Derby History

[Johnie King]

Bumped

[Don R Brown]

I like my Derby!

Johnny, looking at your seat, you must play rock music!

[William Johnson]

I own a Derby DB+ Pad, E9 10 String Single Neck, Green w/ Black Shading on outer edges & White Pearloid Binding. After purchasing it, I discovered this Derby was custom built by Charlie Stepp for a client that wanted to gift it to Mr. Lloyd Green. So I drove from SE Georgia to Derby (in Lexington, Kentucky) with my Green Derby in hand (~2005) to get it get looked over and repair if needed. I also asked if he recognized this steel? Charlie verified the story about this Derby steel. He added that Mr. Green did not accept the gift and never played it. Charlie confirmed directly to me, it was custom built for a Derby client who was planning to give to Mr. Green as a gift, but never reached reached Mr. Green's hands as he only played So Bud DB+ Pad E9 10 String (as most know).

Did Charlie build his DB+Pad E9 10 String Single Neck models with a Double Neck body and aluminum frame with a empty space (2nd neck) where the Changer is typically tuned? The opening has an aluminum plate covering the space. The Green Derby also has an Off/On switch near the changer end.

I'm wondering if Charlie used a DB with space for two changers, but only installed the E9 neck and added a plate to cover the opening or did he always build his DB single necks this way? That would mean he didn't have stock two types of Double Body steel parts!

Anyways . . . What do y'all think?

Billy

How do I Insert Images from my computer?

[Jerry Overstreet]

No, that guitar is probably converted from a Double Neck. There has been a lot of that happening unfortunately. I'm pretty sure I remember the Lloyd guitar and I certainly don't recall a cutout on the endplate, but there's always the chance that I'm wrong. I'm quite sure I knew the gentleman who had it and wanted to gift it to Lloyd. I think he has since passed away. I won't say definitely that he didn't have the guitar coverted from a D10 but I'd be surprised it that is the case.

Considering that Lloyd did have a Sho-Bud converted from a D10, it's certainly possible that they attempted to emulate that.

That guitar was a dark green Imron sprayed finish with MOP inserts. I remember seeing it and the same gentleman at Charlie's shop.

If you want to send a couple photos to my email, I'll post them for you.

Charlie's SD10 end plates did not have a cutout on the rear pad side. It's possible that his very first year a couple could have been made that way but I've never heard of one. The only person I know of that could definitely say is Jerry Van Hoose who was with him just about from the start. Everybody else has passed on.

I've been around him and his guitars from about 1990 on. Post the serial number and we can tell you about the year it was built which will give me a better idea.

Also Billy, I couldn't find a rodding chart that you asked me about. I did find a couple pages describing the split feature and a few other odds and ends about the guitars but no chart.

If you want what I have, I can send them to your email or by snail mail. Just let me know.

[Joseph Carlson]

Here is the info I have on how to rod a Derby

Derby Rodding Chart and Info 1.pdf

Derby Rodding Chart and Info 2.pdf

Derby Rodding Chart and Info 3.pdf

Derby Rodding Chart and Info 4.pdf

Derby Fine Tuning Setup Page 1.pdf

Derby Fine Tuning Setup Page 2.pdf

[Maurice Daulton]

I've had 3 Derbys. I bought 2 before he died (Used) SD 10's. And Margit had 2 new D10's left in the shop. I worked out a deal with her and she sold me 1 of the last 2. I wound up with 2 many and sold the New D10 to a guy in Nashville. I would say he still has it. Been about 2011. I still play a little.My health is about gone. I now have 3 Mullen G2,My Sho Bud I bought in 1973 and the Derby which I bought from Charlie in would do to them.,23 yrs ago. Its my favorite. And yes Charlie told me he worked in Nashville for Emmons and when he was building the Derby he would go to Buddy and Buddy would tell him if he liked (whatever) Charlie was doing to them. I do not know how much Charlie did in his shop,but he had a lot of parts machined at a different place and then he put them together. My Friend (Audie McQueary)RIP played at Charlies funeral on one of Charlies Derbys.He was a good guy but he had a mind of his own.

[Jerry Overstreet]

I can appreciate your post Maurice, but that is incorrect about Charlie working for Emmons. Far as I know, he never lived in Nashville, but right here on Dixie Highway in Shively Ky, before moving his shop to Brooks, KY.

Yes, he was a dealer for Emmons and serviced Emmons guitars here in Louisville for several years.

He loved his Emmons push pull guitar and kept it all through the years he built Derby guitars. He might have been the biggest Emmons push pull and Buddy Emmons fan ever. He respected, sought and revered all the input he received from Buddy and was especially proud of the recordings Buddy did with the Derby and playing it on stage at the ISGC and did indeed make a few trips to Nashville to see Buddy concerning his use of and input concerning Derby steels but he never worked for the Emmons company as an employee.

If there are any doubts, read his daughter Jaynette's post earlier in this thread.

[Ricky Davis]

You know its a GREAT STEEL when Terry Crisp plays one on this HUGE SOLO at a Reba Show...
His long solo starts 1:17
https://youtu.be/IxuVoLt1yHs?si=-7tRp7251QQAaMMk
Gotta Love that Terry Crisp Perfection.
Ricky