My New Fulawka; in Memory of the "Blue Darlin"

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 6 Jul 2002 12:46 am

Hey thanks tons more folks......Hey Susan this was my responce to Johan about the necks and fretboards>

"Johan....That is birdseye maple necks just like the body...and that is blue stained maple your looking at...with ivory white frets and markings screened right on the neck.....so no fret board...just natural beauty."

Hey Marco.....I'm I coming to SteelDays??? You may know something I don't know....ah....ha......but if I do/am...then yes the "Blue Darlin" Fulawka, goes where ever I do.
Ricky

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 6 Jul 2002 5:06 am

Congrats, Ricky. I've known Ed for as long as I've played steel (30 years) in fact, my first guitar was a Fulawka, albeit a primitive one. I love Ed's drive and energy and attention to detail. He was working at Massey-Ferguson at the time and just looking forward to retirement, when he could make steels full time. Also for all you American guys and gals, don't forget you can take advantage of our deflated Canadian dollar. You should be able to get about 30-35 more cents on each Canadian dollar you purchase, which would really drive the price of a new Fulawka down.

Graham · Post by **Graham** » 6 Jul 2002 5:51 am

Hey, Little Brother! That t-shirt I sent ya should fit right in now! Let me know if you want a couple more and I'll get them and send 'em to ya.

Pat and I are leaving for 2 weeks vacation shortly, but coming home next Friday as we are going up to Ed's for his and Irene's 50th wedding anniversary party next Saturday. Will leave again next Sunday, with a stop at Al Brisco's for his July Steel Guitar picnic.

You have a beautiful steel there. Hope you are well satisfied with it.

Love ya!

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Rebel™
ICQ 614585

http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/steel.html

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 6 Jul 2002 6:16 am

When I look into that guitar, I see the Caribbean sea. Why, I could even take a little vacation, just by gazin' at her. Tis a fine thing of beauty you have there, my friend. Have you considered timeshares? I'd buy two weeks on it right now.

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 6 Jul 2002 7:47 am

Congrats Ricky my man.It must be a beauty.Am I the only one in forum land that can't view this fine instrument??

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 6 Jul 2002 9:12 am

"I'll have to do it Monday....as I'm otta town....and it is in Van until then."

Where did you say that van was parked?

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Lee, from South Texas

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 6 Jul 2002 9:42 am

Cool John.....yes Eddy is full of energy ain't he???ah...ha...
Graham; the boys in the band want a Fulawka shirt now....they are all so very proud of this guitar and they want to wear the shirt too....it blew my mind when they said that.......ahhhhh.hhhhhaaaa.
Lee....that's funny.....well it's outta the van now and back in my possession.
Hey Jim.....it does look like the ocean don't it...cool man.
Bobby....I've had a couple of guys say they can't view....are you using Internet Explorer.....or Netscape??? Netscapers might be havin' a prob....Try coping the link http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/fulawka/fulawka.htm
and pasting it to your browser....
Or try opening in a new window...or e-mail me and I'll send you a zip of all 5 pics.....but you have to have a un-zip program....or I'll send you 1 pic(the main one).
Ricky

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 6 Jul 2002 2:25 pm

Hi Ricky- A beautiful guitar! Congratulations.

I met Ed at the Grand Rapids LT Zinn show and looked at his new guitar and played it a little.

We all thought it was very well thought out, and beautiful. Not as beautiful as yours though!

Len Amaral has one and says it is so beautiful that he doesn't dare take it out to clubs to play. LOL.....al

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 6 Jul 2002 2:46 pm

Hey Thanks Al...yes Ed is super great and builds a sweet guitar.
I know what Len means......but I'm playing mine every gig....so that means filthy bars...picnics....auditoriums.....whatever....cause I believe a guitar is a tool of the trade.....and it won't develope any character until it's put to work properly.
Besides if anything happens to it or a ding or worn spots...or whatever; that maybe I can't stand......Eddy will fix it.
Ricky

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 6 Jul 2002 5:04 pm

I see that the inlay work is also on the back side of the guitar. Way cool.

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Lee, from South Texas

erik · Post by **erik** » 6 Jul 2002 7:29 pm

That looks like a high-brow barouque instrument. Are you sure you are allowed to play that, Ricky?

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 6 Jul 2002 10:53 pm

Wow I'm very sorry Ricky. I read an interview with you on the steeldays 2002 website and made a wrong assumption. What a shame.

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Steelin' Greetings
Marco Schouten
Sho-Bud Pro III Custom

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 7 Jul 2002 8:02 pm

Wow! (I say, with my jaw on the floor!)
I'd sure like to hear Lloyd Green play one of Ed Falawkas' guitars.
You have got yourself a fine guitar there Ricky. I would love to hear it on a recording.

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 7 Jul 2002 9:38 pm

Thanks Ricky.Yep I'm using Netscape and my un zip program doesn't work anymore.

If you find the time e-mail me the main pic.Thanks-bb

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 8 Jul 2002 3:11 am

ATTENTION NETSCAPE USERS: When I posted the pictures, I didn't realize they wouldn't show up in Netscape. That is fixed now. Please take a look at this beautiful instrument.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 8 Jul 2002 5:57 pm

Ok as requested......here are the closeups of the changers and underside of the Fulawka "Blue Darlin".
Click Here for Them There Pics!!!
And Thanks Stephen for making it "Netscape Prooooof"
And thank you Stephen "Red-Eye" O'Brien for everything you have done for me and Archie and MightyFineMusic.com
Ricky

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 8 Jul 2002 7:59 pm

Ricky- It looks like a lot of machining under there. I like those knee levers. How does the two knobs work on the knee levers to work both necks? That's something we all need.....al

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 8 Jul 2002 8:01 pm

Killer axe my man!Thanks for sharing.It looks soooo good.Top to bottom.Enjoy!

--bb

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 8 Jul 2002 8:57 pm

Thanks B. Boggs; that means alot coming from you pal.
Hey Al....the knee levers are great and the ones on your left leg are even angled a bit...cause a player normally sits a little slanted with the left knee....so now with the knees angled; your still hitting them flush instead of on the edge.
The levers on the back of the guitar work the two Right knee levers. Basically you are able to enguage or dis-enguage the pulls for either neck. You know...most all pedal steels have changes on both necks for the two right knee levers. So now when your playing one neck....you can dis-enguage the pulls on the other neck your not playing....makes it dang smoother on them knees....."Another great Ed Fulawka Design"...God Love him.
Ricky[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 08 July 2002 at 09:59 PM.]

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 9 Jul 2002 2:46 am

WWWWOOOOOWWWWWWW!!! What a beauty!!..That is one purty axe; Ricky...But i gotta ask-
How does it sound??.I mean exactly how close to a Sho-Bud does the sound come to??
Just curious here pal...Thanks Ron

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 9 Jul 2002 9:13 am

Ron it has a very similar sound to my Sho~bud Pro II.
So it has that crystal clear Bite on the top end....but gotta say; it has a warmer low end than me bud.
It does have it's own character voice too...and separation of notes is super.....Just listen to Bob Lucier's cuts off his new CD....it sounds like that....but mine is played through a Fender Twin.....so you can imagine the sound of that guitar through a tube amp......So all and all.....it is very compared to a ShoBud but some real sweetness in the tone....I'm still getting used to it.....and liking it more each time I play it.
As soon as I get some time......Me and Archie.....(which he has the Identical Twin of this guitar) will video tape the two "Blue Darlin" Fulawka's playing together and we'll have that video on the Mightyfinemusic.com website for all to see and hear first hand....So hold out for that.
Ricky

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 9 Jul 2002 10:15 am

Finally got a chance to see it (Netscape). WOWOWOWOWOW! So beautiful!!! You must be a very proud papa!

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 9 Jul 2002 11:48 pm

Ricky, How would you describe the tone and sustain above the 12th fret and up.
Of coarse I'm referring to the area John Hughey owns.
Thanks in advance![This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 10 July 2002 at 12:53 AM.]

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 10 Jul 2002 12:53 am

Andy it just "Sings" up there pal. The Sho~Bud is a 24" scale and was always a little restrictive in the sustain area above the 12th fret....but still sounded good. But this Fulawka steel .......just sings out more and sustain is better eventhough it is also a 24" scale. But of course an original Emmons will be the ultimate.....so my Fulawka is somewhere between my Sho~bud and lets say> Jim Loessbergs '64 Emm.....oh wait...he traded that to Herb Steiner for the Rick Price Emmons....or wait......Ok who has what...and what has.....ah....ha....oh well got lost.....but yes somewhere between a ShoBud and Emmons......and very nice I might add. Next time you see me...have me play the "Lost in the Feeling" John Hughey solo.....and you can hear it for yourself....oh did I say Fulawka and John Hughey in the same post....??? hmmmmmmmmm well ok your onto me....or my mouth runnith over.....I'll shut up now

Ricky

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 Jul 2002 1:33 am

Beautiful axe, Rickey! I wish you many happy years of Blues in the Night, Blue Bayou, Born to be Blue, Red roses for a Blue Lady,Bluesette, Milk cow Blues, etc. etc.