Don Helms is GREAT!

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 29 Jan 2003 3:22 pm

I've got news for all of you Byrd-brains(myself included),IMHO for simple,sweet,soulfull,(yes soulfull)tone,Don Helms was and is THE MAN.He's the reason I got back into steel playin' after a 8 or 9 year Slack Key playing period.I even went so far as to buy that Gibson Grand Console Double 8 (1955) from Elderly Instruments, so that I could Idealize my Idol.Jesse,I don't know how I missed your post on Dons Gibson,Thanks for the link.I too,have the Helms book and tape from Scotty's.When I got them in the mail,the tape was blank on the B side.My two favorite Hank songs "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"and "Cold Cold Heart".So they sent me a new tape.Dons playing style was a little different than on Hanks records but still great.I'm hopeing to get my short scale "Console Grand"by this weekend.I took a couple pictures of my wife to remember her by. [This message was edited by Tom Snook on 29 January 2003 at 09:01 PM.]

Jesse Pearson · Post by **Jesse Pearson** » 29 Jan 2003 4:24 pm

Right on Tom, sounds like your really inspired! Here's a post I put up concerning Don's Gibson http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/003511.html

I'm a big fan of both Don's and Jerry's work with Hank Williams. By the way, is the scale length on your new steel 22.5" or 24.5/8" and is it made of mapel or oak. Oh and one more thing, does the pickup have round edges and pole pieces? Just curious...?[This message was edited by Jesse Pearson on 29 January 2003 at 04:26 PM.]

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 29 Jan 2003 10:33 pm

Tom,

Don Helms, Mr. Helms, is one fine man. I met him in St. Louis last year. His set with Lloyd Green was fantastic. I saw lots of folks trying to get something out of their eyes. Must a been dirt or somethin'.

I later met Mr. Helms at his booth. That guitar was sitting right there! I asked him, is that the one? He said yes. I asked him if I could touch it. He said yes. I asked him how it was tuned. He said, come around here and pick it. I did. Wow. I was careful as I could be.

I'll never forget that day.

------------------
Stringmaster T8, Benoit 8, National Tricone

[This message was edited by Ron Randall on 31 January 2003 at 07:14 AM.]

Jesse Pearson · Post by **Jesse Pearson** » 29 Jan 2003 10:55 pm

Ron, did you happen to notice what kind of bar Don was using on his steel? Thanks

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 31 Jan 2003 3:54 am

I thought Don and Lloyd were going to release the set they did on an album. Is that still going to happen? If so, any time soon? I'd sure like to hear it, everybody I've talked to said it was a beautiful thing to behold.

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 31 Jan 2003 7:11 am

Jesse,

I remember a round steel bar. I don't know what size. My guess is 3/4 or 7/8.

Ron

Terry Huval · Post by **Terry Huval** » 3 Feb 2003 5:49 pm

Don Helms currently uses a Shubb Pearse number 2 bar.

William Steward · Post by **William Steward** » 7 Feb 2003 8:49 am

Check out the Don Helms "Your Cheatin Heart" tab book/tape available from Scotty's....I am just starting E13th tuning and it's a way to survive....
http://www.scottysmusic.com/miscinst.htm

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 7 Feb 2003 4:24 pm

That's a great book, really useful if you want to learn the steel guitar parts from Hank Williams songs directly from the source.

------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Aaron Schiff · Post by **Aaron Schiff** » 8 Feb 2003 8:29 pm

Tom, I realize that the title of your post is meant to be hyperbole, and I agree that Don Helms is superb, and I own a short scale Gibson D-8 myself. But Don Helms is not God. He may be THE MAN, THE BOSS, THE BEST, MY HERO, but not God. I'm not very religious and obviously not Christian, but I find such phrases offensive and I suspect that some of our more religious members are significantly more offended. Perhaps there is a more sensitive way to express your enthusiasm for a great guitarist.

Mel Culbreath · Post by **Mel Culbreath** » 23 Feb 2003 6:42 am

Aaron,

Thanks for that.

Tom,

I enjoyed your post, just not the header.

Mel

William Steward · Post by **William Steward** » 23 Feb 2003 7:15 pm

Maybe Tom's statement is not hyperbole...after all, if you are a religious person what does a sublime musical performance mean to you?

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 24 Feb 2003 10:35 am

Guys and Gals,

A few days back I read this post and shoud have replied then, but will now.

I have known Don helms since 1981 and grew up cutting my steel teeth on his steel guitar licks. In fact he was the first pedal steel player I ever saw in concert. He came to Springfield, MO with Hank Jr. in about 1969.

I agree with Aarons comments about your post and hyperbole on Don helms. I know Don Helms and he is a very nice person and a he is a Chrisian. He would not appreciate your referring to him as GOD. There is only one GOD!

Next, I'd like to share with you what THE BIBLE says in regards to each of us,

Romans 14:11-12
"For it is written:

'As I live, says THE LORD,
Every knee shall bow to ME,
And every tongue shall confess to GOD.'

So then each of us shall give account of himself to GOD."

Lastly, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF said in Matthew's GOSPEL,

Matthew 12:36
"But I (JESUS) say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

May GOD bless each of you!

Terry Wood
I Corinthians 1:18

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 24 Feb 2003 11:16 am

Ok, let's just say he's bigger than the Beatles, then.

-John

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 24 Feb 2003 12:27 pm

I think we all know what Tom meant. The post wasn't intended to be about religion. In light of that, I've edited the title.

------------------
<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/coolb0b2.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
-System Administrator

William Steward · Post by **William Steward** » 28 Feb 2003 5:47 am

Bobby Lee...thank GOSH you've cleared that up....it's a fairly literal world out there! John....yes bigger than Elvis but smaller than say St. Francis....

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 2 Mar 2003 10:45 am

Well TOM......we share your enthusiasm for Don Helms. Many of us grew up to his easy to recognize, individualistic style. A fine musician and kind gentleman I'm sure.
Many of us also attempted to acquire a guitar like Don's.........however Gibson was pushing it's Electra Harp or whatever it was called at the time. I gave up and purchased a little triple-8 Fender that paid for itself a hundred times over.
With regard to your two favorite tunes:
There might be more than one recording of this one but the one I have of Hank Williams singing "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" IS NOT Don Helms but is JERRY BYRD.

Jesse Pearson · Post by **Jesse Pearson** » 2 Mar 2003 11:17 am

I think Don does a great job on "I'm so lonesome". I wish JB had a country instructional course, it would be great to see how he thought about approaching country tunes. I guess we'll just have to record copy alot for now.

Terry Huval · Post by **Terry Huval** » 2 Mar 2003 3:07 pm

Don celebrated his 76th birthday on Friday and is looking forward to more years of playing.

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 3 Mar 2003 11:54 am

uhhhhhhhhh, yet again, anybody know anything about the Green/Helms set being released?