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Topic: Has anyone play a late model Wilcox SD-10 |
Daniel J. Cormier
From:
Lake Charles, LA, USA
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Posted 14 May 2008 12:55 pm |
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Has anyone play a late model Wilcox SD-10 with the new changer.
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Daniel J. Cormier
Rittenberry with Tone to the bone,profex or tubefex and what ever amp, hilton pedal, BJS bars. Email at kajunsteelman@yahoo.com. |
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Curt Langston
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Posted 14 May 2008 3:35 pm
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No, I haven't played one, but I have seen one up close. The builder has listened to us, and has gotten a whole lot better in the craftsmanship. They are not crude looking, and the tolerances are a lot more tighter. I noticed on the guitar that I looked at, did not have the "gaps" in between the endplates and cabinet, as some of the early ones did. The bellcranks are more uniform. Now, they are not highly polished, but for the price, they are hard to beat. Chet appears to be putting more time and effort in them.
The one on eBay, a good buy. |
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Billy Carr
From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
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Posted 15 May 2008 3:39 am Wilcox
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| Wonder what one with a Tommy Young mod would sound like? I'm going to try one down the road at sometime. |
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Daniel J. Cormier
From:
Lake Charles, LA, USA
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Posted 15 May 2008 6:09 pm Wilcox
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Well Billy i just bought one and if it plays well enough I'll send her to Tommy to mod out.
_________________
Daniel J. Cormier
Rittenberry with Tone to the bone,profex or tubefex and what ever amp, hilton pedal, BJS bars. Email at kajunsteelman@yahoo.com. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 15 May 2008 7:38 pm
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daniel...what if the wilcox happens to sound great on it's own??
you've got some good steels on your sight..the mci looks like a good deal....did it need a mod?
just curious. |
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Daniel J. Cormier
From:
Lake Charles, LA, USA
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Posted 16 May 2008 8:20 am MCI
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Chris
The MCi sound fantastic as it is. No need to mod it.Plays smooth as glass also.
_________________
Daniel J. Cormier
Rittenberry with Tone to the bone,profex or tubefex and what ever amp, hilton pedal, BJS bars. Email at kajunsteelman@yahoo.com. |
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Curt Langston
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Posted 16 May 2008 11:35 am
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daniel...what if the wilcox happens to sound great on it's own??
you've got some good steels on your sight..the mci looks like a good deal....did it need a mod?
just curious. |
I agree.
I'm sorry, and it is none of my business, but that whole "mod thing" irritates me. I know it shouldn't, but it does.
To take a new Mullen, Carter, Emmons, Derby, Fessy and etc etc, and have someone "mod" it seems to be an insult to the builder. I think they should know how to make their guitars sound the best.
It is different with the Peavey amp mods, in the sense that Peavey realized that the tone could be "enhanced", and they acknowledged it by offering mod parts. Actual electronic parts. Not "adjustments".
Like I said, none of my business, but I would never be led to believe that my guitar could be made to sound better, by someone "modding" it.
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 16 May 2008 7:46 pm
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Curt, IMO almost any guitar can be made better sounding and feeling with a quality "setup" (or "mod", or whatever someone calls it). FWIW from my understanding Tommy's "mods" don't involve parts changes or gadgetry, but getting the best out of what there is. 10 of the same model guitar sent to 10 different players will result in 10 different opinions as far as feel, sound, etc.
Whether steels, banjos, mandolins, 6-strings, whatever - "off the rack" instruments almost invariably can be improved or "dialed in" for an individual player. Pedal steels, most being made in smaller shops, will surely be more dialed-in out the door than large scale production guitars (although in some cases it conceivably could be just the opposite) - but it's no insult to a builder (and I'd think they'd be complimented by the efforts) that there are techs out there that can make improvements, no matter how subtle.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 17 May 2008 9:28 am
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I understand what Curt's saying. I also understand what Jim's saying. All the while, I'm trying to maintain an open mind. However, the "I can't tell you what I do" and "I can't say how much it's gonna cost" things do make one wonder.
I'm very familiar with "tune-up" mods made to fretted instruments; adjusting truss rods, filing snd fitting new nuts, changing neck torque, set, and angle, re-radiusing and smoothing frets, making intonation adjustments, sculpting fingerboards, etc., but none of that applies to a steel.
So, without actually changing or replacing any parts (as we're told, isn't done), what could we do that affects the sound and sustain?
Smooth the changer tops
Tighten or loosen certain screws
Raise or lower the pickup
Uhh, anything else I'm missing, here? |
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Chris Lang
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Posted 17 May 2008 10:10 am
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hey guys heres how tommy mods them guitars. he he he just kiddin
How does he do the mod anyway?? anybody know// Maybe he grinds down on the changers fingers where they make a contac to the body like Carters does. Hope he dont make no flat spots on the top of the fingers!!
I got me afile and im ready to go to busness!! file em down boys!
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Billy Carr
From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
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Posted 17 May 2008 1:38 pm Tommy's MOD
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| Tommy only enhances what's already there on the guitars. All a player has to do is put two guitars side by side. One w/o a mod and one with a mod. Difference is like daylight & dark in sustain/tone. I can speak from experience on this. The last one of the modded guitars I played was at the Fulton, MS. show. A early 80's model D-10 rosewood Emmons. Totally blew me away. E9th neck had sustain on every note to the end of the fretboard. Hello Hugheyland! C6th reminded me of the Emmons black album and the tone BE had on it. I've also played some guitars that didn't need anything right out of the case to the amp direct. Personal taste, I guess. |
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Tommy Young
From:
Ethelsville Alabama
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Posted 17 May 2008 6:49 pm
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I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL THESE REPLY'S TO MY MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS. YOU GUY'S REALLY DO CRACK ME UP, AS MANY HONEST PICKERS THAT'S TOLD YOU GUY'S THAT WHAT I DO HELPS THEIR GUITARS, EVEN TO BOTH OF THESE GUYS"""BILLY CARR,DANIEL CORMIER"" BOTH HAVE PLAYED GUITARS. THAT I HAVE MODIFIED , AND YET YOU OTHER GUYS HAVEN'T (((THAT I KNOW OF ))) AND YET YOU SIT AND CUT ME AND MY MODIFICATIONS DOWN. BY TRYING TO GET ME TOO TELL YOU HOW AND WHAT I DO. THIS TELLS ME YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF ANYTHING THATS BUILT. IT CAN BE IMPROVED UPON EVEN TO WHAT I'M DOING CAN AND WILL BE IMPROVED UPON SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD THATS WHY THERE IS ALL DIFFERENT BRANDS OF EVERYTHING WE BUY EVERYBODY LIKES WHAT HE DOES OR I DO TO ANYTHING IN THE WORLD SORRY TO BLOW YOUR BUBBLE BECAUSE I HAVE PRO PICKERS PLAYING MY MOD AND MANY NON PRO PICKERS PLAYING IT, THANKS FOR BRINGING IT UP
TOMMY YOUNG
MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS
WHEN YOUR GUITARS TONE HAS TO BE ITS VERY BEST |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 17 May 2008 8:05 pm
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All caps is hard to read and considered "shouting" on the net.
Maybe you are. |
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Chris Lang
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Posted 17 May 2008 8:11 pm
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Tommy what are them mods youtalk of?? now you know those builders are doing good making there guitars. what do you do to a new guitar to make it sound better?? tell us all here. what do you do?? mabe you just pray over them. stop all the mystere and tell us all once for all?? WHAT IS THE MOD????
Mr. young says
| Quote: |
TOMMY YOUNG
MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS
WHEN YOUR GUITARS TONE HAS TO BE ITS VERY BEST |
tommy my guitar has to sound good all the time??
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Tommy Young
From:
Ethelsville Alabama
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Posted 17 May 2008 9:05 pm
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BILL sorry if I forgot about the caps button, I wasn't shouting at anyone just replying to the thread these guys really crack me up thinking I'm gonna tell everyone what i do so that all these non """tool & die people can get their buddies to do something, They don't have a clue what i am talking about and then blame me for tearing up their guitars hahahahaha go catch a falling star put it in your pockets guys. Have a great day.
TOMMY YOUNG
MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS
WHEN YOUR GUITARS TONE HAS TO BE ITS VERY BEST |
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Eddie D.Bollinger
From:
Calhoun City, Mississippi
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Posted 17 May 2008 10:26 pm
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| Like I said, none of my business, but I would never be led to believe that my guitar could be made to sound better, by someone "modding" it. |
I hope I never get to a point in life where ANY EARTHLY THING I touch, or hope to learn, can't be improved upon. Talking down to people who have paid for this guitar adjustment, and enjoy the results,
is quite unprofessional, in my opinion.
I hope the new Wilcox design is perfect right out of the chute. We may all be searching for a Wilcox
if it is. I find it nice to know that a plan for
reality is available for those of us who believe
improvement should never stop.
Eddie |
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Chet Wilcox
From:
Illinois, USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 May 2008 3:59 am
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| I thought i might add a little to this topic, First of all, i am not trying to compete with any other guitars being built. or with any other sound you may get. I am not a Company, i just build these because i love steel guitar, i do not have Machines that make machines. every thing i do is by hack saw and hammer style in a small Garage shop.My guitars play good look good and sound good.and are not for the guy with the Big Ego that has to Sound Like Buddy or Loydd, or Ralph or anyone else , they are for the guy who is his own individual self, and doesnt really care what the rest think., I applaud Tommy Young for his work to Mod thes Guitars and try to make them better, and its to bad that there are not more people who would help improve the guitars and sound.with out all the critisizm, a guitar is only going to sound as good as the player playing it. all this said i will try to improve my work as i can,My guitars have flaws as much and maybe more than every one elses,but nothing i have ever seen is perfect anyway,and a hundred years from now wont make a difference anyway, look what has happened to country music. and the music industry.it dose not add anything to any ones stature to put down an other person or what they do.the negative comments are just what they are. I have owned Emmons, Showbud ,Williams and Deckley Guitars, they were all Great Guitars , I preferred the Emmons above all. but that is just my oppion.My guitars are built home made, The end plates are cast aluminum,necks are cast aluminum as the key heads are also. legs are chrome adjustable,keys are grover, pickups are either Jerry wallace or George Ls. The rest of the parts I build , hand Made. I am open to any ones positive comments on how to improve anything i do.I try to sell them as Cheap as i can. Also i build my own cases. I dont really like building them though. but i dont know where to get them and keep the cost down. For the Guy who has to have more than one steel to feed his collector spirit or ego i dont think my guitars would measure up. but for the guy who just wants to play for himself or doesnt have to feed his ego , mine will work fine, Chet |
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Greg Wisecup
From:
Troy, Ohio
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Posted 18 May 2008 6:46 am
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What Chet said!!! Do some of these threads remind anyone of CB radios????????????
_________________
Derby SD-10 4&5 Black!(duh)/
Derby D-10/Steelers Choice/
Goodrich 120/ 2- Katana Boss 100's
/Nashville 400
RV-3/ Zoom MS-50G
As long as I'm down in the mix I'm Fantastic! |
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Curt Langston
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Posted 18 May 2008 9:30 am
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| Quote: |
| .with out all the critisizm, a guitar is only going to sound as good as the player playing it. |
Good point Chet. I agree. That's one reason I do not think any "mod" will help a guitar. It is the player that makes the sound.
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Tommy Young
From:
Ethelsville Alabama
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Posted 18 May 2008 12:02 pm
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CHET thank you for your applause of my work, as i strive to make any guitar better. As of now I haven't modified one of your guitars, but have most of the newer production guitars. I find mistakes and weaknesses in every brand that I work on, to my personal liking. if anyone is happy with what they have then by all means ""DO NOT SEND THAT GUITAR TO ME""as none but whatever brand could make them happy. Again CHET thanks and keep striving to make them better thats how they all got where they are today, by working to buy better equipment and learning their craft better, if you ever want to ask any questions CHET please feel free to call me anytime. 662-328-5742 tyoung52@wildblue.net
TOMMY YOUNG
MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS
WHEN YOUR GUITARS TONE HAS TO BE ITS VERY BEST |
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Chet Wilcox
From:
Illinois, USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 May 2008 12:18 pm
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| Thank You Tommy, I dont think a lot of guys Know how much work goes into Building a pedal steel. a Ton of grinding, Sanding. Milling and Drilling , My endplates come from the foundry really rough, also the necks, And i dont have any cnc Equiptment,for me it is hard work, i admire you for enhancing any thing you can on these great sounding instruments.and improving them.trying to make formica fit right and the trim, and try to get everything to fit and work,Keep up the good work.I think you have something good going with the modification of the steels, Chet |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 18 May 2008 1:18 pm
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I consider Chet Wilcox a friend and a fellow luthier. Here is a pic of a lap steel he built and here is an MP3 of the infamous "Way To Survive" that I recorded on it. If you have any doubts as to what a Wilcox steel can sound like then give this a listen. It is a NON PEDAL model so just imagine what a pedal model would sound like.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?59jtbwwdmj4 |
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Chet Wilcox
From:
Illinois, USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 May 2008 2:36 pm
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| Bill, I also consider you a good friend, and you did a great job on Way to Survive. I wish i could do as well. Thanks for the good word, Your Friend Chet |
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Tommy Young
From:
Ethelsville Alabama
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Posted 18 May 2008 3:43 pm
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Bill H. that was a great job on ""A way to survive""the guitar held its on best i could tell...
EDDIE B. thanks for the kind words and most of us agree there is room for improvement on anything that the people of this world has ever built....
CHET W. again thanks and keep up the good work looking better each guitar i've seen, maybe someday i'll have a chance to play and or mod one...
BILLY C. thanks for telling the truth about what you have herd, played, and owned way down in south ms.
JIM S. thanks for the honesty and facts...
DANNY C. you have played and herd some of the guitars that i have modded so you do know the difference in before and after thanks...
TOMMY YOUNG
MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS |
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Lem Smith
From:
Long Beach, MS
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Posted 18 May 2008 10:58 pm
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| Curt Langston wrote: |
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| .with out all the critisizm, a guitar is only going to sound as good as the player playing it. |
Good point Chet. I agree. That's one reason I do not think any "mod" will help a guitar. It is the player that makes the sound.
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Curt, you couldn't be more wrong if you tried. I owned the guitar above that Billy Carr mentioned. I have owned many pedal steel guitars, both student models as well as professional steel guitars. That guitar was by far the worst sounding one that I have ever had. The tone was certainly nothing to write home about, and it might as well not have had any frets above the 12th one, because there was absolutely no sustain to amount to anything above there.
Tommy got that guitar, and I haven't a clue as to what he did to it, but there is absolutely no comparison to how it was before. So I know for an absolute fact that a mod can improve a steel guitar, and in this particular case, the word improve is a huge understatement!
I have no affiliation with Tommy's Max-Tone mods, and I certainly don't gain anything by speaking out about what I know first hand about the improvement that he made to that particular guitar. I just know that what ever he did to it works, and it works well! |
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