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Topic: Which Pros Or Semi Pros Have Their Guitars Modded? |
Brian Henry
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Posted 14 Jun 2008 12:08 pm |
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Does anyone know how many pros and semi pros have their guitars modded? Also, about how many just play them as they get them from the factory?
_________________
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN GEORGIA |
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Jeff Bradshaw
From:
Leslieville, Alberta - Canada
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Posted 14 Jun 2008 4:28 pm
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| I have had good luck with most guitars just as they were sent to me...sometimes I have had to swap out the pickup due to noise issues in the recording studio i.e., electronic buzzing that can sometimes be picked up by a single coil pickup, the single coil usually sounds great but it also can be more sensitive to "noisy interference...not always sensitive, but sometimes. Sound regards. ..jeff |
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Michael Douchette
From:
Gallatin, TN (deceased)
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 14 Jun 2008 9:23 pm
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Michael, that reminds me of my motto!
Jerry |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 15 Jun 2008 1:19 pm Aboud mod's...............
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JERRY BYRD said he had the pickups on his Sho-Bud custom wound just the way he wanted them........
Makes one wonder if he had the pickups on his early Ric's likewise, rewound to get that marvelous TONE.
As an after thought, I've seen and heard him play others' guitars and he still had that magic TONE.
Of course, most of those were 'BLACK'. |
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Wally Taylor
From:
Hardin, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2008 5:02 pm
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Hey Brian, I think this is a legitimate question. I wonder if da Big E just runs down to Bobbe Seymours, buys one, takes it out to a show right out of the box and gives it a go. Probably not. And by mod, I am sure you mean do they have additional things added to the guitar to personalize it to their requirements. You know doggone good and well they do. Change a pickup here, add a pedal there, oh, and there is always the added knee lever that one just has to have, as well as sending the guitar to have split tuning placed on it. I can't see much difference between customizing and modding myself. There are all kinds of options you can get at the time of the purchase of after. The forum is full of guys doing that right now. A "mod" does not have to mean sending the guitar away for a tone adjustment. I'd kinda like to know who all just plays their guitar as it was bought and who all added or "modded" it later.
Wally |
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Eddie D.Bollinger
From:
Calhoun City, Mississippi
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Posted 15 Jun 2008 6:46 pm
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Most players that I know seek out the better of
circumstances in their playing. If an option
of progress(Playability, Tone, Comfort, Confidence),
presents itself. They want it.
I am a hack, at best, but I can discern screaming
highs from warm tones that fit my ear.
The search for improvement has probably sold more
steel guitars than anything. I owned guitars in my early years of playing that weren't great but
I continued my search. That search will continue
for most players, in my opinion.
Tom Brumley once explained to me how important
tone and audio perception of the audience is to
him. I began paying more attention to little things
after that. Playing tastefully with a pleasing
sound(To Me)trumps overplaying with screaming highs
and no etiquette.
The pros are constantly changing guitars and changing
pre-amps and we, like sheep, clammer for the
precious information that gives us insight as to what
they are doing.
Modding, or improving, guitars should only apply
to individuals who are searching for something better. The debate over how its done could go on
forever. The future of pedal steel is definitely
grounded in the past but computers used to weigh
hundreds of pounds, also.
If you feel good about your playing, Rejoice! and play.
If you don't, There are options. Fix it. Get it Fixed. Get a new horn. Or just continue in your
insecurity. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different
results.
As this Hack sees it....
Eddie |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 15 Jun 2008 6:57 pm
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I think most "Pro's" play the guitars they do because they have the features they require to begin with! And you can custom order anything when you order it! So maybe you should tell us what you mean by "mod" !!
I'm with Michael -- if it needed something done to it once you got it, then why would you want it in the first place. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 15 Jun 2008 7:28 pm
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| maybe because it was a great deal but needed pedals/levers changed around to suit your set-up...instead of just foolishly paying top dollar when something great is available much cheaper that just needs tlc or common sense applied to it! |
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Eddie D.Bollinger
From:
Calhoun City, Mississippi
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Posted 15 Jun 2008 8:04 pm
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Thank you, Chris Ivey, for the most important
words uttered here in this thread.
Listen Closely guys......."Common Sense"
Oooooooh that stung.
Some of us pickers have a budget that makes improvements more appropriate than a new guitar
and/or a Mad wife.
We do what we can to feed our habit and keep mama
happy, too. |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 15 Jun 2008 8:17 pm
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My 2 older MSAs have been severely modified over the years. The installations of the wrist lever, and the tunable splits on strings 4,5,and 8, the retrofit of my mica steel woith the Sierra modular pickup system, etc.
The Milly is almost stock, but I was not happy with the vertical knee lever, and Jim Palenscar modified it for me. It's fine now. (As one would expect from Jim.)
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2008 10:08 pm
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| Hell,that's the first thing I do. I think the first couple steels I had with only 4 knee levers were ok as is and just required getting used to.After that I started adding and modding things.The only guitar I ever had that was custom made to my specs was a Sierra U-12 that I submitted my own technical drawings to Don Christiansen and Tom Baker concerning knee lever placement for 8 levers. We spoke often as it was going together and I still had to make my own unusual shaped knee levers for 3 of them because unless I could have been at the shop as it was being built and had a chance to sit under it when certain choices were being made it was never gonna be as functional for me as it could possibly be. Still I have to genuinely like a guitar to beguin with and then I just tweak it from there. I think most guys do that. |
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Michael Douchette
From:
Gallatin, TN (deceased)
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 16 Jun 2008 2:53 am
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| Are we talking the "tone/sustain" mod, or just mods in general? |
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Danny Bentley
From:
Hendersonville Tn
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Posted 16 Jun 2008 5:11 am mods
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Mikey, could not have said it any better.
Dan |
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Eddie D.Bollinger
From:
Calhoun City, Mississippi
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Posted 16 Jun 2008 6:23 am
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Donny,
My post is talking about any general modifications.
I am sure there are as many different opinions as there are players concerning mechanical and/or tonal improvement.
Eddie |
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Billy Carr
From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
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Posted 16 Jun 2008 7:24 am psg
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| Hey Eddie, your tone and sustain was top of the line at the Fulton show. "Proofs in the puddin'" as they say! |
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Eddie D.Bollinger
From:
Calhoun City, Mississippi
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Posted 16 Jun 2008 7:42 am
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Hey, Mr. Billy--
Thanks for the kind words, You boys had me so
nervous that I could barely hold the bar.
Hope to see you soon. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 16 Jun 2008 10:22 am Re: Which Pros Or Semi Pros Have Their Guitars Modded?
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| tbhenry wrote: |
| Does anyone know how many pros and semi pros have their guitars modded? Also, about how many just play them as they get them from the factory? |
I don't think there is such a thing as a steel guitar "factory". Most pedal steels are custom made in small workshops. Isn't a custom made instrument "modded" by definition?
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Stuart Legg
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Posted 16 Jun 2008 11:15 am
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| b0b I agree. In Hankey terms...Disposition of a musical instrument taken regarding one or more of its essential properties or attributes. |
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Tim Sergent
From:
Hendersonville, TN, USA
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Posted 17 Jun 2008 8:31 pm
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| Well, being only 5'6"....the only major "mod" I have is that my guitar's legs are 1" (inch) short. After talking extensively with Terry Bethel...and after playing his steels at his house...I have eliminated the 1/2 stop on the 2nd string. I have the 1/2 stop on one lever and the whole on another. Other than that it's stock. Someday I want to sit down and get my knee lever points exactly right. Right now I feel like I'm having to reach for some things. Probably because I'm short and have short legs. |
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Michael Douchette
From:
Gallatin, TN (deceased)
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Louis Vallee
From:
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 22 Jun 2008 12:39 pm
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I'm not a "PRO" but, being only 5'5" I have is that my Carter's legs are 1" (inch) short.
I have the E at the 2nd string on the RKL lever. I have the A# at the 4th string on the C6th RKR lever.
Other than I have two BL LXR16 PU.
Not need to be pro to change a guitar according to our specifications.
_________________
Louis
'08 Magnum D-10 8&5 * Hilton VP * Lemay MK-1 * Peavey NV 1000 * Rick Johnson Cabs * Walker Seat. |
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Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 22 Jun 2008 3:56 pm
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Is there REALLY a standard. EMMONS - which year? DAY - same question.
My D10 is different from about all others yet has most of the same pulls and it is 1" shorter....
I am just a hacker.......but look in the back of Winnie's book and pick out STANDARD! |
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Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2008 4:38 pm
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| I happen to think of an MSA that has an active pre-amp on it........guess anyone could have one of those. |
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