Belated NGD - Forrest Lee Jr B and G bender.

I bought a Forrest Lee Jr B and G bender about 8 months ago. I love it. I've used it lots. It took a lot of research for me to decide and most of that research was here at TDPRI.

I got a hold of Forrest and soon decided to get the guitar simply and quickly. One of the problems is Forrest can probably do anything you ask him to do. I've seen some of his very nice guitars. The simple thing for me to do was get something that he had already. I understood somewhat what it would look like based upon a photo on his Facebook page. It looks better in person. And paisley would not have been my first choice.

I tried to get something that he would play. I could take it from there, if I wanted. Therefore, no 22 fret necks, no locking tuners. The neck is 7.25" radius. I have a Joe Strummer Tele with a Hipshot P/G Bender with a similar neck, so I felt comfortable with the neck and vintage tuners choice..

I love the pickups; the bridge pickup doesn't ice pick. They are Forrest designed.

It came with Wilkinson brass compensated bridge saddles. I've just ordered Rutters steel compensated saddles. I pretty much knew I would try out steel saddles before I ordered it. But it's not that big a deal to change saddles back, if I decide I prefer the brass.

Now, with no further ado, pics...

Wow! Nice axe.

Now that's NICE!!!!!

Glad you are enjoying it.

Forrest does beautiful work!! I've got some Rutters saddles on my Buck Owens Tele,I have the mixed set brass and steel and LOVE LOVE them,Marc does great work and he had the saddles to me in just a few days!!!

I live 35 miles away from Corona - that mean there are two Forrest paisley B&G benders in the area now!

Can you take a pic of the back? How does the g actuator attach to you?

Ormond, I saw your posts of your Forrestcaster here. It definitely helped me with my decision.

Chet, here's the back. The G bender is attached to the neck. You push the neck out. Actually, I pull the guitar back with my right wrist somewhat and "lever" the neck plate out so I don't put pressure out on the neck. The rest of the guitar stays in tune better while bending the G this way.

I've added two springs to bring the G back in tune. It was cheaper to take it to my tech and add two springs than to send it back to Forrest. I don't know what the G string was hanging up on, but this fixed it.

The body is Paulownia. I should actually weigh it someday.

At the time, I wanted the guitar quickly, but like most people "waiting", I figured out other things I probably wanted afterwards. A drop D lever would be nice. I didn't say it at the time, cuz it might have delayed the order. I don't see how I can add a drop D lever to these tuners. I may have to order another set of tuners and a Drop Lever. I'll try to take a picture of the tuners I have and post that.

And yes, last night I accidently tapped someone in the head with it while playing in a bar. Glad he liked us. I kept wondering if it was Kim Thayil. I didn't ask, cuz I couldn't hear most of what he was saying. Well, that and I had hit him in the forehead with the headstock of my guitar. ;)

Very sharp looking guitar, Heyz! Forrest is a good guy - very wise choice.:wink:

That G return spring you added is pretty ingenious. Mined seems to work fast enough for me - but now I know how to do something if I want faster return action!