Pretty Steels for Inspiration

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 7 Dec 2007 1:19 pm

the mention of a purple sho-bud in another thread reminded me of the first beautiful steel i admired. around 1969 or so i remember staring through the window of leo's music store in oakland, ca. at a purple sho-bud (the professional) D-10. i thought it looked like a bitchin' custom hot-rod. years later i ended up with a white one like it that had yellowed a bunch. i used to pour over emmons and zb catalogues looking at the beautiful lacquer finishes and colors. a lot of this was my inspiration to play steel...aside from the sound....they look so cool. there are so many choices of good steels now, when someone asks what to get, i recommend getting a pretty one...it'll make you want to touch it every day!
and luckily, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Casey Lowmiller · Post by **Casey Lowmiller** » 7 Dec 2007 1:24 pm

I have a pretty Blueish-Green Pro 1...it is really a sight to see. When I walk through my kitchen, I can see into my music room, I'll usually stop and look at it for a few minutes. The color is nice, the inlay really adds to it and most importantly...it's mine & I ain't gonna sell it!!!

Casey

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 7 Dec 2007 3:49 pm

now i have three steels...none of which is showroom condition, or still stock the way they were made. i end up switching things around like a backyard hot rodder! (a really 'cheap' hot rodder) yeah, casey...i've spent a lot of time just looking at 'em.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 7 Dec 2007 4:04 pm

Here's three pretty ones.

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 7 Dec 2007 4:59 pm

Hey Darvin,
What days are you open for business? I'd like to come over and try out a few of those steels and amps...
Larry J.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 7 Dec 2007 7:36 pm

A pretty steel doesn't burn up anymore electricity than an ugly one. I'll play the pretty one.

Mitch Ellis · Post by **Mitch Ellis** » 7 Dec 2007 10:22 pm

I'm with James.

Mitch

Eddie D.Bollinger · Post by **Eddie D.Bollinger** » 7 Dec 2007 10:32 pm

Dadgummit Darvin,
You have the best toys.........

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 8 Dec 2007 7:56 am

Here are a couple of my favorites:

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 8 Dec 2007 8:04 am

i love the blue ones

Stan Paxton · Post by **Stan Paxton** » 8 Dec 2007 9:28 am

Agree with Calvin on that; I have the blue lacquer Mullen, inspired to get it, as Jimmy Day was playing a D-10 blue lacquer Mullen at the time. Didn't help me play like Day, but I love that steel. Shown in the Avatar...

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 8 Dec 2007 10:31 am

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 8 Dec 2007 12:10 pm

I'll play!!!
JE:-)>

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 8 Dec 2007 12:16 pm

Here's Old Blue Bud for another encore:

DALE WHITENER · Post by **DALE WHITENER** » 8 Dec 2007 2:05 pm

Nothing prettier than an ole Bud.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 8 Dec 2007 2:18 pm

that's what i'm talking about...

DW....lemme know if you need to borrow an amp.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 8 Dec 2007 4:41 pm

LOL, I think i may be able to find an amp around here somewhere. The irony is, at my regular church gig, I don't even use an amp. I go direct through a Digitech 2112 and monitor with in-ears.

Joe Minor · Post by **Joe Minor** » 8 Dec 2007 4:47 pm

This is my favorite a Marrs surratt rebuild

Billy McCombs · Post by **Billy McCombs** » 8 Dec 2007 5:27 pm

Man I like that carpet, Where can a guy get a rug like that Joe? Great looking Bud.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 8 Dec 2007 5:27 pm

Think that ProIII's got enough frets?
Never seen fretboards with that many before.
Beautiful gtr, btw.

Joe Minor · Post by **Joe Minor** » 8 Dec 2007 5:40 pm

Billy you would have to ast Jeff Surratt about the carpet he too the pic before I owned this one

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 8 Dec 2007 7:39 pm

Hey Joe, looks like A.J. Nelson (Marrs Finish/Refinish Man & Former Sho-Bud employee) used the same stain on our Buds...see my Blue LDG above...had him redo the cab in the past year...great looking rig Joe...Carl

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 8 Dec 2007 8:29 pm

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 9 Dec 2007 11:57 am

Hey Darvin,
You need more steels, the amps have em outnumbered!!!!

Matt Elsen · Post by **Matt Elsen** » 9 Dec 2007 1:48 pm

Last of the Mohicans......

M.E.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Pretty Steels for Inspiration

Pretty Steels for Inspiration

My Purple Darlin'

Old Blue Bud

best one for me so far

Carpet

carpet

"Burl" Ives got nothin on this baby...