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Topic: Erecting and breaking down your steel |
Landon Johnson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 7:48 am |
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OK, so here is an offbeat question - when you are getting ready to gig, how do you get your steel from the upside down position to the playing position? What do you grab and where?
I am always nervous about putting too much of a sideload on the legs as the threads on my guitar are already a bit loose.
I've had hernia surgery, so picking it up from the floor is not an option. I have to be careful.
How do you folks gig and ungig your steel? |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 8:21 am
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With the guitar assembled and upside down in the case (preferably on a table or other elevated surface):
I grab the right front and left rear legs near the end plates and lift the guitar up and out of the case. Then I step back and let the guitar rotate gently outward with the front apron & strings resting against my belly and thighs.
The front leg tips hit the ground first followed by the back ones. The main thing is to keep the guitar close in to the body and allow its weight to rotate itself once it has cleared the case. I'm using minimal strength - just enough to control the rotation.
This puts the least amount of strain (torque) on the back & arms. |
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Landon Johnson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 8:24 am
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| The issue I have is that some of the dives I play in have no chair or table - or room! A lot of times I have to put it together on the floor. More motivation to get better so I can get a 'roadie' LOL |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 8:31 am
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Here is a video:
Click Here
He has lots of informative videos.
_________________
Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande
There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.
Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 8:43 am
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Why not just ask for help? It takes all of 5 seconds to do the flip. If you explain it to your band mate like you did here, there shouldn’t be a problem. Especially if there was a complimentary beer involved.  |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 9:39 am
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I've always set my case on the floor and lift it out by the right front and left rear legs as previously noted.
Been doing this since I started playing Pedal steel in late 1969. I wish I had the proverbial "nickel" for every time I've done it. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 10:07 am
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If you have the Winnie Winston book, there's a few photos of a guy donning very stylish '70s duds demonstrating the proper technique, along with a couple paragraphs of explanation.
And if you don't have the Winnie Winston book, you might consider getting ahold of one. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 10:39 am
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My method is the same as the one demonstrated in Winnie's book by the chap in the scary clothes.
I did go through a period, post hernia-surgery, when I'd grab one end and ask for help with the other end. It's amazing how much less-intuitive the move becomes with a second human being involved.
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 11:06 am
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I too had a hernia surgery awhile back, but irregardless I always set the case up on on my seat when I'm assembling my steel. Then at least I don't have to bend over so far to pick it up... which kills my back. Asking for help is never beyond me though... Lord knows how many keyboard players I've helped over the years.  |
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Mike Beley
From:
Alberta, Canada
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 1:28 pm
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My guitar is very heavy so I usually call my wife to get her to pack it up for me....
...then after a few minutes of waiting, I do it myself. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 1:35 pm
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| Same method as Jack...on the floor. It may not seem so, but it's actually easier for me on the floor than higher up on chairs, speakers,...whatever. Don't have to lift it so high that way. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 2:09 pm
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What Rick said!!
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 2:59 pm
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proper attire is very important for an effective steel erection
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 4:04 pm
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I do it like the video. But sometimes (when my back is giving me fits) I stoop down and rest my elbows on my knees while picking up the guitar, and this makes it a little easier on the back...especially when you have a heavy guitar.
And while we're on the subject...
Note the fumbling/wiggling the guy in the video does when he's trying to get the angle right to start screwing in some of the legs.  (I've done it myself countless times, too.)
This "fiddling/lining up and getting the angle right so the threads will start right" could be all but eliminated if more manufacturers would simply recess the threads like Fender did. On the Fenders, the threads are down in a counterbore that's about 2" deep. Therefore the legs just plop in the holes, bottom out, and then you tighten them up! Believe me, it really simplifies this operation. But most other manufacturers haven't been smart enough to adopt it, and they continue to just go on making the threads start near the bottom edge of the endplate.
Sorry builders, that's just not the best way to do it.
~ |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2018 6:36 pm
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I don’t carry my steel in a case but when I do, it’s just a simple thing to get one of your band buddies or even a waitress, lol, to help you set it out. Much easier for two people.
_________________
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Paul Wade
From:
mundelein,ill
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Posted 6 Jul 2018 3:58 am
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| Mike Beley wrote: |
My guitar is very heavy so I usually call my wife to get her to pack it up for me....
...then after a few minutes of waiting, I do it myself. |
my wife just stares at me and say's "really "  |
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Steve Hitsman
From:
Waterloo, IL
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Posted 6 Jul 2018 5:30 am
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| Don Curtis clued me to setting the case on my pack seat... seems the obvious thing to do, right? |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 6 Jul 2018 6:26 am
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| Steve Hitsman wrote: |
| Don Curtis clued me to setting the case on my pack seat... seems the obvious thing to do, right? |
Unless you have a seat with a back.
_________________
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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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 6 Jul 2018 9:58 am
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I’ve always done and demonstrated uncasing/casing as above, except using left front and right rear legs. Must be the Day method...
_________________
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
www.musicfarmstudio.com |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 6 Jul 2018 10:58 am
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| Mark van Allen wrote: |
| I’ve always done and demonstrated uncasing/casing as above, except using left front and right rear legs. Must be the Day method... |
You might be on to something there. I'm a Day player, and I grab the left front and right rear legs.
_________________
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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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 8 Jul 2018 10:04 am
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First step - Get the lightest single neck keyless guitar you can find. No false back neck dead weight "loafers" allowed. Hey live with it. In my case an Excel Superb U-12 with 8+9 which weighs 36 lbs.(40 lbs in its "in town" case, 49 in its flight case) Set up your seat first and assemble your steel with the case on top of your seat. Then follow the aforementioned proscribed steps....
You guys with fully loaded double 12s w/5 extra pounds of Grovers must go ahead and suffer for your art.  |
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Eric Philippsen
From:
Central Florida USA
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Posted 10 Jul 2018 3:30 pm
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| Players do it differently but I dislike kneeling down and setting up with the case on the floor. At most club gigs I place the steel case on any nearby table and assemble it standing up. Where the job is not in a club I’ll often do the balancing trick by putting the case on my seat. But I’m nervous about that because it’s a bit of a balancing trick. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 13 Jul 2018 12:37 am
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I used to play in a band with a guy who would try and surprise me by setting my steel up before I showed up.Not one time was anything correct especially wrong rods hooked up to the wrong pedals,I realize that he was trying to help but it turned out to be something that I would rather do myself and not have any help with...I didn't know wing nuts could be tightened that much.
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Bill Terry
From:
Bastrop, TX
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Posted 13 Jul 2018 5:28 am
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| Eric wrote: |
I’ll often do the balancing trick by putting the case on my seat. But I’m nervous about that because it’s a bit of a balancing trick.
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My routine is set up the pack-seat first, and in my situation I have an amp that's roughly the same height as the seat when on the floor, so I put the amp about 18" or so behind the seat and straddle the case between the two. That keeps me from having to dead lift it off the floor. I also use the 'one front leg, one back leg and rotate' method.
Then there are those guys that haul their steel around already setup..  Nothing like fighting your way through a bunch folks holding a completely assembled steel guitar. |
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Clyde Mattocks
From:
Kinston, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 14 Jul 2018 5:55 pm
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I identify with Stu's post. There must be something about putting a steel together that is irresistable to a non steeler. Also the well meaning people who want to help you unload. I only have four pieces to unload, but while my back is turned, they'll take every piece out of the back of my van, including the spare tire into the building.
_________________
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro |
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