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Fender 1000 Pedal Steel Guitar with cases 1959 1960 - $2,250 (santa cruz)
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Gilmore used the instrument with open tunings and that’s how I have this one set up currently, with 16 brand new strings.
This very early Fender 1000 pedal steel sounds fantastic. It has clearly had a long and interesting life, and there are clues to the original owner, including the initials “TS” on the front. If the history of this instrument can be discovered, there may be significant value added, however it is time for me to let this one go.
At one point, this guitar was converted to nine strings on the lower neck, but I converted it back and installed a vintage original Fender eight string pickup which was a challenge to locate.
The guitar features two necks and eight pedals which act on the finger changers of either neck via a system of cables and pulleys. Each string may be pulled up or down in pitch. The adjusted pitch is adjusted via screws exposed on the right side of the instrument.
The scale length of early Fender 1000s is 24.5 in (622 mm) but that changed to 23 in (584 mm) in the early 1960s. Other details such as foot pedal construction and bridge design also varied over the production life of the instrument. This one has all the earliest features.
Unlike later, lighter pedal steel guitars, this one stays in tune perfectly with none of the “cabinet drop” characteristic of later pedal steels guitars. Apparently, having a steel frame instead of wood construction means less flex when the pedals are operated.
The electronics feature a tone pot, volume pot, and three-way switch which selects between either neck's pickup or combines them. All the electronics are original, restored parts. Even the original potentiometers sound clean and work great. Also included is a jumble of non-original preamp circuitry that some wizard added back in the 60s. If the guitar’s history is discovered, these parts may have significance as a collector’s item.
For transportation the guitar separates into body and a collection of pedals, pedal bars, and legs, which then pack into two cases. This guitar includes the two original tweed cases. The larger case has been stripped of the tweed and seems to have been reinforced with a layer of fiberglass. The smaller case is very rough but still has the tweed.