Is This Norm Hamlet?

Jay Hudson · Post by **Jay Hudson** » 14 Nov 2009 12:57 pm

Real country music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlyx45nuLM8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD9W6u2SqJE

Bill Ferguson · Post by **Bill Ferguson** » 14 Nov 2009 1:22 pm

Yes siree, that't Norm.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 14 Nov 2009 11:05 pm

Looks like he's playing a Fender-2000, No knee levers yet !

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 15 Nov 2009 5:37 am

That's a Fender 1000 (double eight), a transitional model made in late '63 or early '64. It's a sunburst finish with the roller bridges, but still has the earlier black soap-bar pickups. That song was recorded late in '66, and the performance is dated 1968. By that time, most players had long since switched away from their Fenders to the more-popular Emmons, Sho~Bud, and ZB guitars, and the cable guitars were rarely seen with high-profile acts.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 15 Nov 2009 6:33 am

My hat goes off to Norm, who inspired me to take up pedal steel guitar in 1969. His playing on the first Strangers instrumental album just knocked me right out. I believe that Merle has been very fortunate to have such a great band player as Norm. Strangers have come and gone over the years, but Mr Hamlet still has the gig over 40 years later.

Whatever guitar Norm has played - Fender, ZB, Rus-ler, GFI etc, he always gets a great sound and plays precisely what is required.

Jay Hudson · Post by **Jay Hudson** » 15 Nov 2009 7:01 am

Does anybody know what tunings/copedents would have been used on the double eight?

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 15 Nov 2009 7:26 am

And what a truly humble and nice gentleman Norm is as well ..
Hook

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 15 Nov 2009 9:40 am

Killer clips! Norm told me once that when he first started playing with Merle he had to set up some Mooney type pulls on his steel. He since has put a lot of his own thing in there. I'll echo all the good words about Norm. Great player! Great guy!

james sluder · Post by **james sluder** » 15 Nov 2009 12:28 pm

Who is playing the tellie ?? Roy ?? He was with the band a long time also !!

norm hamlet · Post by **norm hamlet** » 15 Nov 2009 7:08 pm

Yes it is me when I was a lot younger.And thanks for the good words about me. When I went to work with Merle I had a triple neck 10 string Wright custom with nine pedals, no knee levers at that time. It was too heavy to take on the road and carry in and out. I had a Fender 1000 at home that was a lot lighter and I had to set it up so I could try to play the things that Ralph Mooney did on Merles first albums. So I set it up with the E9th on the back neck and a A6th on the front neck. The reason for that is because I needed to see the pedals to do the things I had to do. AT the time Merle wanted me to sound as much like Mooney as I could because of the first records. I am not saying I sounded just like him, but came close for Merle`s ear. After that tour when we done the video I got a ZB from Zane Beck, a double 11 with 8 pedals and 5 knee levers. The guitar had been one of his personal guitars and he had to change some of the set up on E9th for me and the other neck had a C6th set up. It would have taken him to long to change the C6th over to A6th so I told him I would take it like that.
Thanks for the interest on the Youtube video, that was some good times with my good friend Roy Nichols he was one of the best. He passed away a few years ago and we all sure miss him. I have been blessed to work with one of the best singers in the world. And to work for 42years with him has been a pleasure.
Thanks again to all of my steel guitar friends.
Norm Hamlet

Don Discher · Post by **Don Discher** » 15 Nov 2009 7:30 pm

Man it's sure nice when one of the legends like Norm comes on the forum and comments on a thread. This is what makes the forum such a great place to read about the people that created the great sounds behind the singer.

james sluder · Post by **james sluder** » 15 Nov 2009 10:12 pm

It is very nice of Norm to take the time to post a reply on here ! That says a lot for the caring man that he is ! He has & still is my all time favorite psg player ! I have been on u-tube watching one of the Hags vidios & behind the steel trying to learn Norms intro to a song all afternoon ! Norm is a hard man to copy lol!! So thanks Norm !!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Jim

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 16 Nov 2009 4:51 am

The DVD that the clips came from is of Merle Haggard TV appearances. I play it to death I'm afraid, and Norm & Roy's playing are heavily featured throughout. As soon as I found out that Norm had a twin neck ZB, that was it - I had to have one too and got my first one in 1972.

I can thoroughly recommend the DVD to those who are big Haggard/Strangers fans

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 16 Nov 2009 2:10 pm

Norm, I want to thank you for coming on here and commenting on this video that has historical value for steel guitarists.
Whether you realize it or not, I am one of your admirers, because you once proved to me that you are a person with high compassion for your fellow man, whether you know him or not.
Quite a while ago you sent me several emails detailing your pick blocking technique. At the same time you told me to look you up when you come to my home town, London Ontario Canada with the Haggard show, saying that you would rather show me this technique in person. For you to make a kind offer like that to a complete stranger is truly an act of kindness and I want to thank you publicly.
Best wishes
Bent

Geoff Marshall · Post by **Geoff Marshall** » 16 Nov 2009 3:07 pm

Great post thank you all.

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 17 Nov 2009 9:36 am

Fantastic!

I became a HagFan in 1968 and probably attended my first concert in 1969, thanks to my older brothers. So Norm has been with Merle just slightly longer than I've been a HagFan. I think Norm had the ZB the first several times I saw him; later Emmons and now GFI. I know the ZB came through loud and clear in the Anaheim Convention Center with 8-10 thousand fans.

Norm still gets those necks mixed up though.

Just listen to Sin City Blues and see if that doesn't sound like the C-neck. It's not.

In 1974 got a chance to "crash the stage" after a show and shake hands with both Norm and Roy. For some reason they were still out there after Merle had left the stage. I guess they had to pack their own gear and hit the road.

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 18 Nov 2009 4:46 am

He also got to teach Barbra Mandrell and that ain't a bad gig either..

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 18 Nov 2009 6:44 am

Wow! Isn't that refreshing??? Every time I listen to Merle Haggard I'm reminded all over again that he is one of the truly exceptional singers in this, or any, genre.

I love that moment in '...Bottle' at 1'58" where Merle slurs a note and Roy echoes the phrase; Haggard can't resist a little smile!

Norm - great playing! It reminds me of why I got into this stuff to start with.

Ken - is this all on a DVD somewhere? I have to have it!!!!

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 18 Nov 2009 6:55 am

Who's playing the Fender Jaguar in this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziFI_0Fx ... re=related

Johnny Kavanagh · Post by **Johnny Kavanagh** » 18 Nov 2009 2:37 pm

I was fortunate to catch Merle Haggard at the Ryman Auditorium last September. It was my great pleasure to get to shake the hand of Mr. Hamlet. He is a superb musician and a gracious gentleman.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 19 Nov 2009 5:01 am

Roger
Just go to Amazon and type in Merle Haggard DVD. This is one that has a load of live TV performances.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 26 Nov 2009 4:35 pm

When I was looking to upgrade from a Fender 400, I admired Norm's Wright Custom and had a D-10 built and took delivery in the summer of '63.
Untile Norm got the Wright, he had built a growing fan base playing a Bigsby that was my first time sitting behind a pedal steel.
Norm came from a grass roots background and he still honors it today as a genuine true-to-life nice guy who has risen to the top of his game.

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