Need help selling my fathers steel guitars...

Michael Keeton · From: Lubbock, Tx

My father (Wilbur Keeton, who was a member of these forums) passed away 2 1/2 years ago and I think it's about time I do something with some of his equipment. He had 5 steels, 1 I want to keep, 4 need new homes.

First I need to get an idea of what they are worth. Here's what I know about them off hand.

MSA Millennium, he played it for about 6 months before he died, like brand new.

Emmons Lashley LeGrand?, I believe it was built in the mid 90's and I remember him saying something about it having some sort of compensator. He bought this as a practice steel while he was waiting on the MSA to be built. He liked it but not as much as his other Emmons that I'm keeping.

ShoBud, no idea how old it is, he played it for years and retired it when he bought an Emmons in the late 80's.

Blanton, I never saw him play this guitar, my guess is that it's 30-40+ yrs old, heavy as hell.

I know the MSA and Emmons are in excellent condition. My father was meticulous about the care of his equipment. It's been years since he's played the Shobud, so I don't know it's condition, I'm hoping you guys can tell me what to look for. Also, what other information do I need to look for, number of pedals? levers? They are all double neck... If I do sell one or all online, how are they typically shipped? Packaging?

Any information anyone has to offer would be appreciated.

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Michael, yes, price will depend on condition, number of pedals and knee levers, and sometimes even color (for example, there are a few purple guitars out there that tend not to fetch great prices on re-sale). Best thing is probably to post good, well-lit photos of all aspects of each guitar: topside, front, back, left/right, and a good closeup or two of the underside. Also, any info. you might know about when he purchased each one (actually you already provided some of that info in your post). That should be enough for most folks to give you an idea of value. For the MSA and Emmons (which are still made), you can look at their websites to see what a comparable new one would cost, as a benchmark.

Good luck.
Jim
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Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Don't be in a hurry to sell and check any offers you get before you make a deal.
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Bob

Johnny Cox · Posted 12 Sep 2010 9:15 pm

I built Wilbur's Milly. What a nice man he was.
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Johnny "Dumplin" Cox
"YANKIN' STRINGS & STOMPIN' PEDALS" since 1967.

Dwight Cook · From: Amarillo, Texas, USA

hey michael send me your phone#_________
thanks dwight cook, amarillo 806 358 2125

Al Michalczak · From: San Antonio, Texas, USA

Figure out what you want for that old Blanton and if we can make a deal, maybe we can meet somewhere near half way and I'll pick it up. Call me @ 210-260-2127.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

You can also search through the old "Instruments for Sale" listings on this site to get a good idea about the MSA, Emmons and Sho-Bud at least. There are reputable dealers who may take them on consignment, which would cut down on your time & hassles. That MSA might be worth the rest of them combined... I know that when my father passed and I had an entire house full of stuff to deal with, I sure didn't want to sit at a yard sale table and haggle over the price of spoons & curtains, etc.

Michael Keeton · From: Lubbock, Tx

Thanks everyone that has email and sent messages, I appreciate all the information and kind words about my dad. Some of you I still haven't called or emailed back, I haven't gotten to it yet but I will...

I pulled the Sho-Bud out tonight and took some pictures. All the pedals and levers seem to function, but I'd be surprised if the steel has been touched in 20 years. It looks to be in good shape, what little I know anyway, but it definately needs some cleaning up.

An old friend of my dad is coming over later this week to take a look at them so I will have a better idea of the condition and value. So for everyone asking, I'll probably wait until then to put a price on any of them.

But, for now, this link should take you to an album with the pictures of the Sho-Bud. I'll try to get pics up of the others in a day or two... Thanks again...

http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n151/allthrtl/Sho-Bud/

edit/ almost forgot, the Sho-Bud is a model 6155 which I believe is a Pro 2, but judging by the plaque on the front he had it custom built.?. It has a 12 and 10 string necks, 9 pedals and 5 knee levers.

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

So tell us about the one you're keeping and why you decided on it.

The 'Bud looks great.
The "Keeper" must have been dipped in "Awesome Sauce"!

Michael Keeton · From: Lubbock, Tx

...well, the "keeper" is a mid-80's Le Grande that my dad absolutely loved. He played it for over 20 yrs and it was setup in the back room when he died. He had recently purchased the MSA Millennium and was just starting to get used to it when he died.

Michael Keeton · From: Lubbock, Tx

Ok, here's the MSA. Outside of a few fingerprints and dust, this guitar is practically brand new. I imagine it's pretty well worth the price of a new one with the added benefit of not having to wait for it. I believe dad waited around 6 months for this one, he was like a kid on Christmas morning when it arrived...

http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n151/allthrtl/MSA%20Millennium/

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

The Milly is beautiful, very much like my own. Wish I could have another.
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Michael Keeton · From: Lubbock, Tx

Emmons LeGrande III, D10 8/5

http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n151/allthrtl/Emmons/

Max W. Thompson · From: Texas, USA

I'd like to know about the Blanton...number of strings, necks, pedals, levers, etc.

Max

Michael Keeton · From: Lubbock, Tx

I should have pics and more info on the Blanton by this weekend.

baxter vaughan · From: Lubbock, Texas 79424

folks, i was over at Michael house last night. OMG, you talk about a kid in a candy store! the emmons, msa and even the old shobud were just like new! i could not believe it. Wilber Keeton was a great guy and he took execellent care of his horns. the emmons and msa were nothing short of awesome. i fell in love the shobud from the start. they all just a cleaning and new strings..nothing more..Micheal, thanks for the hospitality and sorry about all the drool..LOL!
baxter

Michael Keeton · From: Lubbock, Tx

Thanks Baxter for coming by and taking a look at them for me, I really enjoyed visiting with you and your wife. It's a little bittersweet seeing someone else sit behind these steels, but I really enjoyed hearing them come to life again.

baxter vaughan · From: Lubbock, Texas 79424

michael, you are more than welcome. folks i forgot to mention all of these steels are loaded with pulls on the E9th neck. the shobud has the super pro undercarriage and changer. the mille, with 9&7 is as new a pedal steel as i have seen in quite awhile.

Duane Brown · From: Reno,Nevada USA

Michael, I lived in Lubbock from 1974-1980 and spent a lot of that time playing with your dad. I can shed some light on the two older steels.

The Blanton is the one Wilbur was playing when I first met him in 1974. He played that guitar for years. I'm not sure of the year of manufacture, but it was a d-12 and as you said, was heavy as hell. I think Wilbur worked at the Blanton factory in the late '60's and helped build it in '68-69. I can't remember for sure. Wilbur only played e-9 then and never even tuned the c-6 neck so it is as new. Nobody could play prettier e-9 than Wilbur on the Blanton. I played guitar in bands with him and that guitar until around 1976. I know that the Sho-Bud was a custom built 12-string E9,10 string C6 he bought in 1978 because Wilbur wanted to learn C-6 and didn't want to learn on a 12-string. It was built with superpro undercarriage as stated above,and it stayed in tune and played real nice. I'd go sit in and play that one as I had begun playing steel by then. He didn't play it long before ordering a new one from Bob Stufflebeme.

In 1980, Wilbur got a new Super-Pro,12 string e-9,10 string C-6. I was playing guitar in a band with him, Travis and Billy Carter in a club in Levelland. The club burned to the ground and Wilbur lost that new guitar, Session 400 amp, Pac-a Seat full of strings and his Conn Strobe. He probably went back to the green one you're selling until he got his first Emmons.

I hope my memories of your dad's older guitars helps you some. Wilbur was meticulous about care and upkeep of his guitars and I think the only thing any of his guitars need is a little cleaning, lube, and new strings and they'd be ready to play.

I moved to Reno in the summer of 1980 and lost track of all my Lubbock friends,to my regret.

Michael, your dad was one of the real true friends I had and I have lots of fond memories of him and my time in Lubbock. He was one of my greatest influences when I first began playing steel. I really regret not keeping up with him. Any questions you have,please ask. I'll do my best to help you any way I can.
Duane Brown

Michael Keeton · From: Lubbock, Tx

Wow Duane, thanks so much for the information. That really helps fill in the blanks for me. I was born in 1972 so I don't have many memories until he was already playing the green Sho-Bud. Dad played a lot and was constantly working on his skill and tone. I think at 65 he was playing and sounding better than ever. I was telling Baxter the other day about how common it was for Dad to call me at 11-12 at night to play something for me or to tell me how he figured something out. He was still so excited about what he was doing.

I'm still struggling with what to do with these guitars, but I really appreciate the information, it helps a bunch...

Michael

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