In Portland, Oregon...........would there be any interest?

[Ray Montee]

Seven posts above this one (mine!)........
by PETE BURAK.......is a comment by Bob Muller complete with email address. This man is a wonderful guy and enthusiastic steel player that has very graciously opened up his heart and his home to we steel guitar players.........to come and visit and play to our hearts content.

He's got an exceptionally fine "MAN CAVE" or 'Music Room'.....with EVERYTHING a person could possibly want in it. He loves music and steel guitar and would most likely invite each of you to attend his place.


Like in any music environment, there is a likelyhood that there will be at least one personality that will want to take over the event in order to be the focus of attention. I'd certainly discourage that.

Why not give BOB an email and see if you can get an invite. I'm certain you won't regret it.

[Pete Burak]

...Like in any music environment, there is a likelyhood that there will be at least one personality that will want to take over the event in order to be the focus of attention...

Ray,
I'm pretty sure the idea is for you to lead this event and demonstrate the techniques you've mastered over the years.
Pete

[Russ Blake]

Pete, that's just what I was thinking.

Ray, it would be a rare privilege for some of us younger guys to get to hear your great playing. And I, for one, would jump at the chance to pick up some tips from you. I sincerely hope you will consider giving us this opportunity.

[Ray Montee]

Russ & Pete......your comments are indeed appreciated but the three of us fully realize that "I", "ME", has little of substance that I could offer any of you younger, super-picker, fellers that would be considered a beneficial contribution.

You're each well established 'players' and everyone knows it.

I'm not good at leading ANYTHING........and my origianl suggestion was not that "I" would lead anything.

What I was alluding to was the proverbial "ALL-STAR" that frequently attends these events whereupon a front row center seat is staked out and HIS playing NEVER ENDS.......

It was my hope it be more of an informal, mutual playing experience and where everyone in attendance might go home with something new 'learned'......
Questions could be asked without any fear of embarrassment. No 'competition' to contend with.

Those were just my 'tho'ts'.......

[James Mayer]

It was my hope it be more of an informal, mutual playing experience and where everyone in attendance might go home with something new 'learned'......
Questions could be asked without any fear of embarrassment. No 'competition' to contend with.

Those were just my 'tho'ts'.......

I'd show up for that.

[Pete Burak]

Ray, I think all you have to do is post something like this, and it will happen:

Who: Ray Montee and Friends.
What: An informal, mutual playing experience and where everyone in attendance might go home with something new 'learned'.
Where: Bobs place???
When: Next Tuesday???

Things I think you could show the players:
A Bakelight Ric. Most guys have never played one.
All the different types of forward/backward bar slants you use, including how to use the nose of the bar for 3 string slants.
All the specialty techniques you've acquiered including Bar Slams and other Speedy West stylings.
Any Jerry Byrd stylings.
How to tune.
How to dial in good tone.
Basically anything that a guy who has been playing for 50 years might think is important for a younger player to know.
I'm not a Lap player, but if you need me there for moral support, I'll come over.

[Ray Montee]

Well, after reading Pete Buraks' last post, I'm anxious to attend this first informal 'get-together'....... Pete's suggestions for a 'program' sounds reasonable to me.

Here's what I'd suggest: My good friend Bob Muller of Wilsonville, Oregon, has invited anyone that's interested to attend his 'FREE open session' for serious steel guitar learning....this next Tuesday evening, starting at 7:00 PM.

Now space is limited....as it's in a private home and since it's Bob's place in an upscale neighborhood, every consideration and courtesy should be extended here. I believe he should have the final say, as to whom will receive an invitation to attend.

If YOU're interested, I'd suggest that you communicate your interest with BOB via email at
classic.jukebox@frontier.com or (503) 579-0111.

Bob's home is located about 1 mile West of I-5, easy to get to.

[Chris Gabriel]

I'd be interested.

However, I'm really not interested in playing to a band-in-a-box, so I'd also be willing to bring an acoustic guitar along to provide rhythm. There'd need to be at least one other competent rhythm player as well to make it work.

I'll bring my rhythm guitar!

[Chris Gabriel]

is actually 570-0111

Calling is better than email, Bob says (just spoke to him).

[Bob Muller]

Will thanks Ray, looks like you've really got some interest going on this jam. And yes I would like everyone to attend bring your ideas and your skills that should be fun for all. There should be enough guitar players in the group that we can play with live music. Again I have all of the necessary amplifiers, mixer, microphones, speakers etc. all we need are players, and guitars. I encourage all to attend, please give me a call if you have any questions hopefully it will be fun for all.
503 570-0111

[Steve Lipsey]

FYI, I spoke to Bob and asked about bringing refreshments and he said fine, do it....so let's!

Lookin' forward to being part of this!

[Matthew Dawson]

I talked to Bob tonight and am excited about this event. In addition to my 1934 (or so) long-scale frypan I'll be bringing a bass guitar and a small amp to help with the rhythm section duties. I'm looking forward to getting some insight into the nuances the Jerry Byrd style from one of the original disciples!

[Bob Muller]

Thanks to everyone who attended our first practice Jam. It was a lot of fun, I hope to have this about every 2 weeks should be fun for all. Some could not attend tonight, but It was a lot of fun for those who came. There were a lot of really nice non-pedal guitars tonight, hope to see more in the future. A special thanks to Ray Montee for coming up with this idea, and attracting all of the interest. Some left before we took the photo, but this will give you the idea.

[Ray Montee]

Several weeks ago, I asked SGF Members about an informal get-together.......perhaps on a weekly or monthly basis. I figured there'd have to be some sort of donation by participants in order to cover the charges for a modest room.

Well, a local musician named Bob Muller, stepped up to the plate and offered the "FREE" use of his in-home studio. His music room is fabulous and the appointments are most pleasing to the eye, even the STAGE.

Bob has equipped the room with about 1/2 dozen late model Sho-Buds, a great series of varied amps complete with cords AND a great sounding PA set-up.

His set-up is ideal for classroom training and/or
jamming, complete with large screen presentation of the BIAB cord charts.

ALL of THIS..............and at no charge!!!What a really great and enthusiastic musician.

The above photo shows the few that ventured out into one of the Pacific Nowrthwests' first torrential downpours. Few in number but each left with a new found sense of knowledge and friendship.

All of this made possible by b0b's SGF. Many thanks.

If you're a beginner or one with little real experience in the art of playing steel guitar in the presence of others, this is a real oppportuity for you to step out and acquire that 'live' experience.

[Pete Burak]

That sounds great, Ray.
Did the shared-learning part go as you had hoped?
pb

[Matthew Dawson]

Absolutely Pete,
It was great to hear everyone's approach to the steel and Ray (who is often too modest about his playing) gave me some great insight into the Jerry Byrd style of playing C6/A7. Thanks to Ray for the idea and Bob for graciously hosting. Bob really does have an ideal practice setup! I'm looking forward to the next one.

[James Mayer]

Is the next date scheduled?

[Bob Muller]

Next play date will be Monday Dec. 12, This will give a couple others a chance to come over who could not do tues. Just e-mail if you have questions.

classic.jukebox@frontier.com

[Bob Muller]

We had great jam on December 12, with some very well seasoned players in attendance. There were actually three players who have purchased pedal Steels directly from Paul Bigsby, all in the same room at the same time. This made for some very interesting stories from the past. It was a real treat just to hear all of these players playing, and to listen to the history of these players. We are working on doing more of these events, if anyone would like to contribute ideas, or help to make this better please let me know. I will try to post the dates and some sort of a format so that everyone will know what's coming up.


Players from right to left: Dale Granstrom, Jerry black, Mike Eisler, Ray Montee (center), Bob littleton, Bob Muller

[Pete Burak]

Hey Gang,
I spoke to Bob about giving a little presenation at the get together tonight.
I have an idea for an approx 20-30min presentation, using a novelty song that most everyone knows, as a basis for demonstrating harmonized scales using the A+F pedal/lever combo specifically.
I would show the same scale vertically and horizontally.
Give a music theory moment about the scale.
Show some other songs that use the scale.
Stuff flike that.
If nothing else, everyone goes home with the ability to play a song that most of the rest of the world will recognize instantly.
I will bring some Tab that can be shown on a monitor.
Funn Stuff!
Pete B.

[Alan Brookes]

Looks like this is going to become a regular occurrence. Who knows how it will develop.
It all goes to show what can be accomplished if one person has an idea and then pursues it.

[Ray Montee]

Had another pleasant meeting last evening at the home and 'Man Cave' of Bob Muller....... As always, Bob is a great host.

Dale Grandstrom shared photo's of his early made triple neck, faux BIGSBY made out of Myrtle Wood, truly a beautiful piece of work. Any of you steel players out there have any idea of where that guitar might have ended up? It can't just be lying around under someone's bed; or can it?

Dale did a really fine job of playing an unfamiliar
Sho-Bud......smooth plus!

Scott Hay was there too, and made some worthy suggestions on E9th playing. A real fine player in this area. Hope to see more of him.

Pete Burak provided some really great tabs on some exercises on the E9th tuning (including tab for Chop Sticks) and explained them very well. Always great to see and hear Pete play. A truly fine musician.

Sure wish some of the rest of you local steel players would take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to 'share' in the comfort of Bob's great music room. Nothing but good can come of it.

[Pete Burak]

Thanks, Ray.
That was fun!
I posted the Tab for ChopSticks for E9, and the Major Scale using the A+F position, in the Tablature section of the Forum.
Thanks to all that attended and Bob for hosting.
Nice!
Pete B.

[Bryan Daste]

I'm excited about getting out to the next one!