Rick Schmidt Member Posts: 1596 |
posted 26 April 2001 11:22 AM
You guys are making me feel good! I always thought my Dekley D12 10+5 was the heaviest, but now I can relax. |
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John Rickard Member Posts: 839 |
posted 26 April 2001 12:08 PM
ZB! Holy Moly! JR |
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wayne yakes md Member Posts: 650 |
posted 26 April 2001 12:32 PM
Its gotta be between Dumplin's triple neck Zum and Bob White's triple neck 10/8/10 Bigsby!!! |
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Dave Long Member Posts: 112 |
posted 26 April 2001 01:18 PM
Here's an entry into this years's Hernia-Fest http://cgi.ebay.aol.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1426509778 |
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Bill Hankey Member Posts: 1680 |
posted 26 April 2001 01:20 PM
Ed, I wonder if anyone has ever hefted the old Blanten (?sp.) like the one Charlie Pride's former steel player used? Its bulk was a spine buster. The builder utilized 1/4" pedal rods. The thing was built like a tank. I installed a volume knee lever on the right knee going left. The owner had sustained a leg injury, and he could not use a volume pedal. When I discovered its incredible weight, I separated the steel and its case. I was then able to carry it to my workbench. I didn't bother to weigh the instrument, but I developed an immediate aversion for its jeopardizing design. Bill |
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Eric Stumpf Member Posts: 369 |
posted 26 April 2001 01:36 PM
My vote would be for Los Angeles Western Swing steel player Eddie Martin's "Electra-Chord". I think that's what he called the gigantic thing. It was a triple neck console steel he made himself that was the size of a Hammond organ. As the story goes, after finishing its construction, he was dismayed to discover it was too large to remove from his basement without being disassembled! On one of the Merle Travis video collections you can see and hear this "world's heaviest steel guitar" being played by Eddie. |
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chas smith Member Posts: 3168 |
posted 26 April 2001 02:49 PM
quote: I have one, 10+6, that I modified by making solid aluminum necks along with some other stuff for it, 112# in the case, and it stays in the case. [This message was edited by chas smith on 26 April 2001 at 02:51 PM.] |
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Buddy Elkin Member Posts: 168 |
posted 27 April 2001 09:53 AM
What about the old Wheeler Guitars? They doubled as coffins. |
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John F unregistered Posts: 168 |
posted 02 May 2001 12:28 PM
Bill Hankey - I'm with you! I was in San Antonio in 1974 and went over to Jerry Blanton's house (which he was just building) and played his D-10...outrageously heavy! It was in the case and I had to carry it from one room to the other to set it up. It truly was a tank! It gets my vote! John Farrell |
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John Sims Member Posts: 342 |
posted 03 May 2001 11:31 AM
It's absolutely, without question...This one: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1421779583 ------------------ John Steelin' is a way of life! My PSG website-Carter SD-12-U, 8p/5k, Nashville 1000 |
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JACK HEERN Member Posts: 431 |
posted 03 May 2001 11:45 AM
I had a Z B Custom 11/10 with 8 and 8. The first lier doesn't stand a chance so I won't say it was the heaviest in the world. I am not from China but they don't call me "One Hung Low " for nuthin !! [This message was edited by JACK HEERN on 03 May 2001 at 11:46 AM.] |
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Sage Member Posts: 525 |
posted 03 May 2001 12:52 PM
There is a story from the sacred steel community about a guy that took a console organ and modified it into a console steel, complete with on board amplification (& recorded music) and "mood lighting". I'd like to see a picture of that someday, and it would probably take the cake for heaviest in the world. |
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Winnie Winston Member Posts: 542 |
posted 04 May 2001 04:08 AM
I have seen three Howard guitars and they were all different. The last I saw was at Scottys a number of years ago-- they had a booth. What I recall was the *lightest* pedal action I've ever felt. The old Sho-Buds used to have "helper springs" for the raises. THet never really worked because they were not adjustable. Well the Howard I saw had helper spring that were the length of the guitar-- or close to it. They were adjusted from the peghead end. Wish I had pics of it. It was... uh... unique. Winnie |
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Billy Phelps Member Posts: 97 |
posted 04 May 2001 01:07 PM
I think I have you all beat... Ren-Kiser Steels. They contracted me to demo their guitar in the early 70's at the DJ convention ( Andrew Jackson Hotel ). It was the most beautiful steel I have ever seen to date, but it weighed in at 104.5 lbs out of the case. It was truly made out of steel with a thin wood birdseye layer over a body of pure steel. I not only demo-ed the monster, I even stood on this thing to prove it had no cabinet drop. ( Kids, don't try thing test with today's crop as none will survive, including you ). These people even thought of what they claimed was a brilliant idea, a stand-up case with rollers, so you didn't have to break the steel down. You also had to have a big Van to carry the case at 90 + lbs empty. Their standard case weighed in at 42lbs empty. All of their products could withstand more abuse than anything made today. However, I don't expect to get any orders for this product as they are justifiably out of business... Wonder why? PS: The sound of this guitar was the worst tone I have ever heard, but the sustain was very, very good. They used Emmons pick-ups, pulled from a 67 model, so the tone problem was not the pick-ups. I played the Emmons guitar before they pulled the pick-ups and they sounded great on the Emmons, just in case any of you were thinking of duplicating this nightmare Ren-Kiser called a steel guitar. It was humilating to play this thing. |
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