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Who invented the steel guitar and PSG????
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The Steel Guitar Forum
Bar Chatter Archive
Who invented the steel guitar and PSG????
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This topic was originally posted in this forum: Wanted To Buy |
| Author | Topic: Who invented the steel guitar and PSG???? |
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Jeff Coffell Member Posts: 1094 |
posted 25 February 2000 11:51 AM
Boy I cant't wait to see the answer to this one. I've done a little research and am getting nowhere. OLE JEFF |
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Mike Weirauch Member Posts: 3528 |
posted 25 February 2000 02:08 PM
Bigsby had pedal steels in the late 40's and I think Fender did also. Harlin Bros. Multichord was in that time span also. As for the actual inventor, Herb Steiner might be able to answer that one. As for who PERFECTED the pedal steel I think it was some guy named Buddy Emmons!;D |
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Ted Smith Member Posts: 255 |
posted 25 February 2000 02:17 PM
I know that in an interview Dad had with Guitar Player Magazine "Melobar Story" March of '85 they quote him saying that his first interest in Pedal Steel was around 1936, I'll quote it here, "Clark had a steel guitar called the Harmolin with a pitch-changing device that worked with a Knee lever, and I eventually bought his patent when I was around 20 years old...the idea for changing the pitch with a pedal had been done on a harp..." So you're going to have to go back at least that far to find the answer. Ted |
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Brad Bechtel Moderator Posts: 2792 |
posted 25 February 2000 02:23 PM
Steel guitars were originally invented and popularized in Hawaii. Legend has it that Joseph Kekuku, a Hawaiian schoolboy, discovered the sound while walking along a railroad track strumming his guitar. He picked up a bolt lying by the track and slid the metal along the strings of his guitar. Intrigued by the sound, he taught himself to play using the back of a knife blade. Other persons who have been credited with the invention of the steel guitar include Gabriel Davion, an Indian sailor, around 1885, and James Hoa, a Hawaiian of Portuguese ancestry. The Harlin brothers of Indianapolis, Indiana, had apparently developed the Multi-Kord by the mid 1930s, although they were not issued a patent on this instrument until 1947. Gibson patented their Electraharp in 1939. The design was a collaboration between Alvino Rey and John Moore. Most of this information is covered in the book "The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and Its Great Hawaiian Musicians", edited by Lorene Ruymar and published by Centerstream Press. ------------------ |
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Lee Baucum Member Posts: 3201 |
posted 25 February 2000 05:24 PM
I thought Al Gore invented the steel guitar. Lee, from South Texas |
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Vern Kendrick Member Posts: 442 |
posted 25 February 2000 05:54 PM
I thought Gibson had the Multi Harp ?I almost bought one from Bud Moore who worked for Roy Drusky in 1955, as I remember He wanted 500 bucks for it.In 55 that was pretty heavy loot.Anyway I wound up with a Multi Kord for about 200....Before that it was Hardware stores and coat hangers |
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SJ Russell Member Posts: 59 |
posted 26 February 2000 08:01 AM
I WAS TOLD BY AN OLD TIMER THAT A FELLOW BY THE NAME OF VAUGHN SMITH IN THE EARLY 50`S RIGGED ONE OF HIS FENDER STEEL`S WITH A BARN DOOR HINGE FOR A KNEE LEVER AND A SOME TYPE OF SMALL CHAIN FOR THE PEDALS. ITHOUGHT HIS STORY WAS KINDA COOL. VAUGHN IS STILL PLAYING THIS AREA.I CANT REMEMBER ALL OF THE DETAILS. HE`S PLAING A GIG JUST DOWN THE ROAD. I WILL SEE IF I CAN GET"THE REST OF THE STORY" |
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Donny Hinson Member Posts: 9192 |
posted 26 February 2000 04:41 PM
Jeff, My post "The FIRST country record" under the Country Music heading might interest you! |
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