HipShot bender on a lap/console steel

Louie Warren · From: Sumerduck, VA, USA

Just wondering... has anyone tried this? You would have to modify the HipShot a little (add some palm levers, remove some stuff...)
I was thinking along the lines of emulating the pedals/knee levers of an old Emmons S-10 I had... 3 palm levers... modify the B bender and Drop D to be knee levers... could try it on a 6 string steel or the middle six of an 8... comments? Thanx.

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Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Actually, Hipshot has a lap steel and a Dobro modified on their web site.

I've never seen anybody use one on a lap steel, though.

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A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Louie Warren · From: Sumerduck, VA, USA

Yes, I've used a Trilogy, and have just gotten a new one on eBay, but I am talking about the B-Bender used on Tele's (Will Ray, etc). That way I could use the palm levers, etc. to emulate a pedal steel. Sure it would be simple, but so am I!

Sorry to not be clear before.

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Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Simpler solution:Buy a pedal steel

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Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Mr. Smiley beat me to it. I have a Fender D8 Dual Pro in serious need of rehab after a previous owner drilled holes through the body, the tuner pan and other stuff to, I imagine, rig a pedal or two--from stories I have heard, quite possibly from coat hangers and such. From what I have heard, it wasn't uncommon. And I guess this fellow had no idea of the prices these babies were gonna be fetching on ebay in the 21st century. But I sure wish he had just gone out and bought a pedal steel.
None of this is intended to discourage you or berate you for your idea. Just running at the mouth is all---

Chris Bauer · From: Nashville, TN USA

Seems like if there's a way to mutate a steel guitar, Kevin Maul had heard of it, built it, commissioned it, or played it... Kev, you checking in from the road? I suspect you might have a thing or three to contribute here if you see the thread.

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

There was a guy here in L.A.- a guitar repairman at Nadine's Music named Sammy Sanchez who used to make really super nice 6 string lap steels w/palm pedals on them for around $1300.00.It's like if Paul Reed Smith had made a lap steel(flametop,laquer,binding,inlay,etc).
About 2 weeks ago I saw 2 of them($300 each) in a hockshop on the corner of Santa Monica and Vine.Too bad he never made an 8 string.

Louie Warren · From: Sumerduck, VA, USA

Gentlemen, thanx for the words of "encouragement". Let me explain my situation. I play in a band and I do a little bit of everything. I play a Roland GR-30 synth most of the time, but also do guitar, harp, and steel... the steel patches suck on the GR-30. I don't play full time pedal steel because I "hit the highlights" on most songs, I don't have room on stage, and I can't afford to get a good steel. Right now I play my National D8 with an E tuning I came up with (E B E G# B E G# F#) and Bobby Lee's E13. I just wanted to be able to do some of the string bending to emulate a pedal steel, the attachment of a HipShot seems to be the thing. All the mods would be to the HipShot unit itself... the steel would only require a strap button or screw to hold it on. I know being a "half fast" steel player doesn't hold much weight here, but it serves my purpose. Thanx for the input.

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K Maul · From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL

Yes I have put palm pedals on some things.Put a modified hipshot(had to rebend the mounting plate so it fit)ona Supro six.It has two levers on an E tuning and I get some nice Clarence White type licks from it.I have put a Hipshot with two levers and two of the detuner flip things on an 8 string dobro in E9/B6.The two detuners on the Es-Eb.That worked well.
I have used Bigsby palm pedals on electric guitars made into lap steels with good results.I actually liked the feel of the Bigsby a little better.

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Pete Grant · From: Auburn, CA, USA

I had a Hipshot on my Melobar (not the lap version). I originally rasied my 5th of the chord to a 6, but it was awkward to hold down the lever when I wanted it to stay a 6 for a while, so I put the changer finger thing on upside down and lowered one of my roots to a 7. This worked OK, but it was more fun to just do slant bars and behind-the-bar pulls, so I stopped using it.

Louie Warren · From: Sumerduck, VA, USA

I've looked at a Bigsby Palm Pedal and that may do what I want. I could also play with the HipShot... as for slants and pull offs... I'm retarded when it comes to that and never quite get it. I have tried some of the stuff I want to do with my Johnson Tele and the HipShot and it seemed to have promise. Thanx for all the responses.

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Mike Auldridge · From: Silver Spring, MD, R.I.P.

I put two Bigsby palm pedals on a dobro about 20 years ago and found it pretty (no, completely)impossible to pick and work the levers at the same time. Tried it for about two weeks and went out and bought a pedal steel.

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Louie Warren · From: Sumerduck, VA, USA

Just more proof that I am just a pseudo-steel player! Winking

Going from guitar to steel to whatever, I found that finger picks slowed me down and most of my steel playing is flat picking... (I know... blasphemy!) Basically, I just want to get my steel playing a little closer to the flavor of the lick. I'm not that concerned with doing things note for note. I don't have room on stage for a steel... my floor rig is crowded enough with things for synth and guitar... having a steel standing on legs that have a very small foot print, and then adding "hand controls" is ideal for my current situation. That way I could do a fiddle solo on the Roland GR-30, then switch to piano patch and do a piano solo, then pick up the bar and do a steel solo. I can't afford the price/size/ floor space of a real pedal steel. As I said, I've done some playing around with my Johnson Tele on my lap and it seems possible... Thanx for all the suggestions.

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Mike Tatro · From: Oregon, USA

Question for you guys who have tried this...

Do any of you guys choke (pull strings behind the bar)?

I'm just wondering what you could do (or not do) with a palm lever that you couldn't do with a choke (I suppose raise heavier strings would be one).

FWIW, my slants still suck but I learned to choke pretty quickly. It's a lot of fun (and a lot easier on steel guitar than it is on Dobro).

I would think that a standard hipshot would be cool for changing tunings if you didn't have as many necks as you wanted. I have no idea what effect it might have on tone. My experience is that the more complicated I get with my rig, the more my tone suffers.

[This message was edited by Mike Tatro on 25 February 2000 at 08:21 AM.]

Pete Grant · From: Auburn, CA, USA

I had a similar experience to Mike, but I already *had* two pedal steels. In 1976 I had 2 palm pedals on my E9 tuning 10-string dobro: 4th string E to F; 5th string B to C#. The almost-workable setup is that I took an old knee lever and extended the lower palm pedal so that it worked like a wrist lever. I didn't have to change my hand positon so much. But, like my experience with the Hipshot on my Melobar, I decided rather than wrestling with the hardware, I'd work on my forward and reverse slants more. It was time well spent.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Louie, Could you get a "loafer" pedal steel. (a single neck on a double neck frame} and put your keyboard on space for the back neck?

Louie Warren · From: Sumerduck, VA, USA

Nope... I have a guitar synth... the problem would be the pedals I have a 33X18 pedal board setup (synth, volume, expression, etc) and really have no place to set it on stage. I need something on legs that has the small foot print; similar to an old Rickenbacker console I had.

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Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

I don't think gadgets are the answer.Most all the non-pedal players and even just guitar players I've heard who sounded the MOST like a pedal steel-did it by WHAT they played,not HOW they played it.I'm talking about voicings and phrasing mostly.I saw a guy in a beer joint on Broadway in Nashville in the early 70s who played a Gibson 335 w/flatpick and fingers-no bender gadget and not even much finger bending and he could sound JUST like a guy comping and soloing C6 OR E9 pedal steel.His only gadget: a volume pedal and a knowledge of steel voicings-and not just the obvious A-B pedal moves but the subtle inside stuff.And a big part of the sound: you GOTTA use fingers-you can't strum it,you gotta pluck it. -MJ-

Boomer · From: Brentwood, TN USA

Back in the early seventies I took my device (later to become the Bigsby Palm Pedal) to Jim Messina (of Loggins & Messina) and installed a four palm pedal unit on his dobro, and a similar device on his lap steel. He seemed to like it pretty well, but I haven't been in touch with him to see how he's doing with it. Best, Boomer

Boomer · From: Brentwood, TN USA

As a script to my last post re: installing palm pedals on Jim Messina's dobro and lap steel, as I remember I had to mount the four palm pedal unit on a 1/2 inch block of wood behind the resonator in order for the pedals to be comfortably operational with enough room between the pedals and bridge when activated. As far as installation of the pedals on the lap steel, major work had to be done on the heel of the pedal unit, as it was too long to fit behind the bridge of the lap steel. I had to cut about 1 1/2 inches off of the back of the heel. Subsequently re-drilling two extra holes in the heel was necessary in anchoring the newly shaped unit. Best, Boomer

Chris DeBarge · From: Boston, Mass

What happened to the guy who had a Rube-Goldberg device that attached to the tuning pegs and had a cable going to a floor pedal? He was on to something and if I remember correctly it was not too intrusive to the instrument. If he ever got that working, that might suit you.

db · From: Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA

check out:
www.geocities.com/dbalde.geo/dbalde.html
Seven string Pedal-Slide guitar.
W/ A, B, C & F lever functions

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

I remember Alvino Rey in the late 30's put a couple of wires down the right side of his Gibson console Grand D8, hook to a couple of spoons. He had the wires directly hooked up to lika a violin "E tuner" used on violins. This pulled the string and changed the pitch. He was way ahead of his time. He got as many good useful chords out of that D8 that you can get with a 3 pedal guitar now.

Emi6th,E6th,C#mi7,E7,E9,A7,A9,Bmi6,3note Diminished,E maj,Most of these are full chords, with a straight bar.Most of them without any pitch changer.He is 93 yrs of age now and living in Utah with his daughter, and still recording, Get on his web site.....al

Joe Delaronde · From: Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada

What you need is the Linkon Lap Pedal steel.
It's a lap steel with pedals and knees. Sits on your lap and isn't in the way when you are doing your thing on lead or keyboards.
It has a double raise, double lower system.
Comes in 2 models, S10 (3x2) with regular tuning keys, and S10 (3x4) with 2 wrist levers and keyless tuners.
The keyboard/lead player for the Kentucky Hurricane Duo, of Louisville, Kentucky, plays one of these devices left handed. For more info call the Linkon Guitar Company 204-895-0115.
This instrument will be played at the Mid Canada Steel Show on April 20, 21, at the Howard Johnson, 1740 Ellice Ave., Winnipeg, MB. Canada. For more info call Wayne at the above number.
Joe

Greg Simmons · From: where the buffalo (used to) roam AND the Mojave

here's a photo of Art Alyea playing the Linkon at the Winnipeg Show last year.

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Greg Simmons
Custodian of the Official Sho~Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Website
shobud.cjb.net

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