JCH - a tech question

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

See below (new post) for my latest snafu!
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I know that Jon Graboff started a thread years ago in an attempt to identify as many JCH guitars as possible.

That link won't work for me.

I have just acquired one with '91GS 424' stamped in the end-plate. This doesn't tally with what I've read (numbers seem to run in the 1000-series) and I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light.
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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scott murray · From: Asheville, NC

did Junior ever hear back from Elsie? she should have paperwork on every guitar Jimmie built but she may have finally retired Winking

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1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster

Marco Schouten · From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

I have the list of the registry in a spreadsheet and try to keep it up to date. Your serial number wasn't in there yet, but there are a lot of serial numbers that are not in the 1000 range. There are serial numbers with the initials of the players they were built for, serial numbers that start with 91GS, 98GS.
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JCH SD-10 with BL XR-16 pickup, Sho-Bud Volume Pedal, Evidence Audio Lyric HG cables, Quilter Steelaire combo

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Thanks, Marco.

I briefly had a black-and-teal SD10 that had no serial number, so there were inconsistencies.

I'm switching it to Day pedals and, at this point, am unable to get the Es to lower!!

There's something obvious, but it's eluding me right now. Sad

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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I am chasing my tail!!!

I finally have LKL, LKR, 1 & 3 moving in the right direction.

However, fine tuning the E to F raise results in the string itself going flat or sharp (overtuning?)

Is there something inherently different in the JCH' mechanics, some arcane tuning ritual (like a pp) that is beyond my grasp?

I'm beginning to wish I'd left it 'Emmons' and relearning everything!
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

In case anyone's following this thread, here's an update.

I solved the non-returning E to Eb by moving it in the changer.

I also tweaked the lower-return-spring and learned a hard lesson: I had no idea there was a tiny nut inside the coiled spring!! It became disengaged and, without my wife's skilled hands, the guitar would still be on the bench.

But it's working, and it sounds fabulous! Shimmering highs and great sustain, Jimmie C knew what he was doing!
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Marco Schouten · From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The JCH has a fixed pedal stop. If you tune the pedal or knee lever and the string doesn't return properly, you may adjust the set screw on the crossrods, which controls the amount of play.

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JCH SD-10 with BL XR-16 pickup, Sho-Bud Volume Pedal, Evidence Audio Lyric HG cables, Quilter Steelaire combo

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Thanks again, Marco!

I'm not sure what I did to get things running again but your photo will come in handy when I pluck up enough courage to re-jig the C neck.
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Marco Schouten · From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Roger, can you post a picture of your guitar? I always love to see a nice JCH.
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JCH SD-10 with BL XR-16 pickup, Sho-Bud Volume Pedal, Evidence Audio Lyric HG cables, Quilter Steelaire combo

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Certainly: not the best capture of the colour - a gorgeous midnight blue - but you get the idea.
The underside - everything is polished!!!

8+9.

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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Marco Schouten · From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Wow, it looks great!
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JCH SD-10 with BL XR-16 pickup, Sho-Bud Volume Pedal, Evidence Audio Lyric HG cables, Quilter Steelaire combo

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I'm learning the hard way: it's extremely touchy and has various options for length-of-throw, etc. Get it wrong and you're chasing your tail!

I may hate those Emmons LG E-clips, but things are more straightforward on that guitar.

I currently have the JCH on the bench: Junior has Doug J's pedal 4 on it but I have other ideas. I'm missing the A to Ab lower so something's about to get reassigned.

I'm going out on a limb here, but I'd venture to say that this is the best-sounding steel I've ever had.
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I may have tamed the beast!

Not as regards playing it, but getting to grips with the mechanics. It is fundamentally similar to any all-pull, but the sliding rods/collars that control the KLs took a bit of understanding.

I had to make a choice on C6th: the KLs were at odds with my preference and it was set up to only raise-and-lower the high C and A. I like raising both Cs and raising-and-lowering both As.

This guitar has 1,2,7 raising on RKL (new to me, but I like it there more than on LKV as I have it on my Emmons); I messed things up by adding the 8th lower on C6 to RKL and five pulls made it a bit too stiff. With that spare rod-and-bell-crank, I've now raised the 7th as well as the 3rd - much better.

An A/B test today confirms that this JCH sparkles, and makes my Emmons sound a little dark in comparison. They're both fine guitars, though.

(I never thought I'd enjoy the Bs to Bb lower on LKV, but this is a cinch. I can even get LKV to lower the 10th to A. Smile

)
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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