Pete Drake

A gold-painted D-10 Crossover nicknamed "Oldie Goldie" was Drake's workhorse. It is currently on display at The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, as featured in this December 3, 2015 Facebook post by the museum.

Pete Drake, a Nashville steel guitar player, was best known for his session work with artists such as Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Marty Robbins, Lynn Anderson, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Charlie Rich, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. He began playing steel guitar in the early 1950's and developed innovative uses for what would be called the talk box, which led to his own top 30 hit single "Talking Steel" in 1964. Pete played this "Ole Goldie" Steel Guitar, on display in the museum, on the record "He Stopped Loving Her Today," "Stand By Your Man," "Behind Closed Doors," and "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World". Also in this exhibit are guitar tunings that he carried in his wallet, a case, a leather strap with his name on it that could be hung on the front of his steel guitar during performances, and one of his early talk boxes.

Drake's D-10 Permanent was converted from Buddy Emmons' D-8. When Drake died, Emmons donated the guitar to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This is summarized in this November 24, 2010 The Steel Guitar Forum post.

Just wanted to summarize this topic based on everybody�s input. Also revised the reply about the "Night Life" guitar.

Here is Pete Drake's Sho-Bud �Permanent� also owned by Buddy Emmons. When Buddy had it was a D-8 and Buddy put his signature �Buddie Emmons� on the front with a wood burning kit. When Pete acquired the guitar he had it converted to a D-10 and put his name on the front over �Buddie Emmons� with a tooled leather patch. In 1983, Buddy donated this guitar to the Country Music Hall of Fame where it is on display:

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Drake owned the third one ever made. It was listed for sale on The Steel Guitar Forum on August 16, 2019.

COLLECTORS TAKE NOTICE : Early 70’s Sho-Bud Amp – Serial # 0003

Previously owned by A Team Pedal Steel Guitarist, PETE DRAKE.

Used on innumerable recording sessions for artists such as George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Charlie Rich, Elvis Presley, Lynn Anderson, David Allen Coe, etc.

In GOOD WORKING CONDITION ! (see photos)

The amp is presently in Nashville, TN, and is being offered for sale by John Drake, Pete’s son.

I am handling the initial offers on this amp.

Call or text - Ken Franzetta 407 497-2443 email [email protected]

COLLECTORS PLEASE MAKE AN OFFER.

The device that made Drake a sensation. Invented by fellow pedal steel player Bill West, it was later made commercially available under Drake's name, as can be seen in ads here and here. This September 2013 Vintage Guitar article gives a summary of its history.

The next talk box apparatus was instrumental in famed Nashville session man Pete Drake’s early-’60s act, which he called Talking Steel Guitar. Pedal-steel player Bill West made the contraption from an 8″ paper-cone speaker attached to a funnel with a plastic tube to speak into. Drake was seeking a new sound, and inspired by the Alvino Rey film, he used West’s creation on his 1964 hit single, “Forever,” and a subsequent LP. Drake’s novel sound sold more than a million copies and went gold.

He ultimately released several LPs of Talking Steel Guitar. As Drake explained the process to Douglas Green, “You play the notes on the guitar and it goes through the amplifier. I have a driver system so that you disconnect the speakers and the sound goes through the driver into a plastic tube. You put the tube in the side of your mouth then form the words with your mouth as you play them. You don’t actually say a word; the guitar is your vocal chords, and your mouth is the amplifier. It’s amplified by a microphone.” Drake soon began selling his Talking Music Actuator to other musicians.