The Steel Guitar Forum

A question probably for those who get to the various steel guitar festivals in Hawai'i.

Anybody know what kind of steel Pomai Brown plays? Great touch and tone! I understand he studied with Jerry Byrd when he was young.

I've seen him with what looks to be a Sho~Bud with his name on the front. I think I've also seen him with a Canopus?

I've been to, well, one, and he didn't play then. But just googling videos and images, it looks like a very common one is that branded one you mentioned maybe being a ShoBud. Definitely a pedal-style console S10, maybe made custom? Or at least, customized. Canopus are pretty common with players in the islands too (especially in the 90s, 00s it seems like).

Thanks Nick. Alternatively, if not a Sho~Bud then perhaps an Excel without pedals? If you told me it was a custom based on the Jerry Byrd model, I'd believe it. Obviously that particular axe is not a Canopus...

The reason I mention Canopus is because I used to follow a hula dancer on Facebook who regularly posted her performances at the Halekulani, and I'm sure it was Pomai, and I'm sure it was a Canopus - but I just can't quite remember!

Looking at his videos, it is not a Sho-Bud. I think he has a custom built cabinet using a pair of PSG end pieces to hold the legs. Since it has 5 tuners on the treble side I assume it is a 10 string but it could be a 6, 7, or 8 - I've seen sacred steel players using a PSG ten string head strung with six strings.

To me it appears to be a shorter scale than the 24" standard PSG - I assume it is a 22.5" scale.

I could see no sign of pedals so it is a console steel guitar.

He sounds good to me!