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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
 Posted - 10/03/2011 : 4:50:58 PM
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I've not seen nor played one but there's an opp'ty lurking. String-to-string spacing's a tad tighter than my Fender Deluxe 8 or Oahu Squareneck 6 but the idea of having a "tight-6th" 8-str tuning plus a coupla lower/bass strings in an acoustic steel is intriguing.
Anyone have thoughts/experience on this? It's a "quality"/American/semi-vtg resonator squareneck, apparently always from origin a 10-str device.
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2182 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2011 : 05:29:27 AM
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| Slipry1 has an 8-string Dobro. |
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2011 : 4:19:44 PM
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I'd imagined having my luthier replace the nut with an 8-str one, not a big deal. Bridge prob'ly likewise. Would there be any issue w/re-purposing a 10-str tailpiece to 8-str? Hard to know but I'm thinkin' not.
If I got into this instr it'd be for not much more $ than what I'd pay online for a Chinese-made-parts/US-assembled Beard Gold-tone 8. So am wondering if this is a "golden" opp'ty or just an attractive-but-complex circumstance. String-spacing's to me the big deal & has been main pt of discussion w/seller [a good guy, I know him; only hrs away fr me but haven't had opp'ty to actually evaluate in person...]
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2011 : 06:29:00 AM
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I am reminded of John Keawe who had someone make him an 8 string slack key guitar. After playing it for a month or so, he cut two of the strings off, changed the nut and saddle, and has been playing it as a 6 string for years. I always smile when I see those two lonely tuners on his headstock.
Ahhhh... well, it all comes down to the person who is doing the modifications. If it is a good deal, even after paying for the modification, then why not buy it?
But, ask yourself if you really want to play an acoustic 8 string. Can't say that I have ever heard anyone doing it.
If you do go for it, I hope you will do a YouTube video for us!
Aloha,
-Konabob
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Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2011 : 10:57:44 AM
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I'm not a bluegrasser but there's a remarkably-accomplished dobro player named Jerry Douglas who plays 8-string Dobro. It's a signature model made by Beard [in USA, not the imported-parts/US-assembled Goldtone series]. Jerry's nicknamed "Flux" because of the fluidity and deftness of his playing in diverse ensembles including with Alison Krauss. Jerry appears on a track or 2 in Led's "Waltz of the Wind" record.
A US-Beard-made 8-str would be ~$4K as I understand it. The Chinese-parts ones're well under $1K. I'd be able to accomplish the same "investment" if I go for this 10-str & convert it.
Jerry's got a pickup installed in his. I might do that but my primary goal's to be able to do in a low-key/acoustic kanikapila some of what I can do on the Fender Dlx 8 [mid-'50s, like Gabby's; my playing's NOT anywhere near like Gabby's...] |
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seldomfed
Aloha
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 04:35:40 AM
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Aloha -
I have played both models of the Beard 8 strings. I played Mike Auldridge's (with him watching!) and I played the Beard/Goldtone 8 string at the Dallas Steel show. Both are nice.
Yes the Beard is almost $4k, The Goldtone Beard is about $900
The string spacing is a bit more narrow so you have to get used to it, but you can with a bit of practice. If you play pedal steel and dobro both you know this - you can adjust quickly.
I just got a new Beard/Goldtone Signature series 6 string this summer and I love it. It's not expensive and well made. The sound is very good and I wager in most situations you can't tell this one from the $4000 Beards etc. I had the new Aura Fishman pickup put in and use the Jerry Douglas Aura pedal with it- a recommended combination. It sounds fantastic plugged in with no feedback.
Be aware that if you intend to use a C6 tuning you must alter your string guages - you can't crank a dobro set of strings to C6 :)
chris |
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seldomfed
Aloha
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 04:41:07 AM
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RE: 10 string steels. Reece Anderson makes and sells his SuperSlide electric steels in any size you want up to 12 strings. I've seen him play is 12 string and he is amazing. The swing stuff he does is excellent. These are cool guitars!
http://www.msapedalsteels.com/html/homess.html |
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2011 : 5:50:57 PM
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Mahalo, Chris! I'm travelling but my luthier's reported it's not ex$pen$ive or difficult to turn the 10-str Dobro into an 8 w/"better" string-spacing. @ road trip's end I'll probably move forward on this. Luthier would do ez-reversible mods; if it doesn't work out well I'll probably pass it along, look at the Goldtone 8. This particular Dobro 10 is from the very end of the John & Emil Dopyera era, hope it wouldn't be hard to find another home for if it doesn't "stick'. I don't think they did much of any hand-work on these last-gasp Dobros but they're still made "by" as in "under ownership/supervision of" the originators of reso-world.
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Edited by - basilking on 10/21/2011 5:51:25 PM |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2011 : 09:56:55 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by basilking
I'm not a bluegrasser but there's a remarkably-accomplished dobro player named Jerry Douglas who plays 8-string Dobro. It's a signature model made by Beard [in USA, not the imported-parts/US-assembled Goldtone series]. Jerry's nicknamed "Flux" because of the fluidity and deftness of his playing in diverse ensembles including with Alison Krauss. Jerry appears on a track or 2 in Led's "Waltz of the Wind" record.
A US-Beard-made 8-str would be ~$4K as I understand it. The Chinese-parts ones're well under $1K. I'd be able to accomplish the same "investment" if I go for this 10-str & convert it.
Jerry's got a pickup installed in his. I might do that but my primary goal's to be able to do in a low-key/acoustic kanikapila some of what I can do on the Fender Dlx 8 [mid-'50s, like Gabby's; my playing's NOT anywhere near like Gabby's...]
I've played an 8 string Dobro since 1977. Got it from the Dopyera brothers (Jon & Rudy) at the factory. I was looking for a 7 string model, but the only one was the ShoBro from ShoBud (Shot Jackson). I had nothing on the bottom string and tuned it (from low to high) G B D D B D E. Then I met Don Helms at the 1978 NAMM show, and he showed me his E tuning. Because I was playing with folkies, I tuned mine to a D7 tuning - A D F# G A D F# A, until I started with Hawaiian steel. Since then it's been in C6/Bb tuning. Back in 78' I showed it to Mike Auldridge at McCabes, and the next time he came west, he had a Dobro 8, known as "the mighty 8". I also have a six string Krauss koa resonator guitar which I keep in B11 tuning. |
keaka |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2011 : 10:03:39 AM
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| I have a Rickenbacher B10 from the early 40's, so they were around then. Eddie Alkire developed the Alkire E-Harp, a 10 string lap steel, and put it on the marked in 1939. There must have been others. I keep min in a (proprietary 0 don't ask me)hybrid B11/C6 tuning, so I can play both without retuning. |
keaka |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2011 : 10:06:27 AM
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| Excuse the typos above. My dyslexia is raging this morning. For a very good review about lap steels, check out Brad's Page of Steel on the web. It's very educational and well produced. |
keaka |
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2011 : 4:50:45 PM
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| Mahalo to all kind support/info. Am on the road in NM just now but upon rtrn to Lost Angeles have committed to acquire said 10-str after phone consultation w/luthier. Take a few wks to get it in hand, another for luthier's conversion [reversible] to 9-or-8-str depending on in-hand-evaluation. Will report. Thx again Keaka & all others! |
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2011 : 3:01:46 PM
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| Dropped 10 str Dobro w/luthier today for conversion to 8 [or 9 if string-spacing allows]. This AM digging in '57 Fender Dlx 8 case for info on string guages I discovered bill of sale fr 10 years ago. Didn't realize at that time Brad Bechtel was a lap/reso luminary when I picked up the 8 @ his ofc So of Mkt in SF. Back to topic - will have "before & after" pix of conversion to share down the road. |
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2012 : 2:36:08 PM
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Was outa town fr early Dec til last week, picked up converted-to-8-str OMI Dobro en rte home. It's a beast.
String-spacing's ok but complexity of overtones/"richness" of sound really stands out to me [& luthier too]. He replaced the maple saddle with brazilian rosewood. Don't know that's the key, could be voodoo, but goodness-sakes-alive it doesn't sound "dobro-whiney" at all. Very loud [if needed] but fat tone. Now have the acoustic version of my sgl Dlx Fender 8 that I'd fantasized. Gotta learn to play it better now...
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10 String Lap Steel?
