| Author |
Topic: Chas Smith |
Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
|
Posted 14 May 2024 2:32 pm |
|
I have learned through the sound track, score and sound design community that Chas passed today.
My admiration for Chas as an artist, a musician, a craftsman, an inventor....is huge.
I would have loved to meet him.
I played a couple of his cds this afternoon.
Respect. |
|
|
|
Craig Stock
From:
Westfield, NJ USA
|
Posted 14 May 2024 3:00 pm
|
|
So sad to hear, rest in peace Chas!
_________________
Regards, Craig
I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.
Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days |
|
|
|
Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
|
Posted 14 May 2024 3:30 pm
|
|
Oh, no! While we never met in person, I spoke with him on the phone and as it turned out, he become good friends with my college roommate, which I didn't discover until the last few years.
I knew he was sick but since he kept posting on Facebook, I let myself believe he would somehow survive longer.
So sorry to hear this news.
_________________
Check out the Steel Guitar Union Hall Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@steelguitarunionhall |
|
|
|
Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
|
Posted 14 May 2024 3:46 pm
|
|
This is so hard to hear.
I had communications with him over the years, and he was always very open.
I will really miss his occasional CDs on Cold Blue.
Rest in peace, Chas.
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amps w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Origin, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
|
|
|
Skip Edwards
From:
LA,CA
|
Posted 14 May 2024 4:18 pm
|
|
This is sad news. He was quite a guy...innovator, inventor, craftsman, player...
It was Chas that got a bunch of us on the sessions for the Man Of Steel soundtrack.
You can see him playing his bass steel here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvQOa8CN-gI
Thanks again, Chas...
Vaya con Dios...
 [/url]
Last edited by Skip Edwards on 14 May 2024 4:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 14 May 2024 4:23 pm
|
|
One of the biggest gut punches I’ve ever felt, and for a man I never met personally.
Chas was a great inspiration to me. An incredible mind and with the hands to bring things to life. A real renaissance man. The world grew a bit dimmer just now.
_________________
http://www.steelinstruction.com/
http://mikeneer.com |
|
|
|
Mark Perrodin
From:
Tucson Arizona, USA
|
Posted 14 May 2024 4:59 pm chas
|
|
this is terrible news. i appreciated his skills as a weldor and fabricator. he was a total craftsman. when someone is that good at what they do it really is inspiring and gives you something to shoot for. it has been a pleasure to mine this forum and read about how he directed those abilities and restoration skills towards the steel guitar.
Last edited by Mark Perrodin on 18 May 2024 9:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Abe Levy
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 14 May 2024 5:02 pm
|
|
Chas was an incredible person. This is horrible news. I haven’t talked to him in a while and did not know he was ill. Such a huge loss. I’ll never forget how he lit up when I brought my Bigsby to him to do a little machining on - he opened the case and his eyes just sparkled. He truly loved steel guitars. His collection was incredible. There are no more like him. He was one of a kind. I loved, among many other things about him, how much he loved to swear and curse, something I enjoy as well. He will be very sorely missed. RIP
_________________
Mostly Pre-1970 guitars. |
|
|
|
Peter Freiberger
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 14 May 2024 5:04 pm
|
|
| This is terrible news. If Chas had excelled at just one of his multiple exceptional talents he would be renowned in that field. On top of that he was as nice a guy as you could ever know. I’m in shock. |
|
|
|
Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
|
|
|
Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
|
Posted 14 May 2024 8:34 pm
|
|
| I'm speechless. He was one of my best friends. |
|
|
|
Doug Freeman
From:
Los Angeles, CA
|
Posted 14 May 2024 10:29 pm
|
|
| I will miss Chas dearly. We played together for many years in a western swing band called the Radio Ranch Straight Shooters. So many fun times and memories. I saw him around this time last year at his home near Grass Valley, CA, after he had just delivered files to Hans Zimmer for his soundtrack work on Dune 2. He was in great spirits but already on borrowed time in his cancer journey. An absolutely unique and solid human being, with unparalleled imagination and determination—the things he willed into being boggle the mind. |
|
|
|
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
|
Posted 15 May 2024 3:16 am
|
|
Chas was an incredible, visionary inventor, musician and steel player. So sad to hear this news. He was very helpful to me when I was writing about Joaquin. This is a shock. RIP
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com
Last edited by Andy Volk on 15 May 2024 4:51 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Tommy Detamore
From:
Floresville, Texas
|
Posted 15 May 2024 4:08 am
|
|
So sad to hear about Chas. He invited me into his home in the early 2000’s and after giving me the grand tour of his home, studio, and incredible instrument collection I felt that I was in the presence of a true genius. RIP brother Chas. You will be greatly missed by so many.
_________________
Tommy Detamore
Quilter Labs, Goodrich Sound, Source Audio, Neunaber Audio, and Stringjoy Authorized Dealer
www.cherryridgestudio.com
www.steelguitartracksonline.com |
|
|
|
Boo Bernstein
From:
Los Angeles, CA
|
Posted 15 May 2024 7:35 am
|
|
| I am SO sad to hear this. Chas was an amazing person on so many levels. Vaya con Dios, my friend! |
|
|
|
Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
|
Posted 15 May 2024 7:39 am
|
|
My Heart is heavy. Chas would come out to almost every gig back when I toured California a lot. We had so many Steel guitar mechanical talks; I learned SO MUCH from Chas and got to see some incredible stuff he had. He was intrigued that I was such the mechanical nerd like him...we looked forward to seeing each other. What a Loss; RIP Chas, you were an incredible inspiration to so many through out the years.
Ricky
_________________
Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com |
|
|
|
Jeff Keyton
From:
Texas, USA
|
Posted 15 May 2024 9:07 am
|
|
| R.I.P., Chas, sorry to hear this. Didn't know him except through Bobby's great forum, and he's been one of the most interesting posters. Always enjoyed seeing the pics of the steels and whatever else he was working on. |
|
|
|
Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
|
|
|
|
David Wren
From:
Placerville, California, USA
|
Posted 15 May 2024 6:48 pm
|
|
Wow, so sad, we met at one of Mike Perlowin's "pearl jams", some years ago now.
One by one it seems I have to say goodbye to my steel guitar friends.
So sad.
My only solace is that you younger pickers take off where we pioneers left off.
_________________
Dave Wren
'96 Carter U12,7X7; 1936 7 string National; Line 6 HX Stomp; Quilter TT-15/TB202; Quilter "Steelaire"; DV Mark "GH 250"with 15" 1501 BW; Boss "Katana" 100 Head w/Line 6 Cab; Telonics VP. |
|
|
|
Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
|
Posted 15 May 2024 9:03 pm
|
|
| Very very sad news. RIP Chas. |
|
|
|
Drew Howard
From:
48854
|
Posted 16 May 2024 5:28 am
|
|
| RIP Chas Smith, an Amnerican original. |
|
|
|
David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
|
Posted 16 May 2024 6:36 am
|
|
| So Sorry to hear this, RIP Chas..... |
|
|
|
B J Cole
From:
London, England
|
Posted 16 May 2024 8:03 am R.I.P. Chas Smith
|
|
| I'm proud to to say Chas was a very good friend of mine. I am very sad at his passing. I visited him in his workshop in L.A. quite a few times. We both played on records by the minimalist composer Harold Budd, also now no longer with us. We are all going, one by one. RIP Chas. |
|
|
|
Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
|
Posted 17 May 2024 8:58 pm A loss for sure.
|
|
We agreed on a few things and disagreed on more, but I liked him and considered him a very talented man.
Sad that he has passed so soon after moving to a nice place in the country.
A loss for sure.  
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
|
|
|
Richard Alderson
From:
Illinois, USA
|
Posted 18 May 2024 9:35 am
|
|
My condolences to those who knew Chas Smith. Is there a thread with further information about the Man of Steel project?
_________________
Derby SD-10 5x6; GFI S-10 5x5; GFI S-10 5x5; Zum D-10 8x7; Zum D-10 9x9; Fender 400; Fender Rumble 200; Nashville 400; Telonics TCA-500. |
|
|
|
