"There is only one thing that separates the great players from the not so great, and then the non- players. It is simple: the great ones have been at it for as long as they can remember, and the thought of quitting was not an option. The urge to throw in the towel can be overwhelming. They never learned anything any easier than you can. They never learned anything more quickly than you can. They never had an angel of God visit them in the middle of the night giving them special instructions on how to play". In memory of my friend Jeff Newman 1942-2004
This site is dedicated to the memories of my friends Buck "Josh" Graves 1927- 2006, Jeff Newman 1942-2004, Hal Rugg 1936-2005, John Hughey 1924-2007, Wayne Mason 1938-2007, and to Dave Auldridge 1934-2008. May their music live on and inspire forever.
A stunningly beautiful guitar available as a six string or an eight string model, both with the distinctive Mike Auldridge signature sound…. a huge, warm low end, with a sweet crystal clear, bell-like high end, perfectly balanced in between, and with awesome sustain. The features of these guitars are as follows:
* Vintage Finland Birch top, back, and side construction.
* 25 inch scale with ebony fretboard and peghead.
* Mother of Pearl Hearts and Flowers inlay pattern.
* Chromed metal parts.
* Black Gloss Finish or Cherry Sunburst Finish.
* "LEGEND TONE" (tm) tuned interior design.
* Deluxe Hardshell Case
Price…. $3700 (either 6 or 8 string model).
"This guitar has the tone I strive for on my recordings"
Available in "Black Cherry Sunburst", "Tuxedo Black", or the NEW "Red Sunset Sunburst", in both 6 and 8 string models.
A short film of Mike testing some signature models at Beard Guitar Company.....
Mike tests and plays every one of his signature guitars before it's shipped to the customer, for unequaled quality control in the resophonic guitar business.
Here are a few more samples of Mike playing the MIKE AULDRIDGE RESOPHONIC guitar
The "Real Steel Shop", where we post FREE classified advertisements for buying and selling resophonic guitars, lap steels, pedal steels, and their related parts, has been reorganized. It is separated into the three distinct catagories of the guitar types. The ads will be deleted 60 days after the submission date. If you desire to have your ad run another 60 days after the intial submission date, simply re-submit, as the deletion time for your ad nears, and we'll be happy to oblige. We want to keep this section as easy to read and as up to date as possible. Thanks, Mike.
(If you experience trouble with these links, these sections can all be reached by simply scrolling down the page.)
The Good Deale Bluegrass Band featuring Mike Auldridge To order the CD and/or for BOOKINGS: To book the Good Deale Bluegrass Band, contact Tim Finch at the web site for Good Deale Bluegrass (www.gooddealebluegrass.com) by clicking HERE.
The Auldridge-O'Dell Vintage Country Band
Mike Auldridge: vocals, dobro and pedal steel. John O'Dell: Lead vocals and guitar. Chris Walls: vocals and bass. Rickie Simpkins: vocals, mandolin, and fiddle. This is a combination of members from several bands, playing a combination of bluegrass and classic country music. Not available for booking at the moment, as Rickie Simpkins will be doing extensive touring with Emmylou Harris for a while. (We're working on something... be patient). Contact Mike at Auldridge@Comcast.net
John Starling and Carolina Star
John Starling, guitar / Mike Auldridge, resophonic guitar / Tom Gray, bass / Rickie Simpkins, fiddle / Jimmy Gaudreau, mandolin. The new CD by this band is now in stock! Contact Mike Auldridge at Auldridge@comcast.net for bookings.
(Dates are subject to change... if possible, call the venue to confirm)
There's a brand new release listed below in the CD section called Gary Ferguson and Friends, which was recorded live at the Podunk Festival in New Haven, CT. Great songs, great sound, and a great band!! I'm very proud to be part of this wonderful collection. The new CD "Slidin' Home" by John Starling and Carolina Star is now available here.... see details below. A new instructional DVD for learning the 8 STRING RESOPHONIC GUITAR is also now available! See the details in the instruction section below. "The Skylighters" new CD is here. This is a new group which includes Mike on pedal steel. The band does a wide variety of musical styles. "Slidin' Smoke" with Mike Auldridge and Jeff Newman trading licks on resophonic guitar and pedal steel, has been unavailable for over ten years. This great project has just been reissued as a CD! "The Resocasters" CD with Mike Auldridge, Jim Heffernan, and Hal Rugg is available in the CD Shop listed below. This is an acoustic steel guitar recording featuring a trio of resophonic guitars that has to be heard to be believed! Also available here are the new re-releases of "Mike Auldridge and Old Dog"... the short-lived band known as Auldridge, Reid, and Coleman's project called "High Time".... and Mike's recording project with David Grisman and Bob Brozman, which is called "Tone Poems III". This recording focuses on the use of National and Dobro guitars (and a few custom resophonics) from the 1920's to the present. The recording traces the music of the decades and will present in chronological order the vintage and new instruments used during these decades.
Mike Auldridge's "Notes of Resonation" Mike plays 10 of his all-time favorite instrumentals on both his 6 and 8 string resophonic guitars including: Carolina Palms, Stompin' at the Savoy, Killing Me Softly, This Ain't Grass, Wave, Little Rock Getaway, Deep Water, Spanish Grass, House of the Rising Sun and Walk Don't Run. Filmed and recorded in an informal, "Up Close and Personal" setting, this is a must-have video for fans and resophonic guitar students alike. Although not an instructional tape, students will appreciate the many camera close-up shots illustrating Mike's right and left hand playing action, particularly Mike's patented techniques of palm and bar blocking. Professionally recorded and mixed, the sound quality of this video production is truely outstanding. Only $24.95. Order Notes of Resonation (Nr-1) with the Secure Order Form.
We now have the "Mike Auldridge" Flying Fish project in the CD Shop! A re-release by Flying Fish Records of a 1976 album featuring many classic Mike Auldridge recordings such as Southern Rain, California Dreamin' and Spanish Grass. Also available, "The Great Dobro Sessions" featuring Mike and nine other resophonic guitar players including Jerry Douglas and Josh Graves. We've included audio clips in RealAudio format from these albums in the Sound Room.
Use our secure order form, featuring high-grade encryption, for credit cards (VISA/Master Card), and your personal checks to help you shop on line. Details in next Section "Catalog of Mike Auldridge Dobro Guitar Instruction
Since opening our doors, we've had over 313,000 visitors....thanks for your support!
Mike Auldridge Productions offers a complete line of instruction for the resophonic guitar on video and audio cassette. All instruction is provided personally by Mike Auldridge. You can listen to audio and video clips from Mike's instruction products in RealAudio and WAVE formats in the Sound Room. Three video clips, which require the RealPlayer Plus from RealNetworks, are also available in this Catalog section. Details on how to play these files, including how to download the free RealAudio Player, as well as other players for purchase, are set forth in the Sound and Video Room. These courses of instruction are designed to help you become a complete dobro player by teaching you to:
8SR An Introduction to the Eight String Resophonic Steel Guitar.The newest DVD in the instruction catalog covers the tunings that I use on my eight string guitars. There are three equal sections for the G6, C6, and C9 tunings. Each section covers the patterns and pockets for improvising solos and back-up work in that tuning, and explanations of one complete song in each tuning to get you started in understanding the fret board. Split screen close-ups show what both hands are doing, helping to develop the proper steel guitar technique. There are tuning and string gauge charts, chord charts, and scale pattern/fret board pocket charts, which can be selected to view on the screen. This information is also available to print on a computer equipped with a DVD player. Also included are three rhythm tracks of the explained songs. If you are a six string resophonic guitar player, or a pedal steel guitar player, and you want to get into the 8 string reso, this instruction will prove to be a valuable tool in your search to add swing, jazz, or country styles to your reso songbook . $65 .....available in DVD only.
BV-1 Basic Techniques Video Course for the Resophonic Steel Guitar. This 90-minute video provides a comprehensive course of instruction for the resophonic steel guitar. Topics covered include: Tuning, picks and steelbar selection, picking techniques and bar control, bar and palm blocking, forward and reverse rolls techniques, musical theory, chord construction and locations, scale patterns, playing in different keys, minor keys, playing fast tunes with hammer-on, pull-off techniques, sliding harmonics, playing back-up in a band or jam session. $79.95 VHS or DVDPlay Video Clip from Course BV-1
BA-1 Basic Techniques AUDIO "Four CD Pack" Course for the Resophonic Steel Guitar. Mike's original dobro instruction course, this 4-CD package covers may of the topics covered in BV-1. In this audio course, however, Mike illustrates teaching points in 11 songs: Maiden's Prayer, Walbash Cannon Ball, Spanish Grass, Cripple Creek, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight, Willie Roy, Cutting the Grass, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Lloyds of Nashville, Cannonball Blues, Wheels and Pickaway. $69.95
SL-1, SL-2, SL-3. The popular Song Lesson Series. Each of these song-lesson videos, available in either VHS or DVD, contains three complete songs, designed to illustrate basic and advanced playing techniques. On each video, Mike plays the songs through at normal speed against an included back-up rhythm track recorded by members of the Seldom Scene band. Mike then breaks down each song phrase by phrase, visually showing picking sequences and bar positioning, using advanced split-screen technology. The camera is placed over the right shoulder, so that the guitar appears as you would see it as you play. Three 60-minute videos are available. $59.95 Each. (Includes Grastrax, GT-1, at no extra cost. See description below
Play video clip on Lesson from Lorena on SL-3, illustrating split-screen technology
DW-1 Legendary Masters of the Dobro Guitar Summit Video. Recorded live at the 1991 Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, this 60-minute video features Mike, Josh Graves and Jerry Douglas, in an informal setting, right in the middle of the festival. These three dobro greats share their insights on dobro techniques while playing their favorite tunes: Fireball, Cincinnati Rag, Stompin' at the Savoy, Lorena, Flatt Lonesome, Grant's Corner, Carolina Palms, and Orville's Waltz. $29.95 VHS or DVD
GT-1 GrassTrax Back-Up Rhythm TracksThis popular audio C D features rhythm tracks for 21 classic bluegrass songs, recorded by members of the Seldom Scene band. Grasstrax enables to student to practice and play along with a band to simulate actual playing conditions, and to work on timing. $19.95
NEW SUPER-HOT PACKAGE DEALS
Go to Sound and Video Room to Play Audio Files
JOHN STARLING and CAROLINA STAR... Mike Auldridge, Tom Gray, Jimmy Gaudreau, and Rickie Simpkins, join John Starling, along with guests Emmylou Harris, Jon Randall, Larry Stephenson, Pete Wasner, Kent Ippolito, and Jay Starling on this long-awaited new project from these veterans of many bands. 
Gary Ferguson and Friends. Mike Auldridge, Gail Wade, Ron Stewart, Emory Lester, Kene Hyatt, and Marc Roy, joined Gary at the Podunk Festival in New Haven, CT for a live recording of some great music. The sound is studio quality.
The SKYLIGHTERS.... Mike Auldridge and Jimmy Gaudreau, along with Eric Brace, Jim Gray, and Martin Lynds of the acclaimed Nashville group Last Train Home, joining forces in a great new band.
The RESOCASTERS.... Mike Auldridge, Jim Heffernan, and Hal Rugg have teamed up on a project of resophonic guitars... 6 and 8 string models... a 10 string Ped-A-Bro, Spanish style reso, many different tunings.... playing with an incredible line-up of Nashville musicians to produce an acoustic steel guitar CD that is truly unique in today's market. 
The Seldom Scene's 1994 recording of "Like We Used To Be" was Mike's last CD with the band, after a 24 year stay as a founding member. Mike plays his usual resophonic guitar, plus several cuts using a Weissenborn acoustic steel guitar. This project also includes the classic vocals of John Starling, the only recording done during his second time as lead singer with the band.
MIKE AULDRIDGE and JEFF NEWMAN... SLIDIN' SMOKE was recorded in 1978 and is now available in CD format for the first time. This re-issue far surpasses the original in it's presentation. The 16 page booklet contains several photos of Mike from the 1950's through the 70's, along with extensive biographical notes written by music historian John Tobler of England. The Nashville session band includes Johnny Gimble on fiddle and mandolin, Vic Jordan on banjo, along with Fred Newall, Bunky Keels, Billy Linneman, and Larrie London... all world class musicians who turn in superlative performances. 
AULDRIDGE, REID, and COLEMAN.... HIGH TIME originally recorded in 1989, this CD was the only recording project made by the band that was basically the forerunner of Chesapeake. Mike plays lap steel and pedal steel, in addition to the resophonic guitar. The band includes drums and piano, so like Chesapeake, it's a bluegrass based, alt-country influenced hybrid. In addition to Mike, the band includes Lou Reid, T. Michael Coleman, and guest vocalists Alison Krauss and John Starling.
ANOTHER NEW RE-RELEASE! Mike Auldridge and Old Dog.... Mike is joined by Beth and Phil Rosenthal, and Bruce and Barry Stockwell on this re-release of a project that was originally released in 1977. The music sounds as fresh today as it did 26 years ago! 
Mike Auldridge "Dobro" and "Blues and Bluegrass", originally released on Takoma Records on vinyl in the early 1970's, now available together on one CD!
Mike Auldridge Video, "Notes of Resonation" Accompanied by Chesapeake, Mike plays 10 of his all-time favorite instrumentals on both 6 and 8 string resophonic guitars, including: Carolina Palms, Stompin' at the Savoy, Killing Me Softly, This Ain't Grass, Wave, Little Rock Getaway, Deep Water, Spanish Grass, House of the Rising Sun and Walk Don't Run. This is an entertainment video, not instruction. $24.95(NR-1)
"Tone Poems III CD"The sounds of great slide and resophonic instruments. Featuring Mike Auldridge, Bob Brozman and David Grisman. Songs include Nostalgia Prelude, Akaka Falls, Moonlight Bay, Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia, St. Louis Blues, Whispering, Trash Can Stomp, Frankie and Johnny, Kohala March, Crazy Rhythm, Beat Biscuit Blues, Great Speckled Bird, It Happened in Monterey, Limehouse Blues, Style O Blues, Honolulu Nights, Stompin' At The Savoy, Fort Worth Drag, Just Joshin', New Steal, Las Ninas. 53 vintage instruments featured on 21 tracks. Includes 48 page detailed color book. $20.(TP-1)
Auldridge, Bennett and Gaudreau: "Blue Lonesome Wind" This is the latest released compact disc by the ABG band. Songs included are: Blue Lonesome Wind, Satisfied To Stay, My Aching Heart, Welcome To New York, City of Lost Souls, Too Many Tears, New Sweet Home, Are You Lost In Sin, Sweet Prairie Hay, Dog Pause, It Won't Be Long, Home Sweet Home Revisited, Rigel Stomp, Come Back Home. $15
Auldridge, Bennett and Gaudreau: "This Old Town"This is the first compact disc by the ABG band. Songs included are: This Old Town, Silence or Tears, Old Columbus Blues, Love Remains, We Live in Two Different Worlds, Just a Closer Walk with Thee, Billy Grey, Come and Sit By the River, Southern Son, Glide Path, Two Hearts, You Didn't Say Goodby, Sally on the Treadmill, Across the Great Divide. $15
Mike Auldridge
This re-release by Flying Fish Records of one of Mike's earlier albums, entitled Mike Auldridge, offers some of Mike's best-loved songs now in CD format for the first time. Pure vintage Auldridge, this CD is a must-have for every dobro enthusiast. Two audio clips from this new album are included in the Sound and Video Room.
Songs: Southern Rain - Tennessee Traveler - Mountain Slide - Blues for Barbara - Last Train to Clarksville - California Dreamin' - Dreaming my Dreams - Indian Summer - Carolina Sunshine Girl - All Thumbs - Spanish Grass - Lloyd's of Nashville - Georgia on my Mind. $15
The Great Dobro Sessions
"A gathering of resophonic players including: Mike Auldridge, Curtis Burch, Jerry Douglas, Josh Graves, Rob Ickes, Oswald Kerby, Stacy Phillips, Tut Taylor, Sally Van Meter, and Gene Wooten. Two audio clips by Mike Auldridge from this new album are included in the Sound and Video Room
Songs: Fireball Mail, with everyone, - Dobro Chimes with Oswald Kerby - Just Joshin' with Josh Graves - Poison Love with Gene Wooten - Birdland with Jerry Douglas - Wave with Mike Auldridge - The Last Rose of Autumn with Stacy Phillips - Rainbow Bridge with Curtis Burch - Great Season Waltz with Sally Van Meter - Scrapin' the Barrel with Rob Ickes - Little Green Pill #2 with Tut Taylor - Day Tripper with Gene Wooten - Flatt Lonesome with Josh Graves - Abilene Gal with Jerry Douglas - McHattie's Waltz with Rob Ickes - Ace of Spades with Stacy Phillips - Suitcase with Curtis Burch - Cherokee Shuffle with Sally Van Meter - Lonesome Dobro with Tut Taylor - Wake Forest with Mike Auldridge - The End of the World with Oswald Kirby. $15
Treasures Untold, Mike Auldridge
"The music on this recording reflects my love of the early style of country music with songs ranging from things written in the 1920's to brand-new songs that have that timeless appeal. We tried to capture the feeling of a jam session among great friends, because that's exactly what this is. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did." Special guests: Tony Rice, John Starling and Doc Watson.
Songs: Are You Waiting Just for Me Memories of You Dear - Shenandoah Waltz - Deep Water Why Should I Be Lonely - Drivin' Nails in My Coffin - Trains Make Me Lonsome - Tuck Away My Lonesome Blues - Carolina Palms - Walking the Floor Over You - Treasures Untold - Raisin' the Dickens. $15
Eight String Swing, Mike Auldridge
"I recorded this project playing an eight-string dobro. It has enabled me to play things that I've had in my mind but could never quite get out of a conventional 6 string dobro. After 25 years of playing, I can't wait to get up in the morning to see what surprises I can find on that 8 string neck. Hope you like what I've been discovering."
Songs: Little Rock Getaway - Red-skin Rag - Bethesda - Swing Scene Caravan - Almost to Tulsa - Bluegrass Boogie - Eight String Swing - Brown Baggin' - Pete's Place - Crazy - Red Top - Stompin' at the Savoy $15
Rising Tide, Chesapeake
Songs: Blackjack Davey - The Morning Blues - Columbus Stockade - Darcey Farrow - Dreamer Believer - High Sierra - Always on a Mountain - Cypress Grove - Genie in the Wine - 2:10 Train - Summer Wages - Shady Grove - Moondance. $15
Full Sail, Chesapeake
Songs: Home from the Hills - Are You Tired of Me My Darling - Sweet Melinda - Rain and Snow - Last Train from Poor Valley - One Way Track - The Lights of Home - Let it Roll - The Last Thing on my Mind - Free at Heart - Crawfishin'. $15
Pier Pressure, Chesapeake
....with guest Linda Ronstadt (on Bed of Roses)
Songs: Once A Day - Full Force Gale - Bed of Roses - Nothing Ain't A Lot - Carolina Star - Sleepwalk(ing) At The Drive-In - Baby Blue Eyes - White Pilgrim - Guilty - Rockin' Hillbilly - Don't Lay Down - Working On A Building. $15
Go to Sound and Video Room to play more audio files
Credit Cards/Personal Checks Accepted
To order Mike Auldridge Dobro Instruction products, or any listed compact disk, you may mail your personal check, money order, or Credit Card (VISA/MasterCard only) information to the address below, or use our encrypted, on-line secure order system, which allows you to use your VISA or MasterCard credit card over the internet to process your order immediately. Your order in most cases will be sent to you by Priority Mail the next business day. If you prefer to mail in your check, money order or credit card information, send to:
Mike Auldridge Productions
PO Box 3245
Silver Spring, MD 20918
Domestic orders are shipped Priority U.S. Mail, with the shipping cost based on the overall amount of the order: (1) Orders up to $25, $4.50 shipping; Orders from $25 to $100, $5.50 shipping; Orders over $100, $7.00 shipping; International orders will be sent via Global Priority Mail at the prevailing rate unless otherwise advised. International customers are encouraged to inquire about shipping charges via E-mail.
Attention West Virginia Residents. Please add 6% to the amount of order.
In this section we include links to other dobro guitar, pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar and related music sites located on the Internet. Just click-on the link you're interested in, and you will be transferred to that site. Be sure to check-out the guitar dealers link section at the Real Steel Guitar Shop Page
Beard Guitars Web Site The manufacturer of the Mike Auldridge Resophonic guitar, in addition to carrying a full line of other custom guitars and resophonic guitar parts.
MSA Steel Guitars The builder of fine, world-class pedal steel guitars and the NEW SuperSlide Lap Steel.... a fantastic lap steel of the highest quality, possessing awesome tone and sustain.
Cedar Creek Custom Case Shoppe Manufacturer of first-class high quality custom cases handcrafted in Virginia, U.S.A.
Nashville Portraits a collection of the artful photography by Jim McGuire of musicians he has worked with over a span of 30 years as one of the leading photographers in the music business.
Benoit Resonator Guitars Beautifully hand-crafted, very high quality resonator guitars, built in Texas.
Mermer Guitars Very beautiful, custom handcrafted Spanish style and Hawaiian acoustic steel guitars. Made in Florida by Richard Mermer, a graduate of the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix, Arizona. Great web site with informative links.
Adams Resonator Guitars Custom made high quality resonator guitars, built in SW Louisiana.
The State Theater, Falls Church, VA, a new venue music hall featuring top performers
Tune into the wonderful world of the Bluegrass Radio Network
Planet Dobro Web Site A networking and hot-links page, provides links to artists, music, labels and resources, including audio/video clips on the web for the culture of the slide guitar
Rounder Records On-line Catalog
Clinesmith resonator and hawaiian guitars Builder of high quality resonator guitars in Fortuna, California
Carter Steel Guitars' Web Site
A Site for Resophonic Guitarists by Howard Parker, with a link to the Resoguit List
PedalSteelGuitar.NET by Dick Meis offers instructional books, CDs, videos, DVDs and accessories for all steel guitarists. Starter steels, free classifieds, toll free number.
A site for steel, dobro and lap steel guitar enthusiasts by Brad Bechtel
Bobby Lee's Steel Guitar Web siteFeatures Steel Guitar Forum The web site of Wayne Taylor, the lead singer with the U.S. Navy's "Country Current". The site includes listings of Wayne's fine solo projects.
Michael L. McDonald's Bluegrass Music Site CYBERGRASS - The Internet Bluegrass Magazine Malahat Mountain Music A dobro-oriented label in Canada
Down Home Picking Parlor, Johnson City, TN. An acoustic music venue on the ABG band's tour schedule Old Town Pickin' Parlor, Arvada, CO A great music store for acoustic musicians Jonathan's Transplanted Bluegrass Dobro Players Anonymous Web Site An excellent site with over 100 links to bluegrass-related sites The French resophonic guitar web site Dobro Franco with international resources and artist links.
McKenna Guitars Builder of professional quality resonator guitars. Site contains very helpful "Troubleshooting" section. Allen GuitarsBeautiful acoustic guitars, mandolins, and resonator guitars, made in California by Randy Allen.
Mike is currently playing the Mike Auldridge Resophonic guitar, made by Beard Guitars in Hagerstown, MD., also a vintage push/pull Emmons D10 pedal steel, a Zumsteel D-10 pedal steel, an MSA SuperSlide lap steel, a vintage Rickenbacher Lap Steel guitar, and a vintage Weissenborn acoustic steel guitar. To reach Mike for session work appointments, email: McLaren85@juno.com or call 301-593-4151.
Private lessons are available from Mike on the dobro, pedal steel and lap steel guitars, in Silver Spring, Maryland, for both beginning and advanced students. Contact Mike by e-mail at McLaren85@juno.com
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