My new "Baby"

[Peter J Birch]

Hi Everyone, I thought I would like to share my new baby pictures with you. Nobody else I know seems to care.

I started playing a StageOne E9 about 22 months ago. Much of that time was trying to get a PF sound out of it. I have succeeded in getting a good sound out of it but there were so many chords that I couldn't seem to get. Also I liked western swing sounds which I can get on E9 but the C6 was like the Sirens from Homer's Odyssey luring me in....

Looking around, the lead times were very long for what I wanted. Then I came across Toshiyuki Shoji's name here on the forum. So I contacted Toshiyuki and we exchanged many, and I do mean many, emails in arriving at what I really wanted. I have to say that Toshiyuki was the most patient person. Here was this novice making unrealistic requests but with his engineering skills and knowledge of the PSG, we got there, well he did!

What I got was a Purple U12 Shoji 8P10K with locking B6 mechanism.

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One of the requirements I wanted was all the bells and whistles but light. The StageOne was 18Kg. So this was mainly aluminium and carbon fibre where we could. The final result was 19Kg.
The workmanship in this complicated instrument is very very good. Toshiyuki thankyou you are a very good engineer.
This is a quote from Toshiyuki from one of his emails:-
"Your copedent is quite complex — it’s a real challenge, but also very rewarding."

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I am sure Toshiyuki will not mind me posting his testing of the locking mechanism, before all the rodding work.

https://fb.watch/D2y87Duag8/

As you can see the gear lever which has worked so well. I used to pick reasonably quickly but slam that sucker into top gear and smoke pours from the finger tips!
The Strings are bedding in now and the sound I am getting is very good. This has a Steeltronics GL12-1 PU which gives a strong signal from all strings, very happy with the PU.

I see my immediate learning curve as a) getting the grips and new feel b) the extra grips on the lower strings (those bass strings remind me of baritone guitars. I can now play the intro to Detroit City which I could only do successfully on a guitar). c) B6 side next year. I have currently parked the shifter in neutral!

A very big thankyou to Toshiyuki Shoji for creating this masterpiece as serial number 5. May you have many more Toshiyuki in the future.

[Bobby D. Jones]

A work of machining art Mr. Shoji
That is one beautiful 8/7 loaded lady.
Detroit City. Whoopee
Now George Jones' "He stopped Loving Her Today".

[Marco Coblenz]

Would You mind to share Your copedent?

[Toshiyuki Shoji]

This was a very challenging guitar to build, but I truly enjoyed the process.
I hope it brings color and inspiration to your musical life.

I’m attaching the copedent for this guitar.

[Jerry Overstreet]

It's perfect Peter. I'm envious. Toshi, you are the man!

[Dale Rottacker]

This is very cool Peter, and like Jerry I'm a bit envious as well. Interesting setup and love that color, just because

[Marco Coblenz]

Beautiful guitar and interesting copedent!

Is there a specific rationale for the C on LKV (E9 side)? Typically, You would have here a Bb and still get the C as split with the A pedal.

What I also don‘t quite get is that there are 10 knee levers described but on the images I see only 7 (?)