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Topic: Ray Montee!!! ...I'm Callin' You Out! |
HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 23 Feb 2009 4:15 pm |
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to play the Jerry Byrd Fender at the non pedal session at The Dallas Steel Guitar Jamboree.....are you man, or are you......Byrd(like)??????
Yup,....I'm bringing this guitar to Dallas....the is the ONLY guitar built completely to spec by Leo Fender for any musician....but this wasn't just any musician....this was Jerry Byrd.....
Ray, I think that I can speak for everone here....it would be a great honor to have Jerry's foremost fan, owner & curator of The Jerry Byrd Fan Club, friend, student, and disciple of Jerry Byrd.....do some playing on this historical steel guitar...... |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 24 Feb 2009 5:00 am
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That'll be one very cool video.
Fender should have gone into production with that one!
_________________
BIG STEEL |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 24 Feb 2009 9:09 am What a challenge, I must say.
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The enthusiasm each of you has shown is amazing. I appreciate the challenge and this very rare opportunity to play such a historic instrument.
Now, some technical asides: This 8-string monster has very close string spacing and I've been hammering out my tunes on the wider spaced, 6-string, Rickenbacher Bakelite for the past couple of years. Also I have the different strings installed so, I'm just offering a forewarning, that I may screw up terribly by missing strings and the like. THAT, is NOT very Jerry Byrd-like, don't you know?
I hope not, but it's entirely possible. In the real world, I've seen things like that happen.
THANK YOU for allowing me this special privilege, to play your guitar. I'll be looking forward with much
zest! |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 24 Feb 2009 9:31 am
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What is the string spacing on this bad boy anyway?
I would think if it was made to Jerry Byrd's specs it would have 3/8" parallel spacing and 22 1/2" scale. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 24 Feb 2009 9:37 am
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| Rick Alexander wrote: |
| Fender should have gone into production with that one! |
I've said that since I first learned of it. You know that sucker would sell, IF they kept the price within reach of steel players.
So much for that idea...
It would be a great project build to copy or improve, if that's possible.
Kudos to HR for keeping it safe and bringing it to life occasionally by letting folks like Ray get a rare chance at playing it. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 24 Feb 2009 10:03 am
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Rick.....you are correct
Ray, you can practice on it before hand....I'll be there Thurs afternoon.....
Ron,.....from what I have read, Jerry never made a big deal about guitars....they were what a hammer is to a carpenter.....of course, the right hammer.....but a guitar was a tool.....
I believe that a guitar such as this should be made accessable to those who appreciate what it is....hands on and not to be behind a piece of glass.....
While Ray will play it during his set.....this guitar will be available for people to sit down to and give it a spin off stage.....
Here's Hall of Famer Jody at the PSGA Show in '05.
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 24 Feb 2009 12:29 pm
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| Quote: |
| this guitar will be available for people to sit down to and give it a spin off stage..... |
Just try not to get pizza on it . . |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 24 Feb 2009 12:42 pm
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| HowardR wrote: |
1) Ron, from what I have read, Jerry never made a big deal about guitars, they were what a hammer is to a carpenter, of course, the right hammer, but a guitar was a tool.
2) I believe that a guitar such as this should be made accessable to those who appreciate what it is, hands on and not to be behind a piece of glass. |
1) In fact, he nearly threw his custom Sho-Bud in the ocean for it's foibles.
Sure am glad he didn't make good on that, or with the Fender either!
Was there a stated reason why he didn't hang with this guitar longer?
2) For that attitude, we're all the more richer, and fortunate it's in your hands. Carry on! |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 24 Feb 2009 1:41 pm
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[quote="Ron Whitfield"][quote="HowardR"]
Was there a stated reason why he didn't hang with this guitar longer?
According to Forrest White (of whom I have the original letter of authenticity)....Chet Atkins asked Jerry to borrow it (he was interested in learning to play steel)at the time that Jerry was moving to Hawaii. So Jerry left it with Chet. After several months, Chet realized that he didn't have the time to get involved with steel and wanted to return it. Jerry told him to just give it Forrest White as he (Jerry) had other guitars in Hawaii. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 24 Feb 2009 4:31 pm
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| Thanx for all that, Howard, and reminding me of that Barn Dance photo in the old link where Jerry looks like some creepy ventriloquist's dummy in the back row, holding onto his treasured Ricky B6. He must have been about 20 years old there, just a kid! What a fine full life he had laid before him, and that was his start. |
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