HUGE Thanks To These Fine Forumites!!!

Chris Grigsby · Post by **Chris Grigsby** » 16 Jan 2015 8:38 am

About a month ago I decided to fulfill a longtime dream of learning the PSG. I joined the forum and started researching anything and everything I could find on guitars, amps, instruction, accessories, etc...

I know I'm preaching to the choir, but I would like to specifically acknowledge the following gentleman who helped me start this journey.

Billy Knowles/Steel Guitar East:
I read that Billy was THE guy for finding an Emmons, and that is an understatement. Billy sold me a gorgeous Emmons SD10 LGII that he recently re-acquired on trade from Butch Dixon, but not after he did a thorough service and set-up to the point that it looks like new. We have traded over 50(!) emails since Xmas, and he continues to touch base to see how I'm doing. As Billy would say, "sounds like a winner!".

Steve Lipsey/Tim Marcus/Milkman Sound
My quest for a dual purpose amp that would sound great on 6-string electric and the PSG quickly lead me to Milkman Sound. I was about to pull the trigger on a new Milkman Half and Half when I thought to contact Steve Lipsey to see if he would want to sell his 40w Pedal Steel Mini all tube amp. He reluctantly agreed to part with it and then proceeded to meticulously pack and ship the amp as well as exhaustively answer my questions. During shipping, the wiring came loose in the reverb tank and Steve and Tim went above and beyond to help me troubleshoot. Tim even offered to go through the entire amp even though it was out of the warranty period, but after a few minutes with a local tech, I was back in business. The amp sounds absolutely beautiful.

Jeff Rady/Radyguide.com
Jeff is a local instructor here in Denver that was recommended by a good friend. I can't recommend his website www.radyguide.com highly enough for PSG instruction. For $9/mth, or $75/year, you can access his entire catalogue of professionally filmed video lessons for beginning, intermediate, and advanced instruction for PSG or Guitar. I'm taking lessons in person from him, but, frankly, I'm amazed at how effective the web-based instruction has been.

Dan Rollans/Steelers Choice Seats
I did not buy one of these beautiful seats from Dan, but he was kind enough to reach out to my WTB thread and offer to sell me a Walker seat he had for an incredible price. He will be the first one I call if I ever need a new seat.

Sorry for the long-winded post, but I like to give credit where credit is due. This type of customer service and community is as rare as hen's teeth these days.

Best,
Chris Grigsby

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 16 Jan 2015 8:55 am

Buddy, you have geared up with the best so now
it's all about the work.
Good luck.
JB

Chris Grigsby · Post by **Chris Grigsby** » 16 Jan 2015 9:24 am

John Booth wrote:Buddy, you have geared up with the best so now
it's all about the work.
Good luck.
JB

Ha, I know...no excuses to be found in the gear, I'm afraid. I've been a guitarist and studio engineer for long enough to know that it is cheaper in the long run to buy the good stuff upfront rather than lose money buying and selling gear to trade up to what you wanted all along.

Best,
Chris

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 16 Jan 2015 10:44 am

Chris,
You need to check into Mickey Adams FREE stuff on the web and also
available here on the forum. Mickey gives away more knowledge and instruction
that any 20 people selling it, and it's quality stuff.

Also check out Greg Cutshaw, he's another great contributor of lesson materials.

Between them you'll have much more than enough tab and video instruction to get you more than just hanging on buddy
I work with both their stuff daily, religiously.
Check it out

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 16 Jan 2015 11:47 am

Bloody hell. You started at the top, gearwise.
Welcome to the madness.

J R Rose · Post by **J R Rose** » 16 Jan 2015 12:28 pm

You are very lucky to start at the top with your gear but you knew that was the way to go. You will never be sorry, so now practice, practice & practice. J.R.
PS: It is a beautiful rig.

Karen Sarkisian · Post by **Karen Sarkisian** » 16 Jan 2015 3:23 pm

Nice rig ! welcome to crazy land

Josh Rossow · Post by **Josh Rossow** » 17 Jan 2015 11:16 am

Nice set up Chris!

Michael Hummel · Post by **Michael Hummel** » 17 Jan 2015 3:36 pm

Great setup Chris, and good on you for pointing out the great service and help you have received. Society is all about bitching about the perceived bad, and most people don't do enough praising of the good!

I for one am going to immediately go and check out Jeff Rady's site to see if he can help me!

Regards,
Mike

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 17 Jan 2015 7:07 pm

Chris-
Dang, I miss that little Mini already....

Now all you have to do is do that rig right, and make some pretty tones come out...with that setup, you won't have any excuse if it doesn't sound beautiful....that should motivate you to learn in a hurry!

Chris Grigsby · Post by **Chris Grigsby** » 17 Jan 2015 9:34 pm

Steve Lipsey wrote:Chris-
Dang, I miss that little Mini already....

Now all you have to do is do that rig right, and make some pretty tones come out...with that setup, you won't have any excuse if it doesn't sound beautiful....that should motivate you to learn in a hurry!

Thanks Steve, can't thank you enough for all of your help getting me squared away with the Milkman. I have to say, I've played tube guitar amps for 25 years (Mesa, Victoria, Bad Cat, Swart, JMI-era Vox AC-50, etc...), and the Milkman really is something special. I don't think I've ever heard an amp sound so euphonic. And I cranked it into overdrive with my P-90 equipped Gibson Melody Maker yesterday and was grinning ear to ear...or was that wincing from the volume?

-Chris

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 17 Jan 2015 10:12 pm

Chris-
Yeah, I took the same journey to Milkman....through mostly Matchless Amps, after Twins and Marshalls...nice to know we don't have to look any further....

Tim Marcus · Post by **Tim Marcus** » 18 Jan 2015 9:03 am

you are very welcome Chris!

Glad to be part of your journey into steel guitar. Thanks so much for the kind words about the 40W Mini.

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 18 Jan 2015 11:03 pm

Karen Sarkisian wrote:Nice rig ! welcome to crazy land

Yep, welcome. Karen's right, it's a real obessss, err some kinda sickne, ummm, I mean, a nice little hobby.

William Liemandt · Post by **William Liemandt** » 19 Jan 2015 12:05 am

I second what all the others above said, and welcome you to PSG land. Recommend you find a good psychiatrist and put them on retainer; you may need one very soon!

Chris Grigsby · Post by **Chris Grigsby** » 19 Jan 2015 7:29 am

William Liemandt wrote:I second what all the others above said, and welcome you to PSG land. Recommend you find a good psychiatrist and put them on retainer; you may need one very soon!

Conveniently enough, my wife is a psychologist!!! Maybe I can drum up some business around here to help pay for this compulsion!

Best,
Chris

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 23 Jan 2015 8:30 am

Now thats a cool post...got the gear didn't he!!!!!>>>???? And the race is on!

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 26 Jan 2015 1:01 am

You went whole hog! That should keep you inspired for many years to come. Notice you got the Hilton VP too. Smooth!

John Booth wrote:...check into Mickey Adams...Greg Cutshaw...

Second this! As a beginner myself, I was completely lost till one of Mickey's lessons led me here to the Forum. You are in the right place. There is a wealth of knowledge in all the past threads here. Many of the worlds very best players and builders are members to glean hints, tips and advice from just for the asking! Gotta love this place.

Chris Grigsby wrote:...I cranked it into overdrive with my P-90 equipped Gibson Melody Maker yesterday and was grinning ear to ear…

Hehe, I caught that P90 bug! A Gibson Junior and just recently a Wildkat cured it for good. Now, Im grinning ear to ear as well…definitely a grin