1st Annual San Diego Vintage Lap Steel Guitar Show

Craig Prior · Post by **Craig Prior** » 5 May 2010 7:35 pm

Please refer to Announcements http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=183442

Although the ad says "San Diego," Steel Guitars of North County is actually in Oceanside, considerably to the north of San Diego.

Still, looks like it oughta be a hoot.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 6 May 2010 1:32 pm

I will be looking forward to meeting you Guys. I can't drive any long distances anymore so Chance Wilson is going to give me a ride down. I will be bringing my 3-Necked "Barder" from 1945 which was maintained by Paul Bigsby when it needed strings or any other problems.

Barney Roach · Post by **Barney Roach** » 7 May 2010 7:10 pm

So many people have written me to tell me they are coming, and are bringing instruments!

Jim's lap steel selection alone is AWESOME ! And we have some great players performing too!

And just in case some people may not know it,
Oceanside is in San Diego County:

http://www.zipmap.net/California/San_Diego_County.htm

I look forward to meeting you Craig!
Thanks for the support you have displayed in the postings!

Barney

Craig Prior · Post by **Craig Prior** » 7 May 2010 7:40 pm

Everyone, as Barney points out Oceanside IS in San Diego County and I apologize if I made it seem it was somewhere in the sticks.

Billy, Buena Park to Oceanside is probably less than an hour so if Chance is asking gas money... it won't come to much!

Barney, look forward to seeing you there.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 9 May 2010 9:28 am

With any luck, I hope to make it, I've got some previous commitments to juggle first.
I don't have any vintage steels to bring, but might have this new old school styled one finished in time to bring along.
Its black limba / korina and I've got a flame maple fretboard for it.

.

Bernard Beck · Post by **Bernard Beck** » 11 May 2010 11:35 pm

Wish I could be there, it's always a pleasure to visit Jim in Oceanside. And with all you guys bringing your vintage steels, what a day it will be.
My 1974 Dobro bought new in Dallas for thanksgiving of that year became vintage with me, it's not prewar but sure sounds sweet.
Keep on picking.
Bernard

Joe Naylor · Post by **Joe Naylor** » 18 May 2010 9:43 am

Barney Roach · Post by **Barney Roach** » 18 May 2010 8:24 pm

I just picked-up the three awards this afternoon.
Decided to get laser-engraved trophies instead of
Ribbons. They cost a bit more, but they look so much nicer.

The three judged categories are:

1. Largest collection Displayed-

2. Coolest / Rarest Instrument Displayed

3. Most Unusual Instrument Displayed.

And I know for a fact some GEMs will be coming out of
the vaults for this event.

Judging will be by the performers- the 1st 5 players
that made a committment to perform.

As we don't know
each set length and change-over time, we will 'play it by ear' and have more players on stand-by.

I committed to Jim that we'd be out of his hair by close of business Saturday.

We have 8 additional tables being delivered- available on a 1st come basis. (Free) If there
is any overflow, they will go on the carpeted floor.

If you like LAP STEELs- this is the place to be
on Saturday!

Email any questions to: Vintage1@nethere.com.

There is plenty of food and drink available from
stores and cafes in the shopping center- including
a sports Bar / Grill a few doors over.

I look forward to meeting everyone Saturday!
Best regards,

Barney Roach

Joe Naylor · Post by **Joe Naylor** » 20 May 2010 6:56 am

Leavin in the mornin if they let me into CA

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com

Barney Roach · Post by **Barney Roach** » 21 May 2010 7:18 pm

Just added:

The Kiesel family will be bringing 6 of Carvin
founder Lowell C. Kiesel's lap steels- including
a one-of-a-kind double neck lap made for him in the
1940's by John Dopyera himself- a personal friend
of Lowell's.

I have dedicated this first show to Hawaiian
Bobbie Ingano, and to the memory of the late Mr. Kiesel,
both of whom's cool lap steel playing greatly
inspiried me in January of this year.( Bobbie's-
once again at Larry Briggs' Orange County Vintage Guitar Show,
and the wonderful audio-visual tribute
the Kiesel family held for their late father at his
funeral services. )

Some great audio clips of Lowell's lap steel playing
have now been posted on the CARVIN web site- link
on the lower left corner titled 'Tribute' of Carvin's main home page.

I hope to meet many of you Saturday.
(We have had a waiting list of performers for the past 3 weeks.)

Thanks to each of you for your encouragement!

Barney

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 23 May 2010 11:40 am

In the Events and Announcements section I posted a link to two YouTube posts about the show. It was a blast and so many lap steel guitars in one place- it must hold a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records! Thanks to Barney Roach for setting it up and all who came and made it the event that it was.

Kay Das · Post by **Kay Das** » 23 May 2010 12:45 pm

Just happened to be passing by.... and saw the "Steel Guitar" signboard...

Gobsmacked by the sheer number of vintage steel guitars per square foot (none of them alike) and by the friendly crowd. Made many new friends (Barney Roach, Jim Palenscar, Joe Naylor, Jay Leach, Robb Lawrence, Steve Schell, and many others) and met some old ones (Gary, Doug..). Had a great jam with Doug Livingston and Jay Leach, both amazing musicians....

A great show! Be there next year!

Steve Schell · Post by **Steve Schell** » 23 May 2010 2:11 pm

This event was just terrific. There were dozens of rare, unique and/or interesting instruments on display. I enjoyed meeting a number of people, and hearing some great live music. Kay Das's playing is really fine! It was fun to discuss guitar history with Peter Huggins and Robb Lawrence. Many thanks to Jim and Barney and I look forward to next year.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 23 May 2010 2:28 pm

I got there late and had to leave early, but did catch your set Kay, great playing and sweet tones!

Billy Easton · Post by **Billy Easton** » 23 May 2010 5:02 pm

Thanks to both Jim and Barney for a great time in Oceanside yesterday. Just got back to Vegas and I am still enjoying the sounds in my head!! Gives me a renewed interest in lap steel. I have to say a huge THANK YOU also to Chas Smith who not only let me touch the famous Joachin Murphy double neck, but I GOT TO PLAY it as well. What a thrill! Thanks everyone; got to meet some really nice folks and I hope to play on the show next year!

Billy Easton
Las Vegas, NV

Will Jaffe · Post by **Will Jaffe** » 24 May 2010 12:24 pm

Great job Barney and you too Jim. Good to meet you Billy.
It did feel special to play on Murphy's double Bigsby, even if I did'nt know the tuning.

Very fun event! I'm hoping you guys will do it again .

J. Wilson · Post by **J. Wilson** » 25 May 2010 8:09 am

This sounds fantastic! I hope you guys get lots of pictures and videos for posting afterwards, for those of us too far away to attend!

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 25 May 2010 10:18 am

Event pix:
http://gallery.me.com/johnnypez#100440& ... saic&sel=0

J. Wilson · Post by **J. Wilson** » 25 May 2010 11:04 am

Great pics! Thanks very much.

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 25 May 2010 5:00 pm

Great pictures indeed.

Are there any more pictures of these vintage instruments.

Thanks for bringing some of this event to us.

Aloha,

Don

Joseph Meditz · Post by **Joseph Meditz** » 25 May 2010 6:15 pm

Barney Roach · Post by **Barney Roach** » 28 May 2010 6:16 pm

Very nice pictures Joseph- thanks for posting some.
I just wanted to let folks know that weren't there that the very bottom picture is one of Lowell C. Kiesel's- it is the only double neck Lap Steel ever built by none other than the late John Dopyera- a close
friend of the founder of Carvin's.
( The white one that has 'Kiesel' carved in to the side. Engraving through-out as well. )
The little one right above it is a mahogany bodied
7 string that Lowell built. He also made a 6 string
version- and that's what is in the picture the family
says is from 1935! Lowell was an excellent and early
player of the electric lap Steel. He passed away right after Christmas 2009. We lost an industry giant at the age of 94- but the company is in the highly competant hands of his sons and grandchildren.
The show was dedicated to Lowell and Bobby Ingano-
and Bobby may still not even know it! MAN that was a fun day! More follow-up info coming- but my head is still spinning! Thanks to each and every one of you that took the time to come, and bring your instruments. Without them- there IS NO SHOW!
Barney

Mike Maddux · Post by **Mike Maddux** » 29 May 2010 7:54 pm

some more video of the event http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrTDRjuNhU4

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 29 May 2010 10:49 pm

Thanks Mike for the nice video.

The two Hawaiian numbers as background music was also nice.

Anymore videos with music from the Oceanside gathering?

Aloha,

Don

Kay Das · Post by **Kay Das** » 31 May 2010 10:46 pm

I think it is due to the efforts and unbridled enthusiasm of Barney Roach and his team ( will not mention any names for fear of omitting someone) that lap steel guitar will gain in popularity. This was a great show not least because of the number of lap steels there. Had there been a player for each of the steels on show, Barney and company would have needed space the size of an aircraft hangar.

I believe the Oceanside/San Diego steel guitar event can now only go in one direction. And that is upwards.

It was well planned and enjoyable.Congratulations to all who did the hard work.

Kay

The Steel Guitar Forum

1st Annual San Diego Vintage Lap Steel Guitar Show

1st Annual San Diego Vintage Lap Steel Guitar Show

Thank you for posting this Craig!