J.C.H. Steels

B.Jenkins · From: Parkersburg, WV...U.S.A

With the passing of the master builder, will there be anyone going on with Jimmys work, building the J.C.H.?
I sure hope so. Rest in peace my friend..
God Bless his Family
Billy

Nick Reed · From: Russellville, KY USA

Elsie told my wife at the funeral home, there would be no more new JCH guitars built. Reason being, Jimmie was such a perfectionist where every detail had to have his personal attention and be perfect before it left the shop.

IMHO, NO ONE could ever possibly continue the same high quality care & workmanship Jimmie put into these guitars. It really looks as of now that the JCH chapter of the book will be closed. Now these fine instruments will become rare collector guitars like Sho-Buds. Nick

[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 11 February 2005 at 05:05 PM.]

B.Jenkins · From: Parkersburg, WV...U.S.A

Thanks Mr. Reed for the heads up on the J.C.H. steels
Billy

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

This is only appropriate. My black D10 was to have been the next JCH completed, but, without the Master's touch, it just wouldn't be a JCH.

As sad as this makes me, it is of no consequence when compared to the loss of my friend, Jimmie; as the days pass, I'm more and more aware of the loss the whole steel guitar world has suffered.

RR

Jon Graboff · From: Santa Fe, New Mexico

This news breaks my heart. I'm proud that Jimmie chose pictures of my JCH for his web site, and as long as musicians play the pedal steel, I hope to see many JCH logos. That the Crawford family could someday find a person who could carry on the high standards of Jimmie's work, would be a fantastic tribute to the man and his legacy as a one of the GREAT steel guitar builders. It pains me to think that so many worthy players might be denied the opportunity to sit behind and play such a fine instrument. I'm one of the lucky ones. Long live the JCH!

George King · From: Woodlawn,Illinois

I was wondering how many JCH guitars were built?How many are out there?

Mike Weirauch · From: Harrisburg, Illinois**The Hub of the Universe

Jon Graboff · From: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Mike, What's the serial number on your JCH? Mine is 2500 and I seem to remember that yours was built sometime near mine. Am I correct on that? Thanks, Jon.

Mike Weirauch · From: Harrisburg, Illinois**The Hub of the Universe

Jon, I watched your guitar being built from when the cabinet arrived to Jimmie test driving it. If memory serves me correctly, the next 2 guitars were the George Draber guitar and Bucky Reid's guitar. I'm not sure what came after that but mine was built in 02 and I picked it up in December of 02. I always have thought that your guitar with the carbon fiber mica pattern was the sharpest one Jimmie ever built. My son had Carter Guitar build him one with the same mica pattern as yours. I remember getting to play your guitar before it was shipped out and it played and sounded great! Bucky Reid did a lot of the work on my guitar and he is a particular as Jimmie was. Bucky is the only person I know who could come close to filling Jimmie's shoes when it came to building guitars.

stevepo · From: Clarion, PA. USA

Roger, your guitar and mine was on the bench for Jimmie's next masterpieces. Jimmie had told me in January that he expected to finish my guitar shortly after February.

Jon, I would agree that someone might be able to carry on the tradition of building great JCH guitars.

Mike, Bucky might be the right person if he is inclined to do so. He and Jimmie were close and I understand that Bucky worked on JCH's with Jimmie.

Nick, Elsie mentioned that no new guitars would be started, I have to wonder if the in-process orders could be finished someday. Eventually, I will have to ask.

Steve Porter

Charles Curtis · Posted 11 Feb 2005 1:33 pm

Last week, if I remember correctly, Jimmie told me that he was trying to get three finished at the same time. I believe he was still missing a couple of parts for mine. He also remarked that his son is an excellent engineer with the psg. A few months before he had invited me to stop by and he would show me around; so what I had planned to do was to visit with Jimmie when the guitar was finished and bring my camcorder. I still find it hard to believe that he is gone. We're all going to miss this man; what a great pioneer and one of the most likable men I've ever met.

autry andress · From: Plano, Tx.

I hope the Crawford family will reconsider & let the JCH Steel Live on in Honor of The
Late & Great Jimmy Crawford. Please let the JCH Legacy live on.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Right, Steve. Jimmie told me he was trying to do two or three at once, so exact order of delivery would have been hard to predict, but I know mine was imminent. He asked when I'd be back off the road and, when I told him March, he said, 'It'll be done by then...'

It had crossed my mind that Buck might be capable of approaching Jimmie's high standards if anybody is.

RR

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

When John D'Angelico passed the family chose
not to continue in spite of an offer from Fender to buy the rights and name and headstock from the D'Angelico family. I know the deal that CBS offered the D'Angelico family as I was right in the middle of it. John's brother told Don Randall Leo's partner that when John died the name D'Angelico went with him to his grave.

Jimmy D'Aquisto tried to assume the family tradition as he was Johns protege,,but the family having strong feelings declined.

Scott Henderson · From: Camdenton, Missouri, USA

My guitar has a serial number in the 1400's
I don't know it's age but it has push button switches instead of toggle. I love my guitar and will never part with it (willingly anyway)Told my wife I'm takin it with me when I go.

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

Jon Graboff · From: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Mike, Jimmie must have felt the same way about the carbon fiber mica. During our last conversation a few weeks ago, he told me that he was building a new guitar for for himself and using the same carbon fiber mica. This is kinda choking me up just thinking about my last chat with Jimmie. I will miss him... Jon

Mike Sweeney · From: Nashville,TN,USA

Jimmie had 4 guitars in line to finish. Rogers' was next then Charles' then mine and his in his spare time. I hate that they never got done but most of all I miss my friend. Jimmie was building mine on a body he had picked out for himself several years ago and he often told me " Mike, that thing is gonna be a real honker. That wood has aged and the grain is perfect." I didn't doubt his words for a minute.
The thing for everyone who had a guitar on order is to let the dust settle down and see what Elsie decides to do.

Mike Sweeney www.freewebs.com/steelguitarmusic/

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Mike Sweeney

Mike Weirauch · From: Harrisburg, Illinois**The Hub of the Universe

Jon, Jimmie only built one carbon fiber guitar and one "tomato puke" guitar and we have them both and my Lloyd Green JCH with the brushed silver aprons and the blue top is also a one of a kind. Lloyd had it custom made for himself but decided to stick with his trusty Sho~Bud so he sold it to me.

Mike Sweeney · From: Nashville,TN,USA

Mike,

You're right about the one of a kind. Mine wasn't. But, Jimmie picked it out for me and that's kind of special. And besides you can't go wrong with black. At least that's what I've heard.

Mike

B.Jenkins · From: Parkersburg, WV...U.S.A

I have a photo of Jimmy and John taken in 1982 in Jimmy's basement .
Bill Carr and I was working at the Nissan Plant on construction, and Jimmy had ran an add for a machinist, I called him and he invited us over to talk about doing some work for them.
And He and John played a few tunes for Bill and I, and I took some photos,
The way they both treated us , one would have thought we all had been friends for years, they were very nice and greeted two strangers with a warm and friendly spirt, I'll never for get Jimmy, I called him several times after that, and we would talk about one thing or another, and he was never in a hurry to get off of the phone,
Rest in peace my friend..
Billy

Sonny Priddy · From: Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA, R.I.P.

I Would Like Very Much To See Buck Go On With JCH Don't Let A Great Guitar Go Down. SONNY.

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Mike Weirauch · From: Harrisburg, Illinois**The Hub of the Universe

Bucky Reid did most of the work on my D-10 while Jimmie was in England and it was and still is as perfect as it can be. Bucky is as particular and meticulous as Jimmie was. If I ever need anything done to my guitar, Bucky will be the one to do it as he knows it well.

Wayne Brown · From: Bassano, Alberta, Canada

I thought this might be appropriate for this thread.
On November 20 / 2003 I ordered a brand new JCH black d-10 from jimmy Crawford. On January 31 / 2005 I talked with jimmy and he told me that except for the name plate and sitting down to play and tweak the guitar, it was finished. And on February 02 /2005 the unthinkable happened. On that day I was in my shop, when I got the call from my very good friend john lacey. So I shut down the shop and went straight home, to find at least a dozen messages on my answering machine. I need to tell you folks that I felt a little out in the cold up here, not being in the U.S.A. however, one of the messages was from my good friend Danny Cormier. He told me that Tommy minniear was trying to get a hold of me, and for me to call him. So I called Tommy. Since he has been a friend of the Crawford’s for years and new about this guitar from its conception, he said that he would take care of this situation on my behalf. I need to stop here and tell you about Tom. To this day I have never met tom. My only dealing was that I built him a case for his old sho-bud. Now since then, I have had countless hours on the phone with him, talking about everything from squirrels to guitars, and he has grown into being a very dear and close friend to me and my family. Anyways, since I had never met or talked to Elsie Crawford except in casual conversation on the phone. Tommy stepped in and sort of became a go between.
After Elsie had some time to deal with her situation she contacted Tommy to let me know when would be a good time to call, and when buck reid would be over at the house. I need to stop here again. You need to know about Elsie Crawford. Through my dealings in the steel guitar business. I have talked with two ladies that I honor and respect. One is Elsie Crawford the other is Dixie Mullen. These two women are like two peas in a pod. Loving, caring and total straight shooters, and know exactly what there doing and are honest as the day is long. And trust me on this. This is a huge complement. And I love them both dearly. Anyways buck reid being as busy as he is and everything that was going on in the Crawford household, found the time to finish my guitar and I might add wonderfully and between Elsie and buck got it shipped out to me, I received it this last Friday. I cannot thank everybody involved with getting me this guitar enough. Thank you. I need to say what was going to be a very joyous occasion is now a bitter sweet one, as I now own the last guitar that jimmy built and played. I will cherish this guitar for as long as I live. With Elsie’s and Tommy’s help there is going to be a gold plack installed on this guitar with what Elsie wishes to say on it. Now it is official that the JCH STEEL GUITAR CO. is closed and there will be no more jch’s built. However Elsie has informed me that all jimmy’s cd’s, and printed material etc. will continue to be sold directly through her. Elsie’s info is as follows.
Elsie Crawford
112 south valley road
Hendersonville, TN 37075
1-615-824-8938

Sincerely
Wayne brown

[This message was edited by Wayne Brown on 22 March 2005 at 08:01 PM.]

[This message was edited by b0b on 23 March 2005 at 01:40 PM.]

Rick Johnson · From: Wheelwright, Ky USA

Wayne
What a great story.

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Rick Johnson

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Wayne - that's a great 'post'.

Seeing the picture of your new guitar is particularly poignant for me - mine was to be next, and it would have been identical in appearance to yours.

Today happens to be my birthday, and I'd hoped to be playing my own JCH by now - I am feeling a little sad, I confess....

RR

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