The Steel Guitar Forum

Well, I've stuck with this confounded thing long enough now where I am prepared to drop some real dough, but don't know what to buy. I have an old Bronson and Oahu student model now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Here are some examples of the tunes that are inspiring me. What kind of boxes were these guys playing? From the "Sliding on The Frets" compilation: Truett And George - Ghost Dance; Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Trio - Clownin' The Frets; Les Loups - La Portena Es Una Papa. From "Honolulu To Hollywood " : Singing The Blues, Hard To Get Gertie, Someday Sweetheart . Finally, King Bennie Nawahi with the Hawaiian Beach Combers. That should give you an idea of my taste. I will attend the Aloha convention for the first time in Winchester, and hopefully will get to hear some of these instruments first hand, and get an education. Thanks to all Forumites. Tim.

Tim: You might want to get a copy of "Tone Poems III" featuring Bob Brozman, Mike Auldridge and David Grisman. They play a wide variety of new and vintage tricones, single-cones, and Weissenborn-style guitars. It's a good way to compare the tones, not to mention hear some great music. (The CD comes with a booklet with lots of pictures and some history about the guitars ... it's almost worth the price by itself.) <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Russ Young on 01 May 2003 at 08:46 AM.]</p></FONT>

Thanks for the tip Russ. Tim.

That's excellent advice from Russ. "Tone Poems III" is a great way to sample a lot of resonator guitars and acousic lap steels. Plus, like he says, the music is great and the booklet is fantastic.

"bump"

Tim asked about the type of instrument being played. I'm not familiar with those particular tunes, but almost everyone played a National Squareneck Tricone back then.

King Bennie Nawahi is the one exception. He played a National single cone squareneck - you can hear that his tone doesn't have the "sweetness" or sustain of a Tricone.

Also anything recorded before the Tricone was invented in 1927 used a wood-bodied guitar.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gary Anwyl on 07 May 2003 at 08:54 AM.]</p></FONT>

I would think Mike Auldridge would be the guy to ask on this one. That guy has so many dang dobros in his basement it's a miracle he and I both fit down there with our steels too. I'm sure he's played just about a zillion of them and has an exceedingly informed opinion of the different makes/models.