Chas Smith

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

I have learned through the sound track, score and sound design community that Chas passed today.
My admiration for Chas as an artist, a musician, a craftsman, an inventor....is huge.
I would have loved to meet him.

I played a couple of his cds this afternoon.

Respect.

Craig Stock · From: Westfield, NJ USA

So sad to hear, rest in peace Chas!
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Regards, Craig

I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.

Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days

Bill McCloskey · Posted 14 May 2024 3:30 pm

Oh, no! While we never met in person, I spoke with him on the phone and as it turned out, he become good friends with my college roommate, which I didn't discover until the last few years.

I knew he was sick but since he kept posting on Facebook, I let myself believe he would somehow survive longer.

So sorry to hear this news.

Daniel Morris · From: Westlake, Ohio, USA

This is so hard to hear.
I had communications with him over the years, and he was always very open.
I will really miss his occasional CDs on Cold Blue.
Rest in peace, Chas.
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1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix.

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

This is sad news. He was quite a guy...innovator, inventor, craftsman, player...
It was Chas that got a bunch of us on the sessions for the Man Of Steel soundtrack.
You can see him playing his bass steel here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvQOa8CN-gI
Thanks again, Chas...
Vaya con Dios...

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Mike Neer · From: NJ

One of the biggest gut punches I’ve ever felt, and for a man I never met personally.

Chas was a great inspiration to me. An incredible mind and with the hands to bring things to life. A real renaissance man. The world grew a bit dimmer just now.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links

Mark Perrodin · From: Tucson Arizona, USA

this is terrible news. i appreciated his skills as a weldor and fabricator. he was a total craftsman. when someone is that good at what they do it really is inspiring and gives you something to shoot for. it has been a pleasure to mine this forum and read about how he directed those abilities and restoration skills towards the steel guitar.

Abe Levy · From: California, USA

Chas was an incredible person. This is horrible news. I haven’t talked to him in a while and did not know he was ill. Such a huge loss. I’ll never forget how he lit up when I brought my Bigsby to him to do a little machining on - he opened the case and his eyes just sparkled. He truly loved steel guitars. His collection was incredible. There are no more like him. He was one of a kind. I loved, among many other things about him, how much he loved to swear and curse, something I enjoy as well. He will be very sorely missed. RIP
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Mostly Pre-1970 guitars.

Peter Freiberger · From: California, USA

This is terrible news. If Chas had excelled at just one of his multiple exceptional talents he would be renowned in that field. On top of that he was as nice a guy as you could ever know. I’m in shock.

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

What a shock! May his memory be a blessing.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_tlY1IP-7cA
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Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

I'm speechless. He was one of my best friends.

Doug Freeman · From: Los Angeles, CA

I will miss Chas dearly. We played together for many years in a western swing band called the Radio Ranch Straight Shooters. So many fun times and memories. I saw him around this time last year at his home near Grass Valley, CA, after he had just delivered files to Hans Zimmer for his soundtrack work on Dune 2. He was in great spirits but already on borrowed time in his cancer journey. An absolutely unique and solid human being, with unparalleled imagination and determination—the things he willed into being boggle the mind.

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

Chas was an incredible, visionary inventor, musician and steel player. So sad to hear this news. He was very helpful to me when I was writing about Joaquin. This is a shock. RIP
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com

Tommy Detamore · From: Floresville, Texas

So sad to hear about Chas. He invited me into his home in the early 2000’s and after giving me the grand tour of his home, studio, and incredible instrument collection I felt that I was in the presence of a true genius. RIP brother Chas. You will be greatly missed by so many.
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Tommy Detamore
Quilter Labs, Goodrich Sound, Source Audio, Neunaber Audio, and Stringjoy Authorized Dealer

www.cherryridgestudio.com
www.steelguitartracksonline.com

Boo Bernstein · From: Los Angeles, CA

I am SO sad to hear this. Chas was an amazing person on so many levels. Vaya con Dios, my friend!

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

My Heart is heavy. Chas would come out to almost every gig back when I toured California a lot. We had so many Steel guitar mechanical talks; I learned SO MUCH from Chas and got to see some incredible stuff he had. He was intrigued that I was such the mechanical nerd like him...we looked forward to seeing each other. What a Loss; RIP Chas, you were an incredible inspiration to so many through out the years.
Ricky
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Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com

Jeff Keyton · From: Texas, USA

R.I.P., Chas, sorry to hear this. Didn't know him except through Bobby's great forum, and he's been one of the most interesting posters. Always enjoyed seeing the pics of the steels and whatever else he was working on.

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

So sad today! What an incredible soul! Here's a clip about the movie that Chas and a few of us got to be a part of...
https://youtu.be/AvQOa8CN-gI?si=j6Jg0ujsHrzaoldF

David Wren · From: Placerville, California, USA

Wow, so sad, we met at one of Mike Perlowin's "pearl jams", some years ago now.

One by one it seems I have to say goodbye to my steel guitar friends.

So sad.
My only solace is that you younger pickers take off where we pioneers left off.
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Dave Wren
'96 Carter U12,7X7; 1936 7 string National; Line 6 HX Stomp; Quilter TT-15/TB202; Quilter "Steelaire"; DV Mark "GH 250"with 15" 1501 BW; Boss "Katana" 100 Head w/Line 6 Cab; Telonics VP.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Very very sad news. RIP Chas.

Drew Howard · From: 48854

RIP Chas Smith, an Amnerican original.

David Wright · From: Pilot Point ,Tx USA.

So Sorry to hear this, RIP Chas.....

B J Cole · From: London, England

I'm proud to to say Chas was a very good friend of mine. I am very sad at his passing. I visited him in his workshop in L.A. quite a few times. We both played on records by the minimalist composer Harold Budd, also now no longer with us. We are all going, one by one. RIP Chas.

Andy DePaule · From: Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon

We agreed on a few things and disagreed on more, but I liked him and considered him a very talented man.

Sad that he has passed so soon after moving to a nice place in the country.
A loss for sure. Rolling Eyes

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Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.

Richard Alderson · From: Illinois, USA

My condolences to those who knew Chas Smith. Is there a thread with further information about the Man of Steel project?
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Derby SD-10 5x6; GFI S-10 5x5; GFI S-10 5x5; Zum D-10 8x7; Zum D-10 9x9; Fender 400; Fender Rumble 200; Nashville 400; Telonics TCA-500.

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