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Topic: Jim Smith & Dekley |
Wayne Cox
From:
Chatham, Louisiana, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Aug 2002 8:43 am |
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Hi Jim,
I just wanted to say that I still have my old
S-12 Dekley. It's still just as heavy as it ever was, but it has been low maintenance and very functional for over 20 years,now.
Personally, I think that's quite a tribute to both you and Bob Dekam. Few instruments would have held up as this one has. Just wanted to say thanks!
W.C. |
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Doug Rolfe
From:
Indianapolis, IN
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Posted 21 Aug 2002 9:15 am
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I too own a s-12 on a double neck body. It originally was an extended e-9th but I converted it to a universal. It plays so well and stays in tune. It would be difficult to justify buying a new steel since my Dekley does so well.
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Doug
Dekley 12U 4k & 7p
2-Nash 400 & Quadraverb
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 21 Aug 2002 9:47 am
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Thanks for the compliments guys!  I still play my 20+ year old D-12 and have spent exactly $0.00 in repairs. Funny though, mine seems to have gotten heavier over the years!  
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Jim Smith jimsmith94@attbi.com
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden Ext. E9/U-13 8&8=-
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Marty Pollard
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Posted 21 Aug 2002 6:23 pm
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Ditto!
My Slimline S-10 3/4 is a tank.
If I can ever afford to order a new guitar (I want one for the studio and one for the road), it will be modeled on my Dekley. Same changes; travel; string spacing; all ergonomic aspects.
Truly a great instrument. |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 21 Aug 2002 7:57 pm
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| I'm modifying my D-12 to be my "heavy metal" guitar. One of the reasons I stopped playing it about a dozen years ago was I made solid aluminum necks for it (toooooo heavy), along with a lot of other changes. So now I've 'pocketed' the necks which has lightened them up a lot, the keyheads are now one piece and are bolted directly into the ends of the necks, there are no changes on the C6 neck which is tuned for power chords (so no ps & ks and crossrods for that neck) and I have George L 5-way pickups that go to Carvin active-passive electronics. I made a complete end plate assembly for the changer end and welded all the corners to the end plates on each end. All of which made a noticeable improvement on the tone and sustain. I don't have any pictures yet. |
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Joerg Hennig
From:
Bavaria, Germany
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Posted 22 Aug 2002 9:51 am
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The only reason I sold my Dekley was because S-12 on a double 12 body is a configuration I don´t particularly care for. Its mechanical stability was amazing and it would stay in tune even under the "hottest" situations. Also the way the crossrods were mounted so you could take them out easily seemed a good idea, made it a lot easier to make changes to the setup, which I often did. If it had been a D-10, I´d probably have kept it.
Regards, Joe H. |
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Ed Miller Jr
From:
Coldwater,Mi USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2002 7:19 pm
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From another happy Dekley owner,Jim, thanks
Ed Miller
Dekley S10 |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2002 7:29 pm
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| Dang it guys, I sure appreciate it, but it's a good thing I don't wear a hat, I'd never get it on now! |
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Reggie Duncan
From:
Mississippi
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Posted 22 Aug 2002 8:30 pm
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| I bought an S-10 in 1989. I think it was built around 1982-3. A FINE instrument. Wish I had kept it. |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 23 Aug 2002 3:33 am
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Jim,
Are you the same guy who came to LA around 1978 or '79 for the NAMM show at the Disneyland Hotel? I was teaching at Blackie Taylors store and a tall guy named Jim and a gray/white haired guy from Dekley came by the store along with Tommy Roots who was their player at the time. We went to the show with them and then they came to the club (Bonnie Price's Foothill Club) where I was playing at the time after the show. Tommy Roots played a set or two and just tore the place apart. What a great time. Jim Bob Sedgwick of the Forum was on lead guitar at that time.
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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney tuning.
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 23 Aug 2002 5:14 am
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| Jerry, they wouldn't let me get that far from the shop. That was Jim Gurley, the "ley" of Dekley, while Bob DeKam was the "Dek". |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 23 Aug 2002 7:06 am
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Hey Jim,
What ever happened to Jim Gurley? Is he still in the music business? He got up with us that night I mentioned and played bass and sang a couple as I recall. Thanks |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 23 Aug 2002 7:12 am
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| Quote: |
| ....Jim Gurley, the "ley" of Dekley, while Bob DeKam was the "Dek" |
well gee, Jim. You must be mistaken. I mean, otherwise, how come everyone spells it, like, Deckelee and all? (Even owners who have the guitar sitting there in front of them). They can't be wrong can they? |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 23 Aug 2002 7:28 am
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| Last I heard he's in Tennessee working in sales, but not in the music business. |
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Peter Siegel
From:
Belmont, CA, USA
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Posted 23 Aug 2002 3:15 pm
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OK I've gotta weigh in. I too have nothing but great things to say about my Dekley D10.
Stay in tune like a dream, really great tone live and also sounds great direct into the board for recording. The case is the only thing that has not held up, but let's not pick nits.
A terrific guitar. |
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Marty Pollard
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Posted 23 Aug 2002 6:49 pm
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Wellll...
Now that you mention it, the case is/was A PIECE OF SH*T.
The guitar is safer out of it than in it.
I really ought to spring for a new one.
wanna help, Jim?
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 24 Aug 2002 9:22 am
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As I recall, when Thomas Custom Case couldn't keep up with our case needs, we used some Fender type cases for a while. Otherwise, all our cases were Thomas, who makes Emmons and others cases, and the same as the one shown in this eBay ad: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=900958208
FYI, I used to use two S-12 cases for my D-12. After removing the pedal bar divider from one and reblocking it, my guitar fit perfectly. For a while I carried the guitar in that case and the pedal bar, legs, and accessories in the other. Later I got lazy and found that the leg bag would fit on top of the guitar and I just carry the pedal bar by itself.
That case is also 20+ years old, some of the fabric covering is coming off, and some of the plastic on the handle came off. I just duct taped some foam pipe insulation over the handle and it's still going strong. |
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Smiley Roberts
From:
Hendersonville,Tn. 37075
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Posted 24 Aug 2002 4:28 pm
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I've had my Dekley since '78. Got it new,& it's still kickin' ass. Have not put a dime in it. Not so much as a return spring. I had Sammy Gibson,in Ct.,"midify" it for me,so I can use it w/ an IVL "SteelRider". And,as beat-up as the case is,it's still the original. They must've been good,'cause ya don't see too many of 'em on Ebay,or "buy & sell". That's gotta say somethin' for 'em.
Them that's got 'em,usually keep 'em.
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~ ~
©¿© ars longa,
mm vita brevis
www.ntsga.com
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Wayne Cox
From:
Chatham, Louisiana, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Aug 2002 2:50 pm
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Gosh Jim,guess I did a good thing for once!
That's O.K. You deserved a good pat on the
back for helping create something with quality built in. That's a rare thing these
days.
W.C. |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 17 Aug 2003 12:50 pm
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I know this is an old thread, but I had to dust the cobwebs off to offer my two cents.
I just bought a Dekley D-10 from Greg Dwinell up in Mass. I bought this guitar with the thinking that this is not my dream guitar, but a decent Lefty D-10 at a pretty good price, and there is just not that much for us to choose from. Greg turned out to be a very helpfull, and good person to deal with.
I have to say after having the guitar for less than a week, I am thrilled everytime I sit down at it (which has been a lot). The guitar is quality all the way, and it has given me new intrest in playing. It might be my dream guitar. Incedently, my case is the Fender type, and is a good heavy duty case.
Time to get back and play again.
Thanks,
Lefty
Dekley D-10
Sho-Bud LDG
Rickenbacker Lap
Session 500 |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 17 Aug 2003 1:53 pm
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Lefty, thanks for the kind words about Dekley. Greg and I used to play in a band together and he is indeed a very nice guy. I got a chance to visit with him again at the Mass Bash year before last and he even gave me some free stuff!
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Jim Smith jimsmith94@comcast.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden D-12 9&9=-
-=Emmons D-12 push pull 9&4 (soon to be 9&9)=-
Stereo Steel rig w/Boss GX-700
IVL SteelRider w/JV-880
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Jeff Evans
From:
Cowtown and The Bill Cox Outfit
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Posted 17 Aug 2003 2:13 pm
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| Who knew there are so many Dekheads on the Forum? |
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Scott Henderson
From:
Camdenton, Missouri, USA
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Posted 18 Aug 2003 4:21 am
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I too have owned a dek for over twenty years
the only problem i have had with it is breaking off the connectors at the pedals. but outside of that have loved the guitar to death. it's in semi retirement now as I only play it one day a week. (it did it's time 5 nights a week for 11 years)
great guitar Jim.
Oh it's a S-12 Uni. Pics are on my website
scottyhenderson.com
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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com
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Chris Brooks
From:
Providence, Rhode Island
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Posted 18 Aug 2003 5:34 am
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Jim Roule up here in New England (still)plays the living fire out of his Dekley . . .
Chris
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now living in the Ocean State ....
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 18 Aug 2003 6:08 am
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Yep, Jimmy Roule is one fine player for sure! Someone posted a while back that he ordered a new Fessy at the last Mass Bash. Good choice! 
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Jim Smith jimsmith94@comcast.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden D-12 9&9=-
-=Emmons D-12 push pull 9&4 (soon to be 9&9)=-
Stereo Steel rig w/Boss GX-700
IVL SteelRider w/JV-880
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