Melobar  Guitars 1967 -- 2008   

It’s hard to believe, but it was 41 years ago that Walt Smith started Melobar Guitars with the introduction of the first stand-up steel guitar. Here is a bit of the history.

1967 
Walt Smith, one of the original patent holders on the Steel guitar, (see The Melobar Story, Guitar Player Magazine, March 1985--link soon to come) teamed up with Semie Mosely of Mosrite guitars to build his patented tilt-neck Melobar stand-up steel guitar. Walt’s dream was to create a multi-note instrument that could expand playing potential of the non-pedal, steel guitar. Over the years these guitars made it into the hands (and on albums) of such bands as the Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zepplin, Poco, Heart, and far more country artist than we even want to try and count.

1981 
Melobar begins a new era with instrument aimed at professional players. New 10-string bodies a Flying V model and incorporated high-end pickups from Bill Lawrence, the top custom pickup builder of the time. David Lindley with El Rayo X introduced the new model to the world. However Walt Smith was originally pianist and wanted only 10-string Melobar's with multiple note ability. David Lindley’s guitar was one of the rare 6-strings built during that time period.

1984
The Rolling Stones order custom instruments from Melobar. Ron Woods still uses his Melobar in concert to this day.

1985
Melobar introduces the first foam body guitar. Players such as David Lindley discover the "tone is in the foam."

1988 
Walt wanted a 10-string model built especially for beginners. Roy Clark joined Melobar as the company spokesman on the 88 model Melobar program for beginning guitar players.

1989 
After Walt's death in 1989 (see Melobars “Basement Genius” article in Guitar Player Magazine September 1991), his son Ted Smith, grandson Marc Smith and Walt’s wife Mildred Smith bought a shop in Sweet Idaho and started Smith Family Music products. For the next 14 years they built up to a 1000 lap steels and custom Melobars a year. Introducing dozens of new models and innovations for steel and standard guitar.

1992 
LS model and SLS models introduced as the first Melobar lap steels and the first production 6 and 8 string models. SK Skreemr model 6-string stand up steel guitar also introduced.

1996 
Rattler Series 6-string lap steel and Tomahawk 8-string lap steel introduced.

1997 
SXL and Teleratt Pro studio lap steels introduced. SuperSteel interchangeable double and triple neck lap steels on stands introduced.

1998 
Melobro line of Fiblerglass Resonator Guitars in 6-7 and 8-string versions introduced.

1999 
Steelguitr double neck Tele with patented Melobar neck on the bottom. Late in the year a fire in production facilities limits production capabilities.

2000 
Ted and Marc start landscaping company to cover for the slow summer months in the guitar business. Mildred Smith is diagnosed with cancer and Ted is increasingly occupied with her care and his new company, which is quickly grows much faster than anticipated.

2003 
Mildred Smith passed away from cancer. Ted and Marc's landscaping company had grown to 15 employees with 11 trucks in the field. Jim Frost of Black Canyon Guitars joins Melobar as a majority owner. In an attempt to restart production, Jim and Ted look for new investors in the company. A local Sweet, Idaho group who want to keep Melobar in Sweet, Idaho become majority owners and retain Black Canyon Guitar for distribution. Unfortunately, after a series of employee issues, a loss of the lease on the Sweet shop, and a major theft of parts and inventory, the new owners close production.

2007
Jim and his wife Carrie buy Melobar back from the Sweet, ID investment group. They bring Ted back to collaborate. Ted creates a new manufacturing company, Hardway Manufacturing, to build instruments for Melobar.

2008 
The new manufacturing capabilities of Hardway bring a new level of engineering, workmanship, and materials to Melobar production. While Melobar Guitars have a history of incredible innovation, tone, and playability, Melobar has never had such access to state of the art technology and woods as now. The new Melobars are the best ever made.