The Steel Guitar Forum

Looks like I'll be doing a run next year here in Sonoma Co. I know Don played Gibson's tuned to E but I'll have to clean up the old Stringmaster. My comfort zone in non pedal is B6. Will that get the job done? Just avoid the first string (F#), right?

Also, is there anyplace I can send my Stringmaster to have restored before January? It's a mess. Has some rust on the metal.

Also, any tips from players that have done this show would be helpful. I think it's gonna be a blast, (except for my speaking parts )

Thanks
Dave

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Dave,

I don't recall the gentleman's name, but Lost Highway played here in Sonora, CA a year or so ago. Perhaps you could contact Sierra Repertory Theater (SRT)and get a link to his name, number, etc. The phone number for SRT is (209) 532-3120.

Best of luck, break a leg!

Paul

I believe Russ Wever is your man.

Dave,
Don's main tuning is this E6 - hi2lo G# E C# B G# E C# A
and his second tuning is B11 - hi2lo E C# A F# D# B A F#
These would be the best tunings to use.

Hey Paul. My wife has family in Copperopolis! Her aunt Alice lives there. I think she sells real estate. Alice's husband, Greg Brown plays a gig in town on weekends with a keyboard and drum machine. I hear he's a real good country singer. Do you know him?

Dave

Am I wrong? Or, am I possibly correct?

I tho't Don Davis played "Lost Highway" with Williams, Sr.

If per chance, a long really, really loooooooong shot, Don used A6th, did he not?

If it isn't the original tuning, like on the record,
what's played is NOT really going to 'sound right', or is it?

Dave, I don't know Greg personally, but have heard of him. Here is a link to a local website that shows a Halloween gig with a pic of him at work on the keyboard. http://mysierramountaintimes.com/?p=2862

That's him!

I did the show here in Austin in 2005. It's easy, and my character was combined with Burrhead, so there was acting involved as well. You'll probably just have to play the tunes, which will be a cinch.

Thanks for all the input. If I start now maybe I'll have a grasp on the Don Helms tunings. Never tried the B11. Looks interesting.

Got 6 months to get her ready. Should I give her a coat of paint?

Local luthier Michael Dolan has done some excellent work for me. (707)575-0654. I can't wait to see the show. I live just a few blocks from the 6th street theatre.

PLEASE don't paint your guitar! If that's the original finish on it now, the value will go DOWN if you refinish it! Even if you have no plans on ever selling the guitar, generations to come will appreciate your maintaining the original character of a beautiful, vintage Fender instrument.

That's a wonderful Stringmaster you have there, and if you're comfortable with B6, I say go for it! Keep in mind the solo on "Hey Good Lookin'" will put you one fret past the second octave, however!

E6 fits the Helms stuff perfectly, however. But don't forget Jerry Byrd played C6 (very close to your B6) on many a Hank Williams hit (Lovesick Blues, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry and Honky Tonkin' to name a few).

I would recommend B6 for the inside neck (since you're comfortable with it) and E6 for the outside neck (for the REALLY high pitched stuff).

Good luck with the show!

Chris Scruggs

b0b has said he uses D6 for Hank Williams commemorative shows. He says it works for both the Jerry Byrd C6 stuff and the E6 Don Helms. I always play Hank on C6. But I don't get that ring out of the guitar that uncle Don used to. I think you'll get the same result as me with your B6. I recommend going up at least to b0b's D6.

Well, I have two necks so I'll have my B6 comfort zone on one for sure, and probably the E6 tuning too. I did a Hank tribute once and didn't have a lot of time to prepare (I was third call after Bobby Black and David Phillips) and fell back to the B6 on a lot of stuff. I did get some of those cool intros on the E6. They really do cut. I have the Don Helms /Hank Sr tab and cd. I'll give it another whirl. Hopefull the score is in the same keys as the originals. I've never been one of those players that can copy others real well. Probably why I mostly end up playing in bands with original material!

Thanks for the Michael Dolan tip Edward. I've heard the name. I also have a 67 tele that needs a little tlc. Maybe I'll have him rewire that and the Stringmaster and replace that old cap in the Stringmaster. Turns out you live less than 10 minutes away from me. We should do some pickin'!

Thanks again everyone for the input. Chris, I won't paint the Stringmaster. I'll clean her up a bit. I lot of those big crusty brown spots are coming off the metal but the chrome is slightly pitted. (oxidation?) It still looks a lot better. It's a good sounding rig. I did a gig with Boz Skaggs on that thing, crusty brown spots and all!!

DZ

A year or two back, we had a very nice run of "Lost Highway" at the Wells Theater in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. The show featured the Forum's own Russ Wever on his D-8 Gibson steel, just like the one Don Helms played. Russ nailed all those old steel rides 100%, he did us proud IMHO........JH in Va.

I'm really enjoying learning these parts to the Hank tunes. I feel like I'm getting a great education in the foundation and basics of non-pedal steel. The Stringmaster is up and running with the Don Helms E6 tuning on the top neck. Can't reach the tone knob with my pinky though! Not sure what to do with the back neck yet.

Dave

I'm curious to which hits had Don Helms and which ones had Jerry Byrd since I thought it was Don on I'm so Lonesome....

The E6 is perfect for most of that signature stuff. I think I'll put C6 on the back if that's what Byrd played. If that's him on I'm So Lonesome and Honkytonkin' sounds like he plays open strings on the solos. Yes?

Is there a complete lists of who played steel on which Hank recording? I'd like to know.

thanks
Dave