How many years? Guitars?Main influence(1)

Greely Baggett · Post by **Greely Baggett** » 23 Nov 2006 10:57 pm

Hi Billy...
I started out with a Sho-Bud Maverick back in 1975. Traded that for a Pro-One then on to an Emmons with a full house about 6 months later. Played the ole' Emmons for about 10 years and finally wound up with a Mullen ever since. I played with a guy named Buzz Evans several nights a week here in Lawton and Chickasha, Oklahoma back in the mid 80's and he got me hooked on those guitars. He is truly a virtuoso...as everyone well knows. First time we actually met and played together, he blew me off the stage! It was the best thing that ever happened to me...

Thought you might appreciate this. When I was in the Marines(1972-1979), I use to keep everyone up in the barracks late at nights practicing to an old Buck Owens Album "Live at Carnegie Hall" with Tom Brumley on steel. It was during the time that everybody had Barry White cranked up to 10. Oh well. I would have to salute him, Loyd Green and Norm Hamlet as the instigators of my trade. Still pickin' after all this time.

My first band was the Black Panthers back in the late 60's early 70's. That is entirely another story. As for guitar, I can't count them all either...

God Bless...
Greely Baggett

Mullen D-10, Tele, Martin HD-28, Nashville 1000, Fender Twin, 16 Track Digital Recording Studio....
Writin' Songs and Praisin' Jesus!

[This message was edited by Greely Baggett on 23 November 2006 at 11:05 PM.]

Nate LaPointe · Post by **Nate LaPointe** » 24 Nov 2006 11:09 am

I started in Oct. '03 so I am still very new at this whole PSG thang. Esp because I make a living playing guitar so PSG gets neglected sometimes. I've only owned one steel so far and it's a Williams U12. I love it, and Bill over at Williams guitars is one of the nicest guys on the planet! My PSG heros are Buddy Cage, Al Perkins, Speedy West, Barry Sless, Buddy Emmons, and Mike Johnstone.

As for guitars, I own 11 of 'em...acoustics, electrics, vintage, new, but I play all of them. I don't believe in "collecting" guitars. My fav is my '82 Gibson 335es re-issue. But my souped-up Mexican strat has been sounding good lately!

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www.natelapointe.net

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 24 Nov 2006 11:47 am

picked up my Moms' Uke at about 10, figured out the basic chords, pretended I was Elvis..My Brother got a Guitar ( a Stella ,for Christmas)that same year my Father gave me a beginners Accordion. 1958 or so . I played that for a while then started playing the Stella which had found a new dusty home under my brothers bed.

A year or so later my Mom and brother got me a Gibson Melody Maker from Eddie Bells Guitar shop in NYC, around 61 or so...I started playing in Venture's bands..then around 64 My Father got me a Gretsch Tennessean, I was now playing British invasion tunes in the bands ...not sure what happend but about a year later the neck cracked, so I went down to 48th street and got my first NEW Tele from Rudy's in 1965.

Played in the bands with the Tele and then a Strat and then a few more Tele's and then all of a sudden I was listening to Buffalo Springfield and then Poco and then I got me a Maverick around 73 or so..about a year later I got a D10 PRO III and the lifelong journey began..I started playing good ole Country Music with the local Country guys and gals and never looked back. Norwalk Ct around 1974 or 75..

and the next day I joined the Steel Guitar Forum !

t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 24 November 2006 at 11:50 AM.]

Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 27 Nov 2006 7:43 am

I started with a 6 string round hole square neck box guitar in 1956 at the age of ten. My mom actually started me with Oahu books that she taught from in 1944. One of her 18 year old students later became my dad and a very good non pedal player. So, I have been playing for 50 years now,still play regularly, and have had about 10 steels, the first psg being a Fender 400. My dad was certainly a big early influence as well as Mooney,Day and Buddy.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 27 Nov 2006 8:52 am

Lap steel and Dobro about 30 years. Pedal steel - played for a year about 10 years ago; quit, then started again about 18 months ago. 6-string, other instruments and tube amp repair/service about 40 years.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 27 Nov 2006 9:13 am

I sold my 4-H calf and bought my first steel guitar from Sears in 1946. I never had a lesson (my loss) because no one knew what that thing was, much less how to play it. However, it worked to my advantage because I was getting paid to play before I could play...no credos, it was just a novelty and everyone else in my circle of musician friends played either a guitar or a fiddle.

I learned from listening to the radio, mostly Roy Wiggins in those days, then Jerry Byrd and later Boggs and Murphy.

I'm short on experience as to equipment. My current guitar, a Carter D-10, is only the sixth steel guitar that I have ever owned in my 50 years of trying to learn to play one.

So, I guess to summarize the premise of this thread.....I've played (or played at) for about 60 years; I've only owned six steel guitars; and my first influence was the guy that played for Eddy Arnold!

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<img width=100 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/index.1.jpg>www.genejones.com

 [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 04 December 2006 at 04:31 AM.]

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 27 Nov 2006 12:24 pm

Good topic, so I'll chime in with my brief history.

I started playing in 1972, just before leaving university to go on the road with my first 'real' band. I had seen Poco and The Burrito Brothers in the previous year or three and just had to get me one of those electric cheese slicers, so I went to Blackie Taylor and bought a Fender 400, which i played on one song per night with the band I was touring with....it was Rainbows all over your Blues (still one of my favorite steel tracks). So my earliest influences were JayDee (I still listen to Sweethearts album every coupla weeks), Rusty Young, Sneaky Pete, and Buddy Cage. In fact, I stole (yes, I admit it) a backstage pass off the dash of a limo at the Ahmason Theater one night when the Dead and NRPS were playing, went backstage, walked up to Cage introduced myself and we chatted after which he invited me to call him and stop by any time I was in Sausalito. The next week I found myself staying at his place for three nights while he introduced me to what was really my awakening to the instrument... Jimmy Crawford, Julian Thorpe, Hal Rugg, Lloyd Green, Jerry Byrd.....Cage was a wealth of information and one of the nicest guys to pull a newbie along like that. I still have his hand written copendant chart for that Blue Emmons he played for so many years. On my way home, I stopped at Cowtown in San Jose cause Cage said I HAD to listen to the steel player there...and it was Bobby Black. Just awesome stuff.
As to guitars, after the Fender I bought a ShoBud Permanent in Columbus Ohio that had been builk for Buddy Charleton (plaque on the front) which I traded to Scotty for a Bolt On Emmons D10. I had that guitar until about 75 when I was offered a custom built ZB (picture in the ZB thread), then got an Emmons D10 Laquer in about 77 which I had until 1995. I had a Thomas built which I had until a couple of years ago. I just purchased a slightly used Emmons LG3, 8/8. I also have a collection of lap and non pedal guitars. My long time favorite is a Gibson EH150.
There isn't much doing country music wise here in the Bay Area, but I'm hoping to get out and play more in the near term.

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Life is mostly attitude and timing[This message was edited by Stephen Silver on 27 November 2006 at 12:25 PM.][This message was edited by Stephen Silver on 27 November 2006 at 12:28 PM.]

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 27 Nov 2006 8:18 pm

I started taking steel lessons in 1948, so; that adds up to 58-yrs, just about at the present time! As close as I can count and remember, in all I've owned about 26 Steel~Guitars. (PSG & NPSG combined) I can't ignore the influences of Jimmy Day, Lloyd Green, John Hughey and many others, but; I must acknowledge #1. Jerry Byrd and #2. Buddy Emmons as my very earliest important influences!

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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment

Darryl Logue · Post by **Darryl Logue** » 27 Nov 2006 8:48 pm

Billy, Localy I would like to thank (blame) Bill Jobes for his lessons on Sundays and inspiration. Bruce Zumsteg for providing me with quality insturments and advice.My first Zum was #3. Lately Russ Wever
for setting in and filling jobs I couldn't play.(I still owe you). And all the great players I admired some still with us others passed. I was the long haired hippy in the back of those clubs trying to figure out the pedal steel.Also my dad for turning me onto Bob Wills.It has been a good run for me in K.C. I am truely blessed and humbled to be a part of the forum, thank you b0b.

Ben Slaughter · Post by **Ben Slaughter** » 27 Nov 2006 10:13 pm

Started playing guitar in 1990, when I was 12, got serious when I was 19, then started PSG about 6 years ago.

Own probably 10 or 12 guitars total. Started steel on a Carter Starter, then quickly went to a Zum D10. Now a U12 guy, have a Carter and a Fessy.

Influences: Franklin, Currie, Emmons, Johnson, Bouton, etc.

Joey Gaskins · Post by **Joey Gaskins** » 3 Dec 2006 2:29 pm

I started on steel 4 years ago this Christmas when I was suprised on Christmas morning with a Carter Starter. I have owned GfI's, Derbys, a Emmons and a Williams and now play a Rains purchased from the topic starter Billy Carr.

Mitch Ellis · Post by **Mitch Ellis** » 3 Dec 2006 3:08 pm

I've been playing steel almost 9 yrs. I started out with a Fessy SD10,3x5 ( still have it) and in '04 bought a new D10 Zum, 8x5. I also have a Sho-Bud LDG, but seldom play it. My main influences are Don Helms, Lloyd Green, Buddy Emmons, John Hughey, and Paul Franklin. For those that don't know Billy Carr, the man can PLAY! He can play beside ANYBODY (no exception's) and walk off the stage with his head up. He's a super-nice guy, too. Billy, we need to get together soon.

your friend, Mitch

Mitch Ellis · Post by **Mitch Ellis** » 3 Dec 2006 3:10 pm

I've been playing steel almost 9 yrs. I started out with a Fessy SD10,3x5 ( still have it) and in '04 bought a new D10 Zum, 8x5. I also have a Sho-Bud LDG, but seldom play it. My main influences are Don Helms, Lloyd Green, Buddy Emmons, John Hughey, and Paul Franklin. For those that don't know Billy Carr, the man can PLAY! He can play beside ANYBODY (no exception's) and walk off the stage with his head up. He's a super-nice guy, too. Billy, we need to get together soon.

your friend, Mitch

Mitch Ellis · Post by **Mitch Ellis** » 3 Dec 2006 3:12 pm

Sorry for the double post.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 3 Dec 2006 5:39 pm

Built my first lap steel in 1963. Played various home-built steels since then, mostly in E major. Built my first two-neck console in 1972. Played acoustic dobro-style guitars since 1964. Started playing C6 in 1999. Bought first pedal steel in 2002.

For years I used to put a nut riser on a standard electric guitar and use it as a lap steel. For a shorter scale you slip a bar under the strings at the second or third fret.

Michael Hartz · Post by **Michael Hartz** » 4 Dec 2006 10:07 pm

I started at age 14 in 1983. My mom had just bought me my first electric guitar and amp and after a couple of months of noise coming out of it told me that I needed to take lessons. A young guy in my small Ia town taught guitar and happened to play steel. He could play right along with any Jernigan album and I was floored. Needless to say I feel in love with steel from that moment. He helped me get my first MSA Classic S-10. Later, when he bought a new Mullen, I bought his BMI D-10. Now I have a 1989 Mullen D-10 that I love and will never part with. My first influence was Bruce Bouton then later the great Paul Franklin.

Tim Lane · Post by **Tim Lane** » 5 Dec 2006 5:08 pm

Started playing Steel just 3 years ago, although just got serious last August. (bought a Rains, so how can I just let it sit there) Have played guitar for 20 years including playing lead 3 years with a Bluegrass band. I also play bass, mandolin, piano, and even a little trombone. Steel is my favorite, though. Thanks goodness for you guys on the forum, or I'd a never made it this far.

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Rains SD10, NV112, Hilton VP, Fender Strat, Martin HD28V, Martin SPJC16E,
www.EagleLt.com

Neil Lang · Post by **Neil Lang** » 5 Dec 2006 5:47 pm

Started playing pedal steel in 1965 at 23 yrs of age. Got hooked when watching a guy named "Lefty" (Darwin)Schrage playing with the Bobby Hankins show at the union center here in Albert Lea. He was playing a Sho-Bud......I never got over them. Have played nothing but Sho-Buds. Presently rotating 2 Super Pros and a Pro II. Retired my old finger tip a few years ago. Use all Peavey Amps.My wife Barb plays keyboards.......my backup band. I am a lucky guy to have her.
Neil

Thom Beeman · Post by **Thom Beeman** » 5 Dec 2006 8:26 pm

On steel since 1978. LDG, Sierra S-10, Desert Rose S-10. Main influence, Charlie Norris, Jr.Knight, Gary Hogue.

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thomb@steelseat.com
"If you're not on our seat, you paid too much"
[This message was edited by Thom Beeman on 05 December 2006 at 08:27 PM.]

Les Green · Post by **Les Green** » 9 Dec 2006 4:32 pm

I started on guitar at the age of 8, 1948. My heros were Chet, Merle, Hand Garland and later Billy Byrd. About 1954, Jerry Byrd and Don Helms captivated me and I bought a 6 string Supro. Played both for several years then picked up a 3 neck Ric and put the Isaccs change on it. About here I left the guitar. 1961 got a Fender 1000, then a Sho-Bud, then an MSA. Now I have 2 MSA's. Just about all of the pedal pickers were an influence with the two Buddy's (E&C) up front. Reece, Day, Ruggs, Chalker, the works. Oh, almost forgot, Buddy Carter who helped me set up the 1000.[This message was edited by les green on 09 December 2006 at 04:35 PM.]

Ken Williams · Post by **Ken Williams** » 9 Dec 2006 6:50 pm

I started playing guitar at about age 10. As I progressed, I was influenced by Chet and the Ventures. Started playing 5 sting banjo in about the 9th grade. Of course I was influenced by Earl Scruggs and a little later, Bobby Thompson. I started playing steel in 73. My first steel was a Hughey. There were only a few made so I wish I still had it. I bought a new D10 Emmons in 74, which I still have. Then in 86 I bought another Emmons. About 4 years ago I owned a Zum D10 8 and 8, but sold it after a few months. I just didn't need 3 steels and I didn't want to part with either of the Emmons guitars. I've also owned an MSA and Sho-bud Maverick for a brief time.
Probably the biggest influence was Hal Rugg. I used to watch him on the Wilburn Brothers show when I was just a kid. I think his playing put the thought in my head that I want to play on of those things. John Hughey has also been a major influence. Never in my wildest dream when I was 10 years, did I ever think I would get to meet those guys.

Ken

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 9 Dec 2006 7:42 pm

I lived in France as a kid and it was there I picked up guitar at age 10 in 1957. I was enthralled by Chet,Scotty Moore,Chuck Berry as well as Django who I was turned onto by my guitar teacher. When I moved to Virginia in 1961 I got into the Ventures,surf music and black rock & roll. In 1963 I roomed with Duane and Gregg Allman at Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon Tenn. Duane turned me on to blues and R&B like Ray Charles,BB King etc. After a decade as a gigging and touring blues/rock/R&B guitarist,I picked up pedal steel in 1971 and started doubling on it.After moving to L.A. in 1973 I realized how much competition there was on guitar so I started trying to sell myself as a country steel player. I just basically told everyone I met I was a steel player until I eventually actually was one.My early steel influences were the country rock guys - especially Cage,Perkins and Sneaky Pete and soon after that I discovered Buddy Emmons. After a few years of study and serious pursuit of steel I came to realize that the two greatest steel players were Jerry Byrd and Joaquin Murphey. Nowadays I see it like this: For straight ahead be-bop Tom Morrell is the guy to beat.Buddy Emmons is still "The Big E" to me for all the pioneering tuning and pedal innovations he's responsible for as well as his brilliant and tasty playing.Mooney's bluesy West Coast style was another big influence.Around here Doug Livingston and Jay Dee Maness are the top of the heap.As for my own style of playing - I just try to play musically,aggresivly and not sound like anyone else.Not being in Nashville helps in that regard altho there's probably more work there.
As far as instruments I have owned or still own - A Fender 400,a Fender 800,3 Stringmasters,2 MSAs,a ZB,a Sho-Bud,an Emmons PP,a Sierra,an Excel,a CruzTone and a bunch of lap steels including a Gibson,3 Rickys,a Fender,a Magnatone,a Regal Dobro and an old 1935 Bronson flat top squareneck.

Gary Rue · Post by **Gary Rue** » 11 Dec 2006 3:18 pm

Billy,what a great topic. Thanks. Being new to the forum I,m enjoying this topic. I'm 54 years old and started out learning honkey tonk on a eight dollar stella guitar. It played like a square neck. I played by ear copying records for years then I went and heard Danny Gatton play on a Sunday afternoon and my life was changed forever. I've been like a cone head ever since. Must consume everything. I've gone from playing slide guitar to playing a national round neck, adding Dobro,buying a 61 rickenbacker console 8, now I,m saving for my first pedal. I build my own teles and always have frankenstien on the work bench so I can try new stuff out. I got a degree from the hartford conservatory which is a two year jazz school and gave me lessons and concepts for life. The hunt never ends. What a blessing.

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