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Topic: Pedal Steel... Ugly or Elegant? |
Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 2:35 am |
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When I saw Paul Franklin's steel in "On The Night", I thought it was the most beautiful thing I'd seen.
There is elegance in good industrial design (look at Richard's ZB). Steel evolution is slow, but there's a lot of room to grow.
I look forward to seeing the steels of the future. Hopefully there will be NO BLACK PLASTIC. |
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jim milewski
From:
stowe, vermont
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 3:27 am
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| maybe upswept chrome exhaust pipes would be cool |
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Klaus Caprani
From:
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 3:41 am
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It's my impression that at least the sound is pretty chick-magnetic.
The looks - Well. Apart from some nice woodwork on some guitars it's hard to describe these machines as beatiful, unless you're some kind of a nerd 
I guess we all are in some kind of way. You'll have to be a nerd to accept this learning curve
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Klaus Caprani
MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 4:18 am
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Electric keyboards are actually somewhat similar in appearance, but keys are ubiquitous - so many people have had piano lessons, seen pianos in homes etc. that they seem "normal" and "safe." Guitars are of course phallic, both covertly and more obviously in Chuck Berry's duckwalk and the even lewder variations devised by Hendrix and others. Guitars are also common as dirt, therefore "friendly." Violins, cellos, guitars, coke bottles, curvaceous women, it's also easy enough to see that connection.
In contrast, a steel guitar is both industrial in design and uncommon in function - "Abner, where's that noise coming from?" I can see where one might be marginally more attractive than another by virtue of a nice woodgrain or polish job, but compared to a Corvette, Stratocaster, Angelina Jolie, a shiny saxophone - come on. Steel guitars could certainly be made much more attractive by adding curves and fins to make them look more like a spaceship control console, but it would all add spine-tingling weight too.
I kind of doubt whether sexiness could be added by proxy, either. Robert Randolph does a goofy little dance behind the steel sometimes, but it makes him look more like a frog stuck to a branch than a chick magnet. For sure, if the average old fat steel guitarist started humping his steel guitar onstage he'd be more likely to get arrested than to get laid. |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 4:46 am
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Steels are like babies to me, I have never seen an ugly one. Most of them look different, but not ugly.
"Hillbilly science project", I like that too.
We had a world renowned Gospel choir from Chicago at our church last Sunday. They had opened for Lyle Lovett at the Austin City Limits music festival in Austin on Saturday, and came and sang for us on Sunday.
The band consisted of two keyboard players, a bass player, and a drummer. Before and after church, they gathered around my steel and asked all kinds of questions about how this thing worked. Of course, Robert Randolph's name came up. I was very happy to see musicians of their caliber interested in the steel. They were very complimentary of my sound and the way the steel fit into our contemporary praise and worship music.
Interest in the steel guitar is NOT dead.
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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
[This message was edited by Darvin Willhoite on 30 September 2005 at 05:47 AM.] |
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Jay Fagerlie
From:
Lotus, California, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 5:35 am
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quote"For sure, if the average old fat steel guitarist started humping his steel guitar onstage he'd be more likely to get arrested than to get laid."
david, ROTFLMAO....thanks starting my day off with a good laugh
Jay |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 5:41 am
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Could the inherent ugliness of the instrument be hurting our love life??.
Carlucci: get a life.
Pat.. Sorry this little attempt at humor angered you.. It was not my intention.. Just joking around a bit.. I will try not to anger my friends here again. I was just having a bit of fun.. It was NOT my intention to p%%s anyone off.. my apologies... bob |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 5:46 am
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QUOTE...I kind of doubt whether sexiness could be added by proxy, either. Robert Randolph does a goofy little dance behind the steel sometimes, but it makes him look more like a frog stuck to a branch than a chick magnet. For sure, if the average old fat steel guitarist started humping his steel guitar onstage he'd be more likely to get arrested than to get laid.
David When I read "frog stuck to branch" I started cracking up.. all alone here, laughing like a fool!.. That was GREAT!!... thanks for brightening my day! bob[This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 30 September 2005 at 06:46 AM.] |
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Thomas Bancroft
From:
Matawan, New Jersey, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 7:21 am
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Brought a young lady back to my place after a first date who's eyes lit up in a nasty way when she saw the steel bar I use to play the steel. HMMM!
It was a 7/8" 12 string BJS Bar.
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Mullen D-10, Melobar Rattler, Nashville 1000, Alesis Midiverb, Too Many Guitars! |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 7:25 am
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My red and black V-front Zum looks great on stage, even if it is made out of kitchen cabinet material and machine shop parts. A Sho-Bud with that lacquered wood and those card suit emblems looks really sexy up close. But a steeler is a sort of nerdy artist working in the background, not an upfront showman. That can appeal to some women (believe me), but not others. But I have found women do not like to hear you practice that whiny thing at home.  |
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Ray Riley
From:
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 7:33 am
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I'd kinda like to get a steel like Richards with the Invisible Pedals.
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Sho-Bud S-12 and a brand new N112
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Dave Van Allen
From:
Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 11:16 am
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| Quote: |
| the steel looks like a hillbilly science project.... |
it is exactly that...
[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 30 September 2005 at 12:17 PM.] |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 5:26 pm
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As someone said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I do distinctly remember more than one occasion setting up in a club and patrons seated at nearby tables watching the goings on... getting interested looks when opening the lid of the steel guitar case and exposing the undersides to the observers' eyes, but after finishing screwing in the legs, attaching pedal bar & rods and lifting the old ZB Custom out and standing it up, many people commented "wow, that's beautiful! (oftentimes followed by 'what is it?') "
Same reaction to my old Sho-Buds, and even more than once to my MSA D-10 in black lacquer and gold trim.
I'm sure others may have thought "what's that horrible thing?" and certainly the underside looks like a plumbers nightmare... love the "hillbilly science project" line, that's perfect, ha!
What's not to like about gleaming chrome (or aluminum), polished wood (or nice mica)?
I've never seen any steel I'd call ugly. Heard some pretty ugly sounds come from some though.
[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 30 September 2005 at 06:27 PM.] |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 5:35 pm
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Reminds me when I was 18 at university, and the occassional "stray girl" would ask to come up to my room to 'hear my guitar'.
Of course - like the nerd that I am/was - I thought she actually WANTED to hear me play....Oh cursed hindsight..#$%^& ![This message was edited by Tom Gorr on 30 September 2005 at 06:45 PM.] |
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Travis Bernhardt
From:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 30 Sep 2005 11:05 pm
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I think that the instrument is just part of the whole effect. Some instruments (more than others, I mean) do seem to imbue the person playing them with a certain sexual glamour, though.
This might seem like a frivolous topic, but I think the sort of broader topic of musical instruments and sex appeal is kind of fascinating in an "I'll bet somebody somewhere's written a paper on it" sort of way. I know that when I walk out of the house with the guitar case I feel different than when I don't. I brought my guitar travelling recently and walking around with the airline baggage stickers on the case feels different yet again. In some people I think you can even see how they "work" their guitar case a little, as if it were a fashion accessory.
With the usual disclaimer about subjectivity, I'd say the instrument I most often find entirely unglamorous is the standard electric keyboard. Those fancy vintagey ones have a certain hipster vibe that attaches itself to the player but I think those modern black plastic ones you see at all the shows have the sex appeal of a Radio Shack cordless phone.
And yes, pedal steels where you can see the wood grain tend to be really pretty. With pretty much every pedal steel, though, you've got something to work with. Those plastic keyboards on the other hand...
-Travis |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 1 Oct 2005 2:16 am
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| Those plastic keyboards on the other hand... |
Mine hides in embarassment underneath the workbench in the studio, while guitars sit out showing off their looks.
Black plastic is supposed to indicate a functionality that goes beyond appearance, Yamaha must think; unfortunately, it just looks cheap.
The black Carter across from it, however, tries to say 'I sound better.'
But I really think the steel of the future is going to have to look special.
Early cars were also Hillbilly science projects; but the Deusenberg, with its wood and chrome... look for this as retro styling, the Eames look, even deco, become the steel of the future. |
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Jon Zimmerman
From:
California, USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2005 4:48 am
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As usual, Bob C. hits a topic dear to PSG players--too bad BE does not post here so much any more. Would you call him a 'Hillbilly scientist'? or CC, Lloyd? Those players' stylings/tone are the elegant part ..the UGLY is the learning curve--stretches for miles ahead into swamps and bogs!
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 1 Oct 2005 2:37 pm
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Pedal steels seem to come from the "Shaker" school of design!  Most are beautiful in their own, plain, way. Still, there's been no one to come along and really "dress up" a steel...yet. I've seen some pretty fancy lap steels, but I've yet to see an "art-deco" pedal steel, an "art-nouveau" pedal steel, a "Victorian" pedal steel, or even a "jet-age" pedal steel!
Nope, all in all, they're pretty plain. Some players are astounded by plain ol' stained flat wood with just an inlay strip or two, but that's still pretty "vanilla", as real design goes.
Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of fine craftsmen in the pedal steel world. But sadly...no one's come along yet that you could call a real "artist".  |
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William Steward
From:
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 6:56 pm
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| Donny this thread particularly intriques me as a 'design' guy, since I have always wondered why none of the manufacturers of these things have not made an optional shroud or decorative case which is not part of the functionality of the instrument. You are so right in characterizing this as a 'shaker' or modernist implement....er instrument. Speedy West had the most wonderful front shroud for his guitar which probably just folded up and went in his gear without much fuss. Whether it was to cover up the mess of pedals and related machinery that are of little interest to non-players or screen some of his trade secrets at the time is anybody's guess. I really admire the playing of Billy Phelps with his guitar tipped forward so the audience can see his dexterity (even if they in many cases can't hear it). I have even been considering building a little 'grand piano' shroud for my Roland electric since it looks so ineffectual on stage. Steels could look a lot sleeker with a tiny bit of imagination. For some pix of Speedy's rig... http://perso.wanadoo.fr/rockin.paul/steel_guitar_whizz.htm [This message was edited by William Steward on 02 October 2005 at 08:08 PM.] |
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Tom Quinn
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 7:04 pm
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Personally I think a black Emmons push pull is one of the most beautiful objects on the planet. It has all the right touches that a Harley has --polished aluminum and the right color, plus it has a general minimalist sense of design.
Most digital keyboards are plastic junky looking things. Teles and Strats are cool and so are Lesters, and Emmons are right there in the pocket. I have an Emmons decal in the rear window of my pickup next to a Harley sticker and it looks r-e-a-l cool... :- ) |
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Jon Zimmerman
From:
California, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 9:36 pm
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| Donny: You must have seen the new Millenium "dresser" now in Darvin Willhoite's harem-- a few topics down the way here...it starts with an 'M', but it ain't minimalist, any more than Texas is! ~JZ~ [This message was edited by Jon Zimmerman on 02 October 2005 at 10:40 PM.] |
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Klaus Caprani
From:
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 11:26 pm
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| Quote: |
| or even a "jet-age" pedal steel! |
Try to take a look at the Harmos guitars!
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Klaus Caprani
MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 3:01 am
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The Harmos are the naz, to me.
But a steel is a machine. I think its form should express its structure, more like Arts & Crafts--oak aprons, dovetail joints, perhaps.
But I would also be the first to buy a Jetsons' model.... so many possibilities yet to be seen. |
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Dave Van Allen
From:
Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 8:13 am
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Maybe I'm wrong about the deco trend....
But cool amp miking (?). |
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