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Topic: Kurt Kowalskis Guitar |
James Sission
From:
Sugar Land,Texas USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2013 9:04 am |
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Here are some photos of the guitar that Bobby Bowman built for Kurt. I will let Bobby explain it since all I know is that this was a joint effort by many people in the steel guitar community. Bobby can give the specifics on the guitar.
Last edited by James Sission on 4 Jun 2013 5:51 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 3 Jun 2013 9:16 am
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An extraordinary effort and accomplishment!
I'm very touched by this act of kindness from all involved.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Storm Rosson
From:
Silver City, NM. USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2013 11:15 am
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 A big ditto on that Mike, simply outstanding work by all involved 
Last edited by Storm Rosson on 3 Jun 2013 12:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bobby Bowman
From:
Cypress, Texas, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 3 Jun 2013 11:32 am Killer's KILLER guitar
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Thanks for the pictures James. It was good to see you again.
Well, Here it is gang. I still have a very little tweeking to do here and there, but it's basically finished.
Since Kurt has no feeling from his knees down to his feet and very little feeling in his upper legs, we have tried to come up with a guitar that he can play.
He can move his left leg a little to the right and his right leg a little to the left while sitting in his wheelchair. Which BTW, is a custom built wheelchair that he must be strapped into.
There are many physical issues that Kurt must contend with and I should say, that he is doing a splended effort to overcome these issues.
Anyway, I made the LKR lever his A pedal and the RKL lever his B pedal. These had to be positioned in exactly the perfect spots under the guitar to "fit" his legs while sitting in his wheelchair.
His upper body and arms are pretty strong so I concocted a wrist lever and an arm lever for his right arm.
The wrist lever lowers the E's a half tone and also lowers the D string a half tone. There is a "locking device" that will "lock in" this change so he can play straight steel in the B-6 tuning. The arm lever raises the 4'th string E a whole tone to F# with a tunable half tone feel for the F note.
The tuning is an Extended E 13'th (a C# note is string 5 and the B note is now string 6). Except for the C# on string 5 it is a regular E-9 tuning with a Low E on string 12.
The guitar is made up of mostly original Carter parts with some MSA parts and some parts that I had to make. They are all "new" parts,,,just been laying around for a long time. Some of these parts were "factory rejects" and it took a lot of rigging to make 'em work. I used chrome screws and fasteners where I could and polished all the parts as best I could with my little buffing wheel. (My big buffing wheel is not working,,,motor is burned up).
There are so many folks that helped to make this guitar possible and at least that many more who offered their help and assistence. I hope I don't leave anybody out.
Mark Giles for the cabinet and changer,,,Billy Phelps and Al Brisco for all the Carter parts, Bob Hoffner for the Tone Aliner Pick Up, Roy Thomas for the George L Pick Up,,,Larry Agin (RIP) for end plates and legs,,,Mitchel Daniels for $60 donation,,,Jim Palenscar for the custom "KILLER" fretboards and a fellow named Sam, who is making a set of custom legs that havn't arrived yet.
Thanks also to Jan Jones for the room to spend a night in when I was on the road to get parts made. All the rest of the parts I either already had, made myself or bought.
Thanks to all involved and to all you "well wishers" too. I couldn't have done it without you.
I sincerely hope that it will be a usable and playable guitar for Kurt "Killer" Kowalski who is my friend.
BB 
That would be Sammy Gibson for the custom legs. Thanks Sam. 
_________________
If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!
http://www.bobbybowman.com
Last edited by Bobby Bowman on 5 Jun 2013 7:21 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jeff Heard
From:
Lopez Island, Washington, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2013 4:21 pm
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| Awesome! Well done to everyone involved. |
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Carl Kilmer
From:
East Central, Illinois
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Posted 3 Jun 2013 7:07 pm
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WOW! That's a priceless work of art. God bless all of you.
_________________
aka "Lucky Kay"--Custom built Rittenberry SD10 3X5, Walker S/S, NV-112, and Hilton Pedal |
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James Sission
From:
Sugar Land,Texas USA
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Posted 4 Jun 2013 4:22 am
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| Your welcome Bobby. Let me know when you are ready to ship that guitar and I will help with the cost of that as well....J |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 4 Jun 2013 12:30 pm
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Great work Bobby B.
Jerry |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 4 Jun 2013 12:30 pm
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Great work Bobby B.
Jerry |
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Bobby Bowman
From:
Cypress, Texas, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 5 Jun 2013 8:09 am
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Thanks Gang,
It was my priviledge, honor and pleasure to be a part of this project for Kurt.
BB
Thanks again to Sammy Gibson for the custom legs.
_________________
If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!
http://www.bobbybowman.com |
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Bobby Bowman
From:
Cypress, Texas, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Jun 2013 11:47 pm shipping
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Many thanks to James (Kyle) Sission for taking care of the UPS shipping. The Guitar is scheduled to arrive at Kurt's Tuesday the 11'th of June. 
BB
_________________
If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!
http://www.bobbybowman.com |
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