Don Helms

[Bill Groner]

Stumbled across this video today. Maybe you all have seen it? A nice piece of steel history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XDovYuzFFI

[Mark Eaton]

Love those Country Road TV clips!

I wonder when Don started using a dobro style “grooved” bar?

Unless I missed it, when the story came up about trading the guitar to someone for the Fender that Don was playing at the time, it was never mentioned during the entire segment that this guitar is a Gibson - it was just referred to as the famous guitar on many Hank Williams #1 records.

[Bill Groner]

Love those Country Road TV clips!

I wonder when Don started using a dobro style “grooved” bar?

Unless I missed it, when the story came up about trading the guitar to someone for the Fender that Don was playing at the time, it was never mentioned during the entire segment that this guitar is a Gibson - it was just referred to as the famous guitar on many Hank Williams #1 records.

It is of little importance to the world.........only us guys on here! LOL The people he played it for didn't care, just as long as it sounded good and was reliable.

[Mark Eaton]

If it were of little importance except to steel guitar geeks, then it was even less important to mention that the guitar Don traded to another guy early in his career was a Fender.

[Walter Webb]

Vince Gill gets all emotional, and gives the greatest compliment.
How many audience members can you identify? I see Little Jimmy Dickens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuNXzDs3MSg

[Eric Sprado]

I think I saw Johnny Mac Brown (sp) in there..

[Glenn Wilde]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing.

[Chris Cummings]

Has Don’s Fender steel ever resurfaced ? The story of the swop between Don’s Fender and a ardent fan’s brand spanking new Gibson Console Grande is legendary! You’d hope that the fan would have made a ‘fuss’ amongst his family and friends over the years especially as Don and his Gibson both became iconic in the history of country music

[Bill Sinclair]

Has Don’s Fender steel ever resurfaced ?

If the trade for Don's '48 Gibson occurred in the '48-'49 time frame, that's right around the transition on the Fender Dual Pros from boxcars to trap pickups. Anybody know which pickup Don's Fender guitar had and when the trade took place?

[Chris Cummings]

I believe Don’s Fender was a 1948/49 Dual Pro model he used it on Hank’s MGM recording session in 1951 that one that produced ‘ Why Don’t You Love Me’ and at least one other song.