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Topic: Thomas Steel Guitars |
David Fields
From:
South Carolina, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2007 10:52 am |
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Anyone know about them? Supposedly a Barry Thomas built them and they were supposed to be nice instruments.
Dave |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 26 Mar 2007 11:20 am
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They ARE nice. Barry Thomas is a multi-millionaire who built steels as a hobby. He had a state of the art machine shop worth more than most people's homes.
For some reason, he stopped building them. Since he made his own parts, I don't know if they can be replaced if the need arises.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
Last edited by Mike Perlowin on 26 Mar 2007 1:17 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2007 11:21 am
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| Very nice indeed! It was a shame that the company didn't last any longer than it did. |
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Stephen Silver
From:
Asheville, NC
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Posted 26 Mar 2007 11:43 am
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I had a Thomas built for me in the mid 90's, D10 8/6 Was a very nice isntrument, it weighed in with case around 90 lbs or so it was a back breaker to carry. It stayed in tune excepstionally well. I bet someone here has it, natural wood looking mica cabinet.
And I can attest to the machine shop as I was there three or four times. Great folks.
SS
_________________
Life is mostly Attitude and Timing |
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Larry Phleger
From:
DuBois, PA
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Posted 26 Mar 2007 12:21 pm
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| I believe Jeff Newman was playing a Thomas the last time I saw him. Since Fran is now on the Forum, She may be able to add some information. |
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John Coffman
From:
Wharton,Texas USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2007 6:34 pm
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What do you want to know. Very fine machines, stays in tune, plays well and only broken one string in three years and that I beleive was me tuning the wrong string with the wrong tuning key. I was really new to steel then. I have talked with Barry a few times and I would purchase another steel from him. If and when he starts building again I will be one of the first in line.
I have a D10 and a SD10. I also just picked up a S10 Carter to play with away from home. I have heard this mica color was one of Jeff's colors.
Any question please feel free to email me. God Bless
_________________
ShowPro SD10, Mullens RP, Bose S1 Pro, GK MB200, MB500, Bugera T50 Tube amp with SlidgeRig, TC HOF reverb effect. |
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David Fields
From:
South Carolina, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2007 8:15 pm Thanks John
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The one that is available is a white Thomas. I think it is 3x4. It looks in good shape. Are you saying that you would rather play the Carter at gigs instead of the Thomas?
John, do you mind me showing you pictures of the Thomas? |
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John Coffman
From:
Wharton,Texas USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 3:32 am
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NO!!! The sound of the Thomas to me as good as any steel out there. I got the Carter for a number of reasons. One it's just a S10 and is light weight. It is a standard off the shelf version except for the leg lifts. If this is stolen or damaged I can make one phone call and another just like it is on the way. The number one reason and I'll pose this as a question to you. Would you drive you customized tricked out Lexus 2007 into a very high crime area and leave it over night?? I just do not like taking my best and favorite steels out to play in unknown places. Please send picture if you want. Replacement parts are rarely needed. These are so well made a drop of oil every 6 months and you are good to go. I talked with Doctor Bowman about 4 months back and he told me that he had replaced a pedal spring a time or two but that about all he could remember at the time. These are common springs so no big deal. If you pass on this deal let me know I may have to make room for a another Thomas. Oh and a trip to the vet's office for another flea collar LOL. Karen loves my steels but has put a limit to my steels. I can only have 7.
_________________
ShowPro SD10, Mullens RP, Bose S1 Pro, GK MB200, MB500, Bugera T50 Tube amp with SlidgeRig, TC HOF reverb effect. |
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Jim Harper
From:
Comanche, Oklahoma, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 6:19 am
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| John, is right about the Thomas. I kinda tweaked his D-10 when he recieved it.It is a great guitar.==Jim Harper |
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Dean Batye
From:
California, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 9:13 am Thomas steel guitars
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David, I worked with Carl Robinson who did the set ups on the steels before they were sent to the buyers.Barry made a great steel,He put a lot of pride in his work.We were the back up band for grand opening of his factory in Modesto,Calif.Jeff Newman was a big fan of the Thomas,he was at the factory to pick up four guitars and was trying one out I sang a long with him,when he finished I told him I could tell everyone that I had sang with Jeff Newman,he got a laugh out of that. David I thank you would be happy with a Thomas Steel Guitar.Carl is the man who gave Barry lessons on the steel when he was a kid.
Thank You
Dean Batye |
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Casey Lowmiller
From:
Kansas
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 10:38 am
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| I've been trying to find a nice Thomas for awhile now. They seem to be pretty slick. I don't believe I have ever heard anything bad about them. |
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David Fields
From:
South Carolina, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 11:39 am Maintenance?
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Can most anyone work on them? Casey, what did you find out about the Zum?
Thomas pictures. |
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David Fields
From:
South Carolina, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 11:47 am another pic
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J. R. McClung
From:
Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 1:11 pm
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4-5 months ago I heard a rumor that Thomas has moved his machinery to Chickasha, Oklahoma and may resume building. I heard this from an old-time steeler who lives in Chickasha, so I lent it a little creedence.
Can anyone shed any light on this rumor?
Coffman,
I don't know why you got kicked out of Oklahoma, but if/when Thomas opens for business I will get you a visitors pass to come home for a few days  But seriously, it was great meeting and visting with you at the Texas show and I hope to see you again before next year!
See ya..........Joel |
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John Coffman
From:
Wharton,Texas USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 6:43 pm
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I had Steve Lamb in Fort Worth change my Sd10 from a Day set up to Emmons. He did not seem to have any problems. I have moved levers changed set up and other normal adjustments. Good set of allen wrenches and a few end wrenches and your in business. Most steel shops should not have a problem. One warning about Thomas steels. You spend time playing them not working on them. The pictures are fine very clean setup. Drop of zoom oil on the levers, ball joints and clean the rollers when you change strings should be all you might need. Have you had a chance to play it yet? Want sell it? All I need now is a blue one. LOL. J. R. I'll need that pass. I have a son in Lawton and a step daughter in Mountain View. Hope to see you at Tulsa. Take care and God Bless
_________________
ShowPro SD10, Mullens RP, Bose S1 Pro, GK MB200, MB500, Bugera T50 Tube amp with SlidgeRig, TC HOF reverb effect. |
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Brandon Ordoyne
From:
Needville,Texas USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 7:00 pm
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John,
I dont think you have enough steels. See ya Sunday!
Brandon
_________________
'74 Emmons D10 P/P 8x5,'15 Rittenberry D10 8x5, Peavey Nashville 112, 400 & 1000, Fender Twin Reverb Tone Master, Hilton, Goodrich L120, Boss DD-3 and RV-3 |
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Dean Batye
From:
California, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 9:44 pm Thomas steel guitars
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I am very glad to hear that John likes his steel,when Carl did the tune up and got them ready to ship we would play a song or two and check them out . I got to sang with the Thomas steel guitar,I think it is one great steel. Barry has all the factory in OK., I don"t know if he is going to build again,but I hope so.He made a small working model,I think the neck was 6.5" long, Jeff Newman got his picture playing it and told everyone ( see I told you I could play a little steel).John enjoy your two guitars.
Dean Batye |
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David Fields
From:
South Carolina, USA
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Posted 28 Mar 2007 6:41 am Maintenance?
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After looking at these pictures would most anyone that knows about steel guitars be able to work on them?
Thanks for the info!
Dave |
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Russ Tkac
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Posted 28 Mar 2007 8:30 am
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In a matter of seconds. What's up with the big pad on the back deck? The Thomas is a nice steel. If you can afford it I'd buy it. This one you can grow into.
Russ |
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Roger Foreman
From:
Nederland, Texas, USA
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Posted 28 Mar 2007 3:24 pm
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| I have a 92 mdl. Thomas (Blue) dbl. 10 8&5 I think that Jody Cameron was the 1st. owner----I have not had the first minute trouble with this guitar---its ease to adjust and stays in tune-- I met Barry Thomas at June Jam 96--very nice man. Roger |
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Jim Walker
From:
Headland, AL
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Posted 28 Mar 2007 10:31 pm
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Somewhere out there there is a Thomas psg that is blue with a silver star adorning the front apron. Kind of a Dallas Cowboy's theme guitar. I have seen it for sale a few times. I just never had the money when it popped up. Otherwise I'd would have owned it years ago.
JW
_________________
Show Pro D10, Session 400 |
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Steve Waltz
From:
USA
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Posted 29 Mar 2007 4:22 pm
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| It's not mine and I don't know who owns it, but there is a Thomas for sale in San Jose Ca. You can find it on Craigslist in San Francisco. D-10 $2000 |
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tom anderson
From:
leawood, ks., usa
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Posted 31 Mar 2007 1:37 pm
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| I owned a Thomas for several years, good looking, nicely made & well engineered. As I remember the endplates were machined & not cast, but I could be wrong. Current Thomas owners let me know. I talked to Barry after he moved to Oklahoma. As I remember, he had gotten divorced & remarried & didn't have much interest in starting up his steel business again, but didn't rule it out. He may have lost some of his machines in the divorce, but again that was several years ago & my mind is hazy. He was very helpful when I had my guitar. |
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David Fields
From:
South Carolina, USA
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Posted 31 Mar 2007 4:52 pm Question for Tom A.
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Hey Tom:
When you say the endplates were machined and not cast, is that good? or bad? Also, you didn't say anthing about the sound of the Thomas. What ya think about the sound. |
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Casey Lowmiller
From:
Kansas
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Posted 31 Mar 2007 6:08 pm
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Machined anything is pretty much better than anything cast.
If something is cast, there is a much higher failure rate due to possible problems that can occur in the casting process.
If you properly machine something from a solid block, it will be stronger...molecularly speaking.
Lots of things are cast because it is cheap, fast, & easy. Machining is much slower & alot less cost effective.
Vibrations will travel more true thru something solid vs. something cast...in theory. |
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