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 The Steel Guitar Forum
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 working on steels, (Page 1)
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 08:27 AM
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as a steel player for many yrs.i enjoy,standing in a bunch of steels,working on them,and just piddleing around with them. Wondering if i'm the only one who just feels good playing around with them. Sure i like to play,but kindda like a bunch of cows i guess, i like to baby them,and just enjoy them. mabe i'm just a weir oh. rather be around good company,and steels are the best to me. farris |
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Ted Solesky Member From: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 09:19 AM
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Farris, years ago, I used to play the ZB guitars. It was a challenge to make pedal changes on one of them. You almost had to be a scientist to plan your moves. It wasn't easy but you felt good after it was done and 'working'. |
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Ricky Davis Moderator From: Spring, Texas USA |
posted 09 May 2005 09:19 AM
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Even with the bad condition of my hands and my working schedule; I always seem to have at least two Sho-bud's apart on my floor here and LOVE IT. I'm like you Farris; I find a huge joy and satisfaction with it. Ricky |
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Les Anderson Member From: Rossland, BC, Canada |
posted 09 May 2005 09:21 AM
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Could it be that you just plain connect mentally with a steel guitar the way some artists are soothed just by looking at their paint palette? It's strange how the human mind can relate to some things while others just look at the same object and feel nothing. I get that special tingle when I hold a thousand dollar bill. By the way Farris, if you start painting lips on the necks and hanging a bras off them, get help! ------------------ [This message was edited by Les Anderson on 09 May 2005 at 09:24 AM.] |
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Ray Minich Member From: Limestone, New York, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 09:36 AM
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I was thinking of the same thing, the mental connection to the steel, last nite while listening to ET's "Waltz Across Texas" for about the 20th time. How many of us would think and follow Buddy's steel intro, fills, and break, if the tune were to be played with the steel absent? |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 10:48 AM
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LESS,i can answer that quick,never held a 1000 dollar bill, i'm still here ain't i , Ray i love Waltz across Texas,without steel, they could keep it. Ricky,bless you man,wish i could fix your hands man.Them old Sho-Buds best company a man can have. farris |
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Jennings Ward Member From: Edgewater, Florida, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 11:43 AM
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FERRIS, WHY DO YOU REFUSE TO WIND ME 6 FENDER STRINGMASTER PICKUPS... I NEED 4 AND 2 SPARES, JUST IN CASE........WHY?????? ------------------ |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 12:08 PM
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JENNINGS,tell me what you want my friend,i take care of it for you. i can do it but you gotta let me know what you want. be glad too also, tell me how many possum tail twist you want on each one. farris |
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Erv Niehaus Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 12:29 PM
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It seems like I get just about as much enjoyment out of working on guitars as playing them. I love to take apart an old steel, clean it up, maybe add some more pedals and/or levers and then put it back together again. I've finally figured out that I make a better mechanic than a musician!  Erv |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 12:47 PM
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Thanks ERV,then you know where i'm comming from.i'm not a pro player,and enjoy just working on them. man don't we get excited just tearing old BUD down,cleaning and making it work again? thats the most excitment to me farris |
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Jimmie Martin Member From: Ohio, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 01:51 PM
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farris, i'm far from much of a player but im love to takem apart and fix them up. i'm restoring a sho-bud d-10 frof. right now. it looks good so far. i'll post a pic when i'm done.i like to redo msa's to. i'm going to make a sho-bud d-10 body and finish it in blue. i will probably try to sell it. i really wonder what it would be worth. i'd like to start making bodys and finishing them and selling them. its a lot of fun. what do ya think farris. |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 02:14 PM
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ROBERT,im talking to John Coop a lots about parts for Sho-Bud,i think we all can really be blessed with new parts for sho-buds.you know i'm not gonna lie,if i see the parts are great i'll say so. so far what he has sent me has been great parts. sure its gonna cost,but look at the price of a new steel these days. if we can get parts to rebuild,or build hey that be worth a bunch.huh . we keep watching and see what the future holds.man i'm excited toooo farris |
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Larry Strawn Member From: Golden Valley, Arizona, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 05:36 PM
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Farris,, Me being a mech. and welder by trade, you'd think I'd enjoy working on steels, but I get to aggravated, great big hands, [little bitty parts],,,, LOL. All in all, I'm probably still better at workin on steels than playin one...but I'd much rather be pickin!!! Larry ps. farris, will 316L stainless turn out smooth enough for a tone bar??? got a nice piece, but it's 11/2" dia. ------------------ |
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Bobby Bowman Member From: Cypress, Texas, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 05:42 PM
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Me too,,,,love it,,,,most of the time! LOL  BB ------------------ |
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Carlos Polidura Member From: Brooklyn, New York, USA |
posted 09 May 2005 08:17 PM
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farris................ YOU ARE NOT ALONE. carlos |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 10 May 2005 05:06 AM
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Wow,good to know,others enjoy guitars toooo. Larry,316 stainless will machine fine,but it won't be good enough finish for a bar,unless it could be ground on a centerless grinder. i've made a few thru the yrs.in the lathe,emory cloth and lots of polishing.real hard to get smooth,and can always feel some drag. i prefer a heat treated bar,also chrome plated. |
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John Daugherty Member From: Rolla, Missouri, USA |
posted 10 May 2005 06:14 AM
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Hey Farris....... When you make those pickups for Jennings,don't soak them in varnish. I'm sure he wants them sealed with possum fat........JD |
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Darvin Willhoite Member From: Leander, Tx. USA |
posted 10 May 2005 06:52 AM
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I like working on them about as much as playing them. I'm a Mechanical Engineer by profession, so I'm intrigued by anything mechanical. I have a lathe and milling machine in my shop, so I can make about anything I need. ------------------ |
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Jim Palenscar Member From: Oceanside, Calif, USA |
posted 10 May 2005 07:09 AM
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When JayDee told me I needed a creeper I knew I was in trouble  . I,too, am hooked. |
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Ron Steenwijk Member From: Greensburg,PA |
posted 10 May 2005 07:12 AM
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Farris, So what you're saying is that you dont like the bar I made you?????? Darn....thought I finally gave him something the dude likes. Ron |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 10 May 2005 10:51 AM
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You guys are right on.Darvin you bet,don't know what i would do without shop.so nice to get a idea,then go build it.after 30yrs of machine shop here at home,driving people nuts because i won't sell or use machines that much.but when i want to make something,i just turn switches on,and go for it.machines don't owe me a dime.i can't imagine not being able to build something. Ron,the bar you sent was top notch FINE man,just speaking for machining one out on lath,not smooth enough. Done forgot all the other responses.oh yea, JACK, jenning he always prefers possum grease on everthing. farris |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 10 May 2005 10:55 AM
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Darvin,i'm a self made engineer,had to do it the hard way for 30yrs. you bet anything that moves has got my attention!!!everything has a way of working.huh.those old guitars,moving parts, man i gotta ck. it out. haha farris |
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Jennings Ward Member From: Edgewater, Florida, USA |
posted 10 May 2005 11:36 AM
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FERRIS, RON, & ALL,,,,,, I HAVE ONE OF THE SLICKEST BARS ARROUND.....MADE FROM A TEFLON DOWELL , ONE INCH DIA.....SOUNDS GREAT....NO SWOOSHINGS SOUNDS.....OR SCRATCHING ON THE WOUND STRINGS........JENNINGS........YES, PUT POSSUM FAT OR POSSUM GREASE ON ANY THING AND IT MAKSES IT SLICKER.....USE IT ON AUTOS, TRACTORS STEEL CHANGERS, ANY THING MECAANICAL... FERRIS CAN TELL YOU IT KEEPS MACHINERY FROM WEARING OUT AND SQUEEKING..... ------------------ |
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Ron Steenwijk Member From: Greensburg,PA |
posted 10 May 2005 11:51 AM
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Well a bar can be made on a lath allright but it takes time.First of all I wouldn't use SS but chromesteel.Farris the one I gave you was made on a lath.As you can see on the head of that bar.But after you done with the lath you have to polish it like crazy.And sand it of course.I would prefer sanding it on the lath.Chromesteel gives you a great bar that will last a lifetime.I have several.Sitar bars 12 string bars etc etc.I gave Chris Brooks a bar once and had his name ingraved in it with a lazer. It's agreat project to make these bars.I can recommend it. Ron |
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Larry Strawn Member From: Golden Valley, Arizona, USA |
posted 10 May 2005 04:57 PM
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Farris,, I was just curious about the 316,, I got a nice chunk of it..I got a S/S bar, and a Chrome bar allready, I know what ya mean about keeping all of yer equipment,,LOL...When I parked my Service rig 5yrs. ago and went to work where I'm at, I kept my truck, and equipment,,every one wants to buy it, NOT FER SALE [security blanket],,any way, I don't know how the other part of the world lives with out a welding truck in the drive way!! LOL... Larry ------------------ |
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Steve Robinson Member From: near Houston, Texas, USA |
posted 10 May 2005 05:07 PM
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Farris gave me a "Farris Currie" original bar, and you can sure tell it was made by a professional that knows his way around a machine shop. I'm proud to own it! |
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Kevin Hatton Member From: Amherst, N.Y. |
posted 10 May 2005 07:16 PM
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One of the things I actually enjoy about playing ZB's is working on them and knowing how they work. They are a very unique system that require maintenance and tweeking from time to time. When you get them set just right its very satisfying. |
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Wayne Brown Member From: Strathmore, Alberta, Canada |
posted 11 May 2005 05:43 AM
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I think Farris is 100% right in his post. There’s nothing like creating or recreating something. And when the job is complete you get the satisfaction of knowing that you did it yourself. This is the only way to explain it for me I think? Up here in Canada the winters can get pretty cold, so picture this. You walk out to the shop in early morning through the snow and moonlight. Stoke up the fire. Make coffee and put on some old country music. And away you go. Alone with your own thoughts, and the hustle and bustle of the world hasn’t even started yet, just you and your project. It’s funny you seam to stare at it for hours in that moment. But it always seams to get done properly with a sense of pride and accomplishment. To me it just doesn’t get any better than that. Just my thoughts Thanks Wayne brown C/o Out West Country entertainment and sound |
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Erv Niehaus Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA |
posted 11 May 2005 07:16 AM
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Working on guitars is also good therapy. Several years ago I was suffering from some deep depression. I could go for days without eating. One day I visited a neighboring town and saw an old Sho~Bud LDG that really needed some TLC. I bought it and began to restore it. That was all it took to get me out of my mental state. I needed to get focused on something other than myself and this old LDG did the trick. My wife wasn't too happy about my buying the Sho~Bud but I told her: "It sure is cheaper than a psychiatrist!" Erv [This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 11 May 2005 at 07:18 AM.] |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 11 May 2005 08:21 AM
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You guys are speaking my language!! wayne,thank the good Lord, don't have to wade through the snow.but understand exactly where you are coming from. ERV,thats where i've been my Friend.very depressed,and just can't beat old sho-buds to play around with, just wish i had a few of them,always room for one or two more. been out this morning making bottom plates for sho-bud volume pedals.cutting with plasma cutter, i have a hard time getting started it seems.Keep checking on invalid wife,and hard to make myself go it seems. got a whole shop full of machinery,and just can't get the drive it seems. i believe if i had about 10more buds,it would help!!hahaha. farris |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 11 May 2005 08:27 AM
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STEVE,so glad you enjoy it my Friend,now i want to get with you about the tuning old bud.tune open,then,push pedals and tune them,emmons set up, buds are so simple to tune.i am not real teck.about this,just do it,it works my friend.open first. farris |
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Erv Niehaus Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA |
posted 11 May 2005 11:39 AM
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Farris, When I was a kid, I had the idea that it was against the law to own more that one guitar at a time. Everytime I got a new one, I sold the one I had. I was playing a T-8 Fender Stringmaster when I ordered my first Sho~Bud from Shot Jackson. This was about 1966. However, a while back, I had the opportunity to buy the old T-8 back and I sure was glad to have it back under the roof again. Since I re-acquired it, it has been disassembled, refinished and put back together again looking better that when I sold it approx. 40 years ago. I should be so lucky! You maybe know by now that I suffer from a terminal case of GAS (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome). Erv |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 11 May 2005 04:21 PM
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Erv,you got me laughing,i told everyone when i sold the pro1 the other day,i was putting the money in the bank,haha until another one came along,couldn't stand it,just buy one more!!!hahaaha now i am happy and getting fussed at by all my family and friends. well, old sho-buds is my life it seems. if i had the money,i'd buy a few more.huh, God Bless you all my friends. farris |
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Larry Strawn Member From: Golden Valley, Arizona, USA |
posted 11 May 2005 04:45 PM
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Gas?????? That's a good one Erv, I like that..LOL.. Larry ------------------ |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 11 May 2005 06:06 PM
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A steel player who doesn't understand at least the basics of the mechanics of the machine is only half way there !! Basil ------------------ quote: |
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Jennings Ward Member From: Edgewater, Florida, USA |
posted 11 May 2005 06:23 PM
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JUST TALKED TO FERRIS A WHILE AGO THIS PM.... WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT GAGE STRINGS TO PUT ON THE WIDGET THAT WE ARE GOING TO BUILD......ONE THAT WE CAN PLAY WITH A LEFT HANDED STEEL BAR WITH THE BULL NOSE IN THE MIDDLE......AND A LEFT HANDED VOL. CONTROL MOUNTED ON THE RIGHT LEG.... THIS IS A SPECIAL PROJECT FOR ARCHIE... WE HAVE BIN TOLD THAT CSOTCHMEN ARE STINGY, AND THOUGHT WE WOULD HELP HIM OUT......FERRIS DO YOU WANT THE LEFT OVER ARTS FROM THAT OLD MUNTZ T.V. [ THE GUTLESS WONDER]????? WELL WE ARE WORKING ON IT...WHAT COLOR SHALL WE MAKE IT???? I THINK T.P. WOULD BE GOOD.......LTR.........JW ------------------ |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 11 May 2005 06:41 PM
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Basilh,you are right,a person needs to know what makes that steel tick.many times i have to turn mine over,and adjust ect.don't see how anyone can play steel,and not know whats going on underneath it.its well worth the time to learn the undercarriage ect. farris |
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Larry Strawn Member From: Golden Valley, Arizona, USA |
posted 11 May 2005 09:35 PM
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Farris,, There aint no one around here to work on a steel!!! Unless it's a major job I GOTTA do it myself.. If it gets to complicated, I pack it up and drive a couple hundred miles!!! Don't like that!! Larry ------------------ [This message was edited by Larry Strawn on 11 May 2005 at 09:36 PM.] |
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Farris Currie Member From: Ona, Florida, USA |
posted 12 May 2005 07:38 AM
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Larry,i do understand exactly what you speaking of,this is why the forum is so great for us all.if we have any serious questions about our steels.usually someone can help put us on the right track.And parts thats another matter huh.sometimes its so hard to get the right parts we need. Many times we don't know what to ask for,just know we need one of those THINGS.haha farris |
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Larry Strawn Member From: Golden Valley, Arizona, USA |
posted 12 May 2005 05:25 PM
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Farris,, The "things" I can usually find,, It's the "whatchamacallits" I have trouble with.LOL.... ------------------ |
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