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? about Jimmy Day / ShoBud.
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The Steel Guitar Forum
Bar Chatter Archive
? about Jimmy Day / ShoBud.
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This topic was originally posted in this forum: Wanted To Buy |
| Author | Topic: ? about Jimmy Day / ShoBud. |
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Tore Blestrud Member Posts: 235 |
posted 03 March 2000 11:20 AM
When I started playing steel a couple of years ago, the first steel album I bought was Jimmys "Golden Steel Guitar Hits" & "Steel And Strings"". As I did not know the nature of this complex instrument, and in my naive mind, I thought that this songs sounded easy to play the way Jimmy did. As I got to learn to play the steel, I understod how fantastic the album(s) where. Today this is my favourite steelrecording (together with Buddys Black Album), but I will never be able to play the songs with Jimmys feeling and touch (but I try). I also could not figure out how he could play "I love you so much it hurts" i E flat, until I heard that his steel was a D8 in D tuning. Finaly, the question. I guess some of you highly informed forumites know what steel and amps he used on the recordinge. I love the sound of his steel. Maby it was because he got a direct link between his heart and his steel? They are recorded in late 61, early 62. I was also told that he played the C6 tuning on the first album, and the D9 on the second, correct?. The booklet has some pictures that might be of the steel he used, it had 9 pedals. I also love the early recordings of Willy Nelson, with Jimmy on steel. I guess they are from the mid. 60`s, (songs like "I let my mind wonder", "Things to remember", "Why are you picking on me") All info. on Jimmy would be higly appreciated. Thanks. (Please forgive my incorrect english) Tore. |
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Mark Herrick Member Posts: 1154 |
posted 03 March 2000 11:37 AM
A couple of years ago I purchased from Jimmy Day a couple of booklets he had published of some of the songs from these albums. Although somewhat simplified from their original versions, and transcribed for E9 tuning, they do capture the essence of his style. Also included is a diagram of his pedal and knee lever setup. Thay are called “The Jimmy Day Style.” His wife, Marilyn, may still have these for sale through his company: J & M Productions |
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Bob Farlow Member Posts: 895 |
posted 03 March 2000 12:05 PM
I saw Jimmy about six months before he passed away. I was talking with him about coming to Atlanta to play on Carl Dixon's Steel Guitar Extravaganza. We talked about appearance fees and such, and he said " You know, if I could win the lottery I would play anywhere for free just for the fun of it. But, right now I do it for a living, so I gotta charge ." He was very sincere about that. He loved playing very much. |
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Terry Wood Member Posts: 1205 |
posted 03 March 2000 02:01 PM
Hi Tore, I read your posting about Jimmy Day's early albums titled "Strings of Steel," and "Steel Guitar Hits." Jimmy's "Strings of Steel" album along with Lloyd Green's "Ten Shades of Green," were two of the first albums I purchased when I started playing pedal steel in the mid 1970's. The Buddy Emmons Black Album was I believe my third album to purchase. Boy was I in for ride and hooked. In those days steel guitar albums were hard to locate, then Tom Bradshaw came along with his steel guitar record club and I bought everything by every steel player I could get my hands on. Interesting thing though, I never lost my love for those GREAT Jimmy Day albums!!! Jimmy Day was such a great player. Once, Jerry Byrd and I were talking at the International Steel Guitar Convention and Jimmy Day started to perform on stage. Jerry said just listen to how quite they get, when Jimmy plays. The 2000 or so in the audience got so quite you could have heard a little pin strike the carpet. Exaggeration, I think not, for Jimmy Day touched all of our hearts with his beautiful steel guitar playing. |
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Earnest Bovine Member Posts: 4687 |
posted 03 March 2000 08:20 PM
Tore, you are right about "Steel And Strings". A beginning steel player can learn from it because the notes are so simple to find. An advanced player can learn from the soulful expression. And it is such a pleasure to just listen and enjoy it. |
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Jay Jessup Member Posts: 345 |
posted 04 March 2000 06:37 AM
Tore, Somebody is bound to know the answers to your questions but I haven't seen it yet. I always thought that both of those albums were done on an old 8 string Fender pedal steel and I would bet that Jimmy used the D9 tuning in order to keep strings on it as the tension for E9 could have caused a lot of string breakage( I think those old Fenders had a 25"scale?)But I thought they were recorded earlier like around 57. If they were done in 61 or 2 then they would have been done on an early Sho-Bud. I also thought they were both in the 9'th tuning but I haven't listened to them in so long that I could be wrong. By the way, your English is better than sum of us 'Mericans. :-) so keep it up! [This message was edited by Jay Jessup on 04 March 2000 at 06:40 AM.] [This message was edited by Jay Jessup on 04 March 2000 at 06:42 AM.] [This message was edited by Jay Jessup on 04 March 2000 at 06:43 AM.] |
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Terry Wood Member Posts: 1205 |
posted 04 March 2000 07:01 AM
Hi Tore, I agree with Jay about those Jimmy Day albums being recorded on an 8 string steel guitar. I know that he played the Fender steels and Sho-Buds. I have been told that during the early studio recording days that producers woukld ask for a different higher sound too. Speedy West told me this was the case for several of his early recordings on the westcoast. He went on with the E6 tuning and used smaller strings too. I have noticed that the Bear Family Records re-release of Jimmy's two brillant albums show on the booklet a picture of the Sho-Bud steel fretboard. It may be a picture of the real Sho-Bud Blue Darlin' Steel? The guy who can answer your questions is none other than Buddy Emmons. Jimmy and Buddy were real close friends. I am certain Mr. Emmons will know the correct answers for you. Keep on picking! |
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Buddy Emmons Member Posts: 1403 |
posted 04 March 2000 11:09 AM
Jimmy's first Sho~Bud, like everyone else's, had a 25-inch scale. When the G# string was added to the E9th tuning, he first tuned his guitar to Eb to keep from breaking the high third. When we changed the Sho~Bud scale to 24 1/2 inches, Jimmy stayed with "Old Faithful" rather than risk losing the sound he loved. For the sake of better fret positions for each chord, Jimmy finally lowered the tuning down to D. The D tuning is the tuning he used on the album. I don't remember what amp Jimmy used on the session, though most of his live work at the time was with a Fender. Back then, we had our favorite amps, but neither Jimmy nor I thought our musical lives depended on them. I was using a Standel amp in California at the time I recorded Emmons Guitar Inc. in Nashville with a Fender Twin. I used a Magnatone amp on "The Night Life" and a Standel for the rest of the album. All we knew was that a Fender had more highs and more lows than a Standel, and that was as high tech as we cared to get. Regardless of what amp Jimmy might have used, the album would still be the classic it is and will always be. [This message was edited by Buddy Emmons on 05 March 2000 at 04:33 AM.] |
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Steve Hinson Member Posts: 1837 |
posted 04 March 2000 04:37 PM
Buddy,did that Standel amp have a 15 inch speaker? |
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Buddy Emmons Member Posts: 1403 |
posted 05 March 2000 04:43 AM
Steve, Yes the Standel was a solid state model and had a fifteen-inch speaker. I had about five Standel amps over the years, three tube and two solid state, and only one of them had a twelve-inch speaker. Unfortunately, that was the amp I took to New York City to cut the Steel Guitar Jazz album. Ernie Renn has reminded me that the Emmons Guitar Inc. album was recorded with a Fender Twin and not a Bassman, as I previously stated (thanks Ernie). My Bassman days were prior to that period and fairly short. I have changed the error in the other post in case someone wants to reprint the corrected version. |
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Steve Hinson Member Posts: 1837 |
posted 05 March 2000 06:56 AM
Buddy,thanks...and thanks for the Matchbro bar!Hullett didn't believe I would tell you my dog ate mine(it's true!) |
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B Bailey Brown Member Posts: 606 |
posted 05 March 2000 10:40 AM
Tore, Jimmy’s “Steel and Strings” album is one of the most unique things in my collection. When I first got it I was a “beginning” steel player. I listened to it, thought it was nice, and moved on. At that time I was more impressed with “hot licks”. Over the years that fascination, has gone away (Thank goodness!), and I now listen to things looking for the “big picture”. Some years ago I pulled that old dusty LP out, listened to it again…and that is when I began to understand just HOW good Jimmy Day really was. I still listen to steel guitar stuff by all the great players, but usually selected cuts that I happen to like. “Steel and Strings” is about the only album I put in the CD player, go to cut 1, punch play, and listen to all the way through. If there was ever a better “steel” album recorded, as to it’s total content, notes, feel and delivery…I have yet to hear it. B. Bailey Brown |
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Tore Blestrud Member Posts: 235 |
posted 05 March 2000 11:25 AM
Thanks for all the replies. Like BBB I also did not think these albums where the "hottest things" when I first heard them. Now I know different. The booklet has 4 pictures of Jimmy that looks like they are from the early/mid 60`s. He is playing a D10 shobud, with 9 pedals. One of the pics is from a live Willy gig. On tree of the pics it looks like he is using all different amps, on one he uses two Fender-amps (bridge-conected?). The booklet tells that Jimmy got his first? Blue Darlin` in 57, started playing with Willy in Johnny Bush`s band in 62, and with Willy in 63, around the time his albums where recorded. I am not able to hear the big difference in Jimmys steelguitar sound, and the push-pull sound everybody is dreaming about. Is there a big difference in the sound, and if not, why are not the ShoBuds from that time so sought afther? (Ps. I have a feeling the Forum needs a "spell check" choice) Tore. |
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Tele Member Posts: 965 |
posted 05 March 2000 02:48 PM
Hi Tore, your last question is a good one. I also like the sound of the old Sho~Buds but evrybody seems to go wild over Push/Pulls. |
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Bill Rowlett Member Posts: 664 |
posted 06 March 2000 12:16 PM
Hi Tore, The Sho-Buds have a slightly different sound than the original Emmon's guitars, but it is just as exciting and cutting. I find my old Pro II Sho-Bud a little harder mechanically to play than my Emmon's, but I love it's sound just as much. There are more models of old Sho-Buds, so that may dilute the comparisom since the original Emmon's was esentially the same from enception. The newer Sho-Buds such as the Super Pro and Pro II custom are more like the modern guitars physically and still sound good. I bet there are as many Sho-Bud fanatics out there as there are original Emmon's players. Bill [This message was edited by Bill Rowlett on 06 March 2000 at 12:20 PM.] |
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Hook Moore Member Posts: 1605 |
posted 07 March 2000 10:53 AM
Anybody have a list for serial#=year for Sho-Buds. I have a 2376 and a 3622 |
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wayne yakes md Member Posts: 650 |
posted 07 March 2000 12:41 PM
My personal favorite is "Roadside Rag". |
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Dave Van Allen Member Posts: 5369 |
posted 12 March 2000 06:44 PM
"I Fall to Pieces" the descending line after the middle String break is mind bendingly beautiful.... |
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Duane Becker Member Posts: 382 |
posted 13 March 2000 07:47 AM
I am a true died in the wool Sho~Bud fanatic. Hook, I may be able to help you pinpoint the year on your Sho~Buds. Sometimes its hard to tell the year from the serial number. You can look at other things, such as type of changer, undercarriagge design, and other things and come pretty close to the year-assuming the guitar has not been altered. Describe your Sho~Buds a little bit. |
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Hook Moore Member Posts: 1605 |
posted 14 March 2000 01:13 PM
I`ll email you Duane...Thanks |
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