Don Wardens Playing

John Coop · Post by **John Coop** » 14 Aug 2008 11:00 am

Very underated...just goes to show what can be done with A & B pedals and no knee levers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Coop

Benton Allen · Post by **Benton Allen** » 14 Aug 2008 1:54 pm

Hey Coop!
Did I miss something here or are you just making a statement of fact?
Benton

Dan Meadows · Post by **Dan Meadows** » 15 Aug 2008 12:13 am

I think Don is the first player that really got my attention. I love his style and really miss that sound today.

Dan

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 15 Aug 2008 7:28 am

The time I saw him with Porter (~1955) he did it standing up.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 15 Aug 2008 10:09 am

Coop is right! I'd love to have Don's ol' stand-up guitar!

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 15 Aug 2008 10:12 am

I'm thinking that the guitar Don Warden used on TV was a stand-up 8-string with only one pedal, possibly Sho-Bud serial number 0001. Did I read that or dream it?

I have asked before if anybody knows what tuning & copedant he used, but no answer....

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 15 Aug 2008 10:45 am

D Schubert wrote:I'm thinking that the guitar Don Warden used on TV was a stand-up 8-string with only one pedal,

It may have had 2 pedals, but he played it as if they were welded together.

Casey Lowmiller · Post by **Casey Lowmiller** » 15 Aug 2008 11:55 am

Don's Sho-Bud was constantly changing. Through pics & videos, I've noticed that the number of pedals changed & the pedal positions changed. I'm sure that his copedant & tunings may have evolved as well. He seemed to really be on the ball during an ever-changing time in steel playing.

There's a pic of it in Porter's last c.d. cover. Wish I had it infront of me.

Casey

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 15 Aug 2008 12:06 pm

My comment from the other thread:
I have seen the Porter Show where the pedals were first at the changer end, then shortly thereafter, they were at the keyhead end! I read somewhere that Don's guitar was the first guitar.

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 15 Aug 2008 12:07 pm

Many years ago I had the opportunity to visit with Don Warden personally, and he had just received his "new Sho-Bud" which had 2 pedals (8 strings and walnut aprons and neck/maple top - lacquer of course)on it instead of just the one. He said it was tuned to D9th and because he also was one of Porter's back up singers he could not use a volume pedal but had to stand. When asked about his first Sho-Bud he said it was the first one they built and is now in the Country Music Hall of Fame museum in N'ville. The logo on it looked to be red and the guitar had definitely been played! Don was a super friendly guy and loved to talk steel guitar. His style fit PW very well IMHO. I still enjoy the old reruns of the shows. This is the information I got straight from the man himself.

John Buffington

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 15 Aug 2008 2:24 pm

Don's guitar used to be at the Roy Acuff Museum at Opryland. That's where I first saw it. If it's now at the CMHOF, it's because of the rape of Opryland by the good ol' boy MBA's at Gaylord.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 15 Aug 2008 5:07 pm

D Schubert wrote:I'm thinking that the guitar Don Warden used on TV was a stand-up 8-string with only one pedal, possibly Sho-Bud serial number 0001. Did I read that or dream it?

I have asked before if anybody knows what tuning & copedant he used, but no answer....

Two pedals (according to Buddy), and probably the standard (back then) Sho~Bud tuning...

E, B, G#, F#, D, B, G#, and E.

While this may not be accurate for all periods, he always seemed to play an "E" based tuning with a 2-string change to A.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 15 Aug 2008 6:30 pm

I talked to John Coop this evening, and he is in agreement with that. 8 string, E on top.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 16 Aug 2008 1:27 am

Don Warden, like Pete Drake, is a lot better player than than you would think. He listened to the song and singer. and played what fit the mood of the song. He was a monster non pedal player. I was on some shows he did with Red Sovine before pedals and he did some great picking. Jody.