A Big E Tuning Moment

Ken Crisp · From: North Carolina

Uncle Ray, when he worked for Price [1960ish], said even when Buddy was simply "tuning up", sounded beautiful, and most musicians stopped what they were doing to listen in. Very Happy

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Sho-Bud D10 Super Pro 8/6. Peavey Session 500 Black Widowed

Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

A dear friend and steel guitar legend, Mac Atcheson, once said he would rather listen to Buddy tune than anyone else play. He had a keen sense of talent!

Brett Crisp · From: NC

Very true! Ive heard Uncle Ray tell it many time as well as grandpaw. Ive heard him myself, and im in total agreement!! -BC

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

i just don't understand the HERO worship that some have for a handful of players. no question they are great steel players, but reading some of the comments about them sound as if they have walked on water or something. i mean no disrespect what so ever
but just try to keep in mind that they are mere mortals just like the rest of us
_________________
proud parent of a sailor

Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!

Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick

Dave Magram · From: San Jose, California, USA

Calvin,

Of course all musicians are mere mortals. But the music that musical geniuses like Buddy Emmons creates is immortal in its elegance and beauty.

As you might guess, I am a huge fan of Buddy Emmons' musical genius (not to mention his steel guitar design skills and tuning innovations).

One can only respect the combination of talent, hard work, thousands of hours of practice, and thousands more hours of listening to many kinds of music that give musicians like Buddy the ability to instantly compose in the studio innovative melodic and harmonic interpretations of songs and tunes that are so perfect as to inspire awe by thousands of other musicians.

How many people do you know who can do that?

Dave

Brett Crisp · From: NC

Keep in mind, were not totally obsessed with Emmons' mind for music or whatever, were just BIG fans here. Personally, he is one of my heros on steel as im sure he is with alot of other people.

Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

You nailed it, Dave. Hero, yes. Worship, no. Just complete and sincere admiration for the man's musical genious.

Ken Crisp · From: North Carolina

Hey Calvin. Hope you're doing well this morning.

Calvin don't you have admiration and appreciation to those who invented the automobile ? Don't you enjoy the 'ability' to joy ride through the Rocky Mtns. or the 'ability' to take yourself or family to the market, or a special restaurant, or the emergency room if needed ? Thank innovators such as Benz and Henry Ford [to name a few] for the 'ability'. I betcha Richard Petty, Earnhart, Gordon are extremely grateful to the innovators who made their $$$ profession possible.

Same principle here applies. Buddy Emmons is 'one' of the pedal steel guitar innovators, imho the foremost. Thankfully to PSG innovators such as Emmons , you are enjoying your Mullen SD10 E9th tuning and those heavenly wonderful sounds, when you press a pedal or move a knee lever.

Yes, he is a "hero" of mine. The Steel Guitar takes me away from trials and tribulations of this world for a while, and to that, I'm thankful for Buddy Emmons and "ALL" who have contributed to this amazingly most beautiful sounding instrument, in the entire universe.
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Sho-Bud D10 Super Pro 8/6. Peavey Session 500 Black Widowed

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Nothing wrong with worshipping the few real ones we have.

EJL

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

There have been so many greats who have gone on, I'm totally grateful that I live in a time when I can hear people like Buddy, Reece, Bobbe, Paul, Randy, Russ,all the greats alive and still playing today. I'm thankful that I got to see and hear Hal before he left us. I'm grateful that I can see Tiger Woods make history, all the great people alive and doing it so well. I don't think it's hero worship at all, it's just a love for the music and ability that some people possess. I hate it that if I love what one of the greats do and if I say so I'm called a "leg humper" or some thing similar. I have a passion and I should be able to express it without being demeaned for it.
Good grief, did I really say all that?

Dennis Detweiler · From: Solon, Iowa, US

Same here: I saw and heard him live for the first time in mid 1970 in a small convention room in DesMoines, Iowa. I got my money's worth watching him tune up and warm up. He's an awesome, respectable legend. And the most creative of any past and present steel players. A master of instrumentals,licks, intros, endings and turn-arounds that kept us all searching and plodding ahead to reach those goals.
I hope he continues.
_________________
1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8.

Ken Crisp · From: North Carolina

Jeff Agnew · From: Dallas, TX

Well, I can testify to the fact that others will stop whatever they're doing and just listen to BE tune up.

During my last trip to ISGC, '98 or thereabouts, I decided to make a quick restroom stop just before Emmons was scheduled to play the main hall. Didn't want to miss a note. I had just settled in to the middle stall when things got awfully quiet. I heard someone come in and take the stall to my right. Shortly after, I heard a shuffling of feet and what must have been ten or fifteen guys came rushing in. I couldn't see well, being in the stall and everything, but I swear they were all just standing around. It didn't make sense at first because there was an empty stall on my left. Then I caught pieces of frantically whispered conversation:

"It's him."
"Man, I can't believe I'm this close."
"Never heard him live before."
"SHUT UP! We'll miss it!"
"This is my second time. Heard him once before in '87. Sheer genius."
"Ain't no one can tune up like the Big E."

Okay, I may be slow but now it dawns on me exactly who is in that stall on my right. Now I've got a problem because, obviously, I can't continue. I mean, there's fifteen guys out there waiting for The Master and I'm gonna go first? I don't think so. Talk about pressure.

At this point I toy with the idea of slipping a piece of paper under the stall and asking him to autograph it but discretion being the better part of valor I decide against it. Concentration is key and I don't want to be the one to interrupt the world's foremost. Besides, by now his left foot has begun tapping and I figure he's trying to get the tempo of his first tune set in his head. Mind you, it was a strange beat but who am I to argue with greatness?

So now we're all getting signs that something is about to happen and there's just, I don't know, something in the air. Excitement, I guess. Suddenly, it gets real quiet and things start to build. I think I can speak for everyone in the room that at that particular moment there was no place else in the world we'd rather be. On the cusp of a moment to be treasured forever. Locked away in our memories and brought forth periodically as a reminder that some amongst us are more equal than others. And then it happens.

<poot>

"AWWRIIIIIGHT!!! You da man, Buddy!!"
"Man, that was a friggin' TRITONE!!! I would never have thought of that!"
"His brain don't work like the rest of ours."
"Proves you don't have to use a lot of effects."
"Anyone catch that on their cell phone cam?"
"That's it. Stick a fork in me, I'm done."
"Yeah, it was good but I still think he sounded better that time in '62 with Price..."
"Definitely a push/pull."

Well, by this time we all pretty much had tears in our eyes. I know I did. Genius is in the details and this one had it all: perfect embouchure, perfect articulation, perfect duration, perfect timing. I've got no idea whether it was ET or JI but you don't argue with the result. And though we will probably argue the point forever, on this day and in this setting Buddy Emmons proved to me that tone ain't in the hands. It's... someplace else.

Bo Legg · Posted 6 Sep 2007 7:26 am

Jeff Agnew you should get an award. The best I've ever read and the most informative post ever. My eyes are watering.

Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

That's one of those "you had to be there" stories. Best thing I've read here, possibly EVER! Thanks!

Gary C. Dygert · From: Frankfort, NY, USA

If I could touch but just the hem of His garment, good Lord,
I believe (good Lordy, I believe) that it would make me whole.

Marc Mercer · From: Colorado, USA

Dennis Detweiler · From: Solon, Iowa, US

I've often wondered how much musical creativeness originated from the the commode over the years from all great musicians? Mood and surroundings is always a factor.
_________________
1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8.

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Bill Moran · From: Virginia, USA

Calvin:

Do what those players have done and tell us they were not very special ! We steel players have respect for the guys and gals that brought steel guitar where it is today. Guitar, keyboard and fiddle
players come and go. The Emmons, Rugg, Day and others stay with us for ever.
Just my opinion. You know what people say about that:::
Everyone has one. Oh Well

Must remember Jeff Newman. He kept us on the trax.
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Bill

Jack Stanton · From: Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey

"At this point I toy with the idea of slipping a piece of paper under the stall and asking him to autograph it but discretion being the better part of valor I decide against it. Concentration is key and I don't want to be the one to interrupt the world's foremost. Besides, by now his left foot has begun tapping and I figure he's trying to get the tempo of his first tune set in his head. Mind you, it was a strange beat but who am I to argue with greatness? "

Late breaking news - Bob Maickel calls for Buddy to resign from PSGA. Buddy vows to fight on and clear the air.[/quote]

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

the one's that guys seem to look up to are the lucky one's that somehow got famous by being in the right place at the right time
i don't think it was on playing alone. not that they aren't great player , they certainly are that:
that being said, i'm sure that many of us know someone that can play as well as the so called greats.
i think that once someone reaches a certain level
( and lord know's i am no where near it ) that it would be very hard to say that the great so and so is any better than the unknown player .

after all the so called greats and the unknown player alike, had to
(1) have a great love of the steel
(2) put many many years of seat time into perfecting his craft
(3) have some natural ability regarding music

i guess what i am saying is; that i think that there are a lot more greats out there than the few that get all the credit
_________________
proud parent of a sailor

Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!

Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

I'm new at this---Only been trying to play steel for 4 or 5 years, but after studying guitar players since the early 60's, I feel that I can make the following statement:
NO ONE, and I do mean NO ONE, will ever do as much for, or on, a single instrument as Buddy Emmons on the pedal steel guitar.
I don't think I'd call Buddy lucky, I'd call him extremely talented.
I don't know a soul who would put himself on a level with Buddy Emmons.
The pedal steel guitar, as you know it, got to be that way because of Buddy Emmons.
So even without his genius level of playing, his mechanical introductions to the instrument would get him plenty of acclaim.

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

the changes that the steel has gone thru would have happened with or without any one person. it might have come at a little later date, but the changes would have happened. even the lowly light bulb had to have some one be the first to invent it, but we all know it would have been invented within a year or so any way.
_________________
proud parent of a sailor

Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!

Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I don't believe what I've just read on a few of these post about BE. Sure there's lots of other players that have contributed to PSG over the years. To be a true steel player, one must study more than charts, tab and playing along with CD's. A study of steel guitar and where it came from, along with the cycles it's been through will clearly show why BE is the BIG E. From his early years of playing you can easily hear his licks being developed even on the Bigsby with Dickens. His time with Sho-Bud and Shot Jackson( the Bud in Sho-Bud) and especially his early developement with Ron Lashley on the Emmons guitars. The push pull guitars? His recordings with ET(Half A Mind for one)? 1st PSG video in 86' with Scotty? The Ray Price recordings(Night Life for one)? BE is a treasure to steel guitar players all over the world, as are other players, as well. Personally, I'm a Hughey man but I enjoy listening and watching BE on the net, along with Hughey, Franklin, Rugg, Green and so many others. I'm only putting my opinion in on this like some others. While he's here with us, we need to show respect for everything he's given us over the years and cherish the time he's here. Buddy is truely a legend in our world of steel guitar.

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