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Topic: Steel gtr stores in Nashville |
Jay Coover
From: Nashville, TN, USA
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Posted 2 Mar 2022 7:08 am
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I'm in Nashville for a few days, vacationing with my kids. Where's the best place to go to see some steel guitars in a shop? We're staying north of downtown.
Thanks!
Jay _________________ GFI Expo S-10 3x5
Goodrich 120 |
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K Maul
From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 2 Mar 2022 7:18 am
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Contact Johnnie King through the forum. He’s just East of town, I think.Other than that I’m not aware of any “steel guitar stores” there. Carter guitars MAY have a couple, Gruhn usually doesn’t. _________________ KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Jay Coover
From: Nashville, TN, USA
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Posted 2 Mar 2022 7:48 am
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It wouldn't have to be a dedicated steel store, just a music shop with a decent selection.
Steel guitars don't exist in music stores where I live. _________________ GFI Expo S-10 3x5
Goodrich 120 |
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Asa Brosius
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Posted 2 Mar 2022 8:07 am
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+1 on setting something up with Johnnie King- about 25 minutes south- real nice guy, with the most steels. Carter will have some interesting lap steels & Dobro's and the odd older pedal steel. PM me if you're looking for something in particular. |
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Tom Keller
From: Greeneville, TN, USA
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Posted 2 Mar 2022 8:28 am
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Its been decades and decades since there were bonafide steel guitar stores in down town Nashville. |
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Jay Coover
From: Nashville, TN, USA
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Posted 2 Mar 2022 8:32 am
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This was going to be more of a tourist activity. Not looking to buy today. I figured there would surely be someplace with a few out on the floor.
I live in Seattle, so have only ever played 2 in my life and one was a Carter starter. Just wanted to sort of have a look. _________________ GFI Expo S-10 3x5
Goodrich 120 |
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K Maul
From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 2 Mar 2022 8:49 pm
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Jay Coover wrote: |
This was going to be more of a tourist activity. Not looking to buy today. I figured there would surely be someplace with a few out on the floor.. |
I am fairly sure there are no places like that now in Music City USA. _________________ KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Dave Mudgett
From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 3 Mar 2022 12:50 am
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I concur on looking up Johnie King. He's in LaVergne, as Asa states, about 10 miles southeast of downtown Nashville. I also suggest you PM/email Damir Besic, who is in the same neck of the woods, southeast of downtown. Both forum members.
The only real open-to-the-public "steel guitar store" was Bobbe Seymour's place, Steel Guitars Nashville, and its sequel after Bobbe passed in 2014, Steel Guitars of Nashville - in Hendersonville. Unfortunately, several months into the pandemic, the store was closed and inventory apparently moved to Texas. Nobody really knows its actual status to this day.
There may be the occasional pedal steel in some of the guitar stores. Last I was in Sam Ash in Madison (last year), there was a Carter Starter - another time a Maverick. I know I traded a real nice LDG to Walter Carter several years back. But as far as finding a selection, I think Johnie and Damir are probably your best bets. I've dealt with them both with no issues. |
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Mark Eaton
From: Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 3 Mar 2022 7:54 am
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Yeah - I was wondering what was going on with Steel Guitars of Nashville. I recall at one point there was a move to Texas in the works, but the website appears to be operational, but without diving in too deep there isn’t anything in there explaining that they have moved to Texas.
If they are still in Hendersonville I was going to suggest a visit, it’s less than 20 miles north of downtown Nashville.
After attending Rob Ickes’ ResoSummit in 2010 I stayed with a friend for a couple days after the conference who moved to Franklin from my town in California. He took me around for the tourist overview of the area, and we went to the store. Bobbe Seymour was still among the living in 2010, and we had the best time. He sure was entertaining - what a character! I bought some learning materials and CDs, and he even threw in a few of his CDs at no charge. _________________ Mark |
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K Maul
From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 3 Mar 2022 10:29 am
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Mark Eaton wrote: |
If they are still in Hendersonville I was going to suggest a visit, it’s less than 20 miles north of downtown Nashville.
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That place no longer exists. I’ll stand corrected if someone in the area knows better. _________________ KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Dave Mudgett
From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 3 Mar 2022 11:24 am
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Quote: |
That place no longer exists. I’ll stand corrected if someone in the area knows better. |
Whatever is left of Steel Guitars of Nashville is no longer at the old location at 123 Mid Town Court in Hendersonville. I actually went over there when I was in town last year, to confirm for myself, in-person.
Per this thread, Mark Helm apparently was there when they were packing up for Texas in October 2020 - https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=362421 - I never doubted what he stated, but I was going to lunch at Cafe Rakka across the street anyway, so I diverted for a few minutes to see for myself. BTW, if you like Middle Eastern food, I highly recommend Cafe Rakka. |
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Jon Light
From: Saugerties, NY
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Posted 3 Mar 2022 11:45 am
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Mark Eaton wrote: |
........................ I recall at one point there was a move to Texas in the works, but the website appears to be operational,.................. |
It has been hashed out already but it can't be stated often enough -- people have ordered stuff here and it has taken their money. Lord only knows where that money has gone but it is a dead end, from the consumer's standpoint. Requires cancellation of charges etc. Whether it is careless incompetence of a person who walked away from the business but didn't think to deactivate the e-commerce infrastructure, or criminal intent, it a big "STAY AWAY". Forever, as far as I'm concerned, should she ever decide to actually reopen. |
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Dave Mudgett
From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Will Ellis
From: Nashville TN, USA
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Posted 3 Mar 2022 1:19 pm
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Yeah, your best bet is to go to Carter’s. You’ll see a bunch of cool guitar and lap steels, maybe a few pedal steels depending on the day. No chance of pedal steels anywhere else. If you are in east Nashville and want to visit a cool guitar store check out Fanny’s house of music. Real homey store with reasonable pieces for players. _________________ Sho~Bud Professional D-10 (1972)
Fender Twin Reverb (1979) |
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