Off to the States for three weeks!

[Ken Byng]

On Sunday 10th April 2011 (this weekend) I will be flying out to the USA for my annual holiday over there. I will be going to Texas, Arkansas, Tennesseee and Alabama, including 4 days each in Memphis, Nashville and Gatlinburg. Probably will end up doing about 6000 miles of driving. I'll keep my eyes open for any bargain steel guitars or lead guitars on my travels, but the pawn shops have well and truly sussed out the worth of pedal and lap steels these days. A Fender Stringmaster D8 for $500 would be nice, but I'm not that lucky.

The pound isn't doing too badly against the dollar at the moment, but nothing like the glorious heights of 2:1 that we had 3 or 4 years ago.

Will be seeing old friends Bobbe Seymour, Maurice Anderson, Buck Reid, Charles Tilley, Doug Jernigan and many others. I will post photos of steel players at live gigs on this forum whenever I can (I will be taking a Wi-Fi netbook computer with me), along with any steel guitar related stuff. It will sure beat being at work thats for sure.

[Dave Nutt]

Ken, Its sounds ideal, have a great time, be safe, and should you see a nice clean Pro D10 Sho Bud for £50 I will have it ok.

Gattlinburg?? now that brings back so many memories to me and her in doors.
Regards
Dave.

[telboy]

have a great time ken, and unlike dave ill be happy with an old lapsteel

[Uncle Roy]

Yes Ken, Have a safe and great holiday. Please keep us updated with your adventure.

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

I know You will have a great time Ken.
Have a safe journey.
Look forward to hearing all about it.
Best regards
Billy

[zbplayer]

Wow,what a great sounding holiday. Have a good un! ps If you see Amber Digby ask her if she,ll marry me. Regards Graham

[Ken Byng]

Ken, Its sounds ideal, have a great time, be safe, and should you see a nice clean Pro D10 Sho Bud for £50 I will have it ok.

Gattlinburg?? now that brings back so many memories to me and her in doors.
Regards
Dave.

I'll bring you one back as hand luggage Dave - any particular colour? My missus loves Gatlinburg, and I have to say it is one of the nicer towns in the US that we have visited. I spent my 60th birthday there 2 years ago, and will be celebrating my 62nd birthday there this time. I am thinking of selling my holiday home in north Devon and buying a log cabin in Gatlinburg. It would give me an excuse to go over regularly.

I am going with my wife, and the drummer from my old band (Biff Walsh) and his wife Anne. They are looking forward to it even more than I am, and can't wait. Bobbe Seymour normally throws loads of free goodies at me in the way of CD's and stuff when I see him, but this time I am taking him a complete collection of Benny Hill DVDs, who he adores.

[Dave Nutt]

Ken, Red Black or blonde, however I did see a gorgous greeny blue one once, if you can get one of those Ill go to £53.00

Gatlinburg? we visited back in 1980, the good old days of Freddy Laker and Pan Am, could get a flight to Nashville via Chicago all for £80.00, unbelievable nowdays,it cost that to fill yer car.lol

Pauline and I are going over in June to Virginia, not so much on steelie type visit (although I always take something in) we just love small town America.

Have a good trip, be safe and keep us all informed.

Almost forgot, If you can get me a Webb amp like yours but in red that would be nice, dont mind going to £20/30 for a decent one.
Dave.

[Ken Byng]

Well guys - just got in to Irving - Fort Worth. Quite a stressful day with the long flight and associated security checks at Heathrow and Dallas, and then a one hour queue for the hire car. The temperature is 93 degrees and it is as humid as anything. Just off to a supermarket to get some odds & ends, a steak meal in Dennys and then off to bed as we are driving to Memphis tomorrow. The hire car is very nice - a 7 seater Dodge Caravan. We need a big motor as the 2 wives have got black belts in shopping. They will fill it up before we come home. Our holiday starts now as does my search for a cheap Webb for Mr Nutt.

[bob adams]

Have fun in Memphis Ken! thunderstorms tomorrow mind! Looking forward to hearing the 'tales of your trails'