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Topic: Another Visit with Tommy Cass... L@@K |
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 11 Apr 2007 10:36 pm |
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Yesterday I went up to Tommy Cass' place to pick up a couple of my PSGs that Tom had worked on. I couldn't resist taking some pictures of Tom's projects!
This Marlen really caught my eye. Tom put on new formica, added the metal strips to the body, new flocking on the underside, and I'm guessing he cut and polished new knee levers, and possibly other metal parts on the underside. All of the parts are highly polished. I owned one of these old Marlen S-10s for a while back in the 1980s, but mine didn't play as smooth as this one!
The spot is in the picture not on the guitar. Time for a new camera!
A new Zumsteel Hybrid  What a sound! Not a Tommy-project, I just couldn't resist taking the pictures 
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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William Fraser
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2007 3:59 am
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Doug, thanks for the pics, but , more on that Emmons on the left. It sure looks like a Sho-Bud Beautiful!  Billy Lee Fraser
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Billy Lee ,Pro-II,, Session 400,Session 500 , Supro , National, SpeedDemons,& too many Archtops & Stratotones.Lots of vintage parts for Kay ! etc. |
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Jay Ganz
From:
Out Behind The Barn
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Posted 12 Apr 2007 5:54 am
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That lacquer Emmons sure looks familiar. This '76 of mine must be related. 
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 12 Apr 2007 7:10 am
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| When Tommy Cass does a guitar, it is DONE. The man does just excellent outstanding work. Absolutely top shelf with no compromise. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 12 Apr 2007 7:58 am
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| Tommy does great work. Even the underside with every rod gets polished with attention to detail. I bought a single neck Emmons of Tome and that was my first real steel guitar. I wish I had it today. |
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P Gleespen
From:
Toledo, OH USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2007 7:59 am
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Everytime I look at that sunburst Emmons, my hand involuntarily reaches for my wallet.
...fortunately... or unfortunately, depending how you look at it, that wallet is pretty much empty!
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Patrick |
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Stephen Silver
From:
Asheville, NC
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Posted 12 Apr 2007 8:05 am I had one too
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D10, just playing E9 on a balmy Maui evening.
 [/img]
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Life is mostly Attitude and Timing |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 12 Apr 2007 7:28 pm How bout this Sunburst
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I really dig this ax.
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 12 Apr 2007 7:34 pm Check out the top.
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And then there is this old dog.Complete Paul Franklin set-up including the 8th string C pedal whole tone raise.Set-up at the factory.Play's better than you might think.
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 13 Apr 2007 6:26 pm
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Last year I bought this mid-70s cut tail, and it was in very rough condition. I bought it for resale, and I never expected that this would become my main PSG. There was a bad crack in the wood body, bent endplate, and the undercarriage was a mess. It looked like it had fallen off a truck and tumbled down the highway!
Tom repaired the body and reflocked the repaired area on the underside. The repair is not even visible. He also straightened the endplate and rebuilt the undercarriage completely, putting my setup on the guitar. When I played the guitar I was blown away by the tone. That's when I realized that not all push-pulls are created equal! Thanks Tom!
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 13 Apr 2007 9:11 pm
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Doug. I used to have a rack just like yours.
Thanks for posting the pix of Tommy's work.Always a treat...............bb |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 13 Apr 2007 10:56 pm
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Doug, I'm droolin'. I need to bring a steel or two for setup when I get up that-a-way to visit the family. I think the only way I'm gonna get a push-pull the way I want it is to try to find one beat-up semi-reasonable, and just get it set up to suit me. I've had a couple that were set up just fine for someone else, but not me. I hated to spend the money taking a great Bobby Bowman setup and moving the levers around to suit my long legs. I'm still looking for the right one.
With guitars, I think the best ones get played hard and show it. I imagine that's probably also true for steels. I'm not looking for living room furniture. That S10 looks like a great working musician's instrument, and she be right smart looking now. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 13 Apr 2007 11:27 pm
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Dave, I know what you mean about changing over knee levers on a push/pull. It's a three hour job and you have to take half of the undercarriage apart to make one or two changes. Fortunately I'm only an hour away from Tommy Cass, so I go up there whenever my guitar needs attention. It's also fun to play the steel guitars and swap a few stories.
Finding a beat-up semi-reasonable push/pull is hard to do nowadays. It seems like even the beat ones sell for a lot. Parts are hard to find, and repairs are often expensive because of the time involved. Despite all of that, demand remains high due to their unique tone and the mystique that surrounds them!
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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Skip Cole
From:
North Mississippi
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Posted 13 Apr 2007 11:49 pm
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Let me say that, you guys sure have a fine lookin stable of thoroughbreds there.  If any of you need somewhere to store them for a while just let me know. I'll exercise and comb um down daily .
Skip |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 14 Apr 2007 5:04 am
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They do turn up now and again - just missed this S-10 because it's tax time and I just couldn't do it now: http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=107392
That looked perfect, not even beat up - just kinda kludged knee levers - and I just couldn't pull the trigger. I even saw it in time.  |
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Hiro Keitora
From:
New York, New York
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Posted 14 Apr 2007 5:46 am
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A-ha. It looks like you had fun with that Zum Hybrid.
Yes, it's mine. Tommy is setting it up for my copedent. I'll pick it up as soon as he's done with it. I'm really looking forward to it.
<H> |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 14 Apr 2007 6:57 pm
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| The Zum Hybrid is the real deal. Again, you get what you pay for. Bruce builds them right. |
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Chris Caruso
From:
Merrimack, NH USA
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Posted 15 Apr 2007 9:23 am
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Doug, those pictures are beautiful. Tommy Cass does a great job with any guitar he touches. He's also a good friend!
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www.facebook.com/chris.carusosr |
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Tom Newman
From:
Rhode Island, USA
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Posted 25 Apr 2007 9:01 am Marlen
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| Doug, do you think this Marlen would make a good first guitar for a beginner? I've been searching for awhile and this looks amazing...thanks for your insights! |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Chris Brooks
From:
Providence, Rhode Island
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Posted 26 Apr 2007 4:20 am
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Congratulations, Tom N.! Have fun with this black beauty.
And it was great to catch up with you last night at the Z-Bar.
Chris |
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