How do different steels make you play?

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

I feel a different "VIBE" when going from a Tele
to a Strat or even more when picking up a Les Paul.

I seem to play with more of a jazzy/bluesy feel with the Les Paul.

You folks that have different brands of steels, do you feel a different "VIBE" when going from one steel to another?
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DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Not really. Pedal steels are much closer to each other, soundwise, than solid, semi-hollow, and hollow bodied electric straight guitars.

The only major differences to me would be apparent when playing two pedal steels that are mechanically very different, such as an old Fender cable job, and a newer, rodded guitar. Fewer capabilities make you work harder to get complex stuff, and that affects your technique more substantially that just playing straight guitars that sound different (i.e. have a different tone).

Michael Douchette · From: Gallatin, TN (deceased)

Interesting question. There are many facets to my steel player personality, and while all of them are constantly and readily available to me, certain guitars tend to bring some traits more to the forefront more easily. The tone and playability both have an affect on the player personality that presents itself, in my case.
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Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

Jack, I only have one, but I'm sure I could play any of them equally as bad. Smile

Seriously, it's amazing to watch some of the players at Scotty's sit down at strange steels where, not only are the machanics different, but the copedant doesn't even match theirs.

I saw Jerry Brightman jamming one night and after each tune he'd subtly reach beneath the steel and fold up another knee. I'm not sure he had any left down by the time he was finished, but you'd never have known it to listen. That was when I first met Jerry and he gave me "extra credit" for noticing.

Anyway, I always wonder how do they do that?
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Emmons Lashley LeGrande II

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

My Milly has tunable splits, which my 2 older guitars don't have, or rather they didn't till Jim Palenscar installed them on the 5th string(s).

I can't begin to tell you how much they have opened up my playing. The 5th string is the most important one of course, but now I'm starting to use this feature on other strings as well, and since the older ones only have the tunable split on the 5th string, this means that I can play things on the Milly that literally cannot be played on the others.

Here is a picture of the side of one my older steels, that shows Jim's added split:

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Robbie Daniels · From: Casper, Wyoming, USA

Each steel I play have different setups which forces different sounds produced in different ways. My D12 Carter I have C pedal on my right knee lever where my U12 Sierra has the standard ABC pedals with knee levers in different positions than my Carter. When I use my Fender 400 the cable pulls are limited and creates different challenges. When I use my Rickenbacker D8 then I have a totally different concept because your bar and hand are the pedals. Creates very different creativity and sometimes challenges you dexterity. But, I love it.
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Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I feel and hear things differently from one steel or amp to another and tend to feed off of it. Even small things like color or heigth or knee lever placement or different pickup will change my attitude and playing some. Or is it the beer?

Wayne Wallett · From: Shermans Dale, PA USA - R.I.P.

I have never played any two steels that felt and sounded alike. Even same brands. Each has their own distinct personality. I have (3) steels (Emmons Legrande, Derby lacquer, & Sho-Bud Super Pro restored by Duane Marrs recently. All great steels, all feel and sound differently, prefer the Sho-Bud. Same for amps, Webb, FSK, Evans, mod'd Peavey, all have their own unique characteristics. Like women, love em all......
Regards,
Wayne

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

To me its the amp that changes the way I play. If I cant bring my steel king to a gig I panic for about 2 songs till I ajust my pick attack to find my tone. I almost had an anxiety attack reading the thread about having to play straight into the board from the v ped. A lot of guys up here have carter starters, and I have played gigs where I had to sit in on them. Within a few minutes I had my tone and all was fine...
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Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I seem to play the same, regardless of what steel I sit behind. I may not have a change that I have on my steel but other than that I don't think it's any different for me. Obviously tone will change from one person's rig to another, given it's different brands of steels and amps.

Same way with a 6 string guitar, whether it's my Tele, the stage Peavey Predator (strat copy) where I pick, etc.

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

Oh yeah, On instruments without the 5 drop, I have to do the down one fret 3&5 hitting b vrs staying open and hitting my vertical. Sounds more soulful that way anywho
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GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

The ones that I've played the most, play the easiest.

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

I would say that when playing a push-pull compared to an all pull I feel more connected to the guitar, and I think that's a characteristic of the tone and physical feel of the guitar, the feedback or vibrations, or something that makes the guitar feel more alive or interactive/responsive physically, and that does inspire the way I play the guitar. Can anyone relate to what I'm trying to explain about the push-pull experience?

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

I have found that the push/pulls talk back to you while you are playing them. Same with the classic Sho-Buds. But for me the king of them all is the ZB. No comparison to the sterile sounding, small bodied, modern guitars being made today. The older guitars inspire much more soulful playing for me.

Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

For me, I always have period of adjustment to a different steel, I have ventured from D-10's to S-12's to just S-10, all pull, push pull, pull release & I also switched back & forth from Emmons to Day & it always took me a little while to get used to the knee lever placements. But with a little time I think I can usually 'swing' it!!

Ernie Very Happy

http://www.hereintown.net/~shobud75/stock.htm

David Collins · From: Madison, North Carolina, USA

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

I feel different on a really old pedal steel, like the Multi-Kord, than on a more modern machine, but it's entirely in the string separation, which is more generous in old machines, and the feel and location of the pedals.

Larry Behm · From: Mt Angel, Or 97362

Cliff, YES Very Happy

.

My PP friends told me my playing would take on another dimension when I started playing a PP. I just laughed in their faces and spit on their shoes, I called their mothers names I can not repeat here on the forum. Devil

They were right, I was wrong. Embarassed

I play half the notes I use to and let the ones I do play just sit there and sustain and sustain.

Try one.

Larry Behm

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