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Topic: Jerry Blanton |
Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 13 Sep 2023 12:12 pm |
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Jerry Blanton, San Antonio Texas steel guitar legend, as a player and as a builder of exceptional instruments for almost 60 years, passed away yesterday at age 87 from cancer. This is a sad day for long-time Texas steel guitarists, and perhaps others who've made music with Jerry, or owned and played his unique instruments so enjoyably.
I have some great reminiscences of my interactions with Jerry as I am sure others here on the forum will contribute. More to come later.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 13 Sep 2023 12:28 pm
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It was an education and an honor to work on Stu Schulman's Blanton guitar. I had a question or two and it was suggested that I should call Jerry. But I'm sort of too shy so I never did.
I'm happy to say that when it came time to find a home for this guitar, I hooked up with someone who really appreciates Blantons. It's in the right place.
My huge respect to Mr. Blanton. Rest In Peace. |
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Junior Knight
From:
Eustace Texas..paddle faster..I hear Banjos...
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Posted 13 Sep 2023 12:44 pm
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So sorry to hear this. Great player and person and a true legend
Go rest high on that mountain my friend..
_________________
2006 Msa S-12 “milly” 8 & 5
. Peavey Nashville 1-12 Tommy Huff speaker cabs. Goodrich pedals & matchbro.Steeler Choice seats.. that is all..(for now) lol
www.msapedalsteels.com
texsteelman2@yahoo.com
Jagwire Strings
Facebook/ Junior Knight, Steel Guitar |
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Gordon Borland
From:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Posted 14 Sep 2023 10:41 am Jerry Blanton
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Good bye my brother. There are no words to express my sadness. I look forward to meeting up with you again in Gods house...soon.
YOUR FRIEND Gordon. |
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Mike Ester
From:
New Braunfels, Texas, USA
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Posted 14 Sep 2023 12:29 pm
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Years ago, I met Jerry at a Marlboro country talent show in San Antonio. At the time, I had one of his mid-70s D10 guitars. He came up, and introduced himself.
In the conversation, I did have the presence of mind to ask him where he came up with the idea of putting the rod tuners underneath, instead of the usual endplate. He told me he got the idea from an elevator mechanism he saw when he was a maintenance worker at the jail in George West, TX.
Makes me proud to have had such an encounter with him.
_________________
U.S.A.F. 1978-1982
2005 Carter S12U 7x5
1978 Sho-Bud Pro II Custom 8x4
If you can't be a good example, be a horrible warning. |
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Tommy White
From:
Nashville
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Posted 14 Sep 2023 7:12 pm
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So sorry to hear of Jerry’s passing. I am a fan of his pedal steel designs.
Although I didn’t get the opportunity to play one of Jerry’s guitars, I thought they were top notch. Rip . |
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Leslie Blanton
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2023 8:24 am
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| He passed peacefully, on his birthday. |
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C E Holden
From:
Austin, TX
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Posted 19 Sep 2023 6:00 pm
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A bona-fide genius, and a helluva nice guy. I’m glad I got to meet him and that I have had the privilege to work on and own several Blantons myself. A Blanton bellcrank is a thing of beauty. Rest in peace, good sir.
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"il brutto" |
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Chance Wilson
From:
California, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2023 2:04 pm
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| Condolences to his family & friends. He lives on in his work with steels built as solid as Mt Rushmore and his pickups are epic too. We never met in person but I had the privilege of good conversation. I haven't had a cigarette in decades but danged if I don't miss steels with the ashtray option. Rest in Peace. |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 26 Sep 2023 12:44 pm
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| RIP Jerry, I wish we could've met! |
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Duane Reese
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Posted 28 Oct 2023 12:40 pm
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He was a great innovator. His pull system was genius. He left a mark that will never be erased.
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Mike Ester
From:
New Braunfels, Texas, USA
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Posted 28 Oct 2023 2:13 pm
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| Duane Reese wrote: |
He was a great innovator. His pull system was genius. He left a mark that will never be erased.
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There's my old guitar. It did clean up nice.
_________________
U.S.A.F. 1978-1982
2005 Carter S12U 7x5
1978 Sho-Bud Pro II Custom 8x4
If you can't be a good example, be a horrible warning. |
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Duane Reese
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Posted 28 Oct 2023 3:13 pm
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| Mike Ester wrote: |
| There's my old guitar. It did clean up nice. |
Yes it is! Last guy who owned it was Willie Farris. I wonder if he still has it. 🤔
For those who are wondering, this is the type of puller that the Blanton guitar used.
The rounded void in the bottom is where it would hold onto the round cross shaft with a set screw; and then the pull rod would attach to the rectangular movable part on the left with another set screw. The other end of the rod went into a slot on the relatively simple changer finger.
There were no tuning windows on the back of the frame, just two tone knobs. You'd tune it with the knurled screw on the puller, and it had the same effect as putting your pull rod in a different hole in a bell crank — the further from the center of the cross shaft, the greater the raise or lower. The pedal action was always smooth and light.
Mike, I remember you telling me that story! The idea is genius. |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 28 Oct 2023 10:56 pm
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| RIP to one of the steel guitar innovators. His guitar were elegant in their well thought-out simplicity. |
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