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Author
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Topic: Jedson lap steel?
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Tony Harris
Member From: England
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posted 05 September 2006 06:51 AM
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Just spotted a Jedson lap steel for sale. It's cream and looks a very close copy of the Fender two pickup job ("Deluxe 6"?)and comes with legs. I did have a similar "Commodore" a couple of years ago which someone had tried a Seymour Duncan single-coil in the neck position, and obviuously not happy, sold it on. I wasn't happy either. I compared it with the real thing - a Fender Stringmaster I was borrowing at the time. Although everything looked pretty much identical - the quality of the hardware for instance, I could not get a sound I liked, even trying Bill Lawrence single coils, and wiring the pickups in different ways, including the original wiring of course. The neck pickup always sounded 'honky' and boomy to me. Incidentally, the pickups seemed to be in exactly the same position as on the Fender - a factor I believe is very important. I finally concluded that maybe it's all in the wood of the body...? Do you think if I pick up this copy for cheap enough I can get close to the Fender tone by swapping pickups? No doubt Mr. Carver, the Knight Of The Tweed would disagree... |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 05 September 2006 07:38 AM
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David Gilmour of Pink Floyd plays a Jedson, I have no idea if he's changed the pickups though..Steinar ------------------
"Play to express, not to impress"
www.gregertsen.com
Southern Moon Northern Lights |
Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 05 September 2006 09:15 AM
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I had a Jedson for a while - it's the red one in the center.
It had a lackluster tone and virtually no sustain. New pickups would be helpful, and a new bridge and nut might be good too. There's nothing you can do about the wood, which has a lot to do with the tone and sustain. It's definitely not swamp ash.
Trying to make it sound like a Fender could prove to be frustrating. It's true that Gilmour uses Jedsons, I imagine they have been extensively modified. |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 05 September 2006 09:27 AM
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Just found a "Gilmour's gear" site, it says that his Jedson is equipped with EMG pickups.Steinar ------------------
"Play to express, not to impress"
www.gregertsen.com
Southern Moon Northern Lights |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 05 September 2006 03:52 PM
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Mr. Gilmour has used Jedson lap steels in the past, but on his latest live DVD he's playing a later model Gibson EH-150 with the slanted pickup, similar to this one.
You might be able to get a better sound by switching pickups. Jedson lap steels are very rare in the USA, so I doubt there are many on this forum who have had the experience of playing them (other than Rick!).
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
James Mayer
Member From: Oregon, USA
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posted 05 September 2006 04:53 PM
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Rick, in that photo of the three steels, is that a Guyatone on the right? It looks like the one I just bought. Also, how do you like the Columbia? Would you mind commenting on these guitars? |
James Mayer
Member From: Oregon, USA
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posted 05 September 2006 04:58 PM
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The Jedson doesn't appear to have a blend knob or switching of any sort. |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 05 September 2006 05:26 PM
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James,- it's the little 'wheel' just behind the bridge, same place as on a Stringmaster.Steinar ------------------
"Play to express, not to impress"
www.gregertsen.com
Southern Moon Northern Lights |
James Mayer
Member From: Oregon, USA
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posted 07 September 2006 08:21 AM
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Well, I was actually looking at the Jedson lap on ebay when I commented on the lack of blend control. If it has one, it would be under the handrest and not very usable. It's not visible in the photos. |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 07 September 2006 09:38 AM
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Yes, it's under the bridge cover, just as it is on the Stringmasters. The cover can be removed if you want easy access to the blend control and/or want to mute strings at the bridge.Steinar ------------------
"Play to express, not to impress"
www.gregertsen.com
Southern Moon Northern Lights |
George Manno
Member From: chicago
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posted 09 September 2006 11:02 AM
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I have two Jedson lap steels that I will be selling soon. One is a Deluxe 6 model and the other is an 8 string fitted with Bill Lawrence pickups. A few years back, everyone wanted to buy them from me, a few months ago, I took them to a vintage show and not one dealer was interested.GM |
Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 09 September 2006 12:26 PM
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quote:
Rick, in that photo of the three steels, is that a Guyatone on the right? It looks like the one I just bought.Also, how do you like the Columbia? Would you mind commenting on these guitars?
James, yes that's a Guyatone. I think it's the best of the three. It has a good variety of tones and it's very playable. The Columbia is a nice guitar as well - it has the blend control similar to a Stringmaster. It's a Japanese imitation of the Fender Deluxe.
I have it for sale on eBay right now - #190028054523. |
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