Ernie Ball pedal steel

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Can anyone tell me about these? Any good?
Thanks, JB

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Yes
I had the god fortune of playing a keyless model at Ernie's home and it was great sounding and looked beautiful. Ernie had a few Bigsby guitars and Ernie captured the quality and excellence that Paul Bigby did but with a much advanced technology.

Knowing Ernie as I do,I knew that this project would never get off the ground,his mind was not into manufacturing at that time and he had only three "Earthwood" keyless models that I tried.

Ernie was involved with his string business and that kepy him busy as he wanted to be.

His son Sterling now has taken over the helm and is making MusicMan guitars and basses.

I asked Sterling a short time back if he had any pedal guitars left and he replied,,well
maybe a few but their not for sale.

If you are able to locate one,but it,it was a great guitar designed by a great guy.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Thanks for the information, Jody. I have found one for sale. It's an S-10, Kinda strange lookin' guitar. It's keyless, and the ends are open. What do you think would be a fair offer for this guitar? It appears to be in very good shape.. JB

Gary Jones · From: Mount Vernon, Wa

It sounds to me as if you are referring to the EB "Eagle" student model steel guitar. I did assembly and set-up on a few of these when I worked for the EB company in '78 and '79, although most of them had been built before I came to work for the company.
These guitars were built of the same extrusion channel we used for the volume pedals. The changers, if I remember correctly were non-universal, so it was not possible to change the tuning on them. The knee-lever used a long rod to release tension on the 4th and 8th strings, so it had a long travel and was difficult to tune properly. The keyless tuners were often problematic, and a real pain to set up properly.
These are not particularly good steel guitars, even as a student model. For what it's worth (and this is only my opinion ) if you are looking for a student model steel you would be better suited by getting a Carter Starter or GFI student model, or even an old Sho-Bud Maverick. The EB steels may be interesting from a historical viewpoint, but I would not want one as my first Steel Guitar.

Edited to include even more grammatical and splelling errors.

[This message was edited by Gary Jones on 05 July 2004 at 07:54 AM.]

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

John
It is most difficult for me to answer your question. I have no clue as to the value of Ernie's guitar or guitars.The fact that few were manufactured could very well bring a
good price and then again,,who knows.

You and you alone should know how much it's worth to you as you will be playing it.

Offer what you feel is fair and that you can afford comfortably.

Best of Luck to you.

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

John
I just saw Gary's comments,we were two minutes apart in posting a reply to your question.

Since Gary worked on Ernie's guitars,it might
be wise to take heed on his comments. As I said, the few I played on were the pro models
and sounded and palyed great,but if Gary's comments are correct I would keep his advise
close at hand. Another problem.? how do you get parts if you need them?

Thanks Gary for your input,how come I never met you at Ernie's during that time as I was with Leo at MusicMan.

Thank you for the help. Good luck John in whatever you decide.

Gary Jones · From: Mount Vernon, Wa

Jody
I worked at the San Luis Obispo plant, after Ernie moved his manufacturing operation up there in 1977. I was manager of the Volume Pedal operation there, working under Ron Saul and Dan Norton.
I left at the end of '79 to take a job on the road playing steel, and have not been back to California since.
I live in Las Vegas these days, and work as a Broadcast Engineer for the PBS television station here. I quit playing music for a living in 1989, and just recently started playing steel again, having bought a Fessenden SD-12 universal.
As Waylon once said, "If I knew I was gonna live this long I woulda taken better care of myself."

Gary Jones · From: Mount Vernon, Wa

I would also like to point out that the Earthwood steel guitars that Jody is talking about were completely different products than the student guitars I am speaking of. These keyless guitars were very nice. I believe they were designed (if not completely built) by Chuck Wright, who went on to start the Sierra Steel Guitar company.
I don't know how many of these guitars actually made it into the hands of players, or even how many were built, but the one I got to play at the factory was just as Jody described it. It's too bad that Ernie did not pursue this product further.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Jody, and Gary, Thanks. This guitar has to be a student model. 3 and 1. Certainly not suitable for me. I'm used to the 7 knees on my Kline. But I've been looking for a classic S-10, cuz I'm gonna sell my D-10 GFI. My best friend is a Music Man endorser, and I thought it might be fun to have an EB steel. Here tis: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3733804249&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Gary Jones · From: Mount Vernon, Wa

Yep, that's the critter I'm talkin about. By the serial number the seller lists it looks like it left the factory in 1980, so it could be one that I assembled. I know that they had enough parts left in the factory to build 2 or 3 more, but after that there would have been no more made.
The seller says that the guitar comes with an oak case, but actually the cases were made of a spruce plywood from Norway. Ernie had wanted to use this nautical grade plywood for the tops of Earthwood Bass guitars, and typical of Ernie he bought a whole truckload of the stuff before it was discovered that it had a tonal quality somewhat akin to mud. The whole shipment was cut up into those string boxes you see at music stores, and the rest used for utility wood around the shop.

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