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Topic: Curly Chalker's choice of bar |
Kevin Klimek
From:
Minnesota, USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2010 8:28 am |
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| I saw an old video of Curly on You Tube and while the quality is blurred, it appears that he is using a bar with a scooped out top that he rested his finger on, in a groove of sorts. I did see a C6th player many years ago in the Fargo ND area who was phenominal, playing a single neck C6th and he used a custom bar that resembled that. Does anyone know if that was one of Curly's choices? |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 25 Aug 2010 9:40 am
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| curly was such a hot player i imagine his finger just melted a groove in the bar! |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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John Floyd
From:
R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Aug 2010 11:49 am A Bar Given To me By Curly
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Standard Bullet Nosed Sho-Bud Bar 7/8 by 3 1/4. Nothing Extra Special except to me, it was owned by Curly in 1977 and Given to me. Curly probably had special Bars, but He really didn't need them to pull off his miracles.
Here is a Location Where 8 MP3 Files by Curly can be Downloaded From
1 Where Or When.mp3
2 Autumn Leaves.mp3
3 Ode To Billy Joe.mp3
4 Blue Spanish Eyes.mp3
5 King Of The Road.mp3
6 Indiana.mp3
7 GEORGIA.mp3
8 Danny Boy.mp3
http://nashpropicker.com/music/ |
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Wayne D. Clark
From:
Montello Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2010 12:47 pm
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Kevin I use a bar like that Mine is a SHUBB and it weighs 8oz. Most DoBro players use a bar like that, The other day I talked to a gentelman who used one on his PGS as I do. I have used one for over 65 years. I had trouble holding the round bar when I was taking lessons as a child. I do have a Round bar or two also but hooked on the Shubb.
Wayne D. Clark
Desert Rose S19 3/5
Goodrich Pedal
Peavey 110 |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 25 Aug 2010 1:03 pm
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Thanks John! Nice to hear some Curly again!
I would never have thought that was a 7/8 bar. Maybe things get magnified a bit on a close-up.
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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John Floyd
From:
R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Aug 2010 2:26 pm
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Bent
I never said That I had The Bar that was in the video, Curly Loaned me his Sho-Bud Baldwin Crossover in 1977 along with Picks Bar and a Session 400 Amp and was Teaching me some things when he had time. In The Meantime, I took a Job in Pascagoula Ms.and he had to come pick up his rig at my Apt before I moved out and my Steel Guitar Lessons came to an end. I told him I was going to keep his bar and picks to remember him by and he said that was OK, he had a lot of picks and bars and he really didn't use these that much. I saw him in St Louis in 1978 or 79 and offered to buy the Sho-Bud from him. He said that the 2 MSA's were having to go back to MSA and he needed to keep the Sho-Bud. That was the last time I saw Him Alive. He was a great friend and I miss him, I could use some of his wisdom right now. He didn't have enough time to teach me to be a Steeler, but he taught me a hell of a lot about music and attitude.
I've pi$$ed away more opportunities to Learn Steel Guitar from some really great players, Curly and Bill Stafford just to name a couple. Curly Spent a lot of time with Johnny Cox and if anybody knows Curly information its Johnny. |
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Tommy Alexander
From:
Friendswood, Texas 77546
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Posted 25 Aug 2010 3:17 pm Curly Chalker
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| I knew Curly back when and I'd say that Curley's choice of bar was "Tootsie's Lounge". I hope I don't offend anyone; "it is what it is"...... |
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John Floyd
From:
R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Aug 2010 7:48 am
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Curly was a diabetic, I don't think he did much if any drinking in Tootsies as she only sold beer.
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 26 Aug 2010 8:48 am
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| John Floyd wrote: |
Bent
I never said That I had The Bar that was in the video, |
John, I misunderstood. Thanks for clearing it up.
Interesting what you have to say about Curly.
I never knew him but what I have gathered I have come to believe that the man was an enigma. To me, he was one of the top 3 steel players in the world. His work on the C6th was so unique. His E9th style was so much E9th and just pretty...so far removed from his C6th style.
I am happy to have seen him live once - in 1977 at the ISGC.
Say, how did you find the X-over? Did you like the tone? did Curly like the tone? I have recently gotten interested in those beasts and would like to learn a bit about them.
Why, as Curly said, did the MSA's have to go back to MSA?
Thanks again for your response.
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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John Floyd
From:
R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Aug 2010 9:20 am
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The Tone of The crossover was About the same as the rest of the Buds, piercing, except when Curly was playing it. His was different, the 1st 3 pedals were the only crossover pedals out of up to 10? I'm going from the memory a 69 year old brain that isn't as good as it used to be. and I believe were 6 knees. He had a totally unique Copendent and he wouldn't tell anybody what he had on any one guitar. I asked him to show Bill Stafford some things at ST Louis in 1978 or 79 and to mine and Tom Brumley's surprise he showed Bill his entire setup.
His Two MSA's were out on Consignment and this was about the time MSA was Shutting Down and they wanted their two Guitars back.
If you follow Curly thru all of the different Brands he played, there was very little difference in tone, It was all in the Masters' Hands 
Curly was interested in Going to 12 String Guitars and wanted to Try out a pedal Dobro. As far as I know he never was able to do either. Bill Stafford had a D12 that was made by a Master Chief in the navy, Art Smith, in Key West Fla and he got the chance to Show it to Curly in St Louis, Curly Liked it, but was like all of the top level players, he wanted a company to provide him with Instruments and equipment. I think that was a fair exchange for an endorsement with the best in the world.
I had a business that dealt in CB radios and Curly was a CB nut and I became friends with him thru that. He mentioned one time that he would like to have a Roto/uni Vibe instead of hauling a rotating Speaker around. I just happened to have one in my hall closet at my Apt down the road, I told him to stay there and I would be right back and Didn't tell him why. I walked back in the shop and handed him an almost new roto/uni vibe still in the box. He offered to pay me for it, but you don't charge your hero for anything. He used that in The Video that is being sold that was made in LA and St Louis. |
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Gary Lee Gimble
From:
Fredericksburg, VA.
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 26 Aug 2010 10:26 am
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| John Floyd wrote: |
It was all in the Masters' Hands |
Amen. You pretty well covered it with that statement!
John, thanks for all the first-hand info on this Master steel player. If you have more to add, please feel free. It was very interesting.
You have a connection to Dekley? Just wondered since the logo is in your avatar...
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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John Floyd
From:
R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Aug 2010 1:09 pm
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Gary Lee You are no doubt 1/2 Correct. Its a medley starting with Autumn Leaves and ending with Misty.
What is really intersting is in King Of The Road where Curly Cues the bass player with a bass run while still playing the melody. Evidently he wasn't satisfied with the pattern the Bass Man was using. He was on top of everything going on around him at all times.
http://dekleyforum.com/
http://dekley.com/
I Started These two Sites When I became a Dekley Owner because I was So impressed With the Dekley Construction. They are Great Guitars and Already Pre-Machined and Pre-Drilled For expansion. Jim Smith has been a Godsend as a Technical Advisor. The Dekley Forum is For Support among Dekley Owners and All we ask for membership is that you be a Dekley Owner and Provide Your Real name as a User Name.
We don't have a company to go to for support but we are not orphans, there is strength in numbers.
I came across a Closet Guitar last October absolutely like new and I'm in the process of swapping the E9th and C6th (in my case B6th) necks around and adding more pedals and Knee Levers to 8 & 8. Also Changing to a Modified Day Setup like Curly's.
I worked for Sho-Bud in 1974 for a short time and the Dekley Construction is light years ahead of Sho-Bud.
Last edited by John Floyd on 27 Aug 2010 6:06 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 26 Aug 2010 1:44 pm
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How about starting a new thread so as not to hijack Kevin's original thread.
This is interesting. Look for Dekley in Pedal steel
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 27 Aug 2010 5:46 pm
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| John Floyd wrote: |
Gary Lee You are no doubt 1/2 Correct. Its a medley starting with Autumn Leaves and ending with Misty.
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The first tune in the track you posted as "Autumn Leaves" is "Tenderly" Maybe the reference to leaves in the lyrics of tenderly are misleading you..
BTW thanks a million for posting links to Curly's tunes, over here his material is as rare as hen's teeth or rocking horse manure, but distinctly more palatable.
_________________
Steelies do it without fretting
CLICK THIS to view my tone bars and buy——> |
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John Floyd
From:
R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Aug 2010 10:57 pm
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Basil
I Stand Corrected, Sometimes my almost 70 year old brain has trouble functioning. Maybe it was bitten by one of those Hens Teeth or Slipped in that Rocking Horse Manure.  |
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Michael Douchette
From:
Gallatin, TN (deceased)
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Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
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Posted 31 Aug 2010 9:02 am
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Bar?? I don't need no steeking bar ???
 After all isn't it all in the hands of the player?..LOL...Forgive me Jim.. |
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