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Topic: Stage mat? |
Rick Myrland
From:
New Orleans
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Posted 27 Jul 2014 8:09 pm |
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Saturday night we had an outdoor gig that turned out to be on a concrete surface. Does anyone carry a large piece of thin carpet or door mat to set their steel on in such occasions? Our drummer had one and until now I had not really thought of it. I don't mind the wood floor of a stage, but it just seemed odd to be right on concrete. And, while it may sound odd, I felt a mat would have "defined my space" amongst the band--does that resonate with anyone else?
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Mullen G2; Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb; Goodrich L-120 |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 27 Jul 2014 8:29 pm
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I don't bother with it. I just set up on the concrete, asphalt, floor, packed dirt, et c.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Edward Rhea
From:
Medford Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 27 Jul 2014 9:46 pm defining personal space on stage
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Rick, I think it's a great idea...if you're willing to carry another accessory. I think a "taser" would also work, not to mention, it would fit in your pac-a-seat 
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“TONESNOB†|
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Steve Collins
From:
Alaska, USA
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Posted 27 Jul 2014 11:41 pm
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| Just remember to keep your shoes on when playing on concrete and everything will be fine. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 28 Jul 2014 8:57 am
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Like Lane, I don't bother with it either. But, if I show up to a gig and it's dirt, I won't play. First, it's hard to adjust your guitar so it doesn't rock. Second, I don't want dirt to make it's way into the undercarriage/changer. I won't play on grass either (the kind that makes lawns or the type you smoke  ). I make it a point to ask the band leader what kind of surface we are going to play on, or have them find out. I used to have a 3/4" thick piece of plywood I could take if I knew ahead of time.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 28 Jul 2014 10:07 am
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I don't have any problems with concrete surface.
I've played a lot of gigs on bare surfaces including the concrete. |
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Bill L. Wilson
From:
Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2014 10:35 am The Surface.
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| I've been carrying two pieces of 3/8" plywood, anytime I play outside. It works great for decks, concrete, dirt, grass, or any uneven surface. It's a whole lot easier on the Pac-A-Seat legs to slide back from the steel, to grab my guitar for different songs. |
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Don Drummer
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2014 2:21 pm
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| I use a dark green thin rug when needed. Get them at W-Mart. Many sizes to choose from. |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 29 Jul 2014 4:28 pm
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| I don't care to play on grass. Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth, hope for the best and wait for the gig to end. |
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Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Jul 2014 4:38 pm
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been there done that - I didn’t carry a mat
but one time it was a dusty dirty gravel area
and the guitar keep getting deeper into it -
- I grabbed the floor mats from the car -
they were the flat kind ,that saved the day . |
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Terry Sneed
From:
Arkansas,
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Posted 29 Jul 2014 4:45 pm mat
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Yep, I carry a mat just big enough for my steel to set on when playing on hardwood floors. Been carrying one since my boots started slipping when playing on hardwood.
terry |
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Ronnie Boettcher
From:
Brunswick Ohio, USA
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Posted 29 Jul 2014 5:45 pm
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If the concrete is inside, I do not have a problem. But anything outside, I won't take it out of the case, unless it is inside a tent, or a roof covered building. I will not subject my Sho~Bud, to any sunlight. Don't need the the pretty green color to fade.
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Sho-Bud LDG, Martin D28, Ome trilogy 5 string banjo, Ibanez 4-string bass, dobro, fiddle, and a tubal cain. Life Member of AFM local 142 |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 30 Jul 2014 12:19 pm
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| Bob Hickish wrote: |
been there done that - I didn’t carry a mat
but one time it was a dusty dirty gravel area
and the guitar keep getting deeper into it -
- I grabbed the floor mats from the car -
they were the flat kind ,that saved the day . |
That's a good idea, I'll have to remember that one. I have used ashtrays under my legs before, but they're harder to find at venues these days. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 30 Jul 2014 4:59 pm
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My family reunion features picking on the lawn, and most of us prefer my steel to my Dobro. After this last one, with a damp June, I think I'll bring a sheet of plywood for the seat. The Zum dealt well with the terrain, but my seat drilled holes after a few minutes. Perhaps I need to lose some pounds....
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 30 Jul 2014 5:25 pm
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| I just recently played a gig outdoors and had to set up on the grass. I took all the floor mats from the car and placed them under the steel and my seat. It kind of helped, but, it was still awkward to play on. At least I didn't get shocked on the rubber mats. Plywood would have been better, but, there was none available. |
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Mack Quinney
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2014 10:40 am
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I play once a month at a cowboy church which is housed in a tent. The floor is pea gravel. The legs of the steel will move, sink and travel a lot in the gravel. Next thing you know you're sitting and playing all catawampus. The other little annoyance is that the gravel will build up under the pedals and you can't push them all the way down.
I built a little folding stage out of 5/8 ply and 2X2s and some cabinet hinges. It works great until you try to move it.... They have a trailer that stays at the site, so I just stash it in the trailer after I'm done with service.
It's not something I would take with me, but for this application it's a must. Down side is....the guitar player keeps wanting to share my stage!
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76 Emmons Push Pull, Williams 600, ShoBud Pro I, MSA Classic, Remington SteelMaster dbl 8, MSA Super Slide dbl 8, Gold Tone 6, And other instruments and equipment I can't afford. |
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Larry Dahl
From:
Melbourne, FL USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2014 8:52 am
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If you do these kind of outdoor gigs on a regular basis, and own one of those small, say 4x6 open trailers, you could tow that to the gig and use it as a steel stage. Could rig up a roll out roof on it. Those trailer dollies could get it to the stage area.
Just remember, black trailers will give a better tone. |
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Rick Myrland
From:
New Orleans
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Posted 3 Aug 2014 7:36 am
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Update: Played a different venue Friday night on a plywood stage, so better than concrete. No knowing, I took with me a black 3x4 indoor/outdoor ribbed doormat and decided to use it even though we weren't on concrete. I loved it, and will not leave home without it from now on. Using the ribbed mat felt more comfortable and avoided having to use any shims (which I always carry 4 of in my seat) for slight adjustments to ensure I'm level; the mat is just thick enough to make up for any floor inconsistencies. And, as a side note, I was able to stake my turf on the stage right after the drummer laid down his drum mat! 
_________________
Mullen G2; Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb; Goodrich L-120 |
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Tim Herbert
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 3 Aug 2014 2:49 pm
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Hi Rick! Private message sent.
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Tim Herbert - Wisconsin |
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Craig Schwartz
From:
McHenry IL
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Posted 5 Aug 2014 5:05 am
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Heres my stage mat for roads and backyard parties, Its a 20# piece of 3/4 " x 3' x 4'plyywood with outdoor carpet , I would be angry & fatigued without it. The 3/4 doesnt bend at all, Ive even had to level it with 2x4`s when playing down hill, its been rained on, left outside, beer spilled on it, left near porta potties cause thats usually wear they put the band, nobody seems to want to steel it, & fits in the back of my car under everything.
The pic is kinda colorful, Chiks like it.
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SO MANY LURES, SO LITTLE TIME.... |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 5 Aug 2014 5:29 am mat
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I picked up a rubber mat from HomDepot for $19.95, it's about 4x5. I roll it up for storage and takes up very little space. When I take it with me for a gig, I lay it flat in the back of my RAV4 and put every thing on top.
Geo |
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