Going Out of Business

Bill C. Buntin · Posted 13 Jan 2005 3:20 pm

I'm checking out ya'll. It been fun. I've enjoyed the forum much. Ya'll have probably seen my steel equipment and now PA equipment all for sale.

My life has taken a wonderful turn for the better. My beautiful wife Johnna and I are expecting a baby daughter in May. My day job is so demanding I can't find the time to play music anymore. Plus my hearing ain't what it was 10 years ago. Stage volume is terrible. Its just time for me to hang it up. save what ears I've got left.

I love steel guitar and I love Texas. I've had alot of fun. Met a lot of nice folks. Met alot of great musicians. seen alot of Country and played alot of country.

Had a blast on the forum. Read alot arguing, read alot of discussing and cussing. Learned alot of great things. Tried to help others along the way with good info that I've learned and experienced.

Got the pleasure of meeting some of the greatest steel guys in the world. And have the honor to hold many of those as personal friends. Reece, Gary Carpenter, Bob Rains, Jr. Knight, The Late Great Gary Hogue (God rest his soul) Steve Lamb of Lamb's Music in Ft. Worth, Cecil Johnson, Densel Bills, Rooster Crow, Charlie & Shirley Norris and the Tx. Steel Guitar Assoc., Albert Talley, Bud Carter, John & Ann Fabian. Just to name a few. And have met many many others.

Messages:

Maurice and Teresa Anderson, thanks for getting me started. I'll always think of you as the MAN Reece. Teresa thanks for being so nice to me when I would come to your house. Made me feel at home.

Gary Carpenter, thanks for giving me something to shoot for. Thanks for listening and being my friend. If ya'll don't know Gary he's about the best there is.

Bob Rains, thanks for turning me on to EMMONS guitars. ANd thanks for building the RAINS guitar. I know its gonna be the BEST.

Steve Lamb, thanks for trading with me and sending me jobs and helping me learn. I couldn't have done what I did with out you, Stephen and the whole crew. Best of luck.

Bobbe Seymour, thanks for listening and always having good solutions to my troubles.

Charlie and Shirley, thanks for the TSGA and Norris Music.

Thanks to Carter Guitars, Mesquite Tx.

Thanks to Jr. Knight for encouraging me.

And to some of you who I've read and read your posts and responses:

Herb Steiner, you are a wealth of knowledge and truly one of the best guys on here. I still want to meet you one day and shake your hand.

Ricky Davis, ditto and thanks for posting pictures for me.

Al Marcus, absolutely wonderful wealth of knowledge. Pleasure to read your words.

Carl Dixon, ditto.

Larry Bell, ditto.

The list goes on and on.

Mr. Buddy Emmons, thanks for the most wonderful challenges trying to copy what you do man. I heard Dewitt Scott say one time, that, "You have a magic touch that none of the rest of us can seem to quite reach". Thats the best way I've ever heard it put about you Buddy. Thanks to you and Ron Lashley. We all know why.

Mr. Jimmy Day, I know you can't hear or see this, but thanks for being Jimmy. How I love to hear Jimmy Day.

Weldon Myrick, thanks for playing steel guitar, WOW.

Doug Jernigan, thanks for playing steel guitar, WOW.

Paul Franklin, who can say enough about this guy. Everybody always wants me to play like you!!

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Franklin Sr. thanks for all of your help over the years.

ANd to the many other folks who've touched my life because of Pedal Steel.

Last but certainly not LEAST.

A BIG THANKS TO:

Bobby Lee Quasar, Thanks for the ability to vent, buy, sell, discuss, joke, laugh and learn. and thanks for keeping this bunch together.

See ya down the road.

Bill Buntin

Back home in Cleburne, TX. Johnson County, USA.

Brian Henry · Posted 14 Jan 2005 4:18 am

Bill,

Steel guitar is an addiction. It gets in one's blood. I heard of a guy who stopped, dug a hole in his back yard and buried his Emmons PSG. Five years later he dug it up and as far as I know he is still playing. Think twice beforte you sell anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

joe long · From: San Antonio, Texas

Bill, a few years ago I also thought my playing days were over. Sold an excellent p/p Emmons which I had owned for 17 years. Sold everything. Stopped listening to music and buying records (this was before CD'S).

Stayed out for 7 years. No interest what so ever in music. About 6 years ago I ran into Roger Eddington and he brought is steel and amp out to my hanger and for the firest time in 7 years I put on some picks and messed around with his guitar. Sure, I was rusty but I knew at that point that I still had a flame burning inside me and that I really had missed the steelguitar more than I could ever realize.

In short I decided that I would get a single neck E9th to play around the house. No, I did not want to get bach into the club scene. Boy, was that a dumb statement.

I got the single neck but within a short time I knew that I wanted a D-10.

To make a long story short, I have 4 Emmons guitars, 3 different amp systems, and all the little toys I can handle. I play 1-2 times a week in those smokey ole clubs and loving ever minute.

I have more money invested in one of the Emmons guitar than I had in all the equipment I had sold 7 years ago.

I cost a lot more to get back into the mainstream and that what received when I sold my orginal equipment.

I also have a hearing problem which I solved with an excellent pair of hearing aids which improved my playing 100%.

I hope you think 3-4 times before you sell everything. You will miss the steelguitar because it is addicting.

Don Sulesky · From: Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH

DITTO!!!
They can not be more right.
It is addicting like no other instrument.
Don

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

We will miss you, Bill. And we'll hope to see you again, on down the road a piece.

Best of luck with your new life and new priorities. Only you can determine what they must be. Stop by b0b's Pool Hall every once in a while and take the load off and let your steel guitar friends know how life's treating you.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Sell all of the accessories that ya feel like, but,don't sell the thing with the strings & pedals else one day you'll know what it's like to pine away for a lost love.

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Bill, don't ever think that you have successfully escaped from the music scene. I once quit music completely for 14 years for the same reasons that you have mentioned. I didn't sell my equipment as you are doing, but I should have, because when I decided to play again all of my equipment was obsolete and I had to buy new "stuff" anyway.

So, always remember that the desire to play is only in remission, and you never know when it will return unexpectedly! Selling your equipment is not permanently closing the door....when you return you will want all of the latest equipment anyway!

The best of everything to you.....

www.genejones.com

Bill Simmons · From: Keller, Texas/Birmingham, AL, R.I.P.

Hey Bill...I quit playing steel for over 16 years and then started again when I moved to TX just over 3 years ago...I wished I never had stopped playing!!!

I bet the old 'steel guitar bug' will hit you again real soon and hopefully you will be back!

Jack Abraham · From: Oklahoma

Bill -- just wanted to echo everyone's comments. Best of luck to you ... but, don't put your playing days to rest quite yet!

Like many others here in the Forum, I went from playing music for a living to a more "sane" profession. After selling my business a few years ago, I came across this forum. This led me to getting the LDG that I play and love today.

I gig with a mix of people these days that range from 20 to 65 years old. I'm (53 years old) just getting started ! --- playing again and enjoying it more than any other time in my life! One of my biggest kicks is having my 18 year old daughter come and listen to us play - she could not believe at first that us "old guys" had this much fun. This might be something that your little one will enjoy with you some day! Take care ....

Ian Finlay · From: Kenton, UK

In the nicest way - DON'T DO IT!!!!

I quit gigging when my son was born, for all the right reasons (being at home, "growing up", keeping my hearing etc.). I forgot two things - first, I had to keep my own identity. He (and my daughter,3) come to the occasional daytime gig, and some soundchecks, and they love it. I got them earplus (Pro Plugs) to protect their hearing, and wear them myself.

Second, they see the fun of playing music with others. I play guitar and sing to them, and accompany their singing when they let me! It really helps their rhythm, intonation, volume etc. But, it's not the same playing solo as with a band. I think my Daughter's got the music bug now. Hope so!

So, for what my opinion's worth, don't give up totally. Play for your kid, sing, whatever(great for calming down a grouchy baby too). Have a jam at your place if you can - that way the volume level is under your control!

Best of luck,

Ian

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Bill
I thank you for your kind words. I don't think your leaving the steel world is a permanent departure, merely a temporary break-burger, which we all have experienced.

I once quit steel playing; gave it up to be an advertising manager, a good husband, and a bass fisherman. I lasted almost two years, then Johnny Bush offered me a job and I realized what I was meant to do. I'm still a bass fisherman and a good husband, but I'm back doing what I love and what God intended me to do. I trust you'll have a similar realization one day.

See you soon down the road.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

Well, I can only say that if the bug bites you in the future(as it did me), (a)I won't be surprised, and (b)it will hurt to deal with that you sold your rig, so find some way to store your stuff.

Every good wish on your new addition, and remember, the first six months are the most fun!

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Bill-Thanks for the kind words. But you told me to keep playing once or twice when I thought I was getting too old. But I kept at it and still play for the seniors occasionally.
So follow your own advice and Don't Quit! Keep one of your guitars and relax for awhile. Later on you will want to play again....Good luck......al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

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