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Topic: Best D8 currently being built |
Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 13 May 2018 1:10 pm |
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| Is the Excel D8 at $2800 the best D8 being built today for tone and playability..then which one, the 22 or 24 inch length...TIA for all replies. |
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Jim Rossen
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 13 May 2018 1:32 pm
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| I own a 24 in scale version of the JB D8 on ebay. I like the really like the guitar. Great construction quality. Tone is clean. They are sold infrequently (esp 24 in scale versions), but seem to sell for way less than the ebay guitar price. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 13 May 2018 4:38 pm
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| I had one for a few years. I didn't like the trebly tone it had, and sold it to Jeff Au Hoy.. Jerry Byrd had it first,then Greg Sardinha, then Bobby Ingano, then me ! |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 13 May 2018 5:01 pm Clinesmith can't be beat
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If the RAM steels sound as good as they look... Ummmm delicious!  
I can't know because I've never heard one except on youtube.
For tone and sustain as well as beautiful workmanship, I'd say a Clinesmith can't be beat. Console or Joaquin Murphy Double.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Nathan Laudenbach
From:
Montana
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Posted 13 May 2018 5:02 pm
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| Two words... Todd Clinesmith. |
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David Ball
From:
North Carolina High Country
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Posted 14 May 2018 1:49 am
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I have a doubleneck RAM Speakeasy and a single neck Clinesmith. They're completely different animals, and both great. It just depends on whether you're looking for a more Gibson sound and vibe or a more Bigsby sound and vibe.
Dave |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 14 May 2018 2:32 am
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That is a great looking guitar. I especially like the fact no hardware used, is from a stamping. Looks to me like the nut, bridge and tuner pan are all machined. One question I do have is, why is the fretboard so misaligned from the nut?
I make my own guitars and this is one thing I try to strive for.....making sure everything is symmetrical and pleasing to the eye. Other than the misalignment, (and maybe there is a good reason for it?) It sure is a nice guitar.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 14 May 2018 8:45 am
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| David Ball wrote: |
It just depends on whether you're looking for a more Gibson sound and vibe or a more Bigsby sound and vibe.
Dave |
Dave, slightly off topic but for the benefit of a beginner...are there good examples of "the Gibson sound" you'd point to? It seems like they weren't as common in Hawaiian music (unless maybe more in the prewar years) so I haven't seen or heard them played much (that I noticed). Rics and Fenders seem more ubiquitous...
_________________
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
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David Ball
From:
North Carolina High Country
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Posted 14 May 2018 9:08 am
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Don Helms and Little Roy Wiggins come to mind right off hand.
Dave |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 14 May 2018 9:36 am Unfinished Project
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I have an unfinished project I'd started a few years ago when I had access to a milling machine.
Was going to build a D-8 kind of like a Gibson Console Grand, but things got in the way and I have yet to finish the project.
Got all the parts milled out;
A few months ago I used one of the bridges to widen the string spacing on my 8 string Morrell to 3/8" and will use the other for one of the other lap steels I'm building so polished them out;
Now whenever I do get back to that project I'll need to re-make the bridges because I'd still like to do a console like that.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 16 May 2018 12:30 pm Clinesmith plank or console
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| do the clinesmith d8 plank and console models have the same tone like the Bigsby's had?...when Mike Neer plays "Steelin Moonlight" on his Clinesmith it sounds very much like the sound Speedy West had..also sounds like the A6th tuning but I could be wrong. |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 16 May 2018 1:11 pm
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Andy, that is some nice machining. You need to get back on it. Yeah, listen to me, telling you to get back on it. I have one started that I haven't touched in 2 months!
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Mark Helm
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 16 May 2018 1:50 pm Clinesmith
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If you're not going for a vintage guitar, I'd give oen of Todd Clinesmith's a whirl. They sound fantastic and are really well-built:
https://www.clinesmithinstruments.com/
_________________
Remington Steelmaster S8 w/ custom Steeltronics pickup. Vox MV-50 amplifier + an 1940's Oahu cab w/ 8" American Vintage speaker. J. Mascis Fender Squire Jazzmaster, Hofner Club bass, Ibanez AVN4-VMS Artwood Vintage Series Concert Size Acoustic Guitar. 1920s/30s Supertone Hawaiian-themed parlor guitar. Silvertone parlor guitar. |
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Russ Blake
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 16 May 2018 1:50 pm
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| Brad, I’ve had the opportunity over the years to play several original Bigsby steels as well as a number of Clinesmiths, and my opinion they definitely capture the Bigsby sound. If that’s the sound you’re looking for you won’t be disappointed. And Todd’s craftsmanship is absolutely second to none. |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 16 May 2018 8:46 pm Would love to
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| Bill Groner wrote: |
| Andy, that is some nice machining. You need to get back on it. Yeah, listen to me, telling you to get back on it. I have one started that I haven't touched in 2 months! |
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the kind words. Would love to get back to this and some other projects.
I no longer have access to a milling machine. Would like to buy one, but can't until I have a larger house.
The place we lease now is just too small but is a great location right in the center of Saigon. Usually only 5 or 10 minutes from the places we play at.
My lease ends in July so we are thinking of moving farther from the center where we could lease a place twice the size for the same money.
The plus of that is having a good place to work but the downside is so far from gigs I play, 25 to 60 minutes depending on traffic and time of day/night?
Will have to decide soon. I love doing machine work but don't have all the related skills. Just took some night school classes in 1978.  
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 17 May 2018 5:19 pm console or plank?
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| Russ, thanks for your reply, Which D8 do you like best the console or the plank model...do they both have the same tone? |
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Russ Blake
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 17 May 2018 11:26 pm
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| Brad, my experience has been mostly with the console guitars. I once heard Todd play a plank and it seemed to be in the same ballpark tonally. And of course Mike Neer sounds like a million bucks on his. |
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 18 May 2018 5:42 am
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| The only bad thing I can think about my aluminum Clinesmith S8 is that I will not have the pleasure to buy and appreciate another steel anymore! Its my last steel for sure! The only thing that can make me buy another steel is that I want more necks, then I would buy a Clinesmith console! |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 18 May 2018 3:02 pm Great job, Mike Neer.
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| Yes Russ, I agree, Mike did an excellent job when he played "Steelin' Moonlight" on his Clinesmith Plank D8..he will get a lot of work with that great playing. Speedy West composed a lot of great tunes for the steel..I'm glad Mike is keeping them alive. |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 18 May 2018 4:10 pm Agree on a Clinesmith
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Agree on a Clinesmith with everything the other fellows said above.
I have the 8 string aluminum which is my favorite to play as well as my new T-8 console which is beautiful. I'm still getting used to the new one with the slightly tighter* string spacing. Both have wonderful tone and sustain so I don't even use a volume pedal... Just not needed though I should use one.
*That spacing is just a little closer than the lap steel and about the same as my pedal steel guitars so not that strange really, but I like the wider spacing for my shaky fat fumbling fingers.
As for the tone I wish I had those pickups on all my steel guitars because it's a tone I love.
I'm toying with the idea to get another of the lap steels and making some kind of nice stand for both. That would be ideal for playing out of the house because I think I'd be reluctant to take the console out where it might get damaged.
Yes Mike Neer's version of Speedy's Steelin' Moonlight is in A6th. He sells a nice tab package of the tune. Price is very reasonable and it's not hard to learn.
Never have heard a Ram Steel except on youtube, but if the tone is as good as they look it would be great to have one. His workmanship is second to none and the steels look stunning. Actually I think I'd rather have one of his than the original Gibsons... Maybe one of the owners could comment on them?
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 19 May 2018 5:48 pm
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| Andy very good job on those parts |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 19 May 2018 5:51 pm
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| Andy could u tell us or maybe do Video of you playing music in Vietnam maybe tell l us what it’s like to live there. Thanks in advance. |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 19 May 2018 8:26 pm Thanks Johnie
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| Johnie King wrote: |
| Andy very good job on those parts |
Thanks Johnie.
Hope to one day own a milling machine so I can get good on one.
All I ever have had is a night school machine shop class back in 1978 for a few months.
Also had a friend who had a milling machine, but that is no longer available to me.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 19 May 2018 8:47 pm Maybe a Facebook video?
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| Johnie King wrote: |
| Andy could u tell us or maybe do Video of you playing music in Vietnam maybe tell l us what it’s like to live there. Thanks in advance. |
Maybe my lady could make a Facebook video? I have no idea how to record and post these things. Once done I could post a link I guess?
Right now I'm only playing rythum guitar and singing in the band.
Had back fusion surgery last October and will not be dragging my steel around for about another 6 months until fully healed.
As for how I've ended up here. Did two back to back tours (2 Years) here in the army from late 1965 until 1967.
Served all over the south during those 2 years in MACV as well as units of the 44th Medical Brigade. Even had 4 months here in Saigon not far from Westmorelands HQ.
Came back here in 1999 and set up my business here in 2000. Spent a lot of time going back and forth and then moved here full time 7 years ago. I really like living here a lot. The music scene here is good and there seems to be loads of places to play. C&W as well as all kinds of music are popular here.
This week we will be playing 3 nights. Our regular Monday night gig as well as a 20 year anniversary for a girlie bar (Yes thats what you think it is) here on Wednesday and Friday night. They want several bands that have played there over the years to come and play for their 5 day anniversary party to start Wednesday.
Should be fun since I've not played that place in over a year...
Seeing all those lady bar tenders (About 25 of them) in tight red dresses is quite stimulating, and at my age it takes quite a bit to stimulate me. To play music is what I'm referring to...
We'll be doing C&W as well as older Rock & Roll and some R&B too I expect.
May be other guys also sitting in as well since it's a party kind of deal.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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