Mystery Steeler (and steel)

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 4 May 2022 8:11 am

His name is right there so it's not a mystery, really. Anybody know the player? Anybody know anything about the steel?

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 4 May 2022 8:23 am

Love the picture! Do you have the LP, Jon?

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 4 May 2022 8:30 am

Nah. Popped up on a random (non-music-related) FB feed.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 4 May 2022 10:06 am

Looks like a modified Fender Dual Pro with the trapezoid pickups.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 4 May 2022 10:18 am

Dave Zirbel wrote:Looks like a modified Fender Dual Pro with the trapezoid pickups.

That's the way I saw it.

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 4 May 2022 12:47 pm

After seeing this post, I dropped the needle on this. The lady on our left is Judy Gentry and her guitar playing is quite good. The singing is also pretty good with nice harmonies. Unfortunately the production is weak with a piano playing willy-nilly over everything and the Hawaiian style steel also not very strong or well placed.

The band and church is from Bellflower, CA, in the L.A. region. There is no info on the steel player, other than his name.

Joe

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 4 May 2022 12:59 pm

Way to go, Joe!

Jerry Jones · Post by **Jerry Jones** » 4 May 2022 3:39 pm

There is this from Mt Carmel, PA - July '46

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 5 May 2022 12:43 am

What an awesome little thread!

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 5 May 2022 12:17 pm

https://www.century21.com/real-estate-a ... -P10313260

John Brabant · Post by **John Brabant** » 19 May 2022 10:59 am

So Lee has provided a phone number for LeRoy. Jon Light, give him a call and fill us in on what you find out!

Rob French · Post by **Rob French** » 2 Nov 2024 7:39 am

Hi everyone, I'm reviving this thread if there is still interest. I recently acquired this guitar- if anyone has an questions, I'd be happy to answer what I can.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 2 Nov 2024 7:50 am

Oh man! What an excellent score.
For starters, I'd LOVE to see pics of the undersides! I've seen enough steel guitar hacks with dull spoons and chisels. I love seeing pedal conversions that are well done!

Rob French · Post by **Rob French** » 2 Nov 2024 7:59 am

Let me get together a batch of photos to upload. Apparently I have to resize them, so it may take some doing. Would love to get everyone's take on this.

I play some non-pedal (50's Console Grande) but pedals are new for me. But this is the sound I love.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 2 Nov 2024 8:02 am

Rob French wrote:Let me get together a batch of photos to upload. Apparently I have to resize them, so it may take some doing. Would love to get everyone's take on this.

I play some non-pedal (50's Console Grande) but pedals are new for me. But this is the sound I love.

Fantastic.

btw -- I don't exaggerate when I talk about steel guitar hacks with dull spoons and chisels.

Rob French · Post by **Rob French** » 2 Nov 2024 9:37 am

Oh lordy!

Rob French · Post by **Rob French** » 2 Nov 2024 9:45 am

I have a lot of pics. What's the best way to link to these? Here's a sample:

Rob French · Post by **Rob French** » 2 Nov 2024 2:14 pm

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 2 Nov 2024 5:58 pm

Awesome thanks for posting

Rob French · Post by **Rob French** » 2 Nov 2024 9:08 pm

No problem…

I do know that this guitar was used by Big Jim Murphy when he played with Asleep at the Wheel, but it was loaned to him by the person I got it from. I’m not sure how much it was used that much after that. I did some basic cleaning and lubricating when I got it earlier this year, but I need to really go through the mechanism again. Some of the tuning screws are frozen.

Dan Behringer · Post by **Dan Behringer** » 2 Nov 2024 10:31 pm

Wow! This thread makes me realize how much I’d love to see a museum for steel guitars and players. It's sad that there isn’t enough people in this world that would be interested enough to make it economically feasible.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 3 Nov 2024 2:21 am

This really is cool.
There are some parts that tickle my brain with just a bit of familiarity but I can't place it. I can't recall what the Shot Jackson conversions look like. And I associate them with Stringmasters. But I wonder if anyone who knows a lot more than me might have some insight about this guitar.

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 3 Nov 2024 6:38 am

I have a Console Grande with Shot's conversion. Blurry pic, sorry.

I think the pedal stuff on this guitar looks more like Wright/Sierra.

Rob French · Post by **Rob French** » 3 Nov 2024 12:23 pm

Jon Light wrote:This really is cool.
There are some parts that tickle my brain with just a bit of familiarity but I can't place it. I can't recall what the Shot Jackson conversions look like. And I associate them with Stringmasters. But I wonder if anyone who knows a lot more than me might have some insight about this guitar.

The previous owner had thought it was Bigsby. But I sent pics to a well known Bigsby expert, and he said no, but could be Shot Jackson. But he wasn't sure.

Rob French · Post by **Rob French** » 3 Nov 2024 12:28 pm

Rick Abbott wrote:I think the pedal stuff on this guitar looks more like Wright/Sierra.

I will look into that. Does anyone know of any resources or pics of old Sierras? Might help to compare.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Mystery Steeler (and steel)

Mystery Steeler (and steel)

Shot Jackson Conversion

Re: Shot Jackson Conversion