Uploaded September 2011 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
I recorded this tonight using a S-6 Jerry Byrd longcale frypan guitar. The backing track is Band-in-a-Box, playing through my computer speakers. It's important that your speakers have a subwoofer (the big bassy speaker, usually set on the floor, which is where mine is. In the song I do a little bit of harmonics and some palm muting to give it that hawaiian touch. I hope you like it.
I took all of these photos myself while visiting Hawaii. The first photo is of me with one of my lap steels sitting at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. I only weighed 168 lbs. in that photo (February of 2011). I've sinced gained some weight back due to meds for my peripheral neuropathy. Gabapentin causes weight gain. Anyway, the rest of the photos are from Oahu, Kauai and Hilo. I thank God for letting me visit all 3 of the Hawaiian islands. I hope and pray to visit Maui someday. Hawaii is so beautiful.
The guy with the harp at the end was playing in downtown Hilo, Big Island. His name is Moses. His harp was really beautiful to hear. The guy with the parrots hangs out along Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. There are tons of street entertainers at Waikiki Beach. It's an amazing place, but I've heard that you need a license for everything, even to perform music on the street. I enjoyed playing "SAND" in B11th tuning so much at Waikiki Beach, and a few others before it started to rain. There's nothing like playing Hawaiian steel guitar IN HAWAII. It was a blessing. I have many more pictures that I took. You are welcome to share and use my pictures freely, most of which are found on my website at steelc6th.com
I stopped by the Anahola Baptist Church for some photos while visiting way up north by Hanalei Bay (meaning crescent shapped) on Kauai. Kei Beach is the farthest point north, which is where I took the picture of the rooster. That's also where the photo of the warning sign about dangerous tides was taken. I took photos of giant turtles at the Honolulu zoo. I hope they eat good for the $8 I spent on a hotdog at the zoo to feed the animals...lol. Turtles eat lettuce and salad... lots of salad! I couldn't believe how much they fed them.
It rained most of the time I was on Kauai, but it was a blessing to be there. I loved JJ's pizza. If you ever visit there in Kapaa, just tell JJ that the guy from Chicago refered you. He'll know who I am. We had a discussion on pizza, being from Chicago I know great pizza!!! JJ's is awesome, using handmade sausage. I'd go back to Kauai just for the pizza, but it's costly to travel.
I hope you enjoy the video and the music. I recorded this live with a Tascam DR-07MK2 handheld recorder. My amp for this is a Gretsch G5222 Compact Tube Amp. It has 2 tubes that glow. Pretty nice. I like the warmth of analog tube amps. Since the amp has no reverb, I'm using a BOSS "63 Fender Reverb" pedal for reverb.
I'm taking over 120 mg of prescription Oxycontin daily, so I missed a few notes. Still, I think it will take you to the islands. God bless.
j
I recorded this tonight using a S-6 Jerry Byrd longcale frypan guitar. The backing track is Band-in-a-Box, playing through my computer speakers. It's important that your speakers have a subwoofer (the big bassy speaker, usually set on the floor, which is where mine is. In the song I do a little bit of harmonics and some palm muting to give it that hawaiian touch. I hope you like it.
I took all of these photos myself while visiting Hawaii. The first photo is of me with one of my lap steels sitting at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. I only weighed 168 lbs. in that photo (February of 2011). I've sinced gained some weight back due to meds for my peripheral neuropathy. Gabapentin causes weight gain. Anyway, the rest of the photos are from Oahu, Kauai and Hilo. I thank God for letting me visit all 3 of the Hawaiian islands. I hope and pray to visit Maui someday. Hawaii is so beautiful.
The guy with the harp at the end was playing in downtown Hilo, Big Island. His name is Moses. His harp was really beautiful to hear. The guy with the parrots hangs out along Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. There are tons of street entertainers at Waikiki Beach. It's an amazing place, but I've heard that you need a license for everything, even to perform music on the street. I enjoyed playing "SAND" in B11th tuning so much at Waikiki Beach, and a few others before it started to rain. There's nothing like playing Hawaiian steel guitar IN HAWAII. It was a blessing. I have many more pictures that I took. You are welcome to share and use my pictures freely, most of which are found on my website at steelc6th.com
I stopped by the Anahola Baptist Church for some photos while visiting way up north by Hanalei Bay (meaning crescent shapped) on Kauai. Kei Beach is the farthest point north, which is where I took the picture of the rooster. That's also where the photo of the warning sign about dangerous tides was taken. I took photos of giant turtles at the Honolulu zoo. I hope they eat good for the $8 I spent on a hotdog at the zoo to feed the animals...lol. Turtles eat lettuce and salad... lots of salad! I couldn't believe how much they fed them.
It rained most of the time I was on Kauai, but it was a blessing to be there. I loved JJ's pizza. If you ever visit there in Kapaa, just tell JJ that the guy from Chicago refered you. He'll know who I am. We had a discussion on pizza, being from Chicago I know great pizza!!! JJ's is awesome, using handmade sausage. I'd go back to Kauai just for the pizza, but it's costly to travel.
I hope you enjoy the video and the music. I recorded this live with a Tascam DR-07MK2 handheld recorder. My amp for this is a Gretsch G5222 Compact Tube Amp. It has 2 tubes that glow. Pretty nice. I like the warmth of analog tube amps. Since the amp has no reverb, I'm using a BOSS "63 Fender Reverb" pedal for reverb.
I'm taking over 120 mg of prescription Oxycontin daily, so I missed a few notes. Still, I think it will take you to the islands. God bless.
j
