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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 23, 2022 17:35:57 GMT
 OFFICIAL LAUNCH - WEDNESDAY 23rd MARCH 2022 MICHAEL MESSER MM FIDDLE EDGE®The Michael Messer Fiddle Edge has taken six years to develop and manufacture.Against all odds and coming up against obstacles at almost every point in the development and construction, I am proud to say that I have created something rather special that has not been made since the 1930s. LIMITED EDITION OF ONLY 220 GUITARS As an almost exact replica of a 1930s instrument, apart from a handful of adjustments to improve on the original designs, this is a beautiful guitar. Each one of the 220 bodies is completely handbuilt in the same way as they were originally made. It was the only way to create proper rolled edges like they were in the '30s. This means that every guitar is different with its own individual character, just like handmade guitars should be. As with all MM Guitars, every Fiddle Edge guitar will be serial numbered, and come with a signed and numbered owner's manual. Once the 220 are gone, there will never be any more.   SPECIFICATIONS: Nickel plated brass body, rolled edges, offset spider, spun aluminium cone, boxwood saddle, 13¾ fret neck join, arched back, one-piece mahogany neck, bound Blackwood Tek® fretboard, abalone dot markers, three on a strip tuners, fitted with Michael Messer Newtone Strings. The guitar comes in a traditional style ABS hard case. The Michael Messer Fiddle Edge comes as standard with a spider style cone, but when ordered can be fitted with a biscuit bridge 9½" cone.  Meticulous attention to detail. The cast aluminium spiders are smoothed for better transfer of sound and the bottom edges ground to sit perfectly flat on the cone THIS REALLY IS A NEVER TO BE REPEATED RUN OF ONLY 220 GUITARS Michael Messer MM FIDDLE EDGE - £1795.00 GBP plus delivery (£30.00 UK mainland and £65.00 for most European countries). For all other countries shipping prices quoted on each enquiry. MICHAEL MESSER MM FIDDLE EDGE - IN STOCK NOW! Go to my website for more information: www.michaelmesser.co.uk/michael-messer-fiddle-edge MICHAEL MESSER MM FIDDLE EDGE SPECIAL® Soon to be available is the beautiful sandblasted Fiddle Edge Special. This design was created for the MM Fiddle Edge by renowned resonator authority and author of "Palm Trees, Senoritas & Rocket Ships!", Mark Makin I will soon be creating a page on here telling the whole extraordinary story of my Fiddle Edge journey over the past six years.   For more information, leave a message and visit my website www.michaelmesser.co.uk/michael-messer-fiddle-edge Shine On Michael          |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 23, 2022 18:23:47 GMT
Interviewed by Martyn Roper & Jack Amblin about the new MM Fiddle Edge! The first ten minutes is about the MM Guitars brand and then it goes into the FIDDLE EDGE!
Shine On
Michael
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Post by leedscitystompers on Mar 23, 2022 18:52:25 GMT
BOOM!
The news is out!!!
Glad we could talk on the podcast and share your MM Guitar story.
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Post by Bottleneck John on Mar 23, 2022 19:11:28 GMT
This is so cool it's almost unreal!!!!
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Post by snakehips on Mar 23, 2022 20:13:30 GMT
WOWZA !!!!!
I am seriously impressed with the leap into reproducing a model that has never been attempted again (at the very least, to the same level of authenticity as ever attempted before, to my knowledge). That is a VERY bold and seriously brave move. Congratulations and much admiration.
I had a feeling you were cooking something up (absolutely nothing to back that hunch up) but I would NEVER have guessed a fiddle-edge resonator guitar.
Wowza !
I was seriously considering buying a vintage nickel-plated brass fiddle-edge Dobro for sale in East Lothian a while back - it was lovely BUT needed a neck reset etc. I got cold feet on it .... and then it was gone !
I have a few questions - that perhaps you are planning on elaborating on anyway, at another time (in which case, fair enough) :
1. The resonator cone well is stepped like originals, to accept a 9.5" National single-cone type (biscuit-bridge) cone ? Wow !
But, as the dobro type cone has an offset spider, will the National type reso cone need to be offset or is the 9.5" cone well shelf already compensated in position for that ? (or just not needed ??)
2. I really know very little about Dobros, let alone fiddle-edge ones. The fact you are going for the offset bridge spider - are they considered better for tone or something ? Would a well in the correct position, so that the bridge can be placed exactly over the centre of the cone be better ? Perhaps that would spoil the aesthetics by moving the whole well & coverplate into a new position ? So, the well & coverplate need to be kept in the original position and thus the offset spider bridge is necessary for correct intonation ? I just don't understand all that much about spiders & offset ones - v much interested to know once & for all !
3. Do you have a price for the Special etched model ? And please excuse my ignornce, but is that a completely new design ? What is the significance of the .... Storks ? Is it a Stork bringing a new baby into the world ???
4. Yes, this new fiddle-edge model reproduction is on a completely different price bracket than your existing models BUT it looks every much worth the asking price - loving the look of the neck too. Do they have the full-length neck stick, or the short version ?
Sorry for all the questions !!!!
(NB. I haven't watched that video yet - planning on doing that now - maybe some of my questions are answered in the video ! (I'll soon find out)
Wowza !!!
Congratulations !
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Mar 23, 2022 20:17:23 GMT
Michael
I have just listened to the podcast ...wow i am blown away you have brought the Golden Age back to life for sure ...Bravo for sticking to the project with all the twists and turns to get to where you are now
regards
al
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Mar 23, 2022 20:30:20 GMT
I'm lucky enough to have a 1936 M-32 and I'm getting one of these gorgeous Special etched versions. Am I impatient? Yes,very impatient, but it'll be worth the wait, believe me! What an addition to the modern reso world,eh? Thanks MM.  |
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Post by lonelyjelly on Mar 23, 2022 20:32:50 GMT
What can I sell, what can I sell?!!!
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Mar 23, 2022 20:34:10 GMT
What can I sell, what can I sell?!!! Your slides, Lew, SLIDES!!!!  |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 23, 2022 20:59:26 GMT
WOWZA !!!!! I am seriously impressed with the leap into reproducing a model that has never been attempted again (at the very least, to the same level of authenticity as ever attempted before, to my knowledge). That is a VERY bold and seriously brave move. Congratulations and much admiration. I had a feeling you were cooking something up (absolutely nothing to back that hunch up) but I would NEVER have guessed a fiddle-edge resonator guitar. Wowza ! I was seriously considering buying a vintage nickel-plated brass fiddle-edge Dobro for sale in East Lothian a while back - it was lovely BUT needed a neck reset etc. I got cold feet on it .... and then it was gone ! I have a few questions - that perhaps you are planning on elaborating on anyway, at another time (in which case, fair enough) : 1. The resonator cone well is stepped like originals, to accept a 9.5" National single-cone type (biscuit-bridge) cone ? Wow ! But, as the dobro type cone has an offset spider, will the National type reso cone need to be offset or is the 9.5" cone well shelf already compensated in position for that ? (or just not needed ??) 2. I really know very little about Dobros, let alone fiddle-edge ones. The fact you are going for the offset bridge spider - are they considered better for tone or something ? Would a well in the correct position, so that the bridge can be placed exactly over the centre of the cone be better ? Perhaps that would spoil the aesthetics by moving the whole well & coverplate into a new position ? So, the well & coverplate need to be kept in the original position and thus the offset spider bridge is necessary for correct intonation ? I just don't understand all that much about spiders & offset ones - v much interested to know once & for all ! 3. Do you have a price for the Special etched model ? And please excuse my ignornce, but is that a completely new design ? What is the significance of the .... Storks ? Is it a Stork bringing a new baby into the world  4. Yes, this new fiddle-edge model reproduction is on a completely different price bracket than your existing models BUT it looks every much worth the asking price - loving the look of the neck too. Do they have the full-length neck stick, or the short version ? Sorry for all the questions !!!! (NB. I haven't watched that video yet - planning on doing that now - maybe some of my questions are answered in the video ! (I'll soon find out) Wowza !!! Congratulations ! Thank you, Richard. It has b been a long and treacherous road, to say the least! Answers to your questions... 1 - Yes it is designed to take both types of cone, Dobro style and National style. To allow this to be done and not have to mount the biscuit off centre, the soundwell is slightly wider than an original. This allows for correct intonation with both types of cone, offset spider Dobro-style and biscuit bridge 9.5" National-style. 2 - Part of answer 1 is the answer to this too. I went for the offset spider because I wanted to keep it as close to the original as possible, and i really like the look and feel of the 13¾ neck join. There are a few other design adjustments that make this one a bit easier to live with than originals. I think it's all in the video interview with Martyn & Jack. 3 - I don't have an exact price yet because we are still trying to find the most economical way of doing them, but we will be looking at somewhere around £150 to £200. I won't be making anything on the sandblasting, just covering what it costs to do. Flamingos I think. Ask Mark Makin, he designed it! It is not a copy of anything Dobro did, it is a Mark Makin original of something that works very well on these bodies and is nice and deco looking. 4 - They are in a completely different price bracket and are actually priced at less than I have been advised to do. It is as low as I dare go. Six years work and a massive investment that should have produced 500 guitars in the first run, has turned into 220 never to be repeated because they are too time consuming and difficult to make. Full length neck stick and mushrooms set in exactly the same way as the original were, with one large central one and three smaller ones. Every detail has been considered and painstakingly got right. I am planning on making a page on my website about the journey, showing scans, plans, designs, failures, etc etc... Good questions! Shine On Michael |
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Post by slidefever on Mar 23, 2022 21:18:05 GMT
Shocked and stunned 😳😛🤩😎
My favourite resonator of all time. Never thought it would be possible to actually own one.
I’m off to email MM !
Chris
‘I love slide me’
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Post by stevie2sticks on Mar 23, 2022 21:33:24 GMT
Mark Makin is the bird a Louisiana Heron? - Looks really good.
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Post by snakehips on Mar 23, 2022 21:40:24 GMT
Or an Ibis ?
I just googled to see what they look like - but not quite right.
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Post by snakehips on Mar 23, 2022 21:42:17 GMT
And a reproduction tailpiece too ??
I'm sure there will be lots of vintage fiddle-edge Dobro owners after one of those !!
(I expect you know that though !!!)
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Post by mckinleybe1 on Mar 23, 2022 22:33:55 GMT
I can only imagine what all it took to make this happen. Hats off to you. This is something quite special. Something new in the old way of doing things and bringing back a relic of the past.
Strong work!
Thank you,
Brian
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