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Topic: Walton guitar question |
Joe Babb
From:
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 5 Aug 2012 6:25 am |
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Hi folks,
I'm working on a Walton guitar to change some pedals and levers around. Before I start on a guitar like this I like to understand it. This one has been around a while and has had work done on it over the years. It's the first Walton I've seen and so I have two main questions. One is about the changer and the other has to do with tuning procedure. Can anyone tell me a little about the history of Walton guitars and can anyone tell from the picture if the changer mechanism is original or has had mods to it? The other question is about tuning. It's obvious how the lowers are set, but it looks like a person would need to tune raised notes with the geared tuners and the pedal down, then adjust the screws in the upper row for the open string. Have I guessed correctly?
thanks,
Joe
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B. Greg Jones
From:
Middleport, Ohio USA
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Posted 5 Aug 2012 7:01 am
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I have seen only a couple of Walton guitars. They were built by the late Harold Flynn who later built Flynn guitars. I think they do tune up like a push pull but dont hold me to that. Maybe Fred Layman can chime in here. He would know alot more and I think is pretty familiar with those guitars.
Greg |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 5 Aug 2012 9:40 am
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I'd say you're right. It looks like a variant on your basic push-pull.
I bet the 4th string E# (it only LOOKS like F), if it raises the Es, will tune under the guitar
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Posted 6 Aug 2012 4:41 am
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Looks like some kind of a PP.
You learn something every day. I've been futzing around with pedal steels since the mid-60s and I've never even heard of a Walton, much less seen one.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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Joe Babb
From:
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 6 Aug 2012 10:42 am
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| I had never heard of one till recently either. I was hoping somebody on the forum could tell me more. The fingers that push on the bigger levers to lower a string are spaced by 1/4" nuts which was why I wondered if they were original or an add on. |
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Tony Dingus
From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 6 Aug 2012 12:06 pm
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Joe bring it to our next jam. I'd love to see it.
Tony |
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Joe Babb
From:
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 7 Aug 2012 9:27 am
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Hi Tony,
I'll do that if I've still got it. I'm working on it for another fella.
When is the next Bristol jam? We sure had fun at the one we attended.
Stoney helped me out with an explanation of the Walton changer. It looks like a push-pull but it has been converted to all pull by design. I'm going to bring it to Stoney in a couple of days to get some pointers on tuning the beast.
Joe |
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Tony Dingus
From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 7 Aug 2012 2:13 pm
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I've got to get with Steve about getting the building. Hopefully in Sept.
Tony |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 7 Aug 2012 3:47 pm
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| Sure looks like an all-pull to me! In the 3rd photo, those are all pulls...I can't see anything that's set up to push...unless there are reversing mechanisms near the changer. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 12 Aug 2012 9:03 am
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| i've never seen nor heard of the waltons before. could it be a 'john-boy' model? |
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Joe Babb
From:
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2012 5:40 am
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The Walton guitar was made by a trio of guys local to East Tennessee who are no longer around. Not sure of the vintage or if it is a "john-boy" model. LOL
It could have been Sam's first effort before he found out there was no money in music and started building big stores. 
Joe |
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Fred Layman
From:
Springfield, Missouri USA
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Posted 19 Aug 2012 11:46 am Walton steel Guitars
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| The Waltons were built by Harold Flynn and a couple of his steel-playing friends in Knoxville TN during the 1980s, until Harold started building his Flynn steel guitars in the early 90s. I have his drawings of the push-pull changer that he was playing when I first met him at a steel show in Knowville. If memory serves me right, Dr. Jack Lewis, a long-time friend from the eastern Kentucky area, bought that steel from his heirs following Harold's death in '03. |
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Joe Babb
From:
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 19 Aug 2012 4:49 pm
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Fred,
Thanks for the details. That gives me a rough time period for this D10 I'm working on. Is it possible to share the drawings with me? I don't really need them to do the work. It's mostly curiosity.
Joe |
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