The Steel Guitar Forum

Hello
My name is Gary Jones, and I have been lurking on this forum for a few months.What finally prompted to register for the forum was a recent post entitled "Walking Away From Steel Guitar".
I played Steel professionally for 15 years, mostly in the southwestern states. In 1977 and 78 I also worked as a machinist for the Ernie Ball corporation in San Luis Obispo,Califonia making EB volume pedals.
In 1987 I had a life crisis involving hospitalization, rehab and eventually sobriety.I have been continuously sober since December 10th, 1987.
At that time I had a very good six-night-a-week gig at a club in Tucson,Arizona. I continued to work at this job for the first 2 years of my sobriety, but it became more and more apparent as time went on that I could not continue to live this schizophrenic lifestyle. I made the decision to leave music behind and pursue other careers.My Sho-Bud Pro III is still out in the garage, and I have not taken it out of the case since 1989.
Today I enjoy a very good career as a Broadcast Engineer. I currently work for the PBS Member Station in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In the last few years I have put together a small home recording studio,recording with guitar, bass. keyboards and a Roland DR-770 drum unit.I have recently decided to start playing steel again, and am putting money aside for a new Carter S12/D Universal. I feel that making a clean start with a new guitar will be the best way for me to go.
Most of you on the forum I know by name, but have not met face-to-face.I have run into Johnny Cox on the road several times, when diferent bands I worked for opened for Mel Tillis, but that was many years ago.
I apologize if this post is a bit long. For the time being I will go back to lurking, but I'm sure when I get my new guitar I will have many questions.

Gary Jones, KLVX-TV

Hi Gary,Hope your new start works for you. A new guitar will help.Carter makes a good guitar.A lot of pickers have been in the same situation as yours, and got back in to playing and are loving it. I have been out there a long time and still enjoy picking. Try to come to the TSGA Steel Guitar Show next year and we can "shake and howdy". Best regards, Jody.

Welcome Gary.....sounds like you have your direction and destination decided and are driving "between the lines" after "turning right at Oak Street". May God bless you and your famly. www.genejones.com

Gary...Welcome aboard!!!..This IS THE PLACE!. Bob has done a fantastic job creating and Maintaining this Forum..and it is where the Steel Guitar Members actually become a Family... In Life Criseses(?) The members (Family) ARE There to ralley around and provide support. I found this out last year when I had Ticker problems, and durring the passing of my mother. But support of all kinds. And Gary...I'm almost 12 years into sobriety and smoke free!! so I know a little about where you have been..I had those wild and crazy years when I lost a couple of wives..on the way. I woke up one morning in the Greenville S.C Med Center..wondering why my stomach was cut open...I havn't had a drink or smoke since..And I've found that even tho I thought I was a hot shot Top 40 County /Southern Rock Steel Picker....It was all in My mind...I realy didn't know anything..untill I slowed down and started to go to (mostly alchol/drug free) steel shows and jams...And this forum has realy opened a new world of knowledge and Friends..which include the Big Guns... By the way..I lived in Vegas for about 3 years back in the early '60's when I was a young Airman at Nellis AFB.
Grouchyvet

From another "comebacker", Welcome home, Gary!

Mike

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Fessenden SD10 - Mesa/Boogie amps

Tho after reading through the archives, I'm realising what a "pup" I am here, I welcome you. ( I was just reading how the owners of the first few Sho-Buds.......)

Anyhow, glad you're going to go out and do it again.

I say that I've never thought of "hanging it up", but even I take that with a grain of salt. I've taken two year "three piece critter club" gigs to just "dissapear" for a while, but I always seem to end up back out...

I quit drinking on Aug 6 '80. Hiroshima Day and an anniv of my dad's passing. It just was something that no longer worked for me and I didn't want to become an embarrassment to my mother. It doesn't seem like 22 years. I quit everything else about 15 years ago. Life is boring sometimes...

There are some real unassuming guys here that have been mainstays in the industry for 40 or 50 years.

Let us know how it goes. Last time I was in Vegas was '88 at Maxims. Jammed at the Silver Dollar, checked out AZ Charlie's and thought of moving there. Had to care for my old dog, my best friend, while he died, and after getting a good paying day gig I never got around to it. Probably for the best anyhow. We all know how hindsight is. I've managed to work most of the available 5-7 niters, and a full time day gig at the same time.

Welcome. As they say: You're in the right place

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EJL63FLH
'78 Pro III Sho-Bud
'63FLH 90"Stroker
'80 Gold Wing
-Peavey: When it's *not* about "The Sound"-
"You can Smart Yourself Dumb.
Why Can't you Dumb yourself Smart?"-Me
"There are only so many ways to fry cat food."- Buster
"At my age, sometimes I run out of Adrenaline, but I've still got plenty of Gall.." -Me-
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Eric West on 05 November 2002 at 01:16 PM.]</p></FONT>

Hey Gary! Congratulations on your sobriety, brother! I know first-hand, it ain't easy, but it has tremendous rewards.(17 years Nov. 20th)There's a lot of GREAT people here, funny, informative, insulting....
Enjoy playing again. Sometimes you amaze yourself at what you can do with a clear head. May God bless you.

Gary:

Glad to have you. Don't "lurk" -- "POST"

Roy

Welcome aboard Gary!

I worked for a PBS station WLVT long ago, when Sesame Street was new.



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<img align=left src="http://www.joeyace.com/img/joey2.jpg" >
-j0ey-
www.JoeyAce.com

Gary
I spoke with Sterling last week. I have not seen him or Ernie and David for a few years.
Sterling was able to find me a power transformer for a Music Man amp.

Post all you wish,,I could use a good relief
man to help me. At least maybe you can tell us all a few good stories. When you were with
Ernie,,I was with Leo at MusicMan and I seem
to re-call hearing some of the guys at EB mention your name.

Good luck,,post all you like,,will look forward to seeing your name.

Welcome Gary and please feel free to post. You have lots of company here on the forum, many people here have been down a similar road. I've been sober 9 years, have been playing 4 to 5 nights a week until just recently. My wife and I have a new son and I'm trying to be around for this one! And I'm still trying to find time to practice too!!

Gary,
Congrats on your returning and sobriety!!
Please dont just lurk POST! I'm sure you have a lot of things to share with us
Justin

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Justin Griffith
SD-10 Blanton Quadraverb GT Session 500

Thank you all for the positive feedback. Steel players used to be few, and far between, so being able to network with so many of you in one place is a refreshing experience.
I was actually moved tonight to take my Sho-Bud out of the case and see what kind of condition it is in. I have been negotiating with the folks at Carter to get some kind of trade-in value for it. I must say that they have been very good to deal with on this point.
Actually my Pro-III is in better condition than I had thought. It still has a scratch in the front where a drunk logger threw a beer mug at me in Williams Lake, B.C. in 1981. Actually, he threw it at his girlfriend, and I just happened to be in the way.
If it did not have so much emotional baggage attached to it I would probably have it rebuilt and continue to play it, but under the circumstances I think starting over with a new steel is the best way for me to go.

Jody, I think it is very interesting that you worked for Music Man. I know in those days we did a lot of your woodwork in the Earthwood Bass shop. I left the company before EB bought Music Man. Do you happen to remember Ron Saul or Dan Norton from the EB company? I believe they have both retired by now, but they were excellent people to work with.
Thank you all again for your support.
Gary Jones, KLVX-TV

Gary, welcome aboard. I am a new member and have been lurking for awhile before I joined. Trying to keep up with all the postings of the members seems like having a second family in a second home. I'm coming from behind fiddle, 5 string, 7 string sho-bud resonator, and a musicman stingray 1 guitar to try my hand at the pedal steel. I know I'm going to need all the help my second family will give me. congradulations on your trip with us. carlton.

Gary, congratulations on joining the Forum and leaving that booze alone.

It took me a few years to figure out acting stupid just came natural for me....I didn't have to drink a bunch of booze to act that way.

Again congradulations and i'm sure you have a lot to share with everyone.

Bob.

Gary: Sometimes these coincidences really amaze me. I just posted a story in Roy Ayers thread Embarrassing Moments on Stage.

It tells about an experience I had at WRAL-TV-5 in Raleigh, NC. What it doesn't say is that I was also a 1st Class FCC Engineer there as well. For a while I was Jesse Helms'; the retiring Senator from NC; video engineer. I also moonlighted at a little AM country station when they needed a ticket on duty. They had a directional array in wetlands and you had to record antenna currents hourly. The rest of the time you could sleep.

I recently got back in contact with one of the news anchors in those days, a Charly Gaddy and we had a lot of fun talking about the old days. He intro'd a solo I did one day as " ...The best steel guitarist in Raleigh." Someone in the band said; on the air: Yeah right ! The only one too !!

Regards, Paul <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 08 November 2002 at 12:54 PM.]</p></FONT>

welcome, Gary, and enjoy!!
Johan