Gabby Pahinui Steel Guitar

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Does anyone know what type of steel guitar(s) the incomparable slack key artist Gabby Pahinui played? Seems I recall reading somewhere that Gabby played a single-neck 8-string Fender, but does anyone know for sure?

Also, what tuning(s) did Gabby favor on the steel. Every time I listen to "My Little Grass Shack" by Gabby and Alvin Isaacs, Junior, it knocks me out. Sounds like a 6th tuning to me, I'm thinking likely A6, but perhaps I'm way off base here.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

He always had his black Fender (probably a StringMaster which Cyril has) with him the times I saw him, but he also had a white Fender (Deluxe?) in his last decades. C6 is what most say he used.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Gabby is my favorite Hawaiian steel player. I love Jules and I love Sol, but Gabby is really special for me. There's so much genius in his playing, but he doesn't make it obvious.

From some of the tracks I've transcribed, he played a C13.

I was listening to Gabby's playing on A Leis Of Songs From Sam, and his tone is sublime. It almost sounds like a Rickenbacher B6 to me, but I have never heard any information saying that he ever even played one--I'm just saying it has that velvety tone.

Check out this cut from that album, this one featuring Gabby's vocals, which are just the greatest:

https://soundcloud.com/hoopii/sam-kahalewai-w-gabby-pahinui
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Derrick Mau · From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Aloha Jack,

I'm pretty certain that it was Barney Isaacs on steel playing "Little Grass Shack", with Gabby doing guitar and lead vocals.

Sounds to me like Barney is using C13th, and E13th for the jazzy solo in this song.

I talked to Gabby's son, Martin once. He told me his dad had a lot of instruments.

Outstanding touch and tone in Gabby's playing, and when backing up a singer, he knows when to play, and when not to play.

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Gabby played a frying pan in his earlier days. Later on he had a couple of Fender Deluxe 8s. Eddie Palama's got the white one, one of his sons, the brown.

Mike, that was my impression of Gabby's tone too. Lots of "pop" to the attack that I always wished I could get out of a Fender. He's pictured with a Deluxe 8 on the back of the Sam Kahalewai album. I think he grabs the low G a few times on that album... definitely strums 13th chords with a doubled C... so I think we can at least conclude he was using an 8 string something or other.

I agree with Derrick; That's Barney Isaacs playing the steel on "My Little Grass Shack".

Derrick Mau · From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Hi Jeff,

You are correct. Gabby also played a frypan in his earlier days. This elder lady once came to my gig on Fort Street and showed me an old pic she took of Gabby at this one nightclub with his frypan. He had the steel mounted on a stand and played standing up.

Gabby also knew how to play mandolin and upright bass.

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

As a side note, I think the Kahalewai recording is interesting also in that it features Gabby playing "standard" rhythm guitar (steel was overdubbed). He's got a distinctive stroke... sounds like he is just using his bare nail(s).

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

I always wondered if the frypans he's rarely pictured with in the '50s were his or if it was 'on loan' from Andy Cummings or the likes. I just don't see him owning a 'pan, or at least not for long. But anything is possible from Gabby. His strum is very uke-ish on the above recording, very cool sound, and a great take.

BTW, no C6 on any of his recordings?

Tom Snook · From: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Are y'all talking about the Waikiki Records LP In Hawaii The Story Starts? If so I always thought it was Gabby on steel,kinda reminds me of Duke Chings'style.
I used to work cleaning The Honolulu Club,and when I cleaned the aerobics room,I used to play the green CD Slack Key and Steel Guitar on the sound system, -LOUD- Gabby played his a-- of on that one. Very Happy

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I wanna go back to my little grass shack........

Derrick Mau · From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Aloha Tom,

No, that's a different album.
We're talking about an album Gabby had done with Sam Kahalewai call: A Lei Of Songs From Sam.

The album is rare. I believe they only made a limited amount.

Produced by Four Winds Recording - FWR 2001

There are 5 songs done on the album written by my favorite composer, Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs Sr.

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

I have only one album of Gabby's playing, and didn't realize early on that he was playing a Fender.

Scott Thomas · Posted 27 Dec 2013 3:26 pm

Here's a quick scan of Gabby playing a frypan. I've also seen a few pics of him with a National New Yorker (with Andy Cummings).

Tom, I especially like his playing and tone on He Aloha No O Honolulu from that Slack and Steel Vol. 2 album.

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Ron, on earlier recordings (Andy Cummings' group) I hear Gabby using a 6-string C13 (low to high: Bb E G A C E) or D9 (C#? E F# A C E).

Derrick Mau · From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Epiphone or National amp in the pic?

David Matzenik · From: Cairns, on the Coral Sea

Thanks Scott, that's a kind of Hawaiian classic trio: Ric Frypan, Epiphone archtop, and a real bass.
Nice shirts too. Wink

"Save picture as"
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Tom Snook · From: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA

What album was Jack talking about?
Could you weigh in here Jack,I hate being told I'm wrong. Crying or Very sad

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I wanna go back to my little grass shack........

Norman Markowitz · From: Santa Cruz, California

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Tom Snook · From: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA

I keep coming back to this post day after day,night after night hoping that the author of this post Jack Hanson,would mention the name of the album from which the song he's referring to is on.The post took a wide turn in another direction,and it's buggin' the sjox out of me.
Jack,if you're out there what album were you referring to?
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I wanna go back to my little grass shack........

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

I most certainly did not intend to open up a can of worms with my original post. A tip of the Hanson hat to all of you who have contributed so many fascinating and informative comments.

I have learned so much from all of you, especially you guys in Hawaii, and those of you with ties to the Pahinui family. Thanks to everyone.

I would love to share the name of the CD in question, but it is presently packed away in my storage unit. It's been about a zillion degrees below zero here lately (okay, slight exaggeration), so I'm in no mood to go rummaging through that unheated building. But I will find it, and I promise to report back.

As I recall the album, it was mostly slack key, with a few large band production numbers sprinkled in. It was no doubt a compilation from several different sessions, and it was probably released in the mid to late 1990's. I remember some tunes were heavy on vibes, and I'm fairly certain Gabby was credited as the steel player. His distinctive beautiful falsetto vocals were definitely front and center however, on that account I'm fairly certain.

Certainly we all can agree it's a shame Gabby's fine steel guitar work often takes a back seat to his slack key. He was a true virtuoso, and it's a crime that he was not more universally recognized by the mainstream until after his passing.

"Pure Gabby" would rate at or near the top of my short list of records to be stranded with on a desert island.

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Ron!

That's the one!!

Thank you so much!!!

Don't know who's playing the steel on "My Little Grass Shack," but it's definitely smokin'! Wow, that intro warms it up a good 80 degrees up here in the frozen tundra...

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