Roger Rettig is a great man to make a deal with

Duncan Hodge · From: DeLand, FL USA

I'm not sure if this is where I should post this message, but as Roger is a bonafide steel player I thought I would start here.
I just arrived back home after picking up a pair of NV-112 amps from Forum member Roger Rettig. The deal went very smoothly and the amps were exactly as represented in his post. Additionally, I had the privilege and opportunity to spend some time with Roger. Roger has led a very interesting musical life. He is friends with and has played with so many of the legends of British rock and roll, yet is a fellow that you kinda want to invite down to the corner pub for a pint, or two. I was thinking about doing just that before I remembered I still had to drive another 130 miles before I reached my desired destination for the evening.
Anyway, Roger, thanks for making this transaction very easy and pleasurable...and for the use of the loo. To other members of the SGF who may have the occasion to buy from, or sell to Roger Rettig...I can recommend him without reservation. If you have the opportunity to transact the business personally...then you are in for a treat. And to Roger, I did not kill any fish last night in Anna Maria Island, but I did eat one in the restaurant.
Duncan
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"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."

Fish · Posted 22 Feb 2013 7:16 am

Roger is one in ten million!

(Now Roger, send me $100 in a plain sealed envelope.) Very Happy

take care, mate.

Steve

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

My path has surprisingly never crossed with Roger's, but I know from some of the emails that we have exchanged that he is a class act. You don't get to play with some of the acts that he has if you aren't a great player.
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Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Ken...I first met Roger many moons ago in the "Red Cow" Hammersmith. He was with the King Pins, and singing a song "The lights on Broadway" ... using a Strat. Used to meet at many venues "digs" when time for band change overs. Also many times at Gerry Hogan's steel festivals. If you catch any old repeats of Freddy Starr, you'll see him in the band. I used to go to the Nashville rooms when he was with the band "Fatso" They did a comedy number, where no sound was played lol ... but they went through all the actions like they "were" playing....somewhat like the "air" guitars of today. Roger also used to play an instrumental on steel while the band stood around him looking in awe. I think it was Aidle Veiss (Spell)...Rog would "deliberately" play it out of tune all the way to the end when the "sweet" playing took over to end the song. I can imagine it's hard to deliberately play out of tune like that...they were a great funny act to watch, also with ace guitarist Billy Bremner on 2nd guitar Smile

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I've just seen this thread....

Duncan:
I'm glad you're pleased with the amps. They've served me well but I bet there are years of use left in them. The 112 is truly a dependable and well-proven product. It was nice to meet you, too.

Steve - why don't I simply return the $100 you sent me when I told everyone what a great player you are? Very Happy

I'm very proud of the time we spent on the road together (the 'Hurry Up & Wait Tour: 1988') - you were with Emmylou and I'd drawn the short straw and was with.... someone else! You were great company and helped me get over the jitters of playing in such exalted circles. Thanks for the encouragement.

Ken:
Yes, it's odd, isn't it? We're pals now, that's the main thing. (I just love your new Show Pro!!!)

Micky:
Our paths have crossed a lot - I'm so happy you're still healthy and happy and pleased that we're still in touch. (I'd forgotten I ever played a Strat - it must have been the one I got cheap after the Fender Sound House burned to the ground in suspicious circumstances!!! Smile

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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Ah Ken....the infamous Fuller's circuit, my first Fullers gig was the "Roebuck" ..now been pulled down many years ago. Yes Ted Poulton!! I think the band got £19 ..should have been £20, but £1 was deducted to pay for a so called P.A. System...which there wasn't any!!!
Roger...yes i remember the Fender Sound house fire lol...most regarded it as an Insurance job! I remember playing with our band a posh Yachting club, and Ivor Arbitor head of Fender's U.K. was there with the President of C.B.S. He came up to me in the break and whispered to me "What's all this F*****G Peavey gear on stage, never mind I'll still buy you all a drink" Then the President of Fenders said to me.."Nice Salmon pink Strat you have" .. little did he know it was made up by a guy in London to resemble a 64 Strat Very Happy

..complete with Leo's signature on the inside of the neck.

Lads ... I also remember another story of the "Red cow" Hammersmith. Gus York was on steel, and Ray Flack was on guitar. Ray leaned over to Gus and said "Isn't that Buddy Emmons who just walked in?" .. and it was..he was with Bob Powell from "Country music people" magazine. I think Gus starting shaking at this point. Apparently he asked Buddy to play, but he declined...I believe Gus was playing a D-8 Denley at the time. Talking about Denley steels, I played a club in Fulham for Tom Wheelan, in walks Bob Powell with Shot Jackson, and Bashfull brother Oswald. I was playing a S-10 Denley tuned to an A6th. In the break Shot came over and strummed the steel acoustically and said in his Nashville twang "You can't play Country on that tuning boy!!" ..well I didn't have a clue on a chromatic tuning in those days. Shot asked us back to his hotel as he had a Sho-Bud there...wish I had gone actually, because some months later Bob Powell said to me that Shot would have probably given me the 'Bud as there weren't too many if any in the U.K. as you know most players had a ZB .. that actually was my next guitar for 5 years till I picked up my S-12 Sho-Bud in 1977 ...i actually used the 'Bud yesterday at a jam session...after all it's been through..being rebuilt from a house fire etc it played soooo sweetly. Those past days were good though weren't they Very Happy

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Bob Powell. We used to call him Pot Bowel, but he was a good sort who had forgotten more about country music than most people knew. He could take all the pi$$ taking that we used to give him, and come back for more. I saw him at a country music festival in the early 80's, but never saw or heard of him again. Hope he is still alive.

At the festival when I last saw him, Alan 'Howling Laud' Hope approached Bob and put his hand on his shoulder and said, "Bloody Hell Bob, you've put some beef on!". To which the rotund Bob Powell removed Hope's hand and said to him, "This conversation is very boring" and walked offf in a different direction. Lovely put down.
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Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Yes! Bob Powell gave me the 'Buddy Emmons Treatment' in the Nashville Rooms (that was next to West Kensington Underground Station lest anyone should be confused in a geographical sense).

It was quite literally my first time attempting to play steel with the Kingpins (I was on Tele for the gig) and I had my then-new red ZB Student guitar. I'd been fumbling in what must have been an excruciating way - first time on a stage with a steel, and all that - and it was time for our first break. There was Bob standing with a tall dark stranger...

"Roger, I'd like you to meet Buddy Emmons..."

I think my acute discomfort (almost as acute as his must have been - what can you say, after all, to someone taking their first plunge on such an instrument?) can be well imagined by everyone reading this.

Buddy, I should say, acted like the gentleman he's always been and muttered some words of encouragement. Me? I was hoping there was a trap-door in the floor and I could disappear!
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Roger...I had a similar situation to you. We were playing at USAF Mildenhall as the house band at the time they used to fly the stars in from Nashville to do the "Floor show" ..This time it was Bill Anderson and the Po Boys...a 7 piece band with Sonny Garrish on his D-10 Emmons, and I had my little Denley and had been playing about 10 months. I felt Physically sick listening to Sonny play...on one number he got his Boss tone going..I'd never heard one before.After their set they all sat in the audience untill we finished the last set. The wonderful thing about these master players is how courteous they are. We had breakfast together (Do you remember them?) ..like 1.30 in the morning and Sonny was so encouraging, saying they all had to start from scratch and keep practising. I don't think i've met any top players who were as we say in U.K. up their own behinds ( or words to that effect) Laughing

Ken..back to Bob Powell...I was reading the last post from Roger and was going to actually as the same question as you as to if Bob is still around (no pun there) Julie and I used to go and have a curry with him after any gig he came to. Yes he was so knowledgeable on Country music. If only the many young wanna bees on the scene here now, knew the grafting we had to do in our early days. I met a Bass player at the gig yesterday, complaining that he had to do 15 miles to get to a gig, and how late he got home!!!! Live and learn eh?? Laughing

Micky "scars" Byrne... U.K.

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Gerry had the same thing years ago. He had to play the same night at an American Air force base as Faron Young and the Deputies. None other than the young speedster Doug Jernigan on pedal steel. Gerry said it was mind blowing having to watch someone like Doug playing, and then having to follow him.

My turn came when Reece Anderson came to the UK around '78, and Dave Nash and I did a twin steel spot before the great man's set. Reece blew us away with these big fat chords and single string improvisation. When I look back, Dave and I thought we could play a bit, but we were put right in our place with a dose of reality. It just made us go back to the drawing board and work a bit harder. Reece was very kind, and he and his band shared a few days with me while I ran them around the UK to gigs that I had arranged.

Micky
I saw Bill Anderson's Po' Boys with Jimmy Gately and Sonny Garrish at the London Palladium. They had Wayne Gray on guitar and he was incredible as was Sonny. Sonny's tone from his rosewood Emmons push-pull was amazing - I can still remember it to this day. The Po Boys was the tightest country band I think I have ever seen.
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Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,

Willis Vanderberg · From: Petoskey Mi

Roger Rettig:
What can I say...He is a class act all the way.
We have spent some time together when he was playing in Sarasota and Bradenton Florida. He was gracious enough to answer my questions on pedal steel.He also does a fine job on the Tele and Martin flatop.
His wife Susie is a special person also. I am planning on catching his show at Medora this summer. We are pulling our fifth wheel to Oregon and will stop at Medora for a couple of days.
Thank you Roger for being a friend and mentor.

Old Bud

PS: He can also do justice to a loaf of homemade bread in a hurry.

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

Roger has played with so many people that almost eveyone has something or someone in common with him.
In our email communications I'm surprised at how much in common we have, although our career paths have obviously gone down completely different directions, mine being one of never having the confidence to give up my day job. Embarassed

Keep a-rocking, Roger. Cool

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Hey, Bud!!!! You're too kind (as usual!) It was thanks to you that those gigs were even viable for me, and your house was a 'home away from home' for me. In addition, your very capable mechanical skills were brought to bear on my steel more than once.

Bud is a guy who continues to work at his playing - age is not a factor in his thinking! I do hope you manage to get to Medora - it'll be lovely to see you (me and Susie miss you here in FL) and to meet your better half!

You would have to mention the homemade bread, wouldn't you??? You'd be proud of me now, though, as I've lost forty pounds since last we met.

Alan! I've enjoyed our communications very much - we both like trolleybuses and we're both diabetic, too (oh: and we're British!) As for the job, well, it sometimes seems a bit of a struggle but there's still a roof over my head. I'm seventy in a couple of weeks but retirement is out of the question - financially, that is... Sad

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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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