My New BETHEL

Howard Whittington · Post by **Howard Whittington** » 16 Jul 2002 12:35 pm

Many Thanks to Dick and Terry.
I picked up the new Bethel at the CHOO CHOO
Steel Reunion in Late march.
It's a D10 9 and 7 CoCo Bola Shirts, Curly
Maple top and CoCoBola Necks, and it is just Beautiful. I almost can't stand being away from it. It also has Polished levers and pedals..Has a tuning jack on LR

I'll try to get a few pictures on here soon.
I want to tell you what a great guy and a great Steel Guitar Builder Dick Miller is. If
there is any better I haven't met him yet.

Again...Thanks much Dick

Howard Whittington

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 16 Jul 2002 1:03 pm

Howard's new guitar is without question and beyond a reasonable doubt, a looker. This guitar would even make an exceptional accent at one of Bassett's show room floor. Hey Whit.........Sup?

Gary Lee

Terry Bethel · Post by **Terry Bethel** » 16 Jul 2002 2:36 pm

Howard,
Mr. Miller is indead a great STEEL GUITAR builder. If your steel is anything like mine and it sounds like it is, you have one beautiful STEEL!!!!!!
When I got my new one, it was so nice I was afraid to play it, I was afraid I would put a mark on it or drop the bar or something like that. However the more I did play it the more I realized just how great it was. I wouldn't have my name on it if it wasn't the best STEEL GUITAR built..... Enjoy your Steel Howard,
Terry Bethel

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 16 Jul 2002 3:27 pm

Okay...where does a guy go to get a look at the best steel built? The link out of Scotty's site pulls up a 403 forbidden error.

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Jeff

"If you can hear it, you can have it."
--Ray Brown

Curt Olsen · Post by **Curt Olsen** » 16 Jul 2002 3:38 pm

I have seen and heard Terry's guitar, I have never seen or heard a better steel.If I would have had my thinking cap on I should have bought one of them instead of brand X.

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Eddie Lange · Post by **Eddie Lange** » 16 Jul 2002 4:58 pm

Brand X, huh Curt? Is that like Buddy " Brand X"?

kyle reid · Post by **kyle reid** » 16 Jul 2002 7:41 pm

Eddie! better get your fire hose ready, but come to think about it , Terry never did play brand X

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 17 Jul 2002 3:16 am

I saw and heard one up in Okanogan Canada in May it looked and sounded great. I did not sit behind it but it was VERY impressive in every way. TB I know what you mean about not wanting to play it for fear of putting marks on it, this thing was a work of art.

Larry Behm

Lefty Schrage · Post by **Lefty Schrage** » 17 Jul 2002 5:02 am

Terry played our NE Iowa Steel Guitar Jam last February and I was very impressed with his guitar--great tone and superb workmanship! And, of course, the guitar plus Terry's masterful playing was a combination that kept us in complete awe. What a picker! ...Lefty

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 17 Jul 2002 5:02 am

Two of my dear friends Dick Miller and Terry Bethel. Dick is a great steel guitar builder, and Terry is one of the best in the world at picking a steel guitar. If I am not mistaken the BETHEL is the only guitar with ball bearing rollers on the cross members. That feature has always impressed me.

Al Miller · Post by **Al Miller** » 17 Jul 2002 5:19 am

hey whit!!!
where did you find a bethal guitar? i havent even heard of them as of yet. are they new to the market or have i just been out of the loop to long?

has charlton seen it or played it yet? what does he think ? how much are they ? can a retired ole steel player pushing a dump truck up the road afford one ? send me a pic ok ?
BOO MILLER
oh yea i almost forgot!! i talked to jeff wise a few weeks or so ago he isnt playing much either.but might be willing to get together for old time sake

what a hoot that would be huh?

Terry Bethel · Post by **Terry Bethel** » 17 Jul 2002 6:08 am

To anyone interested, send us your address and we will send you a free color brochure, telling all the good points about the Bethel Steel Guitar
e-mail bethelgtr@aol.com
or
Terry Bethel
P.O. Box 1108
Hollister, MO 65672
417-335-2088

Tim Sergent · Post by **Tim Sergent** » 17 Jul 2002 7:37 am

I was in Branson with Pam Tillis a while back and Terry let me take his new Cocca Bola guitar to the theater and play it on the show one night. Pretty brave, huh? Not with this guitar!! The first time I sat behind it I felt very comfortable, even with Terry's setup on it. He even changed it over to my setup to take to the theater. It didn't take him 15 or 20 minutes to change it over. The guitar plays great, sounds great and looks incredible. I've had several brands of steels and played most every brand there is at some point or another and I think the Bethel is as good as any and better than most!!! Terry is a dear friend of mine as well as Dick Miller. Dick builds a great steel and usually has a stocked fridge!!! Or at least he says he does...I wouldn't know, would I Dick!

KENNY KRUPNICK · Post by **KENNY KRUPNICK** » 17 Jul 2002 10:51 am

Hi Tim, hadn't heard from ya' in awahile. How's things going?I was down last week to see Bobbe Seymour at his new store,and picked up some Cobra Coil strings,and a volume pedal pot.Are you still doing recording sessions down at Harvest with Mark Hale?

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 17 Jul 2002 1:35 pm

I have seen Dick's work and it is excellent. His guitars look like glass, they are beautiful and plays great also. Dick is a master craftsman and a great guy to go along with it.
Billy

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 17 Jul 2002 3:37 pm

Dick built my Fessenden, and it is beautiful.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Ted Solesky · Post by **Ted Solesky** » 17 Jul 2002 6:00 pm

I agree. I met Dick when I lived in Vegas and he is very particular about workmanship. And I might add - he is a mighty fine player. I always enjoyed hearing him, and of course Terry, pick when I had a chance to catch their show.
Ted

KENNY KRUPNICK · Post by **KENNY KRUPNICK** » 17 Jul 2002 6:30 pm

Does Dick Miller work for both Fessenden,and Bethel guitar companies?

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 17 Jul 2002 6:48 pm

Jim Murphy has owned a Bethel for years and Dick Miller is a great guy.

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 17 Jul 2002 9:54 pm

I had a Bethel for a while. It was an SD 10 with 4 & 5...a gorgeous guitar.

Lem

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 18 Jul 2002 3:54 am

Dick Miller builds bodies for both Bethel and Fessenden. I'm not sure if he does any of the "metal work" though.

Danny Sneed · Post by **Danny Sneed** » 18 Jul 2002 1:12 pm

Hello Howard,
Congratulations on your new Bethel steel guitar! I got mine a couple of years ago. The more I play it the more I like it. I really like the tone and sustain. Dick Miller was great to work with. Even now if I need anything he mails it out immediately. Terry Bethel's new CD is really great and you can hear the tone he gets from his guitar.
Thanks for listening,

Danny Sneed
[This message was edited by Danny Sneed on 18 July 2002 at 02:13 PM.]

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 19 Jul 2002 5:59 am

SGF,

I'll sing the praises of Dick Miller. I have a '97 Fessy SD-10 that sounds fat and full, even with dead strings on it! According to Jerry, Dick Miller built the cabinet for him.

Also fat and full,

Drew Howard

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www.newslinkassociates.com
www.drewhoward.com

Jeff Sunstrom · Post by **Jeff Sunstrom** » 19 Jul 2002 5:35 pm

Howard, I seen Terry's steel at the NE Iowa SGJ in Feb. and it's truly a fine steel guitar. Just as I watched Terry Saturday evening perform for the first time. He is very inspirational as well as Keith H., Lefty, and other steelers that weekend. But just to let you know this is an outstanding steel guitar.

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Terry Bethel · Post by **Terry Bethel** » 22 Jul 2002 4:54 pm

To Jim Smith,
Dick Miller does indeed do ALL the metal work on the Bethel Steel Guitars. I was in Nashville at Dick's place last week and he had a barrell of chips from the milling machine. Dick also does cabinet finishing for other steel guitar companies as well as Fessenden. He is a busy man, and does indeed build the finest steel guitar around, The BETHEL STEEL GUITAr.
That's all I guess, just wanted to set the record stright.
Terry Bethel