Basic Question

[Billaboard]

I know this will sound utterly stupid, but please bear with me.

In the late '60's I bought a PSG from the builder, Tony Arnold, who was based somewhere on the south coast of England.

I understood it was similar to an MSA. Single neck, 3 pedals. I bought the pickup separately from Marlen, and a friendly American brought in a ShoBud volume pedal.

I had previously had lessons on a 6-string lap steel with E13th tuning from Don Sanford, a session player in London.

I taught myself on the PSG, but became unhappy with its mechanics so in about 1980, dismantled it to try to refurbish the cabinet and look at the mechanics of the changer. At about that time, I embarked the family on a project to build a wooden yacht, so the PSG was put in pieces in its case and put away under the desk in my "office", where it remains.

After 40-odd years there it will take a huge amount of pulling "stuff" out of the way, and I'm not currently in a fit state to embark on a huge delve and logistics operation to get access (being treated for pneumonia!), so here comes the question at last.

My son is visiting Nashville later this week, and I thought that if he brought me back a set of E9th strings, it would give him an excuse to visit music shops (which he would love, but his wife wouldn't) and might provide the trigger for me to reassemble my PSG.

This is where it gets really bizarre. I can't remember whether my PSG has 8 or 10 strings! If he buys a set of 10 E9th strings, should I just throw away the bottom two if not needed?

Sorry this is so long. If anyone can help with any info, it will be very gratefully received.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

The answer to your ? Is yes if it's a standard E9th you are going to be playing, I had an 8 string "Pierce" many years ago and that is What I used to do...... but you don't
Have to go all the way to Nashville to get a set of PSG strings I have plenty here......Good luck with the health issue and get well soon.

[Billaboard]

Thanks, John. The purchase of strings is all about psychology. It gives him an excuse to visit guitar-related places on his family visit, and someone buying me strings will add impetus to my digging out the PSG and trying to get up and running again. Further string purchases, if any, will be in the UK!

I also vaguely wondered whether anyone knows anything of Tony Arnold and whether any more of these guitars were built. I last saw him about 40 years ago when I played regular guitar with him in a band that had a gig for a wedding in Liverpool. Inevitably, fighting broke out between the two families and I seem to remember hurriedly packing up and dispersing.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Tony Arnold, not a name I remember and I'm older than dirt.....