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Author Topic:  Bill Hankey RIP
Pete Finney

 

From:
Nashville Tn.
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 10:34 am    
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Long-time forumite Bill Hankey passed away about a month ago. He was a hard one to figure out, but he clearly knew a lot about music and loved the steel guitar; he deserves to be remembered here.

Here's a link to a hometown obituary:

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/berkshire/obituary.aspx?n=william-l-hankey&pid=192712142&fhid=4866
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Charlie McDonald


From:
out of the blue
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 11:12 am    
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Sad to hear. Yes, he'll be remembered here.
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John McClung


From:
Olympia WA, USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 11:38 am    
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Many of us will miss his quirky way with words! RIP, Mr. Hankey.
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Godfrey Arthur

 

From:
3rd Rock
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 12:01 pm    
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Godspeed Bill.

He was in the Chris Ivey league of iconoclasts:

Quote:
Bill's quote "The pedal steel guitar demands a constant uninterrupted
prolonged study spanning many years of concentration. Those who choose to think otherwise,
eventually fall into the category of players who progress so little to notice."






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Bill McCloskey


From:
Nanuet, NY
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 12:09 pm    
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Sad to read. Bill could be obscure, obtuse, and a walking thesaurus. But a beloved character for many of us old timers here. Rest In Peace
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 2:10 pm    
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Condolences to the Hankey family. What a character he was. I will have to review some of those epic posts of his.
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Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 2:24 pm    
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My condolences to his family and friends.
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Lee Baucum


From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 2:46 pm    
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Too sad. I enjoyed reading his posts ... as irritating as some of them were.

I always liked his "Lucky 7" device he fabricated for his 3rd string. Years later I purchased my Williams guitar that has a similar design on all strings. I believe the new Sierra guitars do, also.

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Jeff Garden


From:
Center Sandwich, New Hampshire, USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 3:08 pm    
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Rest in peace, Bill. He was the Forum's answer to Professor Irwin Corey Smile How could you not smile at this sort of Bill Hankey wisdom:
"Not to be thwarted by insignificant hangups associated with mechanical blunders found lurking beneath the pedal steel guitar, the player who remains unruffled goes on to much better musical expressions. In his grasp, any melody can be become awakened by a steady and attentive effort that always leads to listenable qualities."
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Craig Stock


From:
Westfield, NJ USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 4:15 pm    
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I will miss him as well, rest in peace Bill!
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Russ Tkac


Post  Posted 22 May 2019 6:06 pm    
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Comfort and peace to his family and friends.
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Bill L. Wilson


From:
Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 7:38 pm     The Late Great Bill Hankey.
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Been missing him for a long while. He definitely was “One of a Kind” Rest in Peace Friend.
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2019 9:47 pm    
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I disagreed with everything he said, but I really enjoyed reading his posts. Maybe now he can converse with all those 19th century writers he emulated.

Rest in peace, Mr. Bill Hankey.
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Bob Watson


From:
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 2:08 am    
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I'm sorry to hear about Bill Hankey passing on. I always enjoyed his comments here on the Steel Forum, he had a very unique way of communicating his ideas and opinions. My condolences go out to his family and friends. May he RIP.
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John Norris


From:
Peterson Strobe Tuners, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 8:07 am    
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Very sad to hear of Bill's passing, he was a master of circumlocution and an extremely entertaining character, may he rest in peace.
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Larry Rafferty


From:
Ballston Spa, NY
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 12:22 pm    
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I was very sad to hear of Bill Hankey's passing.
The last time I traveled to Bill's Mass Bash was a very enjoyable day. After the steel show, Bill taked
steel guitar with me for more than an hour.
He then showed me his upright fret marker board...and then he asked me to try it out. I payed his steel
for 40 minutes and had a nice day. Bill was always trying to improve the sound...and he was a pretty good steeler.
I'm really gonna miss him.

RIP old friend.
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Pete Burak

 

From:
Portland, OR USA
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 1:16 pm    
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Sorry to hear of Bill's passing.
I hadn't seen him post in a long time.
His idea about the Vertical Fretboard was a good one!
I happened to have spare fretboards around, and was able to try it out by mounting one to the front of the neck.
It was pretty cool and a fun experiment.
Of course I remember the Lucky-7, too.
...And his great way with words!
I too hope he is playing Steel to his hearts content in Heaven.
RIP Bill!

In Bill's words:
Bill Hankey wrote:

It's adaptability is quite suitable for the single-neck steel, such as the instrument that I use. The project would be less difficult than most changes made beneath the steel guitar. For those who have a spare fretboard that measures the same as the one used, slice it down the approximate middle to reduce the height as much as possible. Match it to the designated positioning to achieve proper harmonics. Locate the narrowed feature out and away from the 1st string, tipped at reading angle. It required very little time to realize that I was "on" to something once the experimental fretboard was properly positioned. The ideal would be similar to a raised brow built into the manufactured instrument above first string level, with all the attractiveness of positions accurately presented as a finished and improved project, instantly readable guide much superior to the standard horizontal fretboard. A strip of white cardboard with fret markings is a quick trial to demonstrate visibility. I had pointed out previously that the player's face is raised enough to make a considerable difference in how fans observe the art of playing the steel guitar. Dozens of pertinent factors are created by adapting the clear view concept.


Bill's Steel with Verticle Fretboard and Lucky 7:
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Steve English


From:
Baja, Arizona
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 2:30 pm    
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Bill could say something with a thousand words just as easy as a normal person could with five....
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Michael Haselman


From:
St. Paul
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 5:06 pm    
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Whenever I saw his name on a post a smile would ensue. RIP, Mr. Hankey. Dearly loved peoples' reactions to his esoterica.
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Bill McCloskey


From:
Nanuet, NY
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 5:39 pm    
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For those who knew hm outside the forum, did he talk that way in person?
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Michael Maddex


From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 6:49 pm    
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My condolences to his Family and Friends.

RIP, Mr Bill Hankey.
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Bill Cunningham


From:
Atlanta, Ga. USA
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 7:29 pm    
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My condolences. When I read his posts I always heard something like the voice of William F. Buckley.
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Ken Byng


From:
Southampton, England
Post  Posted 24 May 2019 12:28 am    
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RIP Mr Hankey.
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Joachim Kettner


From:
Germany
Post  Posted 24 May 2019 7:42 am    
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Likewise RIP Mr.Hankey
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Tommy Shown

 

From:
Denham Springs, La.
Post  Posted 24 May 2019 12:31 pm    
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Me and Bill had several differences in opinion .
But I still respected him nevertheless.
I pray that he is at peace in his Heavenly Home ,and I for God's love to family.
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