The Steel Guitar Forum

Link to auction on eBay.

I've never seen this model before. It looks like a Melobar Skreemr grafted to the body of a 12-string acoustic. Anybody know anything about this ?

I bid on it and bought it, so it will be interesting to examine "in the flesh". I'm surpised that this instrument wasn't built with a resonator. The body looks like an Aria 12-string, and was obviously not originally intended to have a tailpiece. I imagine this was an experiment by one of the Smiths: I don't think it was ever part of their standard line. Since Melobar changed hands, several of their prototypes have turned up on the market. I'd like to hear some history relating to this instrument, if anyone knows anything.

Thats going to be an interesting project Alan

Here's the metal version,...and it ain't heavy.....

That's an interesting weapon you have there. Any idea of its history ?

I bought this from Ted Smith some years back.....he found it in the attic as they were going through and selling off things......

this was built by Walt Smith, Ted's Dad.....I also have an instruction record that goes with this and some literature....somewhere......I'll look around for that.....

originally it was 10 string student guitar and the fretboard had the whole instruction course on it....great idea.....as long as the music has a lot of rests in it.....

I'll say this......that company did an amazing amount of different and unique things when it came to steel guitar......





as an acoustic,.....not much for volume......and it's been years since I plugged it in......guess I now have a project for myself......

I've never figured out the logic of the original tuning of the 10-string Skreemr. The instrument I just bought looks like the previous owner has equalized the spacing of the strings at the nut and bridge. I shall probably tune it like the C6 neck of a D10. I play most of my music on the C6 neck of a ShoBud D10 Crossover.

The wood body Melobar was called the Strummer and was developed by Walt Smith for consumers who had never played guitar or steel guitar before. The idea behind the tuning was to make an instrument that could be easily learned and played with a flat pick instead of finger picks.

The metal body Melobar interesting history. About one hundred were made, and Walt for some reason decided that he didn't like the product and told Ted to take them to the dump. Ted hide away about a dozen of them and took the rest to the county dump. Some then found some of them at the dump and started selling them. They became known as the "dumpster" guitar. I have 8 of the 12 that Ted kept, if anyone is interested in one. The bodies were made by Dobro.

Jim Frost wrote:The wood body Melobar was called the Strummer and was developed by Walt Smith for consumers who had never played guitar or steel guitar before. The idea behind the tuning was to make an instrument that could be easily learned and played with a flat pick instead of finger picks.

The metal body Melobar interesting history. About one hundred were made, and Walt for some reason decided that he didn't like the product and told Ted to take them to the dump. Ted hide away about a dozen of them and took the rest to the county dump. Some then found some of them at the dump and started selling them. They became known as the "dumpster" guitar. I have 8 of the 12 that Ted kept, if anyone is interested in one. The bodies were made by Dobro.

That's very interesting. What a terrible waste, to dump instruments. If nothing else, it would pay to dismantle them for spare parts.

Jim, how much would you want for one of the 8 that was rescued ? You can reply to me at afbrookes@aol.com.