My new (older) Anapeg - more pics added (Noel's latest)

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 1 Nov 2016 3:25 am

Well, waited a long time for one of these to come along. I need to raise it and it needs a little TLC as it was a 'players' guitar. Happy as a pig in %#\<

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 1 Nov 2016 4:23 am

That's a beautiful colour combination (green and black). Mr Anstead really has a good eye for the groovy, and evidently has for quite some time. Congratulations!

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 1 Nov 2016 9:28 am

Whoaaa,,,,my "envy" is showing!!!!! Please,,more pics,,especially tuner and changer,,and underneath. We don't see too many of those,,need to get the most out of this one. More pics PLEASE!!!

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 1 Nov 2016 2:44 pm

Very nice Jeff - when your ready how about a bunch of pics including closeups on the undercarriage etc :-} - just for those of us who are curious and in awe of Mr Ansteads creations

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 2 Nov 2016 5:06 am

As a said, she was a players guitar so she is n need of some attention. When I'm finished she will shine under here like a mirror as she was when new.

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 2 Nov 2016 7:04 pm

Did you get a firm fix on the vintage of that there machine of yours, Jeff? I guess it must be a 90's model being keyless, and wooden necked. It appears to be an interesting mix of old and new. The old style rectangular logo for starters, old style "twisted knee levers" (I totally love them) the later style reversing mechanism (with cross shaft below the pull rods). You've got them brace thingies providing stops for compensators(?), which I've not seen on any pictures of the older guitars.

Colin Goss · Post by **Colin Goss** » 3 Nov 2016 12:57 am

Jeff, you said you have to raise it. By this I assume that it needs to be a little higher. I had this problem with the Anapeg I have (Tom Brumleys first Anapeg). I solved it put putting half inch washers before screwing in the legs. There is a lot of thread on the legs, so this has not caused a problem. Mind you I only needed a little, if you need more this won't help. I also went for a low profile volume pedal.
Hope this helps.
Enjoy a fabulous instrument - I do.

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 3 Nov 2016 3:34 am

How are the pics? Clear enough Paddy? Hi Colin, that's a great idea but it won't be enough. She is a short one! I have access to a lathe and milling machine at work so am going to make threaded blocks same diameter as the leg tube. Noel has suggested these be left permently on the guitar but I would then have to build a new case...which I may do given it's a little knocked around. I may just make risers fr the leg tops. I could also make risers for the bottom and make a feature of the join. I have a low profile pedal so that will help. Man you must love sitting behind that piece of history Colin? Hi Jeremy. I will see Noel at the club in a couple of weeks and get the low down. He should have it all on record. Is yours a aluminium neck? I thought he only did wood necks? Man this thing plays like silk and so responsive!

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 5 Nov 2016 8:23 pm

Yeah, mine has a metal neck - it's a 77/78 model. It plays like a swarm of butterfly kisses.

And the sustain ......................................

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 7 Nov 2016 7:24 am

Always a treat to see an Anapeg . I saw Paul Thomas playing a 12 string one the other day . I have never even heard of one up for sale .

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 9 Nov 2016 10:33 am

Thanks Jeff great pics mate

Susan Alcorn (deceased) · Post by **Susan Alcorn (deceased)** » 10 Nov 2016 6:30 pm

Congratulations on your (beautiful) Anapeg, Jeff! As you know, there is not a finer pedal steel guitar than an Anapeg anywhere. I'm constantly amazed at the gorgeous tone, how it stays in tune, the strings seem to last forever, and the "feel" of the pedals, knee levers, and half stops even with a difficult copedent. Noel really knows his stuff - the Rolls Royce of pedal steels. What a great, and rare, find!

Steve Epstein · Post by **Steve Epstein** » 7 Feb 2017 8:51 am

Jeff, this may be the brother to your new guitar. I bought this from a friend of Noel's a five years ago. Noel replaced the pickup with one from his own guitar. I also own a 12 string version. Love them both.

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 27 Mar 2017 1:59 pm

Thank you Susan. So glad you are loving the Anapeg. Your accomplishments as an artist, I am sure, would be complimented by this fine instrument.
Brendan, if you are ever up this way call in mate. You'd be most welcome.
Steve, that is stunning! I visited Noel and Shirley taking the steel and he checked it out. He even found an older style fretboard in his cupboard (same as yours and mine)Yes the steel needs some TLC but he was very surprised how well it played given its playing/service life!!

It will getting a complete strip down and refurbishment. I will do the work but I have Noel at the ready for advise which he is willing to do given his 'connection to each of his instruments. Still not decided on what colour to finish the timber work with. Maybe a black/green burst.
I must thank Winston Black who finally 'released' this guitar to me.
I will post updates when I finally get started.

Sam Conomo · Post by **Sam Conomo** » 27 Mar 2017 3:39 pm

hi jeff,
it looks beautiful ,they are so nice to play.
noel does a great job,he is one of those true old craftmen,
even when it seems perfect,he goes to another level.

sam

Ned McIntosh · Post by **Ned McIntosh** » 27 Mar 2017 6:35 pm

If I recall, each Anapeg was "bespoke", that is designed and built for the player who ordered it with his copedent, colours etc. Each is tuly a work of art, a thing of matchless beauty and total functionality.

When the late Tom Brumley's Anapeg 11-string was sold on the forum several years ago, I recall it went for $US11,000. Not many steel will fetch prices like that second-hand.

Steve Epstein · Post by **Steve Epstein** » 28 Mar 2017 9:34 am

Ned, you are correct. Here are a couple of images of the 12 I received from Noel back in 2010. It, and my 10 (the Phantom) are an embarrassment of riches.

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 29 Mar 2017 1:40 pm

What an undercarriage! They come in keyed models also?

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 29 Mar 2017 7:06 pm

Noel didn't build any keyed guitars after about 1990. First keyless was '86. Mine is a '78.

Mine is best guitar in the whole world

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 30 Mar 2017 6:56 am

Are they lacquer finish? I understand Noel took a lot of pride in the exotic native woods he used,,,,surprised to see "painted" guitars. Wonder what the price range of these guitars were,,,and how many were made. These are definitely the only guitars I would desire to own over my Klines.

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 30 Mar 2017 3:38 pm

Hi Sonny. As Ned said, these guitars were hand made for each customer. Winston (previous owner) requested the green wood stain. They are lacquer to a high gloss. The timbers are indeed sourced by Noel form expeditions he did to western parts of Qld/NSW etc. Mine is Silver Ash, a dense 'yellowish' timber. It's not paint, it's translucent pigment. Here is some pics of the changer and the keyless head. As you can see, this was a real 'players' guitar. Winston played it everywhere. My goel is to refurbish/polish all the aluminium and redo the timber. I'm leaning towards a black/green burst. I have a new fretboard too.

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 30 Mar 2017 5:54 pm

Mine is silver ash too. The lacquer is definitely not opaque, I have a ton of grain showing through mine

Steve Epstein · Post by **Steve Epstein** » 31 Mar 2017 6:27 am

As is my 10. My 12 is Gidgee. Noel took this assembled body shot of just the timber.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 31 Mar 2017 7:56 am

Jeff Spencer wrote:Hi Sonny. As Ned said, these guitars were hand made for each customer. Winston (previous owner) requested the green wood stain. They are lacquer to a high gloss. The timbers are indeed sourced by Noel form expeditions he did to western parts of Qld/NSW etc. Mine is Silver Ash, a dense 'yellowish' timber. It's not paint, it's translucent pigment. Here is some pics of the changer and the keyless head. As you can see, this was a real 'players' guitar. Winston played it everywhere. My goel is to refurbish/polish all the aluminium and redo the timber. I'm leaning towards a black/green burst. I have a new fretboard too.

It doesn't look like stained wood to me, based on the uncolored wood showing on the chipped cabinet corner in Jeff's photo. Rather, it looks like the lacquer itself was colored before application. I had an Emmons like that, and my friend Tom Pittman had a green lacquer Williams that showed clear wood underneath the chips in the finish.

Steve Epstein · Post by **Steve Epstein** » 31 Mar 2017 8:06 am

Herb, you are correct. I believe Noel used colored lacquer over clear wood to achieve the color. He mentioned that in certain instances he would stain lighter woods to obtain a required result.

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My new (older) Anapeg - more pics added (Noel's latest)

My new (older) Anapeg - more pics added (Noel's latest)

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