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Topic: Purchase Of New Bars: Who Is Sam? |
C. E. Jackson
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Posted 17 May 2014 12:28 pm |
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I collect steel guitar bars, and am always looking for bars to add to my collection, especially vintage GIBSON BARS. During a recent conversation with Scales Street Music, Reidsville, NC, the owner mentioned that he had purchased all inventory when the MARLEN PEDAL STEEL COMPANY liquidated. No Gibson bars, but I purchased the following other bars for my collection:
SPEEDY WEST 3 1/4 x 7/8 STAINLESS STEEL (see image below)
EMMONS 3 3/8 x 7/8 STAINLESS STEEL
MARLEN 3 3/8 x 7/8 STAINLESS STEEL
MARLEN 2 3/4 x 7/8 SITAR STAINLESS STEEL
MARLEN 3 1/4 x 7/8 SITAR STAINLESS STEEL
SAM 3 1/4 x 7/8 STAINLESS STEEL (see image below)
All bars were new/old stock and still in wrappers.
Apparently the SAM bars were not made for a particular individual, as the owner still had 2 of those. My question is who is SAM, if a famous player? My research has not found anyone named SAM, that I am familiar with, who was a famous player/endorser (during the 1950-2008 period). Have I overlooked someone? Any information on SAM will be appreciated. The following writing is on the end of the SAM bar:
I value the Speedy West bar highest, since I have only heard of 2 people in the past who have had one. However, I am sure many others, including Forum members have them. The following writing is on the end of the Speedy West bar:
Thanks,
C. E.
_________________
My Vintage Steel Guitars
My YouTube Steel Guitar Playlists
My YouTube Steel Guitar Songs
A6 tuning for steels |
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Ken Campbell
From:
Ferndale, Montana
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Posted 17 May 2014 1:21 pm
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| Cool collection. Fundamentally cool. |
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Posted 17 May 2014 3:40 pm
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C.E., I posted this before and got no answer. Have you ever seen a bar like this? The pic of the end is a little blurry, but there is no identifying maker.
_________________
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Sierra Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
"The Tapper" : https://christophertempleton.bandcamp.com/album/the-tapper
Soundcloud Playlist: https://soundcloud.com/bluespruce8: |
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C. E. Jackson
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Posted 17 May 2014 6:32 pm
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Ken, I am glad you like the bars.
Chris, I have looked through my database, but didn't find a bar listed as that color. However, I have several containers of bars, and when I next go through them in detail, I will notify you if I find one like yours. You have a nice bar, and thanks for the question and picture.
C. E.
_________________
My Vintage Steel Guitars
My YouTube Steel Guitar Playlists
My YouTube Steel Guitar Songs
A6 tuning for steels |
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Posted 17 May 2014 7:05 pm
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Thanks for your response. I think it's yellowed with age. I don't know the material, but it seems like it would shatter if dropped on a cement floor, I've never seen one so thin.
_________________
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Sierra Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
"The Tapper" : https://christophertempleton.bandcamp.com/album/the-tapper
Soundcloud Playlist: https://soundcloud.com/bluespruce8: |
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Glenn Uhler
From:
Trenton, New Jersey, USA
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Posted 17 May 2014 7:22 pm Generic Bakelite Bar
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Chris,
Your yellow bar is an older generic bakelite bar with (obviously) a metal insert, like the Tribotone bars. Probably dates from the 40's or 50's, because I played with one when I was taking lessons in 1960.
_________________
1974 Marlen S-12 1968 Tele 1969 Martin D-35H |
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 18 May 2014 9:15 am
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I've got one of those... the metal core is hex, I know this because mine is broken. That's not the 'Red Raja' bar?
Hey C.E., have you heard of a bar made by Michael Haase, or something Haase? I got one when I bought my Deluxe 8 (along with a red and black bakelite bars) and I'm wondering if it's rare. It's long and thin, the kind you don't find anymore... and it's polished chrome. I tried to find it for a picture here but I couldn't lay a hand on it right now.
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New FB Page: Lap Steel Licks And Stuff: https://www.facebook.com/groups/195394851800329 |
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Peter den Hartogh
From:
Cape Town, South Africa
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Posted 18 May 2014 9:37 am
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| Did they have a dyslexic operator at MSA? |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 18 May 2014 9:38 am
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I'm pretty sure that the SAM bar was made by steel guitarist/machinist Sam Gibson from Hamden, Mass. (no connection to Gibson guitars). Sam has (or had) a company called SAMachine, and he made bars and other parts for pedal steel guitars. I've had a couple of his bars for over 30 years. They are drilled out to make them lighter, so there is no SAM logo on the end. I think Sam displayed his bars at some of the New England steel shows many years ago. I've never actually seen a bar with the SAM logo on the end... I'm just guessing that it stands for SAMachine and Sam Gibson made it.
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My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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C. E. Jackson
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Posted 18 May 2014 10:16 am
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Stephen, I have an Excel Database of bars, have searched and do not find any stainless steel or chrome bars with a name containing Michael or Haase.
I do have several different sizes and styles of the Red Raja bars which were purchased or gifted to me by my good friend, Charlie Norris, a Member of the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.
I have several containers of vintage and other bars and hope to upgrade my database with more details later. If I should come across a bar by Michael Haase, I will let you know.
C. E.
_________________
My Vintage Steel Guitars
My YouTube Steel Guitar Playlists
My YouTube Steel Guitar Songs
A6 tuning for steels |
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C. E. Jackson
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C. E. Jackson
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