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Topic: Possibly the best built steel guitar outside of the USA |
Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 7:34 am |
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Over the weekend, I visited my friend Dave Wheelhouse who lives some 7 or 8 miles from me. Dave had invited me to take a look at his latest creation of Sheffield pedal steel guitar. I was just so taken aback when I saw the guitar. It is jaw droppingly incredible.
The quilted maple used to make this guitar is just astonishing. Take a look at the depth of the grain.
Dave has used paua shell for the inlays of his guitar (more info can be found at http://www.reijewellery.co.nz/what_is_paua.htm), and it looks just exquisite. Certainly different to mother of pearl. The grain of the wood used is almost 3D when you look at it from different angles!
Dave has his parts machined locally, and his machinist does a fantastic job I can tell you. Here is one of his machine head mounts prior to assembly.
The rollers of the changer mechanisms are hard anodised (British spelling), and should be good for many years of usage. He has put bearings in each pedal mechanism in the pedal bar, and at each end of his cross rods. The result is very easy and smooth pedal travel. It feels very precise when you play this guitar, with relatively short travel on the pedals and levers. The final result is a 9 + 8 guitar, that is completely built and assembled to the highest standard. Dave builds these guitars in his spare time and I think he is to be commended.
If anyone wants to ask Dave any questions about his guitar, they can do so via this thread as Dave will respond here.
I certainly haven't seen anything as spectacular as this outside of the USA, and he has every right to be very proud of what he has put together here.
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Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E, |
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 7:38 am
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More pics.
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Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E, |
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 7:44 am
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And another one!
_________________
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E, |
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 7:50 am
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I forgot the most important thing. The guitar sounds as beautiful as she looks. 
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Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E, |
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Dale Rottacker
From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 8:23 am
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| Very classy. Wouldn't be taking it out to a bar gig, that's for sure. |
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Lee Warren
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 8:58 am
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| WOW ... beautiful work! |
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 9:55 am
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| Ken Byng wrote: |
And another one!
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It looks like shimmering pool water in the sunshine. I really like it!
Quite a craftsman. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 9:57 am
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| Tom Gorr wrote: |
| Very classy. Wouldn't be taking it out to a bar gig, that's for sure. |
well then it wouln't really be any good for a working musician, would it?
Last edited by chris ivey on 10 Feb 2014 10:30 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 9:59 am
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| The Rolls-Royce Merlin of pedal steel! |
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Malcolm McMaster
From:
Beith Ayrshire Scotland
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 1:29 pm
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[quote="chris ivey"]
| Tom Gorr wrote: |
| Very classy. Wouldn't be taking it out to a bar gig, that's for sure. |
well then it wouln't really be any good for a working musician, would it?[/quote
I think I know the player getting this and if it is him he is a full time pro player working all sorts of venues from festivals to TV to clubs .Beautiful looking guitar.
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MSA Millenium SD10, GK MB200, Sica 12inch cab, Joyo American Sound Pedal/ Jay Ganz Straight Ahead amp, Telonics 15inch in Peavey cab, Digitech RP150, Peterson tuner.Hilton volume pedal.Scott Dixon seat and guitar flight case.
Last edited by Malcolm McMaster on 10 Feb 2014 2:13 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 1:32 pm
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This is Dave's personal guitar Malcolm, at least for the time being until he has his next vision of perfection. 
_________________
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E, |
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Dave Wheelhouse
From:
Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 1:51 pm
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Hi guys,
Thank you for your very kind comments and a BIG thank you to my friend Ken who very kindly posted his views and photos on the forum. It is always good to get a well respected players view on things. As for a road guitar well, I've gigged her about 4 or 5 times now and she sings (IMHO) like a nightingale, I guard her with my life!! I built this PSG for myself, she is all mine, mine, mine, (seagulls, finding Nemo).
best wishes to all.
Dave.
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SHEFFIELD D10 9+8, Bradshaw Webb 614-E, Pro-Fex 2, Hilton electronic volume pedal & Sheffield tone bars. |
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Dave Wheelhouse
From:
Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 1:51 pm
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Hi guys,
Thank you for your very kind comments and a BIG thank you to my friend Ken who very kindly posted his views and photos on the forum. It is always good to get a well respected players view on things. As for a road guitar well, I've gigged her about 4 or 5 times now and she sings (IMHO) like a nightingale, I guard her with my life!! I built this PSG for myself, she is all mine, mine, mine, (seagulls, finding Nemo).
best wishes to all.
Dave.
_________________
SHEFFIELD D10 9+8, Bradshaw Webb 614-E, Pro-Fex 2, Hilton electronic volume pedal & Sheffield tone bars. |
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Dave Wheelhouse
From:
Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 1:57 pm
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Sorry about the 3 same posts, I'm still getting used to my new tablet, finger must have hit the send button more than once, a bit like my picking!! Lol.
Dave. 
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SHEFFIELD D10 9+8, Bradshaw Webb 614-E, Pro-Fex 2, Hilton electronic volume pedal & Sheffield tone bars. |
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Mike Schwartzman
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 2:25 pm
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Dave wrote:
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Dave builds these guitars in his spare time and I think he is to be commended.
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No question...I commend you! That guitar is a beauty top to bottom, and underneath as well. The finish reminds me of some under water photography of a clear tropical sea.
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Emmons Push Pull, BMI, Session 400, Home of the Slimcaster Tele. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 4:53 pm
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The bridge changer assembly looks interesting Dave/Ken -- any close ups of that ??
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14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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W. Van Horn
From:
Houston, texas
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 5:04 pm
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| chris ivey wrote: |
| Tom Gorr wrote: |
| Very classy. Wouldn't be taking it out to a bar gig, that's for sure. |
well then it wouln't really be any good for a working musician, would it? |
Real working musicians play a lot of places other than crappy blues bars dude.
I agree with tom, I would reserve this steel for non rowdy gigs myself.
Beautiful steel! |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 5:38 pm
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yeah far out dude!!!!
i think it's beautiful and i'd want to be careful of it, but first and foremost i think instruments should be played wherever needed. |
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 7:21 pm
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Dave,
Are you geared up for making U-12's? |
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Steve Alcott
From:
New York, New York, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 10:35 pm
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| I'll play any instrument I own anywhere, any time. |
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 11 Feb 2014 12:25 am
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| Paddy Long wrote: |
| The bridge changer assembly looks interesting Dave/Ken -- any close ups of that ?? |
Well spotted Paddy! I must admit that when I saw Dave's first guitar with the large changer mounting assembly, I was intrigued. However, when I strummed the strings acoustically, the strings just rang and rang for a long time. The sustain on Dave's guitars is very impressive. (Hopefully see you at the Dallas Show, and we can watch Buck's firework show on stage again this year).
Bent, your comments are very typically gracious and generous, and must mean a lot to Dave as you are a master builder yourself.
Several guys have made reference to playing exotic lacquer guitars on gigs. There are certain types of vulnerable bar gigs with no stage where I just won't take my much loved lacquer Show Pro. In those situations I would take one of my mica guitars. However that could be a new thread all of its own. 
_________________
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E, |
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Dave Wheelhouse
From:
Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
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Posted 11 Feb 2014 3:13 am
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Ken, you are spot on as usual my friend and Bent Thank you for your Kind words, they do mean a lot to me especialy coming from a master craftsman/builder.
Dave.
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SHEFFIELD D10 9+8, Bradshaw Webb 614-E, Pro-Fex 2, Hilton electronic volume pedal & Sheffield tone bars. |
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Rob Munn
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 11 Feb 2014 6:04 am
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Absolutely Gorgeous!
Love that grain. Wonder if the wood is easy to source. Now if only there was a way to get one to America without paying close to a grand to import. I purchased a very nice Gibson Console Grande 8/7 from London, UK, and it cost me 850 CAN. (1000 USD), about triple the seller's estimate (another reason not to use the Ebay estimator). That guitar was 45 pounds give or take. What would this lovely Sheffield cost to bring over. Almost better to fly over and bring it over with the take-on luggage! |
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