The Steel Guitar Forum

I just got the pictures from Bob Allen this morning. I should have it by the end of the week. I can't wait to get back to playing again!

I forgot to post the tuning. It is A6, E C# A F# E C# A hi to low.
The wood is white oak with a red stain.

Beautiful...Mine might show up Tuesday?

Morgan, a beautiful steel. My favorite tuning for 7 string steels is also A6.

C. E. Jackson

Morgan, That's a good looking steel. Congratulations! A6 is also my favorite lap steel tuning. Norm

Thanks Norm. Thanks also to Mr Jackson. I have long followed your comments since I am a big fan of Don Helms.
You made a good choice Stu. Post some pictures when you get yours.

Morgan,I hope that my photos will be small enough to post.I've been setting up a camera just for posting photos on the forum...it seems that when I shrink photos after I take them sometimes it doesn't work as well as taking the photo in a smaller format?Hopefully I've got it figured out!!

Nice looking steel Mr. Morgan. Makes me want one.

Thanks Joshua, and thanks again for sending me all those A6 song arrangements that I need to get started relearning all those great old tunes.
For all of you that don't know, I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy last August and have been recovering for the past 10 months. I was unable to play the steel guitar until recently. I am getting better now and have regained use of my fingers for playing.

I wanted to add this to my posting. It is Thursday July 7th and UPS just delivered my new Melbert steel.
It looks even better in person that the pictures!
I just took it upstairs, tuned it up and got out the music to a great old gospel song "Old Rugged Cross".
I had only ran off a few notes and the playing just took over almost like I had never stopped playing for a year.
I was afraid It would take me a long time to relearn all those songs. Now I see that I still have some playing left in me. It's not quite like learning to ride a bicycle but I feel a whole lot better about getting started again.

Just one more posting to this thread. I want to first say what a great job Bob Allen did in making this fine instrument. It not only looks good, it plays great!
I love the nice mellow tone of the A6 tuning and what sustain it has!
I have had it about 11 days now and so far I have relearned 25 song arrangements. It's mostly Western Swing standards, some Hank Williams, and a few steel guitar classics like "Sleepwalk", "Harbor Lights" and "Boot heel Drag".
It looks like I am on my way back to playing steel. At least one good thing about all this..... I don't have to learn any new songs. Once I learn about 50 to 60 of the songs I played before my illness... That will be enough to keep me busy until Gabriel blows his horn.

I have been playing one of his 8 string guitars for a couple years now. He lives fairly close to where I do. I went to his shop a few months ago for some parts help. It was a fine experience with out a doubt. I play it mostly at church with a few jams spread about here and there. I am sure you will enjoy the instrument.

Hi Ken, That is the most beautiful country up there in the Smokey mountains where you live. I went up there a few months ago with my buddy from the SGF Norm Evans. We visited the home of WW1 hero Alvin C. York. I was really struck by the awesome spirituality of the countryside. It is truly "God's country".
If you get a chance, post some pictures of your Melbert Steel. I would love to see it.