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Topic: St Louis - Benoit - The Phoenix - Mike Auldridge - Jim Heffe |
Larry Tresnicky
From:
Grapevine, Texas, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2002 1:05 pm |
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JUST GOT BACK FROM ST LOUIS - GREAT SHOW - SAW HOWARD'S PHOENIX - PICTURES DON'T DO IT JUSTICE - JUST WISH I COULD HAVE HEARD IT PLAYED - CARROLL BENOIT, YOU ARE A GENIUS & ONE OF THE BEST - (THANKS FOR YOU KINDNESS - ANITA TOO) - THE PHOENIX WAS CENTER STAGE & STAR ATTRACTION AT BENOIT'S BOOTH, THAT IS UNTIL MIKE AULDRIDGE & JIM HEFFERNAN APPEARED & JAMMED FOR OVER AN HOUR ON SAT. & CAME BACK SUN. FOR ANOTHER SESSION - (BENOIT WAS IN HOG HEAVEN)- JIM & MIKE WERE SO DOWN TO EARTH & LET US TAKE PICTURES, GAVE AUTOGRAPHS & MADE US FEEL AS THOUGH WE'VE BEEN FRIEND'S FOR YEARS - I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THEIR SINCERITY -
"WOW" WHAT PLAYING - THANKS GUYS
DID ANY OF YA'LL OUT THERE GET TO SEE MIKE, JIM & "THE PHOENIX"? WHAT DO YOU THINK? |
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Jim Heffernan
From:
Haddon Heights NJ
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Posted 2 Sep 2002 6:42 pm
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| Thanks Larry, we had a ball.Carrol is a real gent, and makes a fine guitar. Life is good! |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 2 Sep 2002 8:03 pm
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Wish I could have been there.  Those impromptu sessions with Jim and Mike had to be fantastic I'm sure. It doesn't get any better than that. |
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R. L. Jones
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 3 Sep 2002 5:56 am
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I have to "Echo" your remarks, Howard, I too would liked to have brrn there. No one loves that anymore than I .That`s why I`m enjoying this forum and you guy`s so much.
Hat`s off to Mike Auldridge. amd Jim Heffernan ,you two were real gentlemen to lend your talent to these great guys.
Mlke is top of the list accoustic steel guitarplayer in my book, and hes not playing a dobro, but a geurnsey yea Mike
R> L. |
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Chris Forbes
From:
Beltsville, MD, USA
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Posted 3 Sep 2002 6:27 am
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| I'll agree too, I've taken one lesson from Mike and unfortunately our busy schedules haven't allowed a second one yet. But my impression is of one heck of a musician who is one heck of a nice guy too. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 3 Sep 2002 6:59 am
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Auldridge and Heffernan: two guys whose personalities and intelligence are reflecting in their incredible musicianship.
Benoit (ben-WAH) Guitars: recently I've had a jones about getting a modern reso guitar since all I've ever owned have been pre-war Dobros. I visited a buddy of mine who has an incredible assortment of high-end modern guitars and in one day I played a DeNeve, Beard, a Scheerhorn, a Clinesmith, a Guernsey, a Jones, a Melobro, and a Jasper. I've yet to play a McKenna but I understand he builds a fine guitar.
Of course, there is sound and there is cosmetics. The Benoit is a beautiful looking guitar, though I feel the peghead is a little large for my taste. But the sound of the Benoit has to be one of the richest, fullest tones I've played... and SUSTAIN!! I played at least 6 or 7 of Carroll's guitars and I didn't hit a "dead spot" on any of them.
All guitars are individuals, of course, even within a brand. But none of the heavy-hitter, multi-thousand buck resos I've played recently, as great as they are, matched what I heard in the Benoit.
The way it looks to me now, if I get a new reso soon, it will probably be a Benoit.
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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Greg Simmons
From:
where the buffalo (used to) roam AND the Mojave
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Posted 3 Sep 2002 8:08 am
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A real treat for me was to be able to pull a chair up real close and listen to Jim Heffernan and Mike Auldridge jamming down at the Benoit booth as the show was winding down Sunday afternoon.
As I really dig resophonic guitar that half hour or so was as much of a thrill for me as seeing the Big E 
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Greg Simmons
Custodian of the Official Sho~Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Website
shobud.cjb.net
[This message was edited by Greg Simmons on 03 September 2002 at 09:09 AM.] |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 3 Sep 2002 12:25 pm
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| Quote: |
| all I've ever owned have been pre-war Dobros |
Wow, Herb, you've led such a deprived existence.
All seriousness aside, I agree that the Benoits, Scheerhorns, and other modern 'next generation' resos have left the Gibson Dobros (or should that be Faux-Bros) in the dust, from the ones I've heard in the past several years. Amazing that Gibson still expects (and must GET) a large premium for the name. I wouldn't give $200 for the last one I played -- I think the list was around ten times that.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro |
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Michael T. Hermsmeyer
From:
Branson, Missouri, USA
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Posted 3 Sep 2002 3:10 pm
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Larry, you are so right. I was fortunate enough to see and "almost" hear (even though I was standing right in front of the booth) saturday night;s jam session. Carroll's location was the worst for an acoustic builder. But Sunday after the Resocasters performance in the big room, I went to play a Benoit and guess who showed up again. Mike and Jim are truly two of the nicest guys I have met in a long time. It was an honor to hear them perform and chat with them. Don't forget Hal Rugg and his Pedabro, Hal and I have been friends for many years, since we attended the same church in Hermitage, TN. There are few nicer people than these guys. Take three great pickers who are personable, and have them record one of the greatest CD's I have heard in years, and you have a great combination. I was also fortunate to play several of Carrolls Guitars while I was there on Sunday, when it was quiet, and let me truly tell you that Carroll Benoit knows how to build a great resonator guitar. What I loved about them was that each was a little different. Different woods sound different as well as looked different, and there was a great selection of models to try and compare. I have to say, of the ones I played, I loved the tone of the white one the best. Heck, it was just an honor to play a guitar tha Mike and Jim had played. LOL. Jim, I don't think I could play it in a bar either, LOL. A special thanks to the Benoits for being so hospitable and friendly. Who knows, if I hadn't just bought and F60 on the way to the convention, I might be placing an order, myself. Thanks to Jim and Mike also for your talent and your friendliness. I hope to see you all again soon. Michael T.
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UTILITY MAN PRODUCTIONS
'73 EMMONS D10 FATBACK, '92 EMMONS D10 LASHLEY LEGRANDE,
'85 DOBRO 60DS, '95 DOBRO F60S,
'95 MELOBAR CUSTOM, 1955 FENDER TRIPLE NECK STRINGMASTER. EVANS, FENDER, PEAVEY,
and MESA BOOGIE Amps.
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 3 Sep 2002 6:05 pm
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| Quote: |
| Wow, Herb, you've led such a deprived existence |
Yeah, Larry, you're right. Bill Clinton even e-mailed me to tell me he "felt my pain." 
But again, throwing seriousness so far out the window it hit the banjo sitting in the dumpster , the modern reso has a lot going for it over the old pre-war jobs when it comes to punch and volume. If what you seek is a pre-war sound, several builders offer a guitar of that type... basically birch plywood with a round soundwell and a body shape similar to the California dobro or the Regal. But there is a "contemporary" sound that the older guitars (at least the ones I've had) don't provide. Sustain and depth of bass response being two that come to mind right now. I think it has to do with the use of tone woods, body depth and dimensions, and different cone supports, like tone bars instead of soundwells. Just IMHO, of course.
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 3 Sep 2002 6:29 pm
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| Herb, what can I add about Carrol's superb guitars that you didn't say? Only this: last week I took mine out of the case for the first time in about 3 months. I hadn't changed the strings in a year but was totally blown away once again by the richness of the sound. I might add that Carrol is one of the nicest, most honest folks i've ever had the pleasure to deal with. |
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Larry Tresnicky
From:
Grapevine, Texas, USA
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Posted 3 Sep 2002 8:48 pm
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Jim - Thanks again - is it O.K. to post a couple of pics of you playing? Mike, if you're out there let me know if it is O.K. too? (kisco@ticnet.com)
Howard - You're right on
R.L. - When you see Carroll, let me know how he feels when he gets back to earth?
Chris - You a Lucky Dog
Herb - I just watched the videos I took at Benoit's booth with you playing a few of Carroll's resonators & the generous comments
you made. I can't wait to send a copy to Carroll. When he sees it, he's going back into space again. Nice meeting you.
Michael - We tried to get Derby to close the doors for a few minutes (to no avail) so we could hear Mike & Jim play - amazing they continued with all the background noise. Another tribute & thanks to the two Masters for continuing under the circumstances. Maybe Scotty can do something for everyone on the perimetors????
Andy - If you're not using that Benoit, you can send it down here where it will be kept in tune.
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 4 Sep 2002 2:37 am
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| Sorry, Larry. Only my heirs will get my Benoit. |
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Sage
From:
Boulder, Colorado
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Posted 4 Sep 2002 10:47 am
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That was a wonderful night- great to hear Jim and Mike play. Meeting Carrol and Anita, and their kind and generous friends was a treat. To spend the night afterwards with them and Jim Heffernan (thanks Jim) was terrific. Carrol's guitars are so beautifully made- and the sound is like some kind of wonderfully prepared food. Rich but complex, spicy without being too hot. I feel like such a hack as a luthier compared to him, and he was intrigued by what I do, so we had a fine conversation about how Howard's soundtube idea works, Reso spiders and cones, etc. A great guy, and a good time.
T. Sage Harmos
Harmos Steel Guitars
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 4 Sep 2002 4:41 pm
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With permission of course
 [This message was edited by HowardR on 04 September 2002 at 05:43 PM.] [This message was edited by HowardR on 04 September 2002 at 05:46 PM.] |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 4 Sep 2002 4:48 pm
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That's Jim above......
and now Mike.....
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Kenny Davis
From:
Great State of Oklahoma
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Posted 4 Sep 2002 7:53 pm
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| ...And there's the spaceship they came in!!! |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 5 Sep 2002 5:32 am
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R. L. Jones
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 5 Sep 2002 1:11 pm
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Larry, The good lord willing I will be seeing Carrol Saturday,at Tuffy`s ,in Mauriceville, Tex. . I just got out of hospital today, having heart cathetar ablation, sounds bad dont it . But it is a procedure to stop heart beating too fast. I feel O.K., now ,this is a real simple procedure.
Dorothy and I plan to be there Sat. I will let you know if he`s come back to earth. He was really hoping to see Mike A. up there and to have Mike come into his booth and actually play his beautiful instruments, I`m hoping he hasnt forgot who I am, . Just kiddin` Carrol, The people around him is what he`s all about.
I`m goig to buy some more of Mikes great sounds, only way I know to thank him, for being so kind to really wonderfully guy
Nuff Said ,I`ll be bawlingif I dont stop.
R.L. |
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R. L. Jones
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 5 Sep 2002 5:36 pm
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Back to you Larry, I couldnt believe ,Carrol and Anita, just stopped by, to say Hi and show some pictures they took.
What a surprise, I`m not sure if he`s come down or maybe I`m floating up there with him. Any it was great to see them .They are still bubbling over. They left the forum and drove to Kentucky to see some friends. From there they went to Tennesee. They`ve been on the road all day, and are pretty road weary.They just left for Mauriceville, couldnt get them to stay the night,one more hour they`ll be home.
Just had to let you know
R.L. |
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Larry Tresnicky
From:
Grapevine, Texas, USA
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Posted 9 Sep 2002 6:19 pm
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R.L. Just got back from another trip, K.C. this time & had several msgs. from Carroll. Had to call him before I hit the sack. You're right, he's still on cloud 9.
Howard Thanks for the pics - I'll send you more tomorrow & if you like, you can add whatever you think anyone out there in Reso-land would like to see. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 18 Sep 2002 5:47 pm
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just in and hot off the press....more pics
Mike Auldridge, Jim Heffernan, & Carroll Benoit....
Mike, Maurice Anderson, Carroll
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 18 Sep 2002 5:52 pm
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Carroll and his "children"......
Carroll, Jim, Anita Benoit, Mike
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 18 Sep 2002 5:59 pm
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Carroll and Maurice
Jim and Mike
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Larry Tresnicky
From:
Grapevine, Texas, USA
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Posted 18 Sep 2002 6:45 pm
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HowardR
Great photography!!!!
Carroll Benoit
How did you feel with Reece Anderson, Mike Auldridge & Jim Heffernan playing your guitars? |
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