Rotosound

[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?

[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

[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 !
Hey Richard, what happened to the Rose Morris badge I gave you for your Denley ? it ain't on the clip ??
All the best
Frank. Corfu

[Zebedee]

Frank,
That clip is from 2006, before you sent me the badge

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

[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?

[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.

[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?

[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.

[slimbo]

A very proud Slim, my first steel, an orange Rotasound, 4x1.

Rotasound 1970.jpg

[Donny Johnston]

Slim, that's the one I had, bright orange,not to clever in the wrong end of Glasgow.