| Author |
Topic: Restoring a 70's BMI 12 |
Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
|
Posted 1 Mar 2019 5:38 pm |
|
I have a friend who's looking to unload her late father-in-law's 70's BMI 12 string (serial #0073) which hasn't been played in at least 30 years. It's a 3x5 with a 2-up 2-down changer and may or may not have all the hardware. I haven't seen a picture of the kickplate, pedals and pedal rods and it looks like one of the knee levers is missing. She's bringing it over in a couple weeks so I can see exactly what hardware is and isn't there 
I'm thinking of taking it on as a restoration project and was wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom on restoring one of these older BMI's?
Thanks!
_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK
Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW
Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2f0JOyiXpZyzNrvnJObliA |
|
|
 |
Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
|
Posted 1 Mar 2019 7:17 pm
|
|
Here’s one I restored there very easy to restore this one I restored.
BMI company is steel going strong an have a good inventory of an part s you my need.
 |
|
|
|
Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
|
|
|
|
Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
|
Posted 2 Mar 2019 9:39 am
|
|
Hi Dennis, I had a BMI D12 at one time and also a BMI S12U with a pad like this one. They looked alot like this S12, although the endplate was one big cut-out, instead of holes.
I would guess that all it needs is a clean up and a set up.
And a new set of Nylon enplate-tuners.
Those Cross-"Rails" actually work pefectly, and the Bell-Cranks are super easy to work with.
The one Knee-Lever on the rasied Cross-Rail is a great concept that eliminates the need for a reversing mechanism.
You will be able to order a Knee Lever from BMI or other parts suplier, but in the mean time you can cut/drill/shape a "Prototype" out of a piece of plywood or a dowell or PVC in your basement, and be in business in no time.
The E9th neck on the D12 I had sounded great, and I loved the bouncy/springy feel of the pedals.
Having had two Steels like this, You do have a bit of a project getting it setup to your liking, but it is totally doable. I would just lubricate the changer-finger areas and nut-rollers, etc. I would not take the changer out. I would not diss-assemble the body at all.
Just clean and lube.
What does the front look like?
Last edited by Pete Burak on 2 Mar 2019 10:06 am; edited 2 times in total |
|
|
|
Chris Reesor
From:
British Columbia, Canada
|
Posted 2 Mar 2019 10:02 am
|
|
That looks in decent shape, Dennis; I see a missing knee lever paddle and a broken nylon tuner, hardly a basket case. Probably could use a teardown, clean and lube for the changer if that hasn't been done recently.
Looking at the endplate, I see plenty there for a good, functional extended E9 setup.
I believe BMI pull trains haven't changed much since that guitar was built, and Burnham & Co. will have the parts you need.
Do you have the guitar at home yet?
_________________
Excel Superb U12, MIJ Squier tele, modified Deluxe Reverb RI, Cube 80XL, self built acoustics & mandolins
Last edited by Chris Reesor on 2 Mar 2019 10:19 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
|
|
|
|
Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
|
Posted 2 Mar 2019 10:16 am
|
|
The bottom looks exactly the BMI's I had.
I was reall thrown off by the big Cross-Rails the first time I opened the case of the D12!
Now I wish I would have kept it because it was so easy to experiment with. |
|
|
|
Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
|
Posted 2 Mar 2019 10:20 am
|
|
| Chris Reesor wrote: |
That looks in decent shape, Dennis; I see a missing knee lever paddle and a broken nylon tuner, hardly a basket case. Probably could use a teardown, clean and lube for the changer if that hasn't been done recently.
I believe BMI pull trains haven't changed much since that guitar was built, and Burnham & Co. will have the parts you need.
Do you have the guitar at home yet? |
Thanks Chris for your assessment, good to know!
I won't set eyes on it for a couple weeks as my friend's currently out of town. They sent me the pix last December and I wrote them up my take on it's condition and
their options. In the back of my mind I always had an idea that I should buy it myself 
We just discussed it yesterday, last night she asked her mother-in-law if she was ready to let it go to a good home and she signed off so the wheels are in motion
_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK
Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW
Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2f0JOyiXpZyzNrvnJObliA |
|
|
|
Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
|
Posted 2 Mar 2019 1:29 pm
|
|
| You guys got it figured out these steels is just a easy puzzle to desasemble an set up. |
|
|
|
Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
|
Posted 2 Mar 2019 1:31 pm
|
|
| You guys got it figured out these steels is just a easy puzzle to desasemble an set up. |
|
|
|
