Did an interesting search on Craigslist today...

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

For no good reason really... Just bored.
I did a search on one of the CL national search engines..Type in whatever you are looking for, and you get a national list of all CL cities across the country.. I typed in "pedal steel".. There were few steels for sale here and there, not many, but thats not what i was looking for..

I was looking for demand for players.

There were dozens upon dozens of pedal steel players looking for bands to play with... Interestingly, I do not recall even one band that was looking for a steel player on CL anywhere... I suppose I might have missed something, but I don't think so.

wow,my eyes were opened.. I used to do that sort of thing several years ago, and there would be dozens of bands/singers/sonwriters looking for steel players to join them or at least do some studio work for them. Not this time. Times have really changed for pedal steel guys, at least from what I have seen... bob
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!

no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Search this way:

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Larry Welter · From: Wisconsin, USA

hi jack,,,,,i seen this to,,,,i thought it was home made,,,i think it was on ebay and may have stated that in ad,,,,sure is thick,,
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a few guitars,(Rickenbacker /610/ 40,s lap steel, 2007 emmons legrande,student Gs emmons,,,nashville 112
....,peavey classic 30 ,Nashville 400,,a few effect pedals,,everything except talent,(everyone wants to go to heaven,but no one wants to die to get there,) "steven jobs"?

Rick Campbell · From: Sneedville, TN, USA

I'm not surprised. It just confirms what I've thought for a long time....... there's more steel players than there is music for them to play. I think the steel guitar will pretty much become extinct with the generation that is being born currently.

RC

Ben Edmonds · From: Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA

Things ebb and flow. There will always be people who hear it and want to play it and those who hear it and have to have it. Though I have not heard one played well by these kids, the banjo is in many 20 something hands. Also the uke- who would've thought that would make the resurgence it has?
Know what sounds good with the uke? Steel guitar.
I agree that few will make a living though but that is true across the board for musicians these days.
Not trying to contradict because it is a fact that there are few gigs but extinction? I doubt that

Barry Blackwood · Posted 1 Jan 2016 10:40 am

Well, in all fairness, Rick said pretty much extinct. Point being the current situation does not bode well for steel guitar players.. Oh Well

Dustin Kleingartner · From: Saint Paul MN, USA

I think you can always find bands to play with... they may just not play good shows often or pay anything, but that's not always the point. I think that people just looking to have a band to play tunes with once a week will always be able to find others with similar aspirations.
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Proud parent of a good dog.

Ben Edmonds · From: Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA

No disrespect intended. I agree that times are tough. Just look at the gigs section of the forum where there used to be a decent amount of activity, now it seems pretty quiet and has been for some time. I just think people will want to play and some may even listen!

Rich Upright · From: Florida, USA

I was playing 4 nights a week; now it is down to 3nights doing 2 separate house gigs. This is very rare & prolly will never happen again, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

I think the biggest reason people don't go out anymore is not just DUI & Karaoke, but because there is just too much entertainment at home. Case in point: I am home on a Friday night.

Another reason is at least here in Florida, there are very few bands that are any good & worth going out to see. And, I'm getting SO tired of hearing Skynnyrd & Bob Seger covers!

I agree with the poster that said steel is becoming extinct. My guess is that in 5-10 years, there will be no more steel guitar being used onstage. Another couple years & no more live music. People's taste in music, ESPECIALLY country, has gone into the toilet. Rap is proof of that!
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A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag.

Larry Welter · From: Wisconsin, USA

rich,,i think you nailed it,,,so maybe changing of the guards musically,,also since mtv,,,performers (including new country)I think are more concerned , with the video they put out than the actual song it represents,,
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a few guitars,(Rickenbacker /610/ 40,s lap steel, 2007 emmons legrande,student Gs emmons,,,nashville 112
....,peavey classic 30 ,Nashville 400,,a few effect pedals,,everything except talent,(everyone wants to go to heaven,but no one wants to die to get there,) "steven jobs"?

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Live music is dying in general,, Young people are just not that interested in it. Not the way they were in the 60's and 70's anyway.. Its across all genre's as well. Rock guys, blues, jazz.. everyone is crying about the massive lack of support and general indifference in live venues.. Hence, the "venues" are dying, and dying fast. Some areas are still ok, [texas], others are dead and not likely to come back anytime soon[ny/nj]. bob
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!

no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Rick Abbott · From: Indiana, USA

Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I see a trend in my area that seems to bode well for side-men. There is a growing interest in live acoustic, singer/songwriter, type music. LOTS of gigs in small clubs and winery and breweries and Farmer's Markets. I know a few folks who actually quit their day jobs because the money was better playing music. In time I think this will open the way for more small bands. I'm getting ready to ask a percussionist (not a loud drummer) and a multi-instrumentalist to join me in a 3-piece. Yep, he plays dobro and lap steel. I got an offer two weeks ago to join a band as a steel player, but it's too far away. Music is changing, hell, the whole world is, things will settle into something. Steel will survive, it just will have a different voice and place in the new world.
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Just out of curiosity, I did a search in the Guitar Center store, online. There were 53 accordions listed, hundreds of banjos and ukeleles, but no pedal steels. Oh Well

Rick Abbott · From: Indiana, USA

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

People are getting used to hearing clear digitally reproduced sound. When the drums are too loud, the bass is muddy and the guitar player is over playing it is a less desirable product. But the main change is with entertainment available at home and drinking and driving laws coupled with economic cinching of the belt.

Mike Kowalik · From: San Antonio,Texas

Well said Ken....
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Cremation is my last shot at having a hot body......

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

Hang in there, I am starting to see bro country backlash.. requests for George Strait and Randy Travis, and others..

If you can't play anything but old school, then it's tough to find a gig.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=180335382319946

and then there are bands like this ..

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I enjoyed the 3-minor chord. Smile

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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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Barry Blackwood · Posted 8 Jan 2016 9:54 am

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

Roger,
What an ear you have!! You picked out that 3m right away.

It's his fault all the great old steels cost $10,000 !

Jeffrey Smith · From: Harvest, Alabama, USA

I remember when I was young, and just playing rhythm guitar in a country band had a "wow, you're in the band?!?!?" reaction. It was kind of a big deal. I know being older is part of the difference, but I have played with younger players, and they don't get the accolades we used to get either. SO MANY people tinker with music now... it seems that there's a guitar player in every family. This isn't a bad thing, but it contributes to the "being in a band is no big deal" attitude that people have. That's my opinion, anyhow. And shows like Idol have created an expectation in the audience -- the expectation of sheer excellence. It's just tough now. If I get the gig I'm chasing now, I will have my steel paid for in only 175 weeks. Cool

The only reason to do it now is because you love it, I guess.

Jeff

Garry Vanderlinde · From: CA

I've heard it said somewhere recently that Nashville needs more pedal steel players like Las Vegas needs more hookers... Sad

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Back then,,,,, I used to play house band gigs in Cleveland and Akron. 5/6 days a week. 6 hours a night. A couple clubs had music 365. That's gone! But back then, bands seemed to know all the local steel players. You didn't have to advertise that you were looking for a gig. Well,,,, unless you were lousy. When I left my longtime band, I had other bands calling me for two months before the word spread that I'd retired.
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Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps

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