A brief history of lap steel guitar

Tom Gray · Post by **Tom Gray** » 1 Apr 2012 11:23 am

In my blog I've posted a brief history of lap steel guitar. Of course it's impossible to cover such a huge topic in under 500 words and a few video links, so I focused on what was most relevant to my own playing. No matter where your focus lies, I hope you find it interesting.

http://www.deltamoon.info/my-instrument ... el-guitar/

James Hartman · Post by **James Hartman** » 1 Apr 2012 11:34 am

Nice little fingernail sketch. Fun!

I like your characterization of it as a "subjective history". Hopefully on that basis you won't be subject to too many folks trying to "correct your mistakes".

Mark Roeder · Post by **Mark Roeder** » 1 Apr 2012 12:05 pm

Thanks Tom
I didn't know about the India connection.

Tom Gray · Post by **Tom Gray** » 1 Apr 2012 12:23 pm

Mark, not many people do. But check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qgh-omKpgs

Mark Roeder · Post by **Mark Roeder** » 1 Apr 2012 12:29 pm

Very cool Tom, definitely not your C6 tuning!
Thanks

Richard Sevigny · Post by **Richard Sevigny** » 1 Apr 2012 1:09 pm

I like your closing statement about how steel is the music of the human race

Michael Nemick · Post by **Michael Nemick** » 1 Apr 2012 5:09 pm

Tom, I really enjoyed that. Thank you.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 2 Apr 2012 5:42 am

I have a history of lap steel guitar to report.
Six or is it eight ? years ago I bought my first lap steel guitar. It was a 1939 Epiphone Century. Since that time I have purchased several more, built several, and now gig in a rock band where I get to trot out lap steel.
This is a brief history compared to the wonderful and lengthy histories on this forum. Still, my history is filled with excitement, loss and reward, and I hope it has a great ending.

Kevin Brown · Post by **Kevin Brown** » 3 Apr 2012 12:42 am

Hi Tom, thats very nice job you've done there. Glad you put in the vina. to me thats at the heart of the steel 'lineage' as is Calcutta where this instrument first gained popularity. Very few players left now as you are aware as many drawn to the more flamboyant and expressive instruments. I was unaware of the island connection prior to Joseph Kekuku. Your information about Gabriel Davion arriving from India throws new light in the history. Im sure many here on the forum had always believed Joseph Kekuku to be responsible for the connection between a steel bar placed on the strings. I find your post most enlightening as I had done a lot of research recently in an attempt to stir up interest in a low budget documentary covering similar ground ( diddleybow films)

Brian Hunter · Post by **Brian Hunter** » 3 Apr 2012 4:24 pm

Wonderful job!

Dennis Smith · Post by **Dennis Smith** » 7 Apr 2012 8:16 pm

Hi Tom
I like your playing and the history.

This is a strange request, I know. But by chance do you have a copy of the Atlanta Magazine Music CD#1 that came with the Ga music issue a few years ago. There was a Delta Moon cut on there. There is a song on there by Donna Hopkins called "Everything money can't buy" that has great dobro. There are some live versions on youtube but I think the studio cut is the best. If you have it could you post it.
Thanks Dennis

Gary S. Lynch · Post by **Gary S. Lynch** » 8 Apr 2012 4:04 am

Randy,
Like your Avatar.. I just got a 41 Century with original blade pickup.
Great sounding guitars!

Tom Gray · Post by **Tom Gray** » 8 Apr 2012 5:50 am

Dennis, I think that was about 2003. Sorry but I don't have it.

Dennis Smith · Post by **Dennis Smith** » 8 Apr 2012 8:29 am

Hi Tom
Thanks anyway.
Dennis

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 8 Apr 2012 1:06 pm

Great. Thanks for sharing that, Tom.

Rickey Mitchell · Post by **Rickey Mitchell** » 9 Apr 2012 6:03 pm

Lap Steel Talk
Hey Tom good to hear from you, very well done.
Your very right, lap steel music is world music. I’ve only been able to find a few words about Gabriel Davion.
India’s lap steel history is around 60 years old according to Andy Volk’s interview in his book Lap Steel Guitar. I saw Debashish Bhattacharya on Eric Clapton’s 2007 Crossroads DVD and was completely blown away.
I learned a lot more from Andy’s Volk’s interview with him in his book Lap Steel Guitar.
I’ve been listening to Debashish Bhattacharya and his different calibrations a lot lately.
The Cd he did with Bob Brozman is incredible.
Below is a video of Doug Cox with steelers and others from a round the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDhk9IBXX8M

Talk about Lap Steel Music being world music.

More with Debashish Bhattacharya, Salil Bahtt, Vishwa Mohan Bahtt, Ramkumar Mishra,engineered by Miles Wilkenson and Doug Cox.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWAZYjwy ... re=related

Some years ago after catching the Weissenborn bug from seeing David Lindley perform on one I was able to acquire a Weissenborn. From there I started lurking a round youtube looking for others that were playing the Weiss. I came across this guy he’s never failed to inspire me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJGOCGvJ ... ure=relmfu .

Thanks for a great post Tom.

The Steel Guitar Forum

A brief history of lap steel guitar

A brief history of lap steel guitar

E Century