| Author |
Topic: History Lesson: Dekley |
Brian Kurlychek
From:
Maine, USA
|
Posted 27 May 2009 4:10 pm |
|
I have seen alot of Dekley on here lately. I did a search and cannot find any history on the guitar, here or on the web.
Who started the company? How long were the guitars built for?
any information or links to stuff I should have found on the forum but didn't would be appreciated.
I am interested to know the history. Bruce Kaphan (is that how you say it?) made an album with a Dekley and it sounds amazing. Both the album and the guitar.
Thanks.
_________________
We live to play another day. |
|
|
 |
Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
|
|
|
|
Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
|
Posted 27 May 2009 5:55 pm
|
|
Brian, Norwegian steeler Nils Farstad did a whole album on a Dekley. The album is called Steel Favorites
and Nils' self-penned song, Keep it Country can be heard on Charles Tilley's web site.
There is also a retired steeler here in London, ON, Al Johnston, who owns a double neck Dekley
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
|
|
|
Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
|
|
|
|
Cartwright Thompson
|
Posted 28 May 2009 2:29 am
|
|
The Dekley story is loaded with "non-guitar" lore too. I seem to recall stories of a federal sting that involved a drug deal to raise money to save the company, kind of a John DeLorean type of scheme. Supposedly there is a huge stockpile of Dekley parts hidden away or lost in a warehouse somewhere.
I know this stuff sounds crazy but these stories were floating around some years ago... |
|
|
|
Brian Kurlychek
From:
Maine, USA
|
Posted 28 May 2009 5:01 am
|
|
Thanks for the comments so far.
In the other thread I learned that Jim Gurley was the "ley" of Dekley, and Bob DeKam was the "Dek".
And also Jim Smith was involved.
Cartwright: maybe Jim can shed some light on the federal sting, as to whether it is or not.
Keep it coming guys.
_________________
We live to play another day. |
|
|
|
Don Drummer
From:
West Virginia, USA
|
Posted 28 May 2009 6:17 am dekley
|
|
| The Dekley makers did a series of in store demonstrations here and Kentuckey. They drew a crowd at Hatcher's Music in Beckley WV. There are still a few left in the area. Their pitch was all about the Paka-Wood laminate material used for the cabinet. The mechanics of ones I've come across appear to be solid and true. This all happened mid seventies. Don D. |
|
|
|
Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
|
Posted 28 May 2009 6:37 am
|
|
Got a brand new D10 8x4 w/705's in 1982 and played it for 16 years.
It was built like a tank (just as heavy) and almost no cabinet drop and had as good a sound as any guitar I've ever played.
They had chrome fingers and after 16 years I could not find a groove in any of them.
I just got tired of lugging 85 something pounds of guitar and decided to sell it and go with a lighter guitar.
_________________
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
|
|
|
Steve Hitsman
From:
Waterloo, IL
|
Posted 28 May 2009 7:19 am
|
|
| Is that the same Jim Gurley as in Big Brother and the Holding Company? |
|
|
|
Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
|
Posted 29 May 2009 9:15 pm
|
|
Not much I can add that hasn't already been said here or in the old thread. I left Dekley and moved to Texas in 1980, before Dekley's problems, so I've only heard the rumors mentioned here. As far as I know, Dekley's Jim Gurley was never associated with Big Brother and the Holding Company.
_________________
Jim Smith
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=- |
|
|
|
Brian Kurlychek
From:
Maine, USA
|
Posted 30 May 2009 9:21 am
|
|
the kind of questions I have are: what was your role in the company? how long did you work for Dekley? When did dekley first become a company and did the two guys work for a different company prior to starting Dekley? What years were Dekleys made? from when to when? Stuff like that is what I am after.
I would guess alot of these guys worked for other companies before they branched off with their own ideas.
_________________
We live to play another day. |
|
|
|
chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
|
Posted 30 May 2009 9:40 am
|
|
| i feel another sting coming on... |
|
|
|
Lonnie Zsigray
From:
Saint Louis,Mich., USA
|
Posted 30 May 2009 12:28 pm Dekley
|
|
Brian,sent you a PM
_________________
If I hear it,I'm gonna try to steel it |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 30 May 2009 1:44 pm
|
|
They were made in Bloomfield, CT, from about 1977 until about 1984. I don't mean to speak for Jim Smith, but my understanding is that Jim was the shop manager in the early years of the company. I believe that Jim Gurley had worked for Ovation Co. prior to starting Dekley. Bob Dekam, I believe, was retired some sort of tech job at Pratt & Whitney. Dekleys were very well made, solid, built like tanks. One of Dekley's innovations was their Pakawood body, a very durable compressed wood.
Cartwright is on the right track regarding the problems at Dekley in it's last couple of years, but I'm not going to post any details about that here. 
_________________
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
Last edited by Doug Beaumier on 30 May 2009 4:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Brian Kurlychek
From:
Maine, USA
|
Posted 30 May 2009 2:29 pm
|
|
Thanks for all the replies. I didn't mean to open a can of worms or bring any bad things to light. I just find it interesting to know the whos whats and whys - and found it strange that I couldn't find any information regarding the company anywhere on the internet as far as its history.
Cheers.
_________________
We live to play another day. |
|
|
|
chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
|
Posted 30 May 2009 4:30 pm
|
|
| hey...spill that can'o'beans...we're all just lonely boring people here in need of some enticing fantasy ... |
|
|
|
Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
|
|
|
|
Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
Posted 1 Jun 2009 4:23 am
|
|
I met Jim Gurley and Bob Dekam in the late seventies when they came to SoCal for the NAMM show held at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. I was teaching at Blackie Taylor's music store in Garden Grove at the time and playing at the Foothill Club in Signal Hill at night.
They came to Blackie's in the afternoon along with an amazing player (The late great Tommy Roots) from Texas who was their staff player. We all went to the NAMM Show the next day and they came to the Foothill Club that night. Tommy got up and did a great set on his Dekley steel through my amp, he almost blew it up though. Tommy was a great C6th man for sure. Tommy later came back to Blackie's store and did a steel seminar/show.
Dekley was a well built and thought out guitar for sure. I wasn't to sure about those "D" shaped pedals though..........JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
|
|
|
steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
|
Posted 1 Jun 2009 5:59 am dekley pedals
|
|
| I thought the pedals felt fine when pushed and there is no doubt they were disinctive! Interesting thread by guys in the know. Good to hear from Jim Smith again. steve t |
|
|
|
Larry Petree
From:
Bakersfield. Ca. USA
|
Posted 1 Jun 2009 8:01 am Namm
|
|
| Jerry, I was also at that NAMM show, in fact I bought a black D-10 that was on display. As many have said, thay were great built and playing guitars. I sold several while they were being built. |
|
|
|
Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
Posted 2 Jun 2009 3:18 am
|
|
Hey Larry, I'd have probably gotten one at that time but I was still in love with my ShoBud S-12 with the Emmons pickup, plus I thought it was much prettier than the Dekley. I remember that Tommy Roots was using a large 1" bar which was hollowed out. I think Dekley was selling that bar also. I tried one out but I just didn't like the size but it was easy to control........ They also sold a few guitars through Nash's Music in Inglewood....JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
|
|
|
