I'm Back On The Forum-Chris Templeton

About Steel Guitarists and their Music

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Chris Templeton
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Location: The Green Mountain State

I'm Back On The Forum-Chris Templeton

Post by Chris Templeton »

Thank you B0b in assisting me getting back on the forum. Also, Craig Stock for posting things for me.
Here's a story:
I visited my friend in a foreign country several times in the late 80's.
This unnamed friend has 63 Merle Haggard records at last count. A HUGE Buck Owens fan too.
He has a nice looking maple Sho~Bud Pro I and had hit a rough patch with his wife.
She took a hacksaw, vertically, to the front apron. OUCH!
He has a Carter 3/5 now.
Some of you may not know about my Tapper. It's a Sierra with a raised fretboard to tap or use standard guitar technique...
It Looks like this:
Image
And thank you, Fred
f you'd like to listen to my 22 year project, you can have a listen here:
https://christophertempleton.bandcamp.com
Nice to be back!
Last edited by Chris Templeton on 31 Jul 2021 9:11 am, edited 2 times in total.
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
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Fred Treece
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Post by Fred Treece »

Wow! I honestly always thought your avatar pic was a gag. First the D10+8 hybrid pedal/non-pedal, now this? Never a dull moment... And it looks great, too.

Oh, and welcome back, too!
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Chris Templeton
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Post by Chris Templeton »

This is the hybrid Fred refers to:

Image
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
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Mike Neer
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Post by Mike Neer »

Welcome back, Chris!
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Marty Broussard
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Post by Marty Broussard »

Chris, please provide info on the rear neck that has the rollers near the changer. Very interesting.
"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin
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Craig Stock
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Post by Craig Stock »

Great news Chris, welcome back!
Regards, Craig

I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.

Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days
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Chris Templeton
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Post by Chris Templeton »

Craig! I made it and didn't drop the bar!!
Marty, the blueprints for The Tapper were done by Ned Steinberger and Don Christianson and Tom Baker at Sierra made it.
I first met Ned Steinberger at the 12th & Porter club, in Nashville, around when he was selling Steinberger Guitars to Gibson in the early 90's.
Here's a picture of me with Buddy & Ned out to lunch in Hermitage.
Image
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
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Fred Treece
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Post by Fred Treece »

Clicked on your link, Christopher, and.... Holy crap! I went from smiles to jaw drops and back again many times listening to your tunes. Thank you again for coming back.

I swear, there is more talent on this forum (hell, just in this thread!) than I could possibly have imagined when I joined 5 years ago, and the revelations just keep on coming. What a gift.
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Chris Templeton
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Post by Chris Templeton »

That means a lot to me, Fred!
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
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Dale Rottacker
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Post by Dale Rottacker »

Sad to say, but I didn't know till now that you'd been gone, though I certainly know your name. Aaaaaaand I hadn't heard you play till just now, but what I heard was really creative. Some beautiful playing and some beautiful tones and overtones too. Welcome Back.
Dale Rottacker, Steelinatune™
*2021 MSA Legend, "Jolly Rancher" D10 10x9
*2021 Rittenberry, "The Concord" D10 9x9
*1977 Blue Sho-Bud Pro 3 Custom 8x6
https://msapedalsteels.com
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Craig Stock
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Post by Craig Stock »

Chris that picture reminds me of a song that Willie did after a comment about a guy sitting next to Buddy in a booth, I didn't know till now that that was you :whoa:
Regards, Craig

I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.

Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days
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Charlie McDonald
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Post by Charlie McDonald »

Welcome back, Chris!
Those that say don't know; those that know don't say.--Buddy Emmons
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Chris Templeton
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Post by Chris Templeton »

Thank you, Charlie!
Craig reminded me of a story Buddy told me:
Him and Willie were sitting in a booth at Tootsies and a guy sat down next to Buddy.
Both Buddy and Willie thought he was friends with one of them.
He wasn't, with either of them, and the guy kept nudging Buddy over on his seat.
Buddy finally turned to the guy and said. "are You about where you want to be?".
The guy left and Willie said to Buddy, "That would be a good title for a song and I'll give you half".
And here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lARIX1EMbwA
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
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Chris Templeton
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Post by Chris Templeton »

BTW, the 6 string on the hybrid, is an eight string now, thanks to Duane Marrs who installed the 7 & 8 tuners for free.
Thank you Duane. I hope you found some chaw and a spitoon where ever you are.
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
Pete McAvity
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Post by Pete McAvity »

A pedal steel Chapman stick. Was thinking about the possibilities recently- figured it had already be done, and yes, there it is.
Excel Superb D10, Kline U12, Sarno Black Box, Goodrich L120, Boss DD5, Baby Bloomer, 1965 Super Reverb chopped to a head, feeding a mystery PA cab w/ a K130.

They say "thats how it goes". I say "that ain't the way it stays!"
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Johnie King
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Post by Johnie King »

Looks like the tapper has adjustable intonation available.
Seems like a good idea for pedal steel.
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Chris Templeton
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Post by Chris Templeton »

Hello Johnnie!, It's been a while. You sure have been designing some great guitars. I especially like the bass steel you made for Zane.
In 1983, at the first Dallas Jamboree, Zane had a time slot on the show and he invited me to sit in on a song. I think it was "I'm So Lonesome I could cry". Thanks you Zane.
In the mid 80's I went to Zane's studio, in Bald Knob, with a track for him to record on. It was a Gilligan's Island theme type song. I can't remember the name.
Besides Zane, Buddy and Bobbe Seymore were on the track.
I left a solo section for me, because I would have to to spend some time working it up, for obvious reasons.
Sad to say, I don't have the multitrack tape and don't know where it is.
Also Johnnie, the seeds for doing the second compensated bridge, for fretting, were Thumbs Carlyle, Gene Fields and later on Ned Steinberger.
I have now reduced my 10 string Tapper to six strings to attract guitar players.
The thing I don't like about the tapping technique is that it can sound "short of breath", when played clean.
A little overdrive/distortion and compression and maybe a noise gate, and the Tapper can really rock.
What's really nice is that while tapping fast, hitting a pedal or knee lever and going right to the exact note, puts it, for me, a step above guitar tapping, a la Eddie VanHalen.
Have an enjoyable rest of the Summer, Johnnie,
Chris
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Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
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Chris Templeton
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Post by Chris Templeton »

Johnnie.- I wonder if Zane has a two track rough mix of that song?
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
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