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Topic: The best type of shoes for playing steel? |
Russ Tkac
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 2:28 pm |
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I personally like these! 
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 2:39 pm
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| Ballet slippers!!! |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 3:14 pm
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"Marcia Brady's"? You musta played a concert at Joliet penitentiary. 
Last edited by Andy Sandoval on 13 Nov 2007 5:22 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 3:16 pm
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| Dirty socks... hold your nose..... bob |
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Calvin Walley
From:
colorado city colorado, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 3:30 pm
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for the first 2 years i could NOT play unless the only thing i had on my feet was socks and nothing else...it took a while but now i can play wearing tennis shoes , cowboy boots or anything else EXCEPT SOCKS..if i only wear socks now, i get awful foot cramps ....go figure????
_________________
proud parent of a sailor
Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!
Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick |
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Pete Cormier
From:
Eunice, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 3:52 pm
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I REALLY LIKE THESE "VANS" SKATE BOARDING SHOES
BECAUSE THEY ARE WIDE FOR PEDAL WORK, ALTHOUGH AT
50 YRS. OLD MY WIFE SAYS I LOOK FOOLISH IN THEM.
"MIGHT JUST CHANGE WIVES" NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT.
_________________
SUPRO---MAN
49&51 SUPRO SINGLE NECKS
54 DOUBLE NECK SUPRO
2006 D-8 PEDALMASTER
1994 D-8 PEDALMASTER |
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Russ Tkac
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 4:00 pm
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| I try to play in any shoes I have on but I can't seem to get really comfortable in anything but the orange bellbottoms! |
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Marc Jenkins
From:
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 4:02 pm
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Vans Old School!
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 4:07 pm
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| i wear cowboy boots...always have, always will...seeing that picture of buddy cage in jogging gear and tennies really turned me off. he used to be very cool in his attire. and those of you in ballet slippers might as well be gay....steel players used to be stylin'. ok...flame away! |
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Pete Cormier
From:
Eunice, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 4:12 pm
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MARC
THAT BE THE BAD BOYS I BEEN WEAR'IN |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 4:25 pm
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I currently play in Reebok classics. I did wear New Balance walking shoes, but I found the toe curled up so much for walking that I had to hit the pedals on "tiptoe."
I also always try to practice in my socks. If you have the wrong shoes on at the gig, take 'em off!
_________________
Primitive Utility Steel |
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 5:05 pm
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| Ballet slippers....Black |
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Bob Blair
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 7:03 pm
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| I don't understand why a homophobic reference was necessary Chris. I tend to wear some kind of black loafer or other - good enough shoes to wear with fancier clothes. Nothing with real high heels. I'm really happy with a pair of Merrills I picked up a few weeks ago, and they look good with a jacket and black slacks. I gave up on the cowboy duds a long time ago, and find boots too hot and too cumbersome. |
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Mark Wayne
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 7:13 pm
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Dance shoes, probably found in a specialty store have a very thin sole, around $60. You might want to use them only for playing and then change shoes. I go to http://zappos.com where I found a pair of Tiger tennis shoes that are great for playing steel. Very comfortable, thin sole, and stylish, but a bit expensive, around $80.
They have 100's of styles to choose from.
_________________
Mark Wayne Krutke
****markwayne.biz**** |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 7:25 pm
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The kind that fits up the drummer's butt.
EJL |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 8:49 pm
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What Eric said!
Actually, a pair of cheap moccasins, canvas Topsiders, "old school" Vans (heavy skate shoes now feel a little clunky) or Chucks all work for me, and barefoot (or with socks) works on my chrome-pedal Fender. The one thing I absolutely cannot play in are cowboy boots. How anyone can play with their heel raised up is beyond me...plus I have never found a pair of the things I could stand to wear. Maybe my feet are weird, or maybe it's the thought that they look just a little dorky with baggy shorts and a Yes t-shirt.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 8:57 pm
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Jim,
A pair of pointy toed cowboy boots fit up a drummers butt quite well!
But lately I've found it harder to play in high heeled boots, so I've went to the low heeled, thin soled roper boots, or a nice pair of loafers. I quess it's just what a person is comfortable in! 
Larry
_________________
Carter SD/10, 4&5 Hilton Pedal, Peavey Sessions 400, Peavey Renown 400, Home Grown Eff/Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY" |
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James Cann
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 9:02 pm
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| Quote: |
| . . . they look just a little dorky with baggy shorts and a Yes t-shirt. |
I'd have to agree . . . as would such shorts and shirt look with western boots. . .
With that, any shoe/boot with a firm sole works for me. I can't do a thing if barefoot or in socks. |
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Jody Sanders
From:
Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Nov 2007 9:14 pm
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| I have always played in cowboy boots until recently. I bought a pare of "boot shoes". Cowboy boots without the tops. I have a lot better ankle movement and pedal work is so much easier. I am of the old school and still wear a hat, starched shirt and jeans, and a western tailored jacket when I perform. Jody. |
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Brandon Ordoyne
From:
Needville,Texas USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2007 5:27 am
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Justin Roper Cowboy Boots! and tennis shoes when I am at home. But I have found its not easy to play my push/pull in socks!!
Brandon
_________________
'74 Emmons D10 P/P 8x5,'15 Rittenberry D10 8x5, Peavey Nashville 112, 400 & 1000, Fender Twin Reverb Tone Master, Hilton, Goodrich L120, Boss DD-3 and RV-3 |
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Curt Shoemaker
From:
Ionia, Kansas, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2007 6:30 am
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| The one's from Kansas! "Just being funny". Any flat soled shoe will work for me. |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2007 6:58 am
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| Come on Curt,you'd think someone with the last name Shoemaker would be an authority on the subject. |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 14 Nov 2007 7:32 am
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I played for years in cowboy boots and even got my BMI pedal rods extended so could play in them on that guitar. My steel's usually set up at home so I kept practicing on it in socks or barefooted and I started liking it. I now wear socks at all my gigs, usually white tube type but if it's a higher class gig I have some black ones. I can just wear slip on shoes and kick 'em off right next to my pack seat.
One thing to remember though, at one gig I had to go to the bathroom bad and couldn't hardly wait until break time. At break I went running to the restroom in my sock feet and wound up standing in a pool of some unknown liquid while I did my business. I'll remember that for a long time and won't do it again....JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
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Terry Wood
From:
Lebanon, MO
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Posted 14 Nov 2007 8:47 am
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When I played steel guitar on the Grapebine Opry of TX with International Violinist or Fiddler Shoji Tabuchi he had these real expensive exotic Alligator or Crocodile Cowboy boots. He would be very careful to slip them on just before he jumped out from behind the curtain playing Somewhere My Love or Diggy Diggy Low. 
Funny thing was, he sounded just as good with or without them. I have also heard Buddy Emmons playing in boots and then in his Cross Training Runnin' shoes; likewise he still sounded and looked like the Big E, Mr. Emmons to me.
I think it is just what you want to wear for some playing engagements, unless your doing a concert or show. Call me old fashion, but in my opinion looks has alot to do with showmanship and entertaining a crowd. I also think it has an impact on the band.
The late Country Stars Hank Thompson and Porter Waggoner both always wore show clothes. Hank alone during his career sold over 60 million records. Try to think of others in the past who looked pro, Elvis and alot of other entertainers. I just think musicians ought to look like musicians/professionals, that is on stage or shows.
Terry Wood |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2007 8:54 am
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The choice of foot wear is a little different when playing pedal steel.
It is one thing to look good, it is another to be wearing footwear that allows the ankle movement to STOMP THOSE PEDALS!!! |
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