Don't tell John, Ann and Bud , but the best part of that time was meeting the many folks that came by as well as spending time with Billy Phelps, Al Brisco and Bobby Bowman.It doesn't get better than that.

At one point late Saturday afternoon Tele' monster Steve Piticco came in the booth and jammed with both Billy and Al. Steve also played Friday Night on the big stage with Al Brisco..for my ears , this was one of the best sets played over the entire weekend..Steel and Tele' tradin' blistering hot licks..what a life...

I spent probably as much time outside of the big hall just hangin' out and talkin' with Forum friends as I did listening to the players.

Tony Davis, Tony Palmer ( the other TP) Clive Swindell, Red Kilby , our own b0bby Lee, Nick Reed, Smiley, and so many more. Tim Harr and I played dueling Steels together ( not much of a duel on my part) in the Carter Booth and he showed me a few of his tricks..I didn't bring any tricks with me so I showed him nothing !

Mike Headrick was set up right next to the Carter booth so I finally had a chance to meet and speak with Mike..Great player..great guy..

I couldn't help but go by and see Gary Walker and remind him that I purchased a D12 MSA Beast from him several years back..we both chuckled about the WEIGHT and agreed that we were both glad to have been former owners...

I did see several of the NC/SC folks as well..Ray Walker, Joe Turner and many more.It's always good to see my neighbors.

Ok, now I also spent some time in the fender room with those very cool Fender guys...Sam, Shane, Travis and Mike...playing thru the new Fender Steel King..and Yes..for me..I love this amp...I can see me with one very soon. In both the Fender room and the Peavey room John had a prototype D10 set up for all to just kick the tires of the amps. In the Fender room there was also a video running of Buddy playing Blue Jade from the Namm show. Buddy was playing one of the Carter proto's thru the Steel King..lets just make this clear right here and now..Buddy completley dismisses any preminition that you must play a brand X Steel with a Brand X amp to get that famous Buddy tone that everyone has been chasing for the past 4 decades.

Lots of jamming and intense playing going on inn the booths and rooms, Billy Phelps was really turning the heads in the Carter booth and in all of the rooms stuff was happening. Mike Sigler was also burnin' out the stuff over in the GFI room as well.

I had a chancce on late Friday to listen to Tom Brumley road test the Fender Steel King in the Fender room and he also reflected back on his career in conversation with those in attendance. In Scotty's FOR SALE room, I also caught Jay Dee kickin the tires on the Fender Steel King as well..these guys are not your normal tire kickers, lets just leave it at that..

Too much going on, so before I shut this down I will just mention that Sara Jory was also one fo the highlights for me, not just as a player but as a total performer/musician.

well till next time..

thanks John, Ann, Bud, Billy, Al and Bobby for lettin' me stand around in good company...maybe some of it will rub off...

t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 06 September 2004 at 04:38 AM.]

Folks, Tony Prior is one pleasant person to be around. I sure enjoyed chatting with him over the weekend.

Billy Phelps is a steel playing machine. Consistently playing great steel on one song after the other for about 12 hours a day, never seeming to lose an ounce of energy.

Bobby Bowman is one of the warmest, most fantastic people I've ever met. Numerous times he would grab someone by the arm and lead them over to our booth and say (speaking of the "Phases" print), "Is that not the most fantastic thing you've ever seen?" Bobby, you are a jewel and I hope I've made a friend for life!

I had met Bud a couple of times before, and found him to still be the friendly genius I remembered from previous encounters.

Ann was the first person to come over and introduce herself while we were setting up and Al Brisco was, I believe, the first person at the show to own a print.

All in all, the Carter folks were some of my best memories of the this year's St. Louis experience.

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Mike Headrick - email: steelfodder@aol.com
CDs
Buddy Emmons "Phases"

[This message was edited by Mike Headrick on 06 September 2004 at 06:01 AM.]

After having "talked" with you so many times via email, I was anxious to meet you -- but there was so much going on that I never got around to finding you. Maybe next year. And, by the way, our granddaughter still goes to sleep each night listenintg to your beautiful rendition of "Long Black Limousine."

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

[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 07 September 2004 at 08:47 AM.]

BTW, one of our staff, Travis, was pretty uninitiated with the steel guitar before the convention. While packing up Sunday, he whistled "Way to Survive." I think we may have hooked another one. Also, he says the musicians at the ISGC are much better and a whole lot nicer than at Ozzfest!

Travis whistling WAY to Survive..

I guess he may as well sing;

"Another one Bites the Dust" !

till next time..
t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 07 September 2004 at 11:07 AM.]

I have got to get your Step One CDs. I have been humming one of the songs from your performance for 2 days now.

I'm still buzzing, had the best time musically, socially, etc. Even fell in love with St. Louis! People were so nice, the Mariott staff was unbelievable. I'm already looking forward to next year

Here's a photo of Team Carter St. Louis '04 for the memory book

We enjoyed having Tony Prior, Bobby Bowman, Al Brisco, Billy Phelps, and Roger Crawford as members of Team Carter this year ... thanks guys!

Bud, John and Ann
Carter Steel Guitars
www.SteelGuitar.com

[This message was edited by Ann Fabian on 09 September 2004 at 05:30 AM.]

By the way - this is for the Steel Forum thesaurus and dictionary. Al Brisco, who set the guitar up in our room, described a problem 10th string on the C6 neck as "wonkie."

I was quite impressed with how solid the Carter's tuning is. Once the problem string was replaced, the guitar kept its tuning quite well over the course of the convention with all of the many players that set behind it. We never pulled a tuner out after the initial E was tweaked. I am also amazed by how many steelers can tune so well by ear!