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Topic: Sol Hoopii’s Rickenbacker |
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 30 Jun 2018 5:51 am |
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I recently took this guitar home from Canada, and I will be its custodian for the next ___ years. The guitar was the last Rick Sol owned and was stored under his widow Anna’s bed for many years since his death in 1953 until she gave it to Ian Ufton. Ian has now graciously passed it on to me. Words can’t adequately express my gratitude.
I know the Tutmarc family has a few instruments that belonged to Sol—Greg had sent me pics at one time. This one was said to have “all the mileage on itâ€, according to Anna. She made Ian promise to play it, which he did. He also made a few modifications to it which I am considering reversing, but the guitar does sound great, like a solid Rickenbacker should. I know it has the mojo in it. I do intend to play it (though not on gigs), record with it and make videos.
Sol is my steel guitar hero. Anyone who knows me knows this to be true. Before I made my own record, I used to imagine the sound of Sol playing my favorite jazz tunes. This is what inspired me to go in the direction I did. Ian told me of how Anna said Sol would be up all night practicing one lick to perfect it. He was a pioneer and one of the great entertainers on this instrument.
Here are some pics, including the coolest case candy. I do wish I had Sol’s picks and bar, though. In my best estimation, by examining the gauges of the strings that were originally on the guitar (kudos to Ian for saving them!), it appears that he was using the version of C#min7 (as he called it) that I was always skeptical about: E C# G# E D B. The fifth and sixth strings are simply too light to be tuned down to B and E.
Finally, here is the guitar at Sol’s memorial.
_________________
http://www.steelinstruction.com/
http://mikeneer.com |
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Joe Burke
From:
Toronto, Canada
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Posted 30 Jun 2018 6:03 am
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| Too cool! Way to go Mike. Please post a video of you playing it. |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2018 6:24 am
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| A most appropriate passing of the baton. I know you'll be a good steward. |
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C. E. Jackson
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 30 Jun 2018 7:04 am
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What an honor and how appropriate for someone who has done as much as you for the steel guitar Mike. congrats.
_________________
Check out the Steel Guitar Union Hall Facebook group for you daily dose of Steel https://www.facebook.com/groups/steelguitarunionhall |
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Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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David Knutson
From:
Cowichan Valley, Canada
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Posted 30 Jun 2018 8:19 am
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From one steel pioneer to another. Couldn't be more poetic. Enjoy it, Mike.
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David K |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 30 Jun 2018 10:07 am
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You have pulled the sword from the stone. We know you'll rule wisely, Mike. 
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Keith Glendinning
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 30 Jun 2018 11:34 am
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| That's a great story Mike. Can't wait to hear you play it. |
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Michael Kienhofer
From:
Goulais River,Ontario,Canada
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Posted 30 Jun 2018 11:48 am
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| Simply Awesome !!Congrats |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 30 Jun 2018 1:27 pm
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Such a historic instrument could not be in better hands. That guitar appears to be the one on the sleeve photo of Ian Ufton's CD "Beached."
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 2 Jul 2018 4:33 pm
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Thanks for the kind words everyone!
Yes, David, it is the same steel on Ian's CD. He gave me a copy which I intend to listen to soon.
Here is a picture of Sol with this guitar (it was also in the case).
_________________
http://www.steelinstruction.com/
http://mikeneer.com |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 3 Jul 2018 1:20 am
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Did Sol record his later career gospel recordings on this guitar, Mike?
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 3 Jul 2018 10:29 am
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| Andy Volk wrote: |
| Did Sol record his later career gospel recordings on this guitar, Mike? |
I plan on listening more closely to those recordings over the next few weeks. I think I will be able to tell. This is one SWEET sounding and playing guitar! As good as the best bakelite I've ever played, which was a wartime-era. I had always regretted selling it but couldn't afford to buy it back.
I am trying to get reacquainted with C#min tuning, the tuning I learned on, but with the added twist of the more modern version that Sol was reported to have used, C#min7 (terrible nomenclature): E C# G# E D B. It really works for me and gives me both worlds (E13 and C#min). I have to try and keep it true to Sol, too--it keeps the universe in balance. Besides, I have my Clinesmiths for the other stuff.
I was never a big fan of the sacred recordings, but he slips a real gem in every now and then to remind us who he was.
_________________
http://www.steelinstruction.com/
http://mikeneer.com |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 3 Jul 2018 12:36 pm
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Not pick, I meant .. Ric!
Yeah, amazing. I'd love to have even the clone version of Django's pick. S
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 3 Jul 2018 4:14 pm
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Nice to hear that you have that Ric now Mike !
Ian told me he had it, but didn't play it much. |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2018 5:46 am
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E C# G# E D B
- and only one note away from the old E7 tuning, E B G# E D B |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 4 Jul 2018 8:39 am
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Ralph called his tuning E9th. While there's still some cross-pollination with F#, I'd still name it as coming out of E .... so E13th.
(Hi to Low) E, C#, G#, F#, D, B, G#, E
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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George Piburn
From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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