EMCI. (New)

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 11 Dec 2024 12:44 pm

Sometime ago I bought an EMCI welded frame from that guy on eBay who sells Gretch shobud Emci stuff back in August. It’s taken me 4 months to get all the parts, and here’s the finished guitar. It has four pedals and two knee levers. I would really like to add 2 more levers if they become available. It is covered in red sparkle drum wrap, has an Alumitone pickup, and a new decal.

I started with this dusty nos welded frame from the Gretch warehouse and this is the result,

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 11 Dec 2024 1:51 pm

Brian that's a nice steel and good quality. You did a great job.

Mike Preuss · Post by **Mike Preuss** » 11 Dec 2024 2:45 pm

Nice work Brian! Beautiful instrument you have built.

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 11 Dec 2024 5:46 pm

Thank you guys, many people helped with parts. I just love the sound, it really puts my Carter in the shade.

Bill C. Buntin · Post by **Bill C. Buntin** » 12 Dec 2024 10:24 am

Wow. Brian. What a nice job. Wonder if they have enough parts to build a 12 string?

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 13 Dec 2024 2:16 am

Thank you Bill. There are parts out there. You have to be patient and search for them. The key is to get the welded frame, From there it’s a matter of searching and asking. I have some parts I didn’t use. A number of bell pullers , horizontal rods, a George l pickup, and a pedal.

Bill C. Buntin · Post by **Bill C. Buntin** » 13 Dec 2024 5:39 am

Finding a welded frame suitable for 12 string might be difficult. I don’t even know how many s12 Mci bodies were made? Probably not many. I could maybe put it on a d10 frame like you did. I don’t see any 12 string Mci guitars come up for sale. So I figure they are rare.

Jacob Yergert · Post by **Jacob Yergert** » 13 Dec 2024 10:55 am

Wow, what a sharp-looking guitar. I love the brown rest on there too.

Im going to search the forum for MCI/EMCI history, I really don't know anything about them.

Greg Vincent · Post by **Greg Vincent** » 13 Dec 2024 11:32 am

Love the sparkle!
I never understood why drummers got so much cooler wrap material to choose from than us pedal steelers.

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 13 Dec 2024 11:52 am

Gorgeous!
Red plays fast too!... J-D.

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 13 Dec 2024 1:48 pm

Thank you once again. I got the idea from David Mitchel who also got a couple of frames from this guy at Gretch. So back in August I was surfing on eBay and saw this frame. Only 3 leg holes had been drilled so a friend of mine who has a milling machine drilled the other leg hole at the same angle as the rest. Otherwise it’s just been collecting parts and screwing it all together. It’s quite easy. I am College teacher by trade and not really mechanical. If any you get hold of a frame you could do it.

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 13 Dec 2024 4:11 pm

I just resto-modded a late old gen. MSA "The Universal" with the tripple raise and lower changer. They had bolted 360deg. frame. Since I took it down completely at my Super Car shop in West Palm Beach, I took the occasion to have the boys weld the bolted frame after we bolted it down on one of our steel tables. We all were surprised how much welding the solidly bolted and already sturdy frame hardened up after the process.
Having a welded frame is a bigger deal than we thought.

... J-D.

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 28 Jan 2025 1:16 pm

I am in the process of making aluminum legs for the EMCI. I got the aluminum 7/8” tubes on eBay and also got the 3/4 “ inserts and threaded them and inserted them into the tubes. I now need 1/2” tubing and have to thread the bottom of the tubes. I know the diameter is 7/8” but have no idea what size die to use to cut the threads. I also need those knurled microphone like screws that tighten the clutches. Any ideas.

Dave Magram · Post by **Dave Magram** » 28 Jan 2025 2:33 pm

Brian Henry wrote: I also need those knurled microphone like screws that tighten the clutches. Any ideas.

Brian,

You might get more responses if you posted this question in the SGF "Builders' Corner": https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewforum.php?f=34

- Dave

Bruce Derr · Post by **Bruce Derr** » 28 Jan 2025 7:45 pm

Brian, if you google "atlas microphone stand clutch" I believe you will find what you need. You will need to thread the leg tube with a 7/8”-28 die. I did this once to some legs for a Fender Deluxe 8. I found some old Atlas clutches at a local music store (surprisingly). I bought the die at McMaster-Carr. It was not cheap, around $65, and that was over 20 years ago. If you do this, make sure you know what thread your clutches are using before ordering the die. Things might have changed since I did mine. Your machinist friend might be able to thread the leg tubes if he has a lathe. Cool project, good luck!

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 29 Jan 2025 12:52 pm

Thank you David, I just did!