Headin' To The Woodshed

Kerry Reese · From: Louisiana, USA

My first post and I have a short laundry list of questions if anyone should have the patience. I hope to get help from some of the more experienced veterans as well as those that share similar interests with me. I'm a life long career guitarist, making my sole living playing guitar for 35 years now. I've never been to work a single day in my life without a guitar in hand. I once bought a double neck Fender pedal steel as a teenager but couldn't make heads or tails from it. I just bought a double neck (eight pedal) Fender and would like some direction.

I bought the steel with hopes of using it for simple parts while tracking in the studio. Just enough to give the steel vibe for starters. My interests in application for the steel are more rock/country rock oriented (NOT new country). What would be the first instructional tool DVD, etc. you would recommend? I'm a pretty quick learner although realize that my guitar playing will give me little to use with the pedal steel. Also, if anyone would like to recommend a start to outfit me with finger pics and bar I don't even know where to begin.

I basically have a pedal steel and amp so any other accessories that someone would like to recommend as far as preferred or recommended instruction DVD, bar types, picks, strings, tunings, etc., to get me on my way would be appreciated. Even if just a short list of your own personal prefernces and a brief "why". Otherwise, I'm planning on spending lots of time in the woodshed. Thanks in advance.

Paul Wade · From: mundelein,ill

welcome kerry,
first, i would get jeff newman pick's blue thumb
pick's. 2nd would get winnie wiston book and jeff newman d.v.d 's what type of fender do you have?
anyway just my two cents. there is alot guys here
that play fenders and will help out here. this a great place for p.s.g ... also, B.J'S bar's

p.w Very Happy

Kerry Reese · From: Louisiana, USA

Just did a google search and didn't find a vendor for the picks. Where do I get these? Thanks

John Bresler R.I.P. · From: Thornton, Colorado

Kerry:

Go to the top of this web page and click on 'links'. Go to 'vendors & instruction' and then to 'Jeffran Music' (right column). That'll take you to Jeff's web page. Just give Fran a call and she'll take good care of you. All of Jeff's courses are great, too. Jeff's material is all very professional and top notch.

Cool

Kerry Reese · From: Louisiana, USA

Thanks. After spending a couple of hours browsing through old threads I'm learning the Fender may not be my wisest choice for a starter. Due to the nature of the sale arrangement, I do have the option of changing my mind and working out something else to satisfy this particular transaction and seek out another steel elsewhere. The Fender was appealing because my personal player is an old work horse '59 Tele. I'm here to get suggestions to get started as quickly as possible. After reading several threads, it seems my best bet may be a single neck E9 tuned steel. What would be considered the optimum configuration of strings/pedals to play with as a first steel? I really do want to get started as soon as possible and ready to move on it. If anyone with experience wants to stick their neck out with a few specific recommendations, I'm one to shoot from the hip and go for it rather than spending weeks at a time time thinking it over. Any takers?

For anyone here who likes old Fenders, here's my regular player:

Scott Shipley · From: The Ozark Mountains

Kerry, you're right, the Fender is probably not the most user friendly psg to start out on, although my first one was a '57 400. Shoulda never got rid of that one....
You should just send me your Fender, I'll take real good care of it!
Very Happy

Seriously though, there is a Carter starter in the instruments for sale section here, that would be a great guitar to get your feet wet on! $500 if I remember right?
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Scott Shipley · From: The Ozark Mountains

Sorry, I'm losing my mind. I musta seen that Carter somewheres else. Can't find it now.
That tele really needs to come live with me too.
Shocked

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Kerry Reese · From: Louisiana, USA

I found the Carter, thanks. I would still like more recommendations if anyone has them. I plan to put it in my studio as a permanent addition so don't mind getting a basic pro instrument.

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

Kerry, you will save yourself a lot of wasted time if you can get some "in person" guidance, even before you buy a guitar. A couple of lessons at the beginning, will be invaluable. This web page:
http://www.onlinesteelers.com/
lists them by state, maybe you can locate someone near you willing to help out.

IMO, the Carter Starter would be fine, if you buy a used one, you should be able to recoup what you paid for it if you decide to sell. If you keep playing, you will eventually want another guitar, everyone does. The most important thing about a first guitar is that it must function properly. Looks don't matter that much, it needs to operate correctly.

I would also recommend the Jeff Newman finger picks, and if you decide to buy courses, his are excellent.
Good luck.
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Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Kerry,this is just my opinion[only],Get an E9th guitar,if you can afford it a PRO model,I to played guitar about 35 years before playing steel,in my case was easy to switch over,there are so many great courses out,If you can find a teacher that's fine,BUT with a vidio or DVD you have a teacher for as long as you want,anytime you want,You said you just wanted to learn a few licks,When you do you will be wanting to learn MORE AND MORE I bet you.DYKBC.
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Glen Derksen · From: Alberta, Canada

Hi Kerry, I took up the PSG myself after playing 30 years of playing guitar. The book/dvd that I have is The Pedal Steel Guitar Method by Dewitt Scott. It takes you right from the basics...single string playing and using the A and B pedals to more advanced stuff, plus some music theory. I haven't used Jeff Newman's book, but I'm sure it's good ,too. BTW, I love that Tele! I'm a Tele picker myself.

Barry Gaskell · From: Cheshire, UK

Hi Kerry

Cool Tele my friend. The first year of the rosewood necks.
I'll swap you my wife,my dog, my overdraft and my best friends wife for it. What do you think ??? Laughing

Now is the time to buy a steel. Go for a single pro model 3+4 all pull, second hand. Better than a new student. Take someone with you or take advice from someone who knows.
Best of luck.

Now, about this Tele ????
Barry

Ben Hoare · From: NSW Australia

Hi Kerry Im a tele man myself 62 is my favourite.The Fender guitars and psgs dont relate as youve probably gathered from other posts by now.I was very lucky my first psg was a franklin sd10 I found in Ireland of all places for $1750 so Id suggest you check out ebay if your ebay savvy cause you can get a reasonable deal there from time to time if you know where to look.Your in a good place here ask as many questions as you can!!

Don Brown, Sr. · From: New Jersey

Hi Kerry, it sure looks like that "Old Work Horse" has been worked about as hard as I've been. We both look to be in about the same condition.. Very Happy

Get yourself a good 10 string E9th tuning, with 3 pedals, and 4 knee levers, if it's a single neck.

If it's a double 10 you want, then get one with 8 pedals, and 4 knees. That's all a person really ever needs.. Cool

Don

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Hi Kerry,

I am three years into this instrument and share some of your interests.

Since others are steering you in the right direction as to what guitar to get i will just comment on instructional materials for what you said you wanna do (rock and country rock).

I am afraid there is not very much instructional material out there for the beginner wanting to play rock. Joe Wright might offer some, i have no idea how it is or for what skill level. You can search this forum and find some good info. I'd search "Pentatonic minor" and "blues boxes".
If you wanna hear some rock on pedal steel youtube up some Robert Randolph. Dan Tyacks blackened toast album while more blues than rock is another one. Ive been trying to mine some licks from that one for a while now. Often when i hear steel in rock music (Stones, Neil Young, Drive By Truckers), its also played in a country style so ......the beginers country stuff will always yeild good things for you.

Country rock steel playing to my ears sounds ALOT like country steel playing so you can get alot from the vast array of country beginners materials. I found Bruce Boutons dvd very useful and Winnie Winstons book. I think there were a couple of country rock players who wrote books but they are out of print and hard to find. Rusty Young, and did Sneaky Pete write a book also? I'd love to find these myself.

So, I guess my recommendation is to start with the beginners country instructional materials, mainly Bouton and Winston. This will give you a basic grasp of technique, how the instrument is laid out and a few country licks and songs. THEN once you understand the strings, grips, pedals and levers, I'd hit the forums hard and mine some rock info where i could find it.

Others here have FAR more knowledge than myself, but I feel like your interests were close enought to mine for me to chime in with my two cents, hope it helps some.

Jani Peter Sandvik · From: Kolppi Finland

Kerry. Looks like a B3 under the tele
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Brick Spieth · From: San Jose, California, USA

Re:guitars. I am a new player and in the last three months played on a loaner used Carter Starter, which was plenty good enough to prove how hard this would be, a new Stage One ( $950), which was superior to the Starter in every way and really got me hooked, so much so that I sold it and bought a pro EMCI. So....if you are absolutely sure you want to do this and have the dough, get a pro guitar. If you are not sure, get a student guitar, but be aware you are giving up quite a bit of playability. A 3x4 single neck guitar will keep you busy for a very long time.

I have found a Turbo Flip tuner to be a big help.

Unless you have a Twin, you will find the amplification you have for your tele to be lacking, and will want to get a steel specific amp. This is where I am now, but your guitar amps will be plenty good enough to practice through. I find a stomp box eq very valuable.

I'm doing fine with very common Dunlop picks and bar.

Real live lessons are very good if you can find a teacher.

Asa Brosius · Posted 22 Oct 2008 2:20 pm

As a long time guitarist also and a relative newbie to the pedal steel, here are my thoughts:
-Winnie Winston's book is the way to go. I also pick things up quickly, and having been through other books/dvds, I keep coming back to Winnie's. You won't find much in the way of 'rock' there, but those techniques hold in most any context.
-picks and bars are just picks and bars. There are favorites and 'less than favorites,' all terribly personal. Play with all you can.
-play all the guitars you can, and get the best you can (also terribly personal I'm afraid)-a used guitar can generally be sold again for the buying price, starter or pro. I've coveted gorgeous vintage models, but ended up with a recent used GFI for reasons of weight, playability, serviceability and cost. E9 tuning is generally a standard, 10 strings, 3 pedals and 3 to 4 knee levers.
-A well-made volume pedal is essential to my playing and that of many others- I started with a cheapo guitar pedal that did the job for a while, then to a far superior goodrich model when it broke.
-This forum is the place to be-totally invaluable. Get at least a dial-up connection in your 'woodshed.'

Good luck,

Asa

Kerry Reese · From: Louisiana, USA

Some really great answers and just about everything I was hoping to find out. I've seen quite a few used steels available with the recommended features. Lots of manufacturers I've never heard of. I've also seen some of the names, Sho-bud, Emmons, etc., that I'm familiar with but a little older that are in my price range. I'd like to keep it in the $1500 or below range but open to look at anything that may be worth the extra money. Are there any brands you would advise against and would there be any problem with a 20 or 30 year old steel?

Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

Kerry,
When i went into steel after being a telepicker for 10 years at the time, i dident have any instructional material at that time.
I learned where the chord groupings were on the E9 neck and learned to connect them.
I then found the scales by keeping my bar in a near straight line, as the E9th tuning is called 'chromatic' you can basically get any scale in a straight line, with a little devience here and there. I then learned to connect the minor/major 3rd's etc all over the neck, 2 years rolled by quite quickly.
It took me five years and somebody to show me that speedpicking in done with thumb and one finger.

I'd go for A dvd of your choice of style, but i really think the wooden shed is still the best place to get all the basic's down, you already have the knowlege, now you have to apply it.
That said, A good DVD will save the misery i went through, tring to speed pick with 3 fingers and getting fumbled, A great player took me to a side and said; Loose the other finger in single note pickin, the brain is getting confused. That was when i learned that a lot of it is done thumb, and finger of your choice.
There are loads of great pickers on this forum that have instructioal stuff, and its all very awsome, and most of it is free! Smile

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Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Kerry -- go to this site... they can supply you with everything you will need, they are great people and their guitars are excellent value !

http://www.steelguitar.com/

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