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Topic: Great news for Fender 400/800/1000/2000 owners! |
Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 9:35 am |
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I have right here in front of me a wonderful Fender 800.. It has 6 pedals 4 knee levers... The knees were designed and installed by a brilliant machinist/engineer/designer. This is all prototype stuff, sitting in my bedroom!
They are 100% true to Fender original design parameters,look like they were made exactly for the guitar by the original Fender designers, are cable actuated using exact designs from the originals, except for far superior workmanship, and best of all, not ONE hole was drilled in my guitar.. NOT ONE...anywhere.
This modular design allows players of vintage cable Fender guitars to add from 1 to 4 levers, at home in under an hour with NO holes drilled.. There are 0 modifications done to the original parts.. None, nada,. Sheer genious.
If you want to, in just a few minutes every lever and cable could be taken off the guitar, and it would be 100% original as it left the factory... They work magnificently, and look incredible. The designer is also going to be manufacturing replacement parts for these steels.. I guess a lot of what he decides to offer depends on demand, but from what I have seen, his parts look better built than the orginals, but are meant to fit exactly and interact perfectly with all original Fender designs.. He doesn't want me to mention his name yet, and I know a few here know who he is, and he asks to refrain for now, as he is still not quite in full production, and wants inventory on hand.. He doesn't want anyone to wait while he builds stuff...
His idea was to design parts for Fender cable steels that worked better than the originals, fit perfectly with NO mods and wanted his knee levers to be able to be fitted by owners with no mods to the guitar at all.. He has succeeded in an incredible way. His repect for maintaining the originality of these old steels was unreal... How he designed this system and made it work is beyond me, but yes, I can take everything out that he installed, in probably under 10 minutes, and I am back to my 6 pedal 800, bone stock as it left the factory, without even 1 extra screwhole!
Now you easily can install 4 fully functional knee levers onto a Fender cable steel with a damn phillps screwdriver, and a pliers,, period!
I will wait for him to make further announcements as to when he is up and running, meantime, contact me to hear the changes, discuss what works and how, small mods that might be needed like string gauge adjustments etc.. There may be some minor adjustments to string gauges, mainly due to changer limitations.. I have been advising the builder on minor mods he may want to make to his already great designs to allow more travel for lowers etc... Any "shorcomings" I have found so far have been remedied via a phone conversation,
oh yeah, and 3 minutes with an Allen wrench and a file...
I won't give his name out yet, and ask that others respect his wish as well. He will be announcing his designs soon. I have his permission to post this.
btw, I get nothing in return for this..Just in case someone thinks I might be turning a buck on this post.
I was VERY happy to help out by allowing him to use my steel for several months to get his designs drawn, and his prototypes built. I already have gotten way more than I could have asked for.
I am really excited for owners of beat up cable Fender steels that want them playable again... Feel free to PM me, we can talk, and I will let you know whatever I can about this wonderful set up... I'll even go through my lever changes over the phone if you can stand my playing, no small task!.....
btw, lol, this old Fender helps drown out my tinnitus which had me in a very bad state for a few months , but which I am now trying hard to live with,... This steel has been a welcome distraction, and I hope my friend sells a ton of parts, in return for his kindness and generousity in giving me back a truly a one of a kind steel.... I welcome any inquiries, and will try and be as specific as I can..... bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
Last edited by Bob Carlucci on 25 Oct 2011 11:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Tim Whitlock
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 10:15 am
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| Sounds intriguing Bob. Can you post some photos? |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 10:33 am
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I don't have them Tim, but the guy who makes them has detailed photos and schematics.. I will wait for him to post them, and explain all the particulars.. He hasn't even priced things as yet, but will probably soon. Meanwhile I am more in tune with operational issues and set up procedures, and will be glad to answer those types of questions.. bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
Last edited by Bob Carlucci on 25 Oct 2011 2:31 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ian Finlay
From:
Kenton, UK
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 1:42 pm
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| Sounds fascinating! |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 2:30 pm
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| Ian Finlay wrote: |
| Sounds fascinating! |
Ian, you would have to see the simplicity of this brilliant design.. NEVER seen anything so well thought out, and will fit any Fender pedal steel without a hole drilled anywhere. I slapped my head and said. "Of course"!! How come I never thought of that??
can't wait until he releases his photos... bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Bob Muller
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 3:05 pm
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| Sounds like a great idea, hope these go into to production very soon. I've got a guitar that is crying out for a set of these knee levers. |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 4:14 pm
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| Bob Muller wrote: |
| Sounds like a great idea, hope these go into to production very soon. I've got a guitar that is crying out for a set of these knee levers. |
bob, He has some stuff in production, and is gearing up stock as we speak.. He was going today to pick up some aluminum stock for the modular mount that the levers are mounted to, if I recall right. It won't be long. I told him today what I saw crappy rotten cables and rusty old original Fender cable pulleys selling for on ebay, and he realized he had to get his ass in gear. LOL..
I hope he does ok with this endevour. For years these claasic Fender steels have been kept going with makeshift parts, or rusty stuff salvaged from old wrecks... I hope this all changes, and some of these great old guitars are brought back to new life... My 800 plays very well, and sounds like fine old gold... bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Benjamin Franz
From:
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 4:56 pm
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| This is indeed great news. As someone who regularly gigs on a Fender 400, it's always on my mind to source parts. Have you posted this over at the Fender Steel Forum? |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 5:01 pm
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| Benjamin Franz wrote: |
| This is indeed great news. As someone who regularly gigs on a Fender 400, it's always on my mind to source parts. Have you posted this over at the Fender Steel Forum? |
I think he has a membership there..not sure... Take a look at the pics I posted Benjamin...
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Benjamin Franz
From:
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 5:14 pm
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| I took a look Bob. I haven't been this excited about anything for a long time! Those knee levers look killer! And I had just been toying with the idea of adding another two levers... |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 5:24 pm
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| Bob played his Fender steel over the phone to me yesterday. He is a VERY good player. His Fender sounded spectacular. Classic Fender steel tone. The Mooney sound right down to a T. Made me want to go out and get one. Now with new cables, knee levers available these guitars will be more enjoyable/stable to play. |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2011 5:44 pm
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Thanks Kevin.. Very kind.. I mentioned to the "guy we discussed" that you knew a company that does castings, if he decides to go that route... A lot depends on what he gets requests for, and how much initial investments will be..
I let him know you have a line on companies that may accomodate him...
btw, Fedex came and looked at the case they destroyed... The guy couldn't believe how badly it was destroyed. Hopefully, I will get the full price of your 2 unit system. If not, let THEM try and find a clean 1965 Fender 800 case...
right... Good luck with that fedex...
I'll be back in touch soon Kevin, I may need a written estimate of some sort... bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 29 Apr 2013 4:49 pm Any update on these?
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Any update on these?
If I thought I could get something like the described levers I'd love an older fender.
Thanks for any information.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Dwight Lewis
From:
Huntsville, Alabama
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Posted 30 Apr 2013 9:28 am
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Andy give Paul Redmond a shout. He is the only one I know that has proof and pictures of working installed knee levers on the 400/800/1000 fenders. Paul is a forum member and there is a thread in here with pictures of his fender. Thanks, I hope this helps.
Dwight
_________________
Dekley 7p4k(PRS-10C), BMI S12 5p5kn |
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David Farrell
From:
San Diego, California, USA
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Posted 3 Apr 2022 9:07 am Fender knee lever system
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Hi,
I have a Fender 800. I'd love to get the knee lever system described in this thread. Can anyone give me any info about it?
Thanks, Dave
_________________
Dave
Fender pedal steels, amps & guitars. '73 Sho~Bud PRO 1 CUSTOM. Emmons ReSound'65 S-10 4x5. |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 3 Apr 2022 9:24 am
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Haven’t heard a peep about this for a few years. M Yahl has been very busy with other things, I think.
_________________
KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Danelectro, Evans, Fender, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Michael Sawyer
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 3 Apr 2022 9:54 am
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I rigged up 3 each on both my 400's.
They work " ok".
I would love to have something more efficient but
I been gettin by ok with these. |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 4 Apr 2022 6:01 am
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It was a brilliantly engineered prototype system... I think the effort was shelved before it ever got going unfortunately . Life and time constraints get in the way. I know Michael Yahl is a very busy guy with a big demand for his exceptionally well made products..
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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