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Topic: Recording King roller bridge and other upgrades |
Bill Burch
From:
California, USA
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Posted 26 Apr 2022 1:55 pm |
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I’ve been having fun upgrading my Recording King lap steel guitar. Like many of you, I added a Certano bender to replicate pedal steel guitar bends. To overcome the friction on the non-roller stock bridge, I reached out to fellow forum member Barry Coker, who has machined parts for other players. I sent Barry my stock bridge and he replicated it, adding the rollers and a shim plate to match the stock string height. He also copied the holes to allow me to keep the thru-body string ferrules. He did a superb job with the machining and finish. Many thanks, Barry!
For fun, I ditched the stock “mother of toilet seat” while Pearl fretboard and replaced it with some thin maple veneer that I had. I think it really improves the look. I also added some black diamonds at the 12th and 24th frets by cutting pieces of black electrical tape and sticking it to the underside of the acrylic fretboard.
Finally, I replaced the knobs with some more understated top hat versions. I did break one of the pots trying to pry the original knobs off and had to solder in a new one. I cut the second original knob off carefully using a Dremel cutoff wheel
If you’re considering buying one of these guitars, I’d highly recommend it. They sound great and are a fantastic value.
FYI, I’m currently using the hybrid G/D tuning (G B D F# A D low to high) with the benders raising the F# to G and the A to B.
Bill
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 26 Apr 2022 4:42 pm Looks great
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Looks great and Barry did a fine machine job with the new bridge.
Bet you'll be having a load of fun playing it now. 
_________________
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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Barry Coker
From:
Bagley Alabama, USA
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Posted 26 Apr 2022 5:11 pm
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Thanks for the kind words Bill and Andy the bridge was a neat little project and it turned out to match the palm leavers very well.
Bill that fretboard is beautiful and sets off the insterment perfectly.
Thanks again guys
Barry
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Zum-D-10, Webb 614-E, 65 Pro Reverb, Evans RE200, 69 Gibson Birdland, 89 Telecaster EAD Bad!! |
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