I wish all of you could have been present at the PSGA show, when Jody sat down and played the one of a kind steel guitar custom built by Leo Fender for Jerry Byrd.

It seems like it has come full circle, to be played by another master of non pedal, and one who was there and involved in the making of this guitar as well.

Jody played beautifully, and really made that guitar sing.

more to come......

[This message was edited by HowardR on 14 November 2005 at 05:36 AM.]

Too bad about no video. I understand but still..

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JCFSGC,RMSGC,HSGA member
Do it with "Glass"
Boyett's Glass Bars

Additionally, in spite of yourself, we enjoyed meeting you.

Seriously, it was a real pleasure to meet you. Again, thank you for your warm congeniality. TX
rgds,
Ron

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JCFSC member since 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

Notice the video screen at left.

[This message was edited by HowardR on 14 November 2005 at 04:20 PM.]

But the JB Fender was a change of pace, style, & sound. Jody played "Steelin' The Blues" and "La Golondrina", pure with very little effects but a ton of heart and feeling. That Fender sang like a bird in his hands.

Jody received a standing ovation and then closed with "Steel Guitar Rag."

Many people commented on how good the guitar sounded. Of course, it can only do that according to the person behind it.

Jody - looking real good up there . .
Congratulations!

RA

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 14 November 2005 at 05:21 PM.]

Now, if only Fender would get on the ball and take this guitar and make a re-issue out of it, "The Jerry Byrd Limited Edition" or something like that-who wouldn't love to have one?

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Your description of Jody Carver's playing is as good or better than your photo's...your words, perfectly, describe what we saw Jody doing in front of us.

And what we all heard, well, that was even better!!!

Howard, got it exactly right...Man, Jody is a very, very busy guy behind his Steel.

This was the first time I ever saw Jody Carver play and what a show he put on!!.....Make no mistake, this Knight of Fender Tweed is one heck of a powerful musician!!! And please, this is not to take away from the other great PSG players that were there. This was a great show all the way around.

And for those of you who were there, instead of Jerry Garcia's art work next door, I guess we can look forward next year, to Frank Zappa's Mother of Invention etchings.

Howard, I confess, I skipped the brocolli, went for something more spicy,...Asparagus!!! TX
rgds,
Ron

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JCFSGC member since 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

quote:

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Who owns the guitar??

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quote:

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Who owns the guitar??

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Not Al

Harry, just for you, I'll be learning, "She'll Be Comin' Around The Mountain" on it.

Everything worked out well as we can see. I felt that this was an honor and a tribute to those who have shaped the course of music on the steel guitar.

Perhaps we'll see the JB Fender showcased and played at some other point. It gives me great joy to be able to afford this opportunity to the community. Better than being in a museum, or the back room of a museum, or in a glass case.

I never knew or had any correspondance with Jerry Byrd, but from his responses that Jack Byrd posted on the forum, I think Jerry would have wanted it to be played and heard. I believe that he cared so much more about the making of music than any guitar. The guitar was a tool. A carpenter's hammer.

Thank you Jody, my friend. I will always remember this day.

Jerry also said it is most likely the only steel guitar Chet Atkins played.

Glad that Jody got to play it and share his music with the rest of the attendees.

The guitar has great value I am sure but it deserves to be played. Jerry played it on the Two Guitars radio show with Chet when he was in Nashville. Also the only album he used it on was Memories of Maria which was re-released under the title of Satin Strings of Steel. It is pictured on that album cover. Memories of Maria has a women on the cover. He would have probably used it a lot longer, but at the time Fender made it for him he was developing his diatonic tuning and it made the necessity of two necks to accomdate that tuning and the others he used on the second neck so the Sho-Bud was born.

Jerry said the Fender was the only one ever made like that to his knowledge.

The pictures of it where great and thanks for sharing some of the past of my brother.

Jack Byrd

[This message was edited by Jack Byrd on 15 November 2005 at 07:37 AM.]

This evening I will take some detailed photos of the JB Fender, post them and also send them to Ray Montee so that he may put them on his Jerry Byrd website that we appreciate so much.

Next year for sure!

Thanks so very much for allowing me to read Forrest White's letter of authenticity to the PSGA throngs. I truly felt honored.

Jody, "You da Legend!"

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/001268.html
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/002323.html

[This message was edited by HowardR on 15 November 2005 at 12:24 PM.]

Most of the Forumites probably know you as a "Fender History" expert. It's great that you are finally getting recognition as a steel guitarist worthy of your induction into the International Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame.

Keep pickin'

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Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book.

There is only one guitar in the world that Leo Fender ever custom built for any one person. That person was Jerry Byrd.

We have the wonderful pleasure of another master of the non pedal steel guitar, play this special Fender in tribute and honor to Leo Fender and Jerry Byrd,.....Jody Carver, who was also instrumental in bringing this guitar into existence

Letter from Forrest White

Music Man, Inc

From the desk of Forrest White August 8, 1989

This memo will confirm that you have the only instrument that was custom made from scratch to the specifications of a musician, during my period at Fender Electric Instrument Co 1954-1967.

The steel was made for my dear long time friend Mr. Jerry Byrd. Jerry is the "King" of the conventional steel guitar with no pedals.

Jerry used this guitar to make his album "Satin Strings" and there is supposed to be an article in the "Guitar Player" magazine later on telling the story of the instrument.

Jerry used the guitar on the Bobby Lord show on Nashville TV.

Chet Atkins liked the guitar so well that he borrowed it and later sent it to me after Jerry moved to the Hawaiian Islands.

This guitar is from my personal collection and I guess you must know that I hated to part with it. You have a valuable and personally cherished guitar. Please be careful with it.

Sincerely,

Forrest White

[This message was edited by HowardR on 15 November 2005 at 04:52 PM.]