Page 1 of 2

Rotosound

PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:11 am
by Donny Johnston
My first pedal steel was a Rotosound, I think GH had something to do with it's design. Does anyone out there know more of its history. How many were built / sold?

Re: Rotosound

PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:13 pm
by Zebedee
I've got one, a Denley, which I converted from a twin 8 to a SD10.

Quite a good steel, once I had improved the mechanism :D


Re: Rotosound

PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:49 pm
by ZBSD-10
Hallo Donny ,
yep, the Rotosound, Denley, Rose Morris and Ormston were all derived from Gordon's design and construction, my
first steel was a Rose Morris 8 string, 4 pedal guitar, I actually swapped a 1954 Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty for it,
cow s--t for brains comes to mind but that is another story !! They were very basic but functional, I had to start
somewhere ! :shock: :D
Hey Richard, what happened to the Rose Morris badge I gave you for your Denley ? it ain't on the clip ?? :D :D
All the best
Frank. Corfu :guitar: :guitar:

Re: Rotosound

PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:10 pm
by Zebedee
Frank,
That clip is from 2006, before you sent me the badge :D

Here's a more recent video with the Rose Morris badge :D

Re: Rotosound

PostPosted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:01 pm
by Donny Johnston
Nice playing Richard, my Rotosound was a kind of bright orange colour and I always had great difficulty keeping in tune, I only discovered why this was when the changer pulled right out of the body. Two big bolts quickly sorted that and the guitar was swiftly moved on. I was curious to know if there are any still around or if anyone was still playing one?

Re: Rotosound

PostPosted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:17 pm
by Ken Byng
I started with an Ormston D8, courtesy of Gordon Huntley & Nigel Dennis. They looked the part at the time but it wasn't too long before I chopped it in for a blue D10 ZB 8+2 bought in to the UK by Mr Snowball at the same time as Gordon' first ZB.

There must be a few of those old Rotosounds, Denleys and Ormstons knocking around the UK in people's sheds and spare bedrooms. Very basic mechanically but all had good tone.

Re: Rotosound

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2012 4:07 pm
by Jimboco
I currently play an old clunky Rotosound. I'd love to find someone who could help me clean it up...and maybe add another knee lever (if that's possible). I would buy a better one, but can't really stretch to it right now and this one does have a great tone. Anyone got any advice?

Re: Rotosound

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2012 7:35 pm
by Donny Johnston
James I'd love to see some pictures of it if you have any. It's so long since I had the Rotosound I've kind of forgotten about most of it's bad side, it did have a good pick up, and I played through a Fender Twin, I think it was about 1969/70. I also think it's a single raise/ single lower, so I'm not too sure if another lever can go on. Speak to Bob Adams he'll keep you right.

Re: Rotosound

PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 2:16 pm
by slimbo
A very proud Slim, my first steel, an orange Rotasound, 4x1.
Rotasound 1970.jpg

Re: Rotosound

PostPosted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 7:10 am
by Donny Johnston
Slim, that's the one I had, bright orange,not to clever in the wrong end of Glasgow.