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Topic: Availability of Critical Parts for Out-of-Business Mfgs. |
Phil Brockett
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 23 Aug 2018 2:27 pm |
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Did a search regarding availability of parts on guitars produced by companies no longer in business. Results were somewhat troubling - especially when some used guitars of well-known, out-of-business companies can run thousands of dollars.
What are the critical parts that typically fail on a pedal steel guitar?
Any experiences where a critical part failed and could only be replaced by having one custom milled?
Sharing of your knowledge and experiences will be most appreciated. |
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Eric Philippsen
From:
Central Florida USA
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Posted 23 Aug 2018 5:58 pm
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Critical parts that usually fail? Some of the pot-metal knee levers and bell ranks on later Sho-Buds can break. Happened twice on a Super-Pro I had. Had to get machined aluminum replacements for those which were actually much better than the original ones.
Finding bellcranks and knee levers for push-pulls is really tough. Although they generally don’t fail, getting those parts to add copedant changes is also super tough. Scarce as hens teeth. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 23 Aug 2018 6:32 pm
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I wouldn't worry about it too much. Most parts that can't be bought new or used can be made or repaired pretty easily, or substitutes can be found. Of course, some owners are just real picky, and want everything to be "just-so". However, it might be best if they tried to get past the "Oh, it's gotta be original and purty so I can get big bucks for it when I sell it" stage. Make it work and play good, and move on.
One other thing - some guitars, even though they can be fixed, aren't really worth the time and effort to fix them. This is how it is with my old '60s Marlen. One day, I'll probably get tired of looking at it and realize the best thing to do with it would be to take it to the landfill. |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 23 Aug 2018 6:50 pm
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| I've got access to a machine shop in my area. Any one of the 17 machinists there can make any part on my guitar with just a few machines and common stock. I've had them make some not so simple parts for my Excel in one day. If needed we have a wire EDM, CNC lathes and CNC milling machines, 3D CAD and coordinate measuring machines. Those are gross overkill for making steel guitar parts. Any good machinist would not consider any part of steel guitar to be very complex. It's a very simple mechanical machine! |
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Phil Brockett
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 23 Aug 2018 9:55 pm
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Thanks everyone!
This is exactly the information I needed. |
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Stuart Legg
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Posted 23 Aug 2018 9:56 pm
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"It's a very simple mechanical machine!"
Wow I caught hell when I said that! |
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