The Steel Guitar Forum

I would appreciate all those opening this topic to immediately read my statement at the following website: www.steelguitarhistory.com. Regardless of the outcome, this subject is closed for me. I will not contribute to any discussion about it, nor will I acknowledge or respond to any future private or public inquiries concerning it. ...Tom Bradshaw

Fair enough, and right to the point.

This cannot have been an easy thing for Tom to write and it seems that the steel community will be better for it in the future.

Best wishes to the new MSA Pedal Steel Guitars.

Takes a big, big man.....my hats off to you Tom

Tom you are a giant.

Actually, he's sort of short. And bald, too!

In all seriousness, I think that this step in "steel guitar history" is significant, and I trust that the entire scandal will soon be behind us for good.

Thanks, Tom, for doing the right thing.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Congrats Mr. Bradshaw on being a big enough man to admit your mistakes. The guy who never makes any mistakes aint doing very much to start with. Good job!!

Rick Garrett

well, clearly there was a lawsuit, and clearly both parties agreed to have tom publish a retraction rather than spend the money and take the risk of a full-on legal proceeding and expose everybody's dirty laundry.

the bottom line is that tom, despite his occaisional over-the-top enthusiasm (which, admittedly, has been a real boon to us and our favorite instrument!), DID get msa to (finally) take responsibility for their past actions, and make good on how they treated customers back in the old days.

clearly, they wouldn't have been motivated to do so without the considerable public heat that was raised.

i haven't seen large numbers of folks clammoring for a millenium ($6k is a LOT of moolah), but i wish them (the new msa) luck.

msa and tom have done the right thing, and it's time to put it to rest.

bruce l.

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by smike on 18 September 2002 at 05:36 PM.]</p></FONT>

What Smike said.

Well, I read it and it sounds like legalese to me.

A good lawyer can be quite intimidating though...<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Marty Pollard on 18 September 2002 at 09:54 PM.]</p></FONT>

I bore witness to the MSA saga for 20 years, as well as was abused by
it. I also witnessed Tom Bradshaw's efforts to help the many abandoned
depositors. The only thing I've ever read that Tom wrote that was not
true is contained in his "apology" letter. It is obvious that a
financial gun was held to his head in order to get him to make such a
statement. It is a pity that the U.S. legal system can bankrupt an
honest person, whereas that system favors the opposite.

Tom, Good for you. It does take alot to admit when one is wrong especially in today's atmosphere of corporate greed and today's world politics but you're still a good man for doing it. Kudos and thanks

Bronco Billy

Tom has not admitted any wrong, as well he shouldn't. I feel he has done nothing wrong.
Appolagize? If it is an easy way to avoid legal problems, then fine, appolagize. Meanwhile, has any retrobution to the folks that lost money been obtained by them, I haven't heard about it if it has. Has Tom's appoligy been obtained by the threat of legal action against him? If so , it has no meaning. Does any of this concern me in any way now. No. All the people that were involved in losing money when I was with the company have all deceast. (Paul Wheat, Jim Yarborough, William Simmons,etc.---->) Will I get a letter from The MSA lawyer because of this post? Possibly. The power of money is the power to hide truth. I wish this company the best of success as I would any company that is ethical and honest. I feel the internet will keep any steel guitar company honest in this day and time so let's all wish MSA the best of luck. Let's buy the product on it's own merrit, not on the slick personality of a promoter or the fact of lawyers using the law to stiffle the honest views and opinions of others.
I will not "down" this organization as I have no reason to do so. I feel everything is now "out in the open". Anyone having any problem now has had a viewing of the company's past and a good view of what they are doing now. If someone chooses to spend several thousand on one of these guitars, they know what they are getting into. Is this guitar better than Emmons, Fessenden,GFI, Carter, and will the amount of appreciation be what Emmons, Sho-Bud, Bigsby, ZB have been? Does value after the sale mean anything to you? Resale?
There are many things to consider when buying a steel guitar if you are a smart buyer, and care about the important qualitys of a guitar.
Tom has no axe to grind now, but Tom is a very intelligent man that has layed his reputation on the line for us so we could all know the past and be forarmed in doing good business in the future.
Thank you Tom, <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 19 September 2002 at 12:15 PM.]</p></FONT>

That's a big statement coming from a big man in my opinion. I think both Reece and Tom are big men. It's darn well good enough for me.

BobbeS.- Tom did NO wrong? Reading his statement, states that he was "misguided,inaccurate,mistaken,hurt people by his actions and by inappropiate statements".To me that says he was wrong and he apologizes for it, which is well accepted.
Thanks Tom !

Reading between the lines for a long time it seems that if you are Reece's friend ? He surely does not need any enemies.

It sounds like sour grapes!!!<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Richard Gonzales on 19 September 2002 at 01:00 PM.]</p></FONT>

Can't we all get along. Now, how about
Reece in the SGHF

Oh yes Richard, You are definitly correct, I am well aware that you were there from the beginnig,1961. I guess I should say now that I am totally wrong and that I saw nothing first hand, you are the one I should have talked to before I made this post. Please forgive my transgressions. It is so obvious that you know a lot more about this than me.
Several folks that wern't even born at this time and have nothing to with this situation at all are voicing a lot of opinions.
Sour grapes? For what? Are you saying I'm not doing well in the steel guitar business? Don't I play well enough for you? Didn't I spend enough money producing my albums? Do I have sour grapes ? Am I jelous about something? What? I thought I had your friendship, but you are the type that likes to choose up sides and alienate people that like you, to "hump someone elses leg". And your reason is?
This has nothing to do with this subject Richard. I will question what you know of this situation first hand and why you are choosing to "jump on" Tom Bradshaw and me at this time that should be the time that all is forgotten and almost all over. I wish you would wish this company well the way I did, let Tom Bradshaw have his "apoligy" and leave me alone.

In the court room, the guy with the most money wins. As I make my livelihood from litigation, I can tell you that who is right and who is wrong is almost irrelevant in civil suits. Most judges just want to clear their dockets, and if that means getting one side to write a letter, then so much the better.

I was also suprised to learn that I was named as a co-conspirator in the suit, though I was never contacted or given the opportunity to refute the charges. I guess if two guys share an opinion, that makes them conspirators.

Anyway, this sordid bit of history is now behind us. Caveat Emptor.

Bobbe- I can see the truth really hurts!!
my first time and I got you !!

I'm stunned. I didn't see this coming.

I feel greatly relieved that this episode might be over, but at the same time I wonder what really happened, both in the recent past that led to this statement, and all the history that built up to it.

I don't know what actually happened. I guess I'll never know. I was around, but not an actual witness or victim of either. All I've had to go on is what's arisen on the Forum and my past (very good) dealings with both men.

It's been a depressing, dark storm. Maybe the sun's coming out. But looking around, some trees are down, some roofs blown off, some power lines down. But some sun would still be a good thing and feel pretty good.

Whatever the catalyst was for this statement, I sincerely wish both men all the best, and hope we can all move on.

Great Richard, I love being "got" by you statement. The "truth hurts statment" yes it does, but dosn't hurt me, the truth came out and I think it's wonderful.
What do you mean, "First Time"? You are really getting to deep for me, You are way over my head. I don't understand the first time or to "got you" part. Are you turning this post into some sort of game I don't know about?
I wish you'd do what I asked in the last sentence of my previous post. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 19 September 2002 at 02:08 PM.]</p></FONT>

I like what Bob Kagy said. Lets all read his post and go in that direction.
Thank you Bob, Good thinking.

Bobbe- You are like a wounded buffalo, lie down and let the wound heal!

Richard,
Bobbe is on his way to play a Show Case, but I was looking on the forum and I saw your ridiculous post. I don't understand why you would throw away your friendship with Bobbe over something as silly as this. Why? I will never know. As far as him being a wounded buffalo, I don't see were he is wounded in any way, shape, or form. If he is a wounded buffalo, he is the happiest I've ever seen. Probably the only thing that has him wounded is loosing his friendship with you. I'm sure this will hurt him more than anything.

Brandy Waller, Office Manager for,
Steel Guitar Nashville

I've heard a lot of crap, a lot of times, from a lot of people in my time, but this realy takes the cake.

Jerry