I wish I'd listened to Ken.

[SHAKEY]

You may well have seen Ken Byng's thread on the American forum "Why buy unseen," if not READ IT. I decided some time ago to quit playing as I completely lost interest in it, but I decided to spend a bit of my pension money on one or two instruments to refurbish and sell on at a little profit just so I have something to do in my spare time and hopefully regain an interest in playing.
I saw a steel advertised on this forum and thought it would be a good project as the guitar was described as, "condition fair/descent for its age" (1971) in need of a good clean and some TLC, but playable, but the costs seem to be mounting up due to exchange rates etc., so I pulled out. After some thought I made an offer which I thought was fair for the guitar as it was described and had it shipped over.
As you may have seen on my previous thread, I was amazed at the number of holes in the body but that was only the start of things.The list of faults is endless, the extremely poor condition of the legs, (one with a very bad brazing job) these will have to be replaced, the changers are worn, the changer axle was completely seized in the support, some of the anchor springs are stuck together with brazing splatter, which means replacing with a new set, and some of the racks have been sawn in half and re-brazed for some unknown reason. Also a couple of new machine heads.

This guitar is going to take a very long time to put right and cost a hell of a lot of money, so if you are thinking of buying a second hand steel be very carefull, don't just rely on the pictures you see on the forum get plenty of close ups or better still go and see it before you make your mind up. I made this mistake once before, I didn't think I would again.
Dave.

[Dave Nutt]

Dave,thats sad news, and just think- thats you with zillions of years experience on steel guitar,imagine how the newbies and less experienced can get caught out? I see a lot of the steels that come up for sale/refurb are of older vintage and being so will need a lot of work to bring em up to spec, so many mechanical parts that can be worn out or on the way. I have hardly ever tinkered, well once or twice but usually ended up in disaster, so! its change strings and tune em and thats me.lol

Dave I didnt know you had given up playing, thats a waste. I had a break for a few years but now sit at it most days (health permitting) and plonk away, cant imagine being without my steel now, I hope you will get back to it soon.
Best of luck with that Sho Bud, got your hands full there.