Does anybody know this guy?

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 9 Jul 2001 9:35 pm

He's playing for The Wilkinsons (they finally got a steel player).

His first name is Jeff, and I believe his last name started with a "sh" sound (but not postive about that part).

The steel adds a lot, and he's got a "cat food can" dobro simulator he uses one some of the songs (the dobro player left the band). Does a very good dobro sound, BTW.

I hope they keep him around -- I really like having the steel in there.

Edit:

Dangit, as soon as I get the service, they stop allowing direct links to pictures on their site. Well, try this link instead to see Jeff's picture:
CRW_1324.htm

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

[This message was edited by David Pennybaker on 11 July 2001 at 10:46 AM.][This message was edited by b0b on 06 August 2001 at 01:35 PM.]

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 10 Jul 2001 6:41 am

Jeff Surratt. Cool guy, great player. The only way I know to reach him is through Duane
Marrs. 615-868-5344

John Drury
NTSGA #0003

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 10 Jul 2001 6:56 am

Thanks!

I didn't quite catch the name when they introduced him. I sure hope he sticks around for a while. They've gone through 2 people quickly recently on fiddle (guess they can't decide if they really want a full-time fiddler or not). But Jeff makes a great addition to the band -- and with the dobro player gone, they REALLY need him.

Do you know who else he's played with before?

I noticed the Marrs guitar -- I'd never heard of that brand before. I assume they're a low-volume custom shop?

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 10 Jul 2001 7:26 am

Yeah, Duane Marrs worked for Sho~Bud
years ago. Now he makes his own steels,
parts, & accessories.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 10 Jul 2001 7:43 am

Here's an article about Jeff Surratt that includes some nice photes of his Marrs guitar.

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 10 Jul 2001 8:01 am

Thanks, Bobby. That's a neat guitar. I couldn't quite tell from where I was sitting if it was a dual neck or not. I certainly wouldn't have guess that one of the necks was a six-string, that's for sure.

Wow! If I go to google.com and enter "Jeff Surrat", your page comes right up!

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 10 Jul 2001 8:11 am

Jeff played with Clay Davidson for a while.

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Visit My Website

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 6 Aug 2001 9:55 am

Well, a few of my "spies" told me that they didn't see a steel player at their shows after I saw Jeff on July 4th. So, I was worried that he hadn't worked out for some reason or another.

Fortunately, I guess it's just because none of them know what a steel guitar looks like.

Must've thought he was another keyboard player or something.

I asked Steve about Jeff this last week, and he said Jeff's working out great.

Hopefully the next time I see the whole band in concert I'll get a chance to talk with Jeff some. I think I'd like a guitar like the one he's got. I assume there's VERY few like it around, though, and I doubt I'd want to pay for a custom one.

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

JACK HEERN · Post by **JACK HEERN** » 9 Aug 2001 11:57 am

Duane Marrs is the guy who can correct any builder's screw up. If it's not made of pine. Most of the NashVegas mechanics take your ailing guitar to Duane after they can't fix it, charge you 30% over what they paid him and brag all the way to the parking lot on how they did good.

Jeff is picking up the same kind of fixit qualitys from the exposure !![This message was edited by JACK HEERN on 09 August 2001 at 12:59 PM.]

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 9 Aug 2001 5:30 pm

Aug 27 Centre Hall Pa I will be there and give you a report.

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 9 Aug 2001 5:44 pm

Jeff was at the convention with that guitar a few years back. I remember thinking at the time how cool it was and how much I'd like to have one.

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 9 Aug 2001 6:39 pm

First time to see them, Janice?

I'm gonna beat you to it, though -- I'll be seeing them on August 25th in Windsor, Ontario. It's about time I met some of the Canadian fans I'm friends with.

Mike, I agree with you. I'd really like to own a guitar like that. I'm just afraid of what the cost would be. I think I could give up my S-12 and go with the E-9 / dobro double-neck.

However that thing worked, it sounded remarkably like a dobro. I need to find out if he's got any post-processing going on, or if it's just in the pickup / tuna-can.

I'm not sure I understand how an electro-magnetic pickup would be affected that much by the tuna can. I'd have thought an acoustic pickup would be required.

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 9 Aug 2001 7:01 pm

Yes this will be my first show. The next night I will see Tom with Chad Brock. Are
you just doing a weekend or a few other dates?

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 9 Aug 2001 7:10 pm

I haven't had a chance to see Chad Brock yet, but I'd like to. Tom who?

Literally flying up Saturday morning to Detroit, cross the river into Windsor, Ontario, spend the night, the fly back on Sunday. Got some VERY good ticket prices from Continental a month or so ago when they went on a super-duper sale. Can't wait, because I've heard the Canadian concerts are somewhat differnet. During the acoustic set, Steve apparently sings a song that Amanda normally performs. And I've GOT to hear that. Plus, it's close enough to their family (Toronto's 4 hrs away, I think) that I should be able to meet the other set of grandparents, plus a few friends of mine (and theirs) that I've emailed for a while.

I hope you get a full 80-minute set or so in PA. If so, you'll get the acoustic set. And possibly Amanda performing "Cowboy's Sweetheart" -- an awesome treat. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your country with a little pop and folk blended in. Get ready for "James Taylor meets The Carpenters".

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons