The Chetboard

Our buddy Paul Yandell has been gone a year, and I sure miss him, but I'm sure grateful for getting to be with him and having him as a friend.

I miss him and think about Paul every day. Never thought I would even know him
much less have him as a close friend. I was very lucky.
Eddie

Yeah, I feel the same way fellows, 34 years of close friendship is hard to give up. Paul was truly one of a kind in all aspects of his life. . . what a wonderful friend he was.

Gayle

Can't add much except that I feel the same way. I'm thankful that Paul was my friend. Thinking about Marie, Micah, and Sheri this week.

Craig

I actually got to meet the great man a couple of times although I doubt that he'd remember me. Never got to talk to him much but I sure miss his posts here on the Chetboard. I always loved it when he would post a random story about Chet or when he would set the record staright when certain topics came up. ( He could set the record staright because if he wasn't actually there when it happened, Chet or Jerry told him directly how it really was! )What an honor it was to have had him post on the Chetboard. I'm sure he's missed by family and friends alike as well as some who were never fortunate enough to have met him.

Thanks Paul for all you did too for freely sharing all the secrets about how you and Chet made those magic sounds! Paul freely sharing that has been a world of help to many of us learning to play the guitar inspired by their music. Seems like we'd never know about the 1959 Nashville Classic, Peaver, the Delta Blues amp with JBL speaker, the Pignose, etc. if Paul never shared that with those who use the Chetboard. Wherever you're at now Paul thanks and we miss you!
Steve Moran

I was not as close to Paul as many of you who have posted comments, but he called me a friend and that means a lot. I had the privilege of lending a helping hand in an attempt to track down Chet's original solid top Gretsch 6120. We never could get to the guitar, but the search seemed to keep Paul on track to develop the 6120-CGP as a reissue. Paul commented that guitar players are a brotherhood and he reflected that in his willingness to help players when and however he could. I miss his frequent posts here on the Chetboard.

My first exchange with Paul was when I drew up the FAQ that is now on the board for him, He was weary of having to answer the same questions again and again so I wrote it up based on his previous posts to make things easier for everyone.

Over the years we corresponded...sometimes differed about this or that but always resolved the difference in a dignified manner and always looking to "getting it right".

He, on a couple of occasions, talked of he, I and Gayle Moseley enjoying a breakfast together some day but that never came to pass, sadly.

I think of Paul nearly every day or something that he helped me with will jog my memory of him.

Paul was my friend. I was privileged to be one of many friends he had. Paul could teach me more in just a few seconds than what I had been a lifetime trying to learn on my own. He had that unique ability to get to the point quickly and very clearly. I really miss him, but I am so glad that his suffering is over. We are all better off because of him.