Bethel Steels

Luke Morell · Post by **Luke Morell** » 21 May 2006 2:25 pm

Does anybody play Bethel steels? I have never seen any mention on them.I have played one at the convention, thought it was a nice playing guitar and good looking steel.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 26 May 2006 8:41 pm

Big Jim Murphy played a Bethel Steel. It was one of the prettiest l©©king Two~Tone Lacquer finish I've seen! It reminded me a lot of Sho-Bud! Terry, I hope you take that as a compliment! I think you played Sho-Bud for a long time!

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

Terry Bethel · Post by **Terry Bethel** » 26 May 2006 8:59 pm

John,
I do take that as a compliment.
Dick Miller was building the Bethel Steel Guitar at the time, and we talked Jim Murphy into trying one. After that he was hooked. Jim said it was the best guitar he ever played.
Dick loved the lacquer finish on the guitars. He didn't like formica, he said "he didn't want to build a kitchen cabinet" with strings. He built some great steels while he was with us. I am still playing the prototype he built for me in 1995. He later built three other guitars for me which I sold because someone would call and want one NOW!!!!!!! I would sell them mine and get Dick to build me another one.
The last one he built for me was a Maple top with Cocoa-Bola front and necks. He sunburst The Top of the guitar to match the color of the Cocoa-Cola wood, and it is beautiful. I told him when he brought it to me "it was so great looking that I was afraid to play it' I was afraid I would put a scratch on it".
I still have the guitar but I won't take it on the road. It is here in my music room. It sounds and plays better than "Blonde" but I just can't take it on the road.
I don't know exactly how many steels Dick built. Kaye, his widow has the records, but they are packed away in a storage shed. If anyone has one please let me know, as I am still honoring the warranty on them for the one's I have found.
You can e-mail me or put it here on this thread.

bethelgtr@aol.com

Thanks for the post,
Terry Bethel
Bethel Steel Guitars
steelradio.com
OzarkSGA
Mel Tillis Show,

Other than that!!!! I ain't doin' nothin'<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Terry Bethel on 26 May 2006 at 10:05 PM.]</p></FONT>

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 26 May 2006 9:42 pm

Travis Tritt's steel guitarist Steve Sturm played a Bethel in 2002 on the Opry after Waylon Jennings died. His Bethel was white with a blue top. Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel, GFI Ultra D-10

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 26 May 2006 11:09 pm

I used to have a Bethel SD10 4 & 5. It was a great guitar, and what a beauty it was! Here's a pic of it. Wish I still had it!

Terry Bethel · Post by **Terry Bethel** » 30 May 2006 10:09 pm

Thanks Brett and Lem,
I appreciate your help.
Does any one else know where there is a Bethel Steel??????

Terry Bethel

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 30 May 2006 10:29 pm

Terry, unless he has sold it very recently, the Bethel guitar that I posted is currently owned by Glenn Tackett, of Amory MS.

Russ Wever · Post by **Russ Wever** » 30 May 2006 10:52 pm

Terry,

Don't fergit the one in the Duck
Blind that's headed Down Under!

Drat!

~Count Coma