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Author
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Topic: Clark pedal steels
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Mark Tomeo
Member From: Danville, PA USA
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posted 03 December 2003 08:21 AM
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Someone posted a while back about Clark pedal steels. I ran across this while sorting out some stuff:
This was taken in late 1975 somewhere in Illinois - maybe Peoria or Springfield. No recollection of who it is, the band's name or what they sounded like (love the outfits, though). But I remember this steel was really solid looking and ornate, like a beefed up Sho-Bud. Don't think I've seen another Clark in all the years since. Were they a limited production steel? Details anyone? |
Ed Naylor
Member From: portsmouth.ohio usa
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posted 03 December 2003 08:41 AM
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The Clark was made in the mid 70's by a guy named Clark and Sonny Curtis was I think part owner. They were beautiful and sounded great. Contact Sonny and he could fill all the details. Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works |
john buffington
Member From: Owasso Ok USA
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posted 03 December 2003 08:49 AM
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Clark Custom Steel Guitars were built by none other than Jim Clark, in Owasso, OK. There were probably 100+ built during the mid 70's - early 80's. Former Jones' Boys and player for the late Tammy Wynette, Sonny Curtis still plays a Clark and gets a fantastic tone. The late Gene O'Neal also played a Clark at one time. There are still quite a few Clark guitars that periodically surface in around the Oklahoma, Arkansas area. The Clark was very close to a ZB Custom in many ways, built like a battleship, weighed a ton and you couldn't wear one out. They're were a few mica guitars built, but the majority were birdseye maple, wood inlay on the necks and front apron and naturally a gorgeous hand rubbed lacquer finish. A few had aluminum necks but most were wooden necks. Each guitar was custom built by hand, by Jim. Jim designed his own style of end-plates, key heads and pedals. Tuning keys were Grovers, and crossrods were stainless steel. Single raise, single lower except on a few models he did do some half-tone stops. I bought the very first Clark Custom he ever built, it had walnut aprons and necks and birdseye maple top, and it still is in my family. I owned 3 Clark guitars. Jim is still living in Owasso, Ok., to this date. There were 3 standard models built, a S-10-3/4, D-10 8/4, SD-10 3/4. He also wound his own pickups and did all his finishing work in addition to building his own cases at one time. I hope this gives you a little history of the Clark Custom Guitar.John Buffington[This message was edited by john buffington on 03 December 2003 at 08:50 AM.] |
Gene Jones
Member From: Oklahoma City, OK USA
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posted 03 December 2003 09:01 AM
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John B., thanks for the information about this guitar. It originated in my own backyard (Oklahoma), but I missed it when I was "away" from music during the years 1970-1984.I feel so inadequate (and envious) when I read about someone like Jim Clark who is so talented that he can "do everything". I hope to meet him someday.
www.genejones.com |
Mark Tomeo
Member From: Danville, PA USA
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posted 03 December 2003 11:52 AM
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Thanks John,
It doesn't show too well in this scan, but the Clark pictured here was definitely lacquered wood with some bold inlay and wooden necks. It also appears the output jack was on the underside of the end plate. That looks like a Boss Tone plugged in sideways there just to the left of RKR. |
David Deratany
Member From: Cape Cod Massachusetts
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posted 03 December 2003 12:22 PM
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I'm lookin' for a knob for a Boss Tone like that, if not the whole unit. |
John Borchard
Member From: Athens, OH 45701
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posted 03 December 2003 01:06 PM
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I spoke with Sonny at the steel guitar show in Lexington KY last month. He said he recently played in Oklahoma (I don't recall which city) and retired his Clark after that gig -- 30-some years. I believe he said he is now playing an Emmons LeGrande, but don't hold me to that. Although I've never owned a Clark, I played several back in the '70s and thought they played and sounded quite good -- very similar to a ZB. Haven't seen any in quite a while.John Borchard |
Mike Sigler
Member From: Ohio
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posted 03 December 2003 05:29 PM
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My first guitar at age 12 was a clark single neck straight from sonnys guitar shop.
It only came with 2 knee levers that rased and lowered the E's... and 3-pedals
It was Wood looking Mica, with black end plates
It had (NO) rollers at all and broke strings like crazy, but and tone to the bone..
I wish i still had it.. It was my first (EVER) guitar..  |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 03 December 2003 06:38 PM
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Skeeter Wolfe, from Ohio, still plays the Clark he had when he and I played together back in the 80's. Both the guitar and Skeeter sounded wonderful back then, and I imagine they've only gotten better with age.
Seems like the pickup had three coils--anybody remember this??? |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 03 December 2003 08:22 PM
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Was the Clark changer push-pull or all-pull? |
john buffington
Member From: Owasso Ok USA
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posted 03 December 2003 09:56 PM
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Bobby Lee -
The Clark changer was an all pull system. The Clark guitars that had the black "wrinkle finish" were more or less a student model. Jim did use various widths of inlay and beautiful stains on his lacquer bodies. He acquired many ideas from Zane Beck himself as far as the colors and hand finished lacquer bodies.
Sonny Curtis did in fact play his Clark at the Tulsa Show (held each Memorial Day weekend)and it was "retired that weekend" and he is now playing a Emmons LeGrande. Sonny's Clark really raised some eyebrows at the show because of the incredible tone he was getting with this guitar. Scotty even commented about what an awesome tone Sonny was getting.
Jim Clark was at the show the day Sonny played his burgundy Clark Custom.
John Buffington, Vice President, Okla. Steel Guitar Association |
Winnie Winston
Member From: Tawa, Wellington, NZ
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posted 04 December 2003 02:12 AM
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Looking at the picture-- before I even read anything.... The end-plate tuners look like a ZB. There is a row of raises (top) and a row of lowers (bottom). Like the ZB you could take any number of strings up mor down, but only to *one* note.
The pics shows that there are 3 tuning nuts showing in a middle row on the E9th neck. Looks like the usual 4th string (the E to F change), but there also seem,s to be onme on the 5th string and 10th string as well-- which can fuel interesting speculation...
Was this set up to raise the B to a D as Jimmy Day did?JW |
Drew Howard
Member From: Mason, MI, U.S.A.
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posted 04 December 2003 06:06 AM
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Sonny Curtis played his Clark guitar thru a pair of Randall amps at this year's LT Zinn show in Grand Rapids. He was loud! I love his "classic" style of playing.Drew ------------------
www.newslinkassociates.com
www.drewhoward.com |
Steven Black
Member From: Gahanna, Ohio, USA
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posted 04 December 2003 08:59 AM
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I love those Randall amps, wish they were still available. thanks Sonny for getting my amp. steveb carter D10 8+5. |
Jim Walker
Member From: Florida Panhandle
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posted 28 February 2006 12:09 PM
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I'm bringing back this old post in the efforts to locate any Clark Parts or new info.------------------
Clark D10 8&6
B-bender Telecaster
www.jimwalkeronline.com
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john buffington
Member From: Owasso Ok USA
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posted 28 February 2006 01:33 PM
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Jim -You have mail! John Buffington |
Jim Walker
Member From: Florida Panhandle
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posted 09 July 2006 10:23 PM
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John, I'm not sure if I thanked you or not but I REALLY want to thank you. My Clark custom has come along way since I first got it. With a little help from my "friends", it is playing, looking and sounding great.Life is good with necks of WOOD! Thanks again John.
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Clark Custom D10 8&5
Fender Steel King
B-bender Telecaster
Line 6 Flextone II Plus
www.jimwalkeronline.com
My Space
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Casey Lowmiller
Member From: Wichita, Ks
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posted 10 July 2006 08:20 AM
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Jim,What a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L steel!!! I wish I could get my hands on one of those...just stunning lookin'. Hopefully, someday I'll find one that is that slick lookin' & I'll find one for a bargain. Survey says...odds are against it!!! Casey ------------------
Known Coast to Coast as
"The Man with The Plan" Carter-Starter, Fender Pedal 800, Fender Champion, Guyatone Double-neck, a cheap Artisan & a Homemade Double-neck!
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Bart Maloney
Member From: Houston, Texas (from Tomball, TX)
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posted 11 July 2006 01:54 PM
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Check out this Clark 8&7 I traded for yesterday. I love it!   ------------------
www.myspace.com/bartmaloney |
Darvin Willhoite
Member From: Leander, Tx. USA
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posted 11 July 2006 07:06 PM
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Hey Bart, I owned that guitar for about 20 years. I sold it to a lady in Ft. Worth somewhere around '92. In case you're wondering what all those switches were for, I used an old Maestro phase shifter for leslie sounds, and wired the remote to the guitar so I could change speeds quickly. Three of them were for the phase shifter, one was for the double coil pickup on the E9 neck, and I think the 5th one switched the tone control in and out, I can't remember for sure. I think it only had 2 knee levers on it when I bought it. I made and added the rest as I decided I needed them. I hope you have a strong back, it ain't light as you well know. That guitar always sounded fantastic though and was very easy to play. ------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
[This message was edited by Darvin Willhoite on 11 July 2006 at 07:09 PM.]
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Bart Maloney
Member From: Houston, Texas (from Tomball, TX)
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posted 11 July 2006 10:11 PM
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Thats awesome Darvin. I am gonna e-mail you tomorrow and talk some shop about the steel. I am really liking it alot. That C6 neck is a blast. Know your old guitar is in great hands and will be played often. |
Jim Walker
Member From: Florida Panhandle
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posted 13 July 2006 01:13 PM
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ALRIGHT!!!!!!Another current Clark Custom owner / player! I brought this post back twice trying to find another Clark out there somewhere. Guess what Bart? I have an extra logo decal for the front apron if you want it. I feel like I have a new Brother! So just remember, If you ever want to sell that guitar call me 1st! ------------------
Clark Custom D10 8&5
Fender Steel King
B-bender Telecaster
Line 6 Flextone II Plus
www.jimwalkeronline.com
My Space
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Darvin Willhoite
Member From: Leander, Tx. USA
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posted 14 July 2006 01:02 PM
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I just saw the case in the background and it brought back more memories. When I got the guitar, the case was in sad shape, so I glued and nailed it all back together, recovered, and re-lined it. I'm sure it has had a lot of lumps and bumps since then. That was about 33 or 34 years ago. I've been married 32 years and I got it before I was married. Whew, thats been a long time ago.------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
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