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Topic: Beard Setup and Beard Factory visit with tour... |
Chuck Snider R.I.P.
From:
West Virginia, USA - Morgantown, WV
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Posted 27 Nov 2010 12:28 pm |
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I recently dropped off my Gold Tone Beard PBSD resophonic at the factory to be set up by the folks at Beard (their famous "Beard Setup").
What a great bunch of guys!!! Got to meet most of the folks working there, all of them great to talk to!! Howard Parker was the best host you could ask for!!! He took me on a full tour of the factory, and I got to see every aspect of their manufacturing processes. He explained everything along the way. What a great host!! I also had the honor of meeting legendary Paul Beard and having him check out my guitar and suggest some things to improve the set up and the sound. I also got to browse through their showroom, and check out all the top notch accessories they had to offer.
If you happen to have one of the Gold Tone Beard resophonics, which did not get set up by the Beard folks (there will be a sticker visible through the soundholes if it was), do yourself a favor and contact them about having that done. I can't believe the improvement made once I got the guitar back. Sounds waaaay better than when I dropped it off. I wish I had sent it to them long before now.
Bite the bullet, and give Howard a call, it's not that expensive. You won't be sorry and it is well worth the expense!!!! If you live within driving distance set up a visit and a tour. If you time it right, and make an appointment ahead of time, they can do it while you wait. If you can't stay, they can ship it back to you.
Unfortunately I think it might be a while before I can afford a Beard guitar, but their setup made the Gold Tone Beard sound much closer to the real thing. I'm very, very happy with the results.
A very special Thanks to Howard Parker, and Paul Beard!!!
-Chuck
_________________
GFI U-12 Ultra Keyless, Carter Black U-12, both with Alumitones, and a sweet '70 Sho-Bud Permanent D-10, NV400 in Rick Johnson cabs, NV112, '73 Vibrosonic in Rick Johnson cabs, Hilton pedal, Steeler's Choice seat, Bessdang Gizmos from Dale Hansen, and a few other widgets and doodads.
I may not sound good, I just don't wanna sound bad. |
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Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
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Posted 27 Nov 2010 2:13 pm
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| Yes, you can do that......or......you can call Beard directly and order your GT reso directly from them...which of course means it gets the Beard set-up. Nice folks to talk with over the phone. I never did get the reso but I came close and if I had, I would have ordered directly from Beard. |
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Chuck Snider R.I.P.
From:
West Virginia, USA - Morgantown, WV
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Posted 27 Nov 2010 5:30 pm
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Duh!!! Yes, Stephen that's true, and I should have mentioned that as well, but didn't think about it. I was mainly praising the Beard folks and pointing out that IF someone had acquired a Gold Tone Beard reso guitar elsewhere, new or used, they could and should have it done. To save a few bucks I bought mine used, with the intent of eventually having them set it up. Some folks also may have acquired it elsewhere without knowing about the "Beard Setup". I'm pretty good at buying something and then finding out details like that after I buy it. Anyway, thanks Stephen for adding that.
-Chuck
_________________
GFI U-12 Ultra Keyless, Carter Black U-12, both with Alumitones, and a sweet '70 Sho-Bud Permanent D-10, NV400 in Rick Johnson cabs, NV112, '73 Vibrosonic in Rick Johnson cabs, Hilton pedal, Steeler's Choice seat, Bessdang Gizmos from Dale Hansen, and a few other widgets and doodads.
I may not sound good, I just don't wanna sound bad. |
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Dave Thier
From:
Fairhope, Alabama, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2010 6:24 pm
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I took the tour last November when I was in the Baltimore area and came away with a very special guitar. Howard set up the visit for me and Paul and his folks were great, letting me play a bunch of guitars!
I would hesitate to call Paul's shop a "factory" though. It's Paul and a couple of very talented craftsmen building guitars.
Dave |
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Chuck Snider R.I.P.
From:
West Virginia, USA - Morgantown, WV
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Posted 27 Nov 2010 7:33 pm
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Dave, when I was at their shop we were sort of chuckling about it. I told them I expected their shop to be much bigger than it was. They said they hear that now and then. I told them I would post something on here talking about getting the "factory setup" along with a "factory tour". I was telling them I would say how "as far as you could see, there were guitar bodies waiting and folks working on building the guitars!" We had a good laugh about that. I decided that comment might be stretching things a bit too far. Yes, they were very hospitable. I believe they do have a couple more folks than your count though. It was very interesting though, and I would highly recommend stopping in for a visit even if you don't own or play a reso guitar.
-Chuck
_________________
GFI U-12 Ultra Keyless, Carter Black U-12, both with Alumitones, and a sweet '70 Sho-Bud Permanent D-10, NV400 in Rick Johnson cabs, NV112, '73 Vibrosonic in Rick Johnson cabs, Hilton pedal, Steeler's Choice seat, Bessdang Gizmos from Dale Hansen, and a few other widgets and doodads.
I may not sound good, I just don't wanna sound bad. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 28 Nov 2010 2:07 pm
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| I've known Howard Parker for years and he is a great guy....I don't care what they say!...... |
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