1948 Double-Neck Gibson Console Grande Owned and played by the late Don Helms. This is the original "Ole Red" that he used on almost all Hank Williams' hits, including "You're Cheatin" Heart", "Cold, Cold Heart", "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "Hey Good Lookin'",and dozens more. He also played on Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight" and other hits by Stonewall Jackson, Lefty Frizzell, and The Louvin Brothers, just to name a few.
This a once in a lifetime offer to own the guitar that helped define the Hank Williams sound. reply to tmarc6@live.com
On the first recording (the best known one) of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", Jerry Byrd, not Don Helms, is on steel. (Recorded at Herzog Studios, Cincinnati, 1949.)
It would definitely be great to own a piece of steel guitar history, but there's a part of me that feels that Don Helms' Gibson Console Grande, which was on so many of Hank's tunes, AND on stage with Hank, should be in a museum, like the Hank Williams Museum.
Gibson Console D-8, Miller Custom D-10, Sho-Bud (Pro-III Prototype) D-10, Fender Artist D-10
Back quite a few yrs ago here @ the opry on Saturday I met at a restaurant on Sat. morning the owner of the opry. He hollerd at me motioned me over to their table. Another couple were with them. Heasked me you are a steel player do you know who Don Helms is. I said yes he said let me introduce you to him. When I went to the opry Don and his wife were setting at a table invited me to sit down we talked about an hour. He told me had turned down an offer of $100,000 for it said it was going to go to hall of fame when he passed. He passed about 90 days later. A very nice gentleman. This was at Louisburg, Ks. about 50 miles south of Kansas City. It was at the Middle Creek Opry. Wes
I find it difficult to believe this is 'The' Console Grande. I'd heard through the years that Don had one or two more he kept as spares but they couldn't match the mojo of Ole Red. Maybe this is one of those, I dunno.
Marc Helms wrote:1948 Double-Neck Gibson Console Grande Owned and played by the late Don Helms. This is the original "Ole Red" that he used on almost all Hank Williams' hits, including "You're Cheatin" Heart", "Cold, Cold Heart", "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "Hey Good Lookin'",and dozens more. He also played on Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight" and other hits by Stonewall Jackson, Lefty Frizzell, and The Louvin Brothers, just to name a few.
This a once in a lifetime offer to own the guitar that helped define the Hank Williams sound. reply to tmarc6@live.com
I'll take it! I've always wanted a collectors guitar. I just can't pass this offer up.
Thanks,
Gary
Last edited by Gary Watkins on 2 Mar 2021 1:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If you succeed in cheating someone, don't think that the person is a fool. It's just that the person trusted you far more than you deserved.
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