Remembering Charlie Stepp (Derby Steels)

[Carl Kilmer]

We lost our wonderful friend of many years on March 21, 2009.
Charlie was like a brother since I met him and you couldn't ask
for a nicer people than him and his wonderful wife Margit.
Miss you Charlie and think of you all the time. RIP my brother.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Thanks for the memorial and reminder Carl.

We miss Charlie around here too. He always treated me good and I considered him a friend.

During hard times, Charlie found some things for me to do for him that he didn't really have to do.

He also told me not to worry if I had to sell my gear due to economics, that I would always have something to play.

He and Margit always welcomed me into the shop and their home and stopped whatever they were doing to have a cup of coffee.

Like many builders, Charlie stayed almost too busy to play and his health in the later years contributed so we seldom got to hear him play much.

[David Weisenthal]

I never met the Stepps, but sure enjoy playing his wonderful steel everyday. Thanks for the remembrance guys. I would love to see any pictures of his workshop when he was building. Not sure if there are any out there.

[David Zornes]

I have been a ShoBud man ever since I started playing steel in the late seventies. I would never play anything but wood neck steels; but after sitting down and playing a Derby, with aluminum necks, I was hooked. In my opinion, Charlie built the finest of steel guitars.

[Joseph Napolitano]

Thanks for the tribute Carl. I have a D10 and an Sd10 Derby.They are tremendous guitars ...superb tone, stay in tune, so well built. I think they are at least equal to Emmons, Zums , Ritts, just about anything out there. Never understood why they sell for less. I would love to have met Charlie, and enjoy reading anything about him and his company

[Jerry Van Hoose]

Margit, me & Charlie at their family reunion, Grayson Lake, KY.