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Post new topic Don Helms
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Author Topic:  Don Helms
Bill Groner


From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
Post  Posted 21 Mar 2020 6:16 am    
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Stumbled across this video today. Maybe you all have seen it? A nice piece of steel history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XDovYuzFFI
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
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Mark Eaton


From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
Post  Posted 21 Mar 2020 9:44 am    
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Love those Country Road TV clips!

I wonder when Don started using a dobro style “grooved” bar?

Unless I missed it, when the story came up about trading the guitar to someone for the Fender that Don was playing at the time, it was never mentioned during the entire segment that this guitar is a Gibson - it was just referred to as the famous guitar on many Hank Williams #1 records. Question
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Bill Groner


From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
Post  Posted 21 Mar 2020 9:51 am    
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Mark Eaton wrote:
Love those Country Road TV clips!

I wonder when Don started using a dobro style “grooved” bar?

Unless I missed it, when the story came up about trading the guitar to someone for the Fender that Don was playing at the time, it was never mentioned during the entire segment that this guitar is a Gibson - it was just referred to as the famous guitar on many Hank Williams #1 records. Question


It is of little importance to the world.........only us guys on here! LOL The people he played it for didn't care, just as long as it sounded good and was reliable.
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
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Mark Eaton


From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
Post  Posted 21 Mar 2020 10:01 am    
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If it were of little importance except to steel guitar geeks, then it was even less important to mention that the guitar Don traded to another guy early in his career was a Fender. Wink
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Walter Webb

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 21 Mar 2020 11:59 am     heartfelt tribute to Don, and the other old timers there
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Vince Gill gets all emotional, and gives the greatest compliment.
How many audience members can you identify? I see Little Jimmy Dickens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuNXzDs3MSg
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Eric Sprado

 

From:
Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 21 Mar 2020 8:28 pm    
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I think I saw Johnny Mac Brown (sp) in there..
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Glenn Wilde

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 22 Mar 2020 6:58 am    
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Beautiful, thanks for sharing.
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Chris Cummings

 

From:
England
Post  Posted 14 Sep 2023 7:01 am     Don’s Fender
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Has Don’s Fender steel ever resurfaced ? The story of the swop between Don’s Fender and a ardent fan’s brand spanking new Gibson Console Grande is legendary! You’d hope that the fan would have made a ‘fuss’ amongst his family and friends over the years especially as Don and his Gibson both became iconic in the history of country music
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Bill Sinclair


From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
Post  Posted 14 Sep 2023 7:45 am     Re: Don’s Fender
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Chris Cummings wrote:
Has Don’s Fender steel ever resurfaced ?


If the trade for Don's '48 Gibson occurred in the '48-'49 time frame, that's right around the transition on the Fender Dual Pros from boxcars to trap pickups. Anybody know which pickup Don's Fender guitar had and when the trade took place?
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Chris Cummings

 

From:
England
Post  Posted 14 Sep 2023 12:08 pm     Don’s Fender
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I believe Don’s Fender was a 1948/49 Dual Pro model he used it on Hank’s MGM recording session in 1951 that one that produced ‘ Why Don’t You Love Me’ and at least one other song.
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