| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic LeGrande Modifications
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  LeGrande Modifications
Cameron Parsons

 

From:
Angleton, Texas
Post  Posted 6 Apr 2016 7:21 pm    
Reply with quote

I removed the old chipped, black paint from inside the key head and replaced the Grovers with Sperzels:





Last edited by Cameron Parsons on 8 Apr 2016 7:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Billy Knowles

 

From:
Kenansville, N. C. 28349 usa
Post  Posted 6 Apr 2016 7:33 pm     Emmons
Reply with quote

Looks good!!!!!!!!!
_________________
Billy Knowles

STEEL GUITAR EAST

Emmons authorized dealer and approved service technician

my web site: http://www.steelguitareast.com
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2016 7:46 am    
Reply with quote

Why would you do that?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Cameron Parsons

 

From:
Angleton, Texas
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2016 9:22 am    
Reply with quote

Thanks, Billy!

Erv Niehaus wrote:
Why would you do that?


Because I like Sperzels more than Grovers, and I dislike old chipped, black paint.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2016 9:46 am    
Reply with quote

Cameron,
Whenever I re-do an Emmons keyhead, I sand down the old paint and give it a fresh coat of flat black.
Do those Sperzels fit right on without any modification?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Cameron Parsons

 

From:
Angleton, Texas
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2016 10:05 am    
Reply with quote

I like the appearance more without the paint and consider it an improvement. I had to drill new holes for the mounting pins on the Sperzels.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Chris Lucker

 

From:
Los Angeles, California USA
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2016 10:25 am    
Reply with quote

Out curiosity, do they make Sperzels anymore with a shiny nickel finish? I have shiny ones on a JCH.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2016 10:27 am    
Reply with quote

i'm with erv this time. don't sperzels have a tendency to get really stiff?
View user's profile Send private message
Cameron Parsons

 

From:
Angleton, Texas
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2016 10:29 am    
Reply with quote

Sperzel does make them in all chrome. I chose the satin finish because I like the appearance in contrast with the shiny key head. I've had several sets of Sperzels and never experienced stiffness. They can be disassembled to clean and lube as well, but I've never had to do that.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
David Nugent

 

From:
Gum Spring, Va.
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2016 1:16 pm    
Reply with quote

The original Sperzels on my Emmons SKH have become extremely stiff and difficult to turn. Factor in that due to the shorter key head design clearance between tuner buttons is minimal at best, fine tuning can present a challenge. Anyone knowledgeable on how to dissemble them for service?
View user's profile Send private message
Cameron Parsons

 

From:
Angleton, Texas
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2016 3:20 pm    
Reply with quote

David Nugent wrote:
Anyone knowledgeable on how to dissemble them for service?




Before disassembling, check the screw on top of the tuner button, because if it is too tight, the tuner may be totally seized. If you determine you need to take it apart to service it, remove the screw on top of the tuner button, then separate all the parts as shown above.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 4:47 am    
Reply with quote

Erv Niehaus wrote:
Why would you do that?


Why wouldn't you? I always thought the paint inside looked sorta dopey...kinda like "We're going to paint over that so no one will know we used a cheap casting and were too lazy to polish or machine it." Mr. Green
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Dave Diehl

 

From:
Mechanicsville, MD, USA
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 6:49 am    
Reply with quote

One thing I can say for sure... Emmons did not use cheap casings on anything. It's like any other industry, polishing the inside is not easy and would cost and add more cost to the consumer for the product.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Charlie McDonald


From:
out of the blue
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 7:01 am    
Reply with quote

Erv Niehaus wrote:
Why would you do that?

Because... he could.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 7:06 am    
Reply with quote

Charlie,
There's a difference between could and would.
I could jump off a cliff, but would I? No way!!! Whoa!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Charlie McDonald


From:
out of the blue
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 7:08 am    
Reply with quote

I could say maybe you should, but you'd know I was only kidding.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Cameron Parsons

 

From:
Angleton, Texas
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 7:10 am    
Reply with quote

If I ever decide to sell it, I will throw in an entire can of flat black Rust-Oleum for free. That's a $3.98 value - for free! If one of the Sperzels has suffered irreparable damage, I'll buy a new one for under $6.00 and throw that in too. Very Happy

Last edited by Cameron Parsons on 8 Apr 2016 8:42 pm; edited 3 times in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 7:13 am    
Reply with quote

Swap out the tuners too? Very Happy
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Cameron Parsons

 

From:
Angleton, Texas
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 7:36 am    
Reply with quote

Erv, I would throw in the Grovers for free too, but they make really cool cuff links! Very Happy Very Happy
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 7:48 am    
Reply with quote

One thing about buying something is that you can do whatever you want to with it. It belongs to the owner and not the community of enthusiasts. People go ape whenever something is re-finished, a screw is replaced out of sequence or something is other than stock, no matter the fact that it may look and/or perform way better. I speak from having experienced such scoldings.

I applaud Cameron for doing whatever makes his guitar suit him and I think it looks very nice.

It must have been quite a job to remove all that paint what with all the recesses, bends and curves.

I will add that it doesn't take much to scratch the paint inside the keyhead. I don't know if they're powder coated or just painted, but just a stray sharp string end will mark the paint. Another thing is some players have a habit of laying the bar inside the keyhead. The back end edge of the bar bumping against the painted surface will also chip it.

Good job Cameron, I'd like to see how it all looks in a wide shot of the entire guitar.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 8:18 am    
Reply with quote

Cameron,
You're a good sport!
Bless your heart. Very Happy
Erv
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Cameron Parsons

 

From:
Angleton, Texas
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 10:31 am    
Reply with quote

Hopefully the discussion benefits someone, but you don't want to know how I got the paint off. I also removed the metal pickup mounting plate and mounted BL-710's directly to the body which had a dramatic positive tonal result for me. Experimenting is fun if you are willing to take the risk. I'll post some pics soon.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 12:07 pm    
Reply with quote

Dave Diehl wrote:
One thing I can say for sure... Emmons did not use cheap casings on anything. It's like any other industry, polishing the inside is not easy and would cost and add more cost to the consumer for the product.


Sorry Dave, but castings are cheap, cheaper by far than machining from solid stock - and that's why castings were (and are) used in many applications. Anyone who tells you otherwise is simply giving you false information. Exclamation
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 12:27 pm    
Reply with quote

not only cheap, but remember the italian fiasco a few years back when an emmons or two were delivered with terrilble pitted endplate castings?
so i guess it partly depends on the era of the steels.
View user's profile Send private message
Chris Lucker

 

From:
Los Angeles, California USA
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2016 1:36 pm    
Reply with quote

Cameron Parsons wrote:
Hopefully the discussion benefits someone, but you don't want to know how I got the paint off. I also removed the metal pickup mounting plate and mounted BL-710's directly to the body which had a dramatic positive tonal result for me. Experimenting is fun if you are willing to take the risk. I'll post some pics soon.


An Emmons pickup mounted directly to the cabinet and not to the necks is not a new thing. Emmons did it that way before the neck mount. Buddy Emmons did not like it.

Painting the inside of the keyed is one of the features Emmons borrowed from Bigsby.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron