redstone steel

[Dave Nutt]

The Redstone Steel?
Dave is accurate on all fronts, going back to the mid 70s I was working and living down in Kent-Ash Nr Canterbury as a pro steelie with the Sounds Country (Garry Blackmores Band) I remember well a visit to my rented digs from Dave and Jim,they had come to introduce themselves and chat steel guitar. At another visit from Jim we set up my sho bud D10 and he told me about his plans and so far efforts to build a pedal steel, I have to say I thought this was a bit ambitious. However as time went by I seen and heard Dave playing his Redstone on many occasions, the sound was always crisp,clean and without doubt equal to anything on the commercial market at the time.
Dave will help out here - didnt Ted Barret also play a Redstone at one time?
Good to know that Jim is still with us, guys like Jim played a massive part in the history and developement of steel guitar in the UK, working with litle knowledge, limited resorces but loads of passion, in Jims case turning out a more than credible instrument.
It would be great to get Jim to contribute some info on here, Im sure guys and gals would be interested in those early efforts.

[mustang]

Hello David,

Amazing. Well, that just about as much information as I could have hoped for. Seems like the jigsaw is about complete. It's great to know that people have invested so much time and effort into making steel guitars on such a small scale and in so few numbers. It also probably explains the ZB influence re. the Redstone.

great stuff.

thanks again.

Martyn.

[mustang]

That should have read thanks David and Dave.

Great info.

[Dave Kirk]

After posting the story about the REDSTONE steel I gave Jim Smith a call to encourage him to put some more info about his steel history, he has got his server down at the moment but I am sure he will be in touch.
For info Dave Ted Barrett didn’t play a REDSTONE he in fact played a steel custom made for him by a mate who worked in the Engineering division of British Railways I think.
The steel was an 8string built like a train, or you might say brick short House.
Another incredible fact about Jim Smith and his remarkable ability, I can remember him saying that he had come up with a way of stopping pedal and knee lever noise and rattle sometimes picked up by the mike when recording, and you are not going to believe this!!
He made hydraulic Pedal Steel, it had tiny little slave cylinders under the body, & he had car brake pipes and Lockheed fluid connecting it all together.
He had to be bled then tightened a nipple once the air had gone.
He probable has still got it hanging on his workshop wall to this day.
I played it once and although it was bloody heavy, it was the quietest and smoothest feeling steel I have ever played.
I hope I am not boring anyone with these details but I find these steel related facts enjoyable.
Kindest Regards to all
Dave

[mustang]

That's a great story, Dave.

Not boring at all!

Fascinationg stuff.

[Dave Nutt]

Thanks for the extra info Dave.
It would be great to have Jim contribute his memoirs re- early pedal steel development in the UK, I find that stuff of real interest.
Do we know if Ted is still around? still playing? I know Garry is, christ! he must be approaching 125 yrs old.lol (sorry Garry)

[ZBSD-10]

Hallo Dave from a wet, windy Corfu !
This is what Me and ,I would say , most of us love to read, certainly ain't boring by any means ! I hope That it goes to a
good home, it looks like it would play nicely , perhaps a clip of the lucky new owner giving a rendition might come about .
All the best
Frank.

[Dave Nutt]

Guys,I hope no one minds me going slightly off the Redstone topic.
Dave (Kirky) About the same time mid 70s there was a guy Frank? Freddy? Lewis, did you ever come across this guy?? Before retirement he had worked at Phizers as a maintenance engineer. The guy had no musical knowledge, never played a musical instrument
in his life but was hell bent on building a pedal steel, he would turn up regular as clockwork to the Viking Ship Motel (Garrys Sunday nighter) He was allowed in for free during the break to look at my setup. Peggy Tapsull (the rottie) would make sure he left as soon as the band started playing again.
This guy would lay on the floor under my steel with rulers,micrometer,note pad etc, always with a headband torch on his napper,sometimes calling out stuff for his old gal to write down, what a sight.
Last time I seen him was fun- we got back on the stage,went for intro to some song,guess what? B pedal (day setup) wouldnt pull up, just went full travel to the floor, it turns out he had loosened the grub screw on the brass barrel fitting that pulled the rod up, I was 'so friggin cross' thank god he had gone home. I remember we had to take a 15 min break to sort it, gazza was not a happy teddy.
Did you ever meet this guy? would love to know if he ever built his steel guitar, maybe Jim came across him
Hugs to Carol.

[Dave Kirk]

I never came across the guy you mentioned Dave, but in those days many people had a go at building instruments of some sort or another.
As for Gary Blackmore, he is still performing and has got Timmy Ralph back playing Drums again.
I am not sure how if I met him now, how to deal with Ted Barrett, as a few years ago he changed his name I think to Edwina or something like that.
He could be seen walking down the Street in Herne Bay in fishnet stockings and make up wearing and wig and high heels.
I spoke to Ed Pearson a few months before he passed away, and he said Ted (or Edwina) approached him at a gig and introduced Himself as a Woman, and I think he may have gone the full distance with the bits being cut off now not sure.
Ed said to me he was gob smacked! And didn’t know what to say.However each to his(or her own)
I shouldn’t detract from his fine Steel Playing though.
Ted played a part in promoting the Pedal Steel in those days, and the last I heard of him I think he was playing steel not that long ago with Mandy Winters at one of her big shows.
I can remember watching Ted playing steel with Gary Blackmore and thinking ‘I wonder if I could master one of those weird and wonderful instruments’, and her I am nearly 35 years later still trying.
Thanks for the inspiration Ted ‘Keep your pecker up’ or what ever you’ve got left!

[Jim Pritchard]

Hi all,
This steel has now been SOLD on e-bay for £417, , made a few bids myself (as its a ZB construction), but out bid at last minute , Hope its one our members . I too would like to see & hear this steel sometime soon Good value for the price paid! (even for the parts).
keep on pickin' boys, Jimbo