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Post new topic Franklin PedalBro on Reverb
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Author Topic:  Franklin PedalBro on Reverb
Lee Rider


From:
Fort Bragg, California, USA
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2023 4:05 pm    
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and only $20k!

https://reverb.com/item/77164547-rare-vintage-franklin-pedal-bro-steel-guitar-from-dealer
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Bowman SD10 push pull 3x5, Modified Hudson PedalBro, Sarno Tonic preamp, Evans FET 500. with Altec 418B, Standel Custom 15, '67 Showman with D-130F in cabinet, Ganz Straight Ahead, custom Wolfe 6 string dobro, '52 Gibson Century 6.
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Will Houston

 

From:
Tempe, Az
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2023 6:00 pm    
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Plus 750.00 shipping
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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2023 6:02 pm    
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Yeah, been seeing that. I'm on the watch list. NOT! I couldn't even afford the freight charge.
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Dan Kelly


From:
Boston, MA
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2023 2:00 pm    
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It is interesting that the listing said it was tuned to D9. Is that standard? I can imagine that it would sound better and have more sustain if it were tuned to E9. It looks like the design could handle it.
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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2023 2:49 pm    
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Yeah, I believe D was Paul's tuning on the Pedabro.
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Jon Light (deceased)


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2023 3:41 pm    
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I know nothing of the construction of the Franklin Pedabro -- what sort of cone and bridge concept is used -- but conventional resonators have a sweet spot with pitch and tension so I wonder if the tuning was determined by physics as much as by player's (Paul's) choice.
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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 13 Jan 2024 2:42 pm    
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Reduced...bargain price 19K!
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Brett Day


From:
Pickens, SC
Post  Posted 15 Jan 2024 11:21 am    
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I love the sound of the Franklin pedabro, and I think it would be awesome to sit behind one and try it out. The pedabro is heard on quite a few of my favorite country records, and I've heard only twenty-five pedabros were built
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 15 Jan 2024 5:02 pm    
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Dan Kelly wrote:
It is interesting that the listing said it was tuned to D9. Is that standard? I can imagine that it would sound better and have more sustain if it were tuned to E9.


I'd think it would sound better and have fewer tuning issues if it were lower, in "D". All other things being equal, I feel sustain is more an issue of instrument design than it is of relative pitch.
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John Larson


From:
Pennsyltucky, USA
Post  Posted 15 Jan 2024 7:25 pm    
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Jerry Overstreet wrote:
Yeah, I believe D was Paul's tuning on the Pedabro.


Afaik that's how it was always tuned and how it was tuned for it's famous spot on "Forever and Ever, Amen." E would have crushed the cone with pulls engaged, according to Paul in one of his many interviews I've watched.
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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 16 Jan 2024 10:36 am    
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It's a unique instrument...very rare only a few built. Probably a treasure for the right person.

Actually priced accordingly...not much different than the $16K Scheerhorn I see around the net.
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Bob Carlucci

 

From:
Candor, New York, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jan 2024 3:44 pm    
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A few year back a forumite sold one he built himself.. If I recall it was loaded with a regular E9 copedent and standard pedal/lever array, it looked incredibly well engineered, and immaculately built, he said it played beautifully, and sounded just like a good acoustic dobro, and sold it VERY reasonably here from what I recall almost instantly.. I remember him saying it was a one off, built for himself, and no he was NOT going to build any more, because I think he got a bunch of requests.. I don't recall his name.... bob
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Dan Kelly


From:
Boston, MA
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2024 2:54 am    
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Hey Bob - Jimmie Hudson made a similar instrument called a Hudsonator Console Dobro... here is the link:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=318844&sid=01d53a7643fdef6d3a8f3de00b648218

As I recalled, he stopped making them after about 2 1/2 years. I do not know why, but some have said that Paul Franklin Sr.'s patent on his Pedabro was still in force.

Here is the announcement of the discontinuance of production:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=3048290&sid=96353386ac246e9fff7acc86db2749cd
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Last edited by Dan Kelly on 17 Jan 2024 10:41 am; edited 1 time in total
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Tim Toberer


From:
Nebraska, USA
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2024 6:48 am    
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I am building a resonator with pedals and will post pictures hopefully soon. It will live as a console for a while as I experiment with strings and tension. My goal is to build myself a guitar and get the design right. At some point I may build a few to sell, but never plan on taking orders and such. I know nothing about patent infringement, but I basically designed mine from scratch. My next project will be a tricone, but I don't know if any standard cones are perfect for pedal guitars. I want to experiment with spinning my own and possibly other types of resonators. I see a gap here and I think people want acoustic pedal steel guitars, but they shouldn't cost as much as a car. I am surprised no one is currently marketing one.

As far as tuning goes I don't see why an E tuning wouldn't work with the right gauge strings, or possibly a guitar designed with a slightly shorter scale. My guitar is designed around my own tuning. At some point I want to experiment with E9 type tunings, but the old Mooney or Isaacs variety. I am pretty dedicated to the idea of keeping the mechanics as simple as possible using pull-release changer and limiting the design to 8 strings. The acoustic design really calls for simplicity. I think Jimmie Hudson had it right.
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Franklin

 

Post  Posted 18 Jan 2024 8:07 pm    
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Dad's ten cable/bars pull and release the strings across the bridge in the center of the cone without any downward pressure on the cone...So the instrument could have been tuned to F# had I chose its timbre.
I chose D because it cut through the mix very well. Listen to Keith Whitleys "Don't Close Your Eyes" for the unique timbre the Pedabro has when playing single strings. Because the D tuning stood out the phone kept ringing requesting that instrument...So much so that Sonny, Hal, Mike Johnson and others bought one so they could fill the requests...
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Dan Kelly


From:
Boston, MA
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2024 8:48 am    
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That design certainly solves the downward pressure issue on the cone. What a great idea. Paul Sr.'s patent shows just how well this innovative instrument was thought out. On top of it all, it sounds great and has a lot of appeal in the mix. Thank you for "chiming-in," Paul!
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Jerry Horch


From:
Alva, Florida, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2024 10:50 am     Nice
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I just wish I had oneā€¦..a Paul Sr masterpieceā€¦
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