The Steel Guitar Forum

Saw this on Flea-bay
click here

I just requested they add some undercarriage pics of it. Interesting guitar.

That is a George Sell guitar,and they are great! actually that looks like Josh Dubin's old one?I think that they were built in Philly,and George,and Winnie were buds.One time Josh needed help with a knee lever on his GES when we both lived in L.A.we went to see the late Doc Kaufman...yes THE DOC as in Fender guitars,and steels.He machined a part for the steel and then showed us what was a museum of prototype lap steels with motorized tremolo units,and other great inventions...what a great day that was...Anyway GES are very limited great guitars.

That looks like it might turn out to be a good deal for someone. It looks to be a well built guitar.

I believe there is some mention of George Sell on Winnie's website. I believe the original changer on his homemade guitar came from George.

Yep! George Sell, I went to the Bronx in NYC with him and bought the wood for that guitar from Constentine Brothers. Sally Starr of TV fame went with us. (her limosine). Never forget that day, we had a lot of fun!

I know this guitar well, and many others that George built.
A great guy.

Bobbe

Now that I think about Josh's guitar was two tone Rosewood,and Maple.Bobbe what did you think of the Bronx? I used to take the subway from Queens go through Harlem just to get to school in the Bronx.There used to be a big piano manufacturer there also.Can you tell us about George Sell... the man?
Stu

I lived in the Bronx for 15 years from the 70's to the 90's. Never saw Bobbe there so I don't know if I'm buying that story.
Been to Constantines a few times too. No Bobbe to be seen unless he was masquerading as a nice piece of wood.

I had one of those amps years ago,great tome not enough horsepower...
Charlie...

This my Forum friends is possibly one of the best built guitars ever made. I know George Sell personally,and we still keep in touch with each other. This man is one of the best craftsmen I've ever known. I built my own guitar with his help, and I copied his his key head & changer. It stays in tune & "RARELY" breaks a string and it plays smooth as silk. Someone will surely miss out on a great guitar if they pass this one up. "UNFORTUNATELY" George no longer builds guitars.
The man himself, is one of the best people I have ever had the great pleasure knowing.

Joe

George lives around the corner from me and I just got off the phone with him. He is doing good in spite of being on his second pacemaker and he said he built so many steels that he can't recall how many.
I can second what Joseph said, who ever gets that guitar is going to have a well built machine. I will never forget when Winnie me and George were in his basement watching George put his magic touch on a guitar he was building for Winnie.
Just wanted everyone to know that George Sell is still active but not building steels.
Good luck to the winner of the excellent guitar.
Alvin

Did Josh Dubin play in the band for "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"? IIRC they played in Denver...would have been 1984? John Macy.... where are you....

John Light, I was in the Bronx for three hours, where were you? I went through the bronx on the "Cross Bronx expressway many times, didn't ever stop, never saw you, are you sure you didn't just make this up? I was looking everywhere for you! (1968 this was.)

What kind of guy is George sell? A very smart guy and fanatic steel guitar lover. Loves 1960 Chevys, great humor but sort of quiet. Loves beautiful women. Like Paul Bigsby, he could fix anything, any time , any where.
I was working and living in south Philly PA near where he lived in 1968 (Hurley's Tavern). I spent much time with George and Betty designing steels and helping him procuer parts/wood,and maching shop time. This is where/and the time period I lost my fingers on my left hand that is so noticeable today. George and his wife Betty took care of me after the accident and made it possible for me to play once again.
George E. Sell is a great person that will probably never get the appreciation and fame he so richly deserves.

Bobbe Seymour

I met George once, very nice guy, glad to hear he is still kicking.
But meanwhile, lets get Bobbe to tell us Sally Starr stories.
How bout it Bobbe?

I'd almost like to buy that thing just to have a piece of Philly's steel guitar history (I had no idea there was so much); but I've got too much junk sitting around as it is.

BTW, the Cross-Bronx Expressway was voted by truckers as the worst hiway in America. I used to have to drive it regularly to take my wife to see her mom in Connecticut. We're divorced now. Never saw Jon or Bobbe or Sally Starr. Where were all y'all?

Here is an up date on this guitar:
George wound all his pickups, on this particular guitar each pickup has two taps. Looking at the neck selector switch notice a long plate that has two switches, one on the left and one on the right, the left switch selects the tap for the C6 neck and the right switch selects the E9th pickup tap.
This guitar has 8 pedals and 4 knee levers.
George thinks he only built two guitars that had two tone rosewood like this one.He thinks Ray Nash got one.
George was really impressed with your response to this thread.
Keep on pikin
Alvin

... and it's got a ShoBud X-mas tree amp to go with it... best sounding PSG amp I've ever plaid thru (still got mine!).

It's just interesting somebody would sell a complete setup like this one...

... J-D.

One more cool thing about the George Sell guitar that Josh Dubin had,The roller nuts were oil-ight bearings,Josh used to tell me about what a genius George is.

Sally Starr stories? Naw, I'd be put in Jail! She was wonderful to me, George Sell and country music. Really was/is a incredible entertainer.

George's quality? just as great as his engineering and design work was.

If he had lived in Nashville, he'd be as famous as Paul Bigsby, Shot, Zane, and anyone.

He took a D-9 Sho-Bud I had once (perminent/welded set up) and made all my knee levers work both necks like I wanted, didn't charge me a thing, so I had Sally take care of him,(no, not that way!)I mean with money!

David Doggett, Philly is very rich in country music and sateel guitar, Wayne Tyler, Earl Sexton, George Edwards, and many more including me for a while. At one time it seems like everyone in the Ernest Tubb band was from that area. It was a great place to make money and work in the late 60's. But I still left there and went to Nashville. Probably shouldn't have, but I just had to, know what I mean?
I still miss the hot pretzels. (with musterd)

Bobbe

Well, Bobbe, ya shoulda been here yesterday to see the Phillies take the final game in a sweep of the Mets. The lead changed 5 times. Final score was 11 to 10. Best baseball game I ever saw. I was too hungry for just the pretzel, so I had a cheesesteak, cheese fries, lemon ice, and a few brews.

Not much country around here now. But there is some great jazz, with lots of old-timers trying to pass it on to younger players. Tomorrow I'll be playing with a blues band in the annual Tranestop blues and jazz festival.

David,That's heartbreaking new about my Mets!Great news about the cheesesteak samitch...we aint got those up here...Waaahhh!

Bobbe, guess we could tell some stories bout Hurley's tavern, huh

The seller needs to put the pedal bar on properly - it appears backwards in the photo.

HA! Hadn't noticed that, Barry. Good eyes! It is backwards.

Dave Doggett and Bill S., You are making me home sick!
Philly is a unique place, not like any other big US city.

Bobbe