Does Diversification Nullify Uniqueness?

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Will the steel guitar become an object of uniqueness, as forum commentary implies? How so, in view of the diverse pedal and knee lever changes which are widespread and are experimental at best. The original Jimmy Day, and Buddy Emmons arrangements are still in use, with the exception of add ons which amount to nothing more than teasing a particular string up or down beyond an original setup. I think from recall that Paul Franklin was one of the first players to risk breakage of the first string of the ninth tuning. I can't recall the title of the song that projected its usefullness so well. I think it was recorded by Alan Jackson. At that particular time, I was in a band called "Steel Breeze". I have a feeling that the term "unique", will forever elude the overstated entitlement of the steel guitar. Pursuing trivial matters, such as Day or Emmons setups may circumvent the musical blockages leading to uniqueness.

Jack Dougherty · From: Spring Hill, Florida, USA

Bill....

Short answer.. No
Yes the steel has changed but the uniqueness of the instrument has not. As well as the players. Changes in pedal and lever setup has not altered or detracted from the amount of motor skills needed to extract the tonal qualities we are all striving to attain. Unique.......you bet!! Very Happy

JD

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Jack D.,

Very few things on earth offer the genuineness that sets them apart from all others. Establishing that uniqueness is one of a kind, places the steel guitar in a category of indefinable mechanical devices, certainly not unique. The one of a kind just doesn't fit the instrument. The multiples of unique features contribute to the unstable terminology. If a builder doped out the smallest details of P. Franklin's Jr's steel guitar, and proceeded to set about copying the planned assembly, the action would result in producing an instrument with manmade materials. That alone
easily rules uniqueness. Multiples of similar disparities, such as one sounds better than the other, rules out unique features, one by one. Writers who grab for the uniqueness term in phraseology, oftentimes will go one step further, by classifying unique as "very unique". The expression isn't limited to 12th grade levels of speakers. I hear those improper words uttered at the highest levels of keynote speeches. In other words it isn't necessary to place very before something claimed to be unique. I think a person may accurately describe a steel guitar by stating that many of its working parts are unique, nothing more, and nothing less.

Jack Dougherty · From: Spring Hill, Florida, USA

Bill..

Then let us agree that in terms of "unique" the steel from a mechanical perspective is very different then lets say a violin or flute. One may make a case for the pipe organ in Radio City but as for the steel, well..... still very different.
If your use of the word "unique" gives pause to your description of the steel then perhaps another phrase should be used......like challenging or a handfull of fits or trying to herd cats.

JD

Bo Legg · Posted 7 Mar 2008 2:36 pm

A PSG may be one of uniqueness in the musical realm but relate to mechanical devises it is not too dissimilar to a commercial crane with its pedals and levers except the crane takes a lot less time to learn and pays a lot more to operate. Much to my dismay all too often the crane sounds better.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Jack D.,

Unique is one of the most frequently spoken words that salespersons, inexperienced sellers of used merchandise, sellers performing perfunctory duties, (antique shop attendees), etc., use to promote sales. "Secrets" of how an advanced player develops "impossible" setups, or musical arrangements, needs to be addressed categorically as well. Digging a little deeper, by exercising the will to learn, may produce surprising results, by moving up to a level of interpretaion, needed to resolve the "mysteries" of upper level performances. This plain of indulgence entertained by upper level performers, has attracted numerous mediocre players to the apparent divergence, that amounts to a form of condescending. One of the most rewarding features on this forum, is to look for commentary from all levels of expertise. Their willingness to create a bond, and incentives among hopeful enthusiasts, would be a welcome change.

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

tone is in the fingers

Jack Dougherty · From: Spring Hill, Florida, USA

Bill

Once again.....this is your post on using the word unique. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I have been insulted. If your looking for a higher class of membership to respond then I apologize for the intrusion and will move on. Good luck.

JD
PS: As an after thought, I see you never respond to any other threads but your own. You must be a surfer and not a deep water adventurer.

Theresa Galbraith · From: Goodlettsville,Tn. USA

Don Poland · From: Hanover, PA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unique

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Jack,

My intent is to engage in conversing among friends. I refuse to get involved by going on the offensive.

Jack Dougherty · From: Spring Hill, Florida, USA

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

Brad Malone · From: Pennsylvania, USA

Bo, if you were a crane crew boss, would you hire Steel players?

Steve Hinson · From: Hendersonville Tn USA

...the word"profunctory" is not found in the dictionary...what else you got,Bill?
_________________
http://www.myspace.com/stevehinsonnashville

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I assume from the context it is a misspelled perfunctory

per·func·to·ry /pərˈfʌŋktəri/ –adjective

1. performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial: perfunctory courtesy.

2. lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic: In his lectures he reveals himself to be merely a perfunctory speaker.

I think when most people say "unique", they mean it similarly to the mathematical sense - as having essential properties that are different from all others, or belonging to a class that is different from all others.

I agree with Jack's first short answer: no. But I have a longer answer also.

I do not believe that diversification of mechanical setups nullifies the uniqueness of the instrument. In fact, that opens up the steel itself to unique subclasses - the subclasses of steels with particular mechanical setups. For example a particular E9 setup vs. a particular C6 setup.

To take this even further, I don't think that diversification of playing styles or tonalities on steel guitar nullifies the uniqueness of the instrument. I don't think anything else really sounds quite like a steel guitar. Oh, I suppose bottleneck slide and a slippin' and slidin' style of steel playing are sometimes pretty similar. But as far as getting a significantly different instrument to really sound like a steel guitar, I don't think so. Even a standard guitar with stringbender(s) sounds, to me, like a guitar - great, but not like a steel guitar.

I don't think steel players should be afraid to diversify at any level out of fear that their unique place in the musical world will disappear.

To me, what diversification of steel guitar features does nullify is its homogeneity. This gives unique subclasses of steel guitars. In order to associate different types of steel guitars, one would use what is described in mathematics as an equivalence class. Such an equivalence class would associate together different types of steel guitars based on the features common to all steel guitars.

Of course, that's the way I look at it. I also have no idea whether or not I'm answering your real question, Bill.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Dave,

Unique is the blade or phillip's screwdrivers' portentous exemplification of leverages. The laws of leverages and electromagnetisms dwarf the best efforts of man to exceed their usabilities. Items that possess saleabilities, reach unique entitlements by anxious salespeople just moments into the business of selling. I wonder if Albert Einstein would have approached uniqueness in a captious manner, or would he have moved quickly; using symbols and numbers to verify its intended meaning, although I suspect even he would experience different degrees of perplexities in a workup. As for occasionally misspelled words, the exact causes may never be known; although there is a lingering suspicion that common distractions may contribute to their occurances. I'll be exploring the plausibility of referring to a steel guitar in a unique sense; throughout the day. You could easily wear out the term by stating that every man, woman, or child become unique; simply because they chew differently.

Bob Farlow · From: Marietta,GA,

What IS unique?

Players -- YES

Guitars -- Definitely NOT

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

I picked up on the dropping of the (E) in "usability". It's catchy because the (E) is held in useable; a varient of usable. Dropping letters, paying close attention to suffixes of words, requires constant vigilance in the avoidance of misspelled words. In mechanical terms, it's the "nuts and bolts" of communication.

Bill Mayville · From: Las Vegas Nevada * R.I.P.

A user of big words can make some sick.
The most unimportant topic is usally spoken by a user of big words.
Most do not try to draw attention to themselves by
using big words.
Most do not enter a conversation with big words.
They are smart enough not to say a word.
Personally ,I just love to hear the fellows who post alot,also play.Big notes are very nice.Big chords are nice.They all get respect.
The smartest fellow I have run into on this forum,is the most boring fellow to me on the forum.
I skip over your topics Bill,and I really don't mean to.you are probably a nice guy,but God you are boring to me.Come back down a little,play us a tune
or something.I hear you play well.I'd like to hear you.Not to judge you.
It's your turn Bill. Have a good weekend.
Bill
_________________
Bill Mayville
06 Jackson Commemorative ,S 10
Black.For Sale . $18,000 Kidding

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Bill M.,

Skipping over my messages points to adversatively inclined to assume a role bigger than the state of Texas. Whosoever would chance ignoring even the low-keyed squeaks of an ignoramus, prompts me to focus a bit on that particular personage. Whatever possesses a reader to classify a writer, based upon an opposition to accepted word usages, is not easily understood. A conciliatory attitude can do wonders for a whipped fellow, who habitually contests absurdities related to steel guitars.

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Large voiced chords, than can pitch morph into
other complimentary chords without refingering
or dropping common tones makes the pedal steel totally unique.

Fiddles can at best do 2 notes moving
with an open string ringing.But really can't
play more than 2 notes at a time and bend them.

Synths move ALL notes at once
Only keyboard players with two keyboards
and a foot control for pitch can do the same.

Only dobros with Hipshots can come close,
and that's really just a pedal steel lever
on an acoustic instrument. Same animal different fur.

So yeah, it will ALWAYS be totally unique.
And it we are inventive, should always find
a home in music.

And when you're finished debating,
come meet my twin daughters
Monique and Unique. Cool

_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.

Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!

Bo Legg · Posted 8 Mar 2008 9:15 am

Brad Malone...

John Steele · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

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