Getting back into Pedal Steel after Long Time - Need advice

Joe Owen · From: New York, USA

Hello Pedal Steel Players, I am new to the forum and I am looking for some advice on getting back into playing Pedal Steel. I last played about 45 years ago while in high school on a Fender 400 with 3 pedals (no knee levers). I was self taught, but not bad at the time. Obviously, I am basically starting over. I plan to use a S10, 3 pedal, 4 knee levers, E9 tuning. A few questions:

1. Nickel strings Vs. Stainless Steel?

2. Should I use a thumb and finger picks? How many and plastic or steel?

3. Should I take lessons? I think so but could be difficult to find someone locally.

4. Recommended Volume Pedal?

5. Any other advice?

thanks,

Joe

John Larson · From: Pennsyltucky, USA

1. Stainless, they are brighter with more clarity and note definition. I recommend Jagwire strings.

2. This is going to depend on preference, for the "classic" tone, plastic thumb pick, metal fingerpicks.

3. If you can't find someone locally I highly recommend Paul Franklin's online "Foundations: E9 Pedal Steel Basics" course. Paul breaks the
instrument and some of the basic theory down to a level that I feel shaved off about 5 years of frustration from my journey.
https://www.modernmusicmasters.com/paul-franklin-e9-foundations

4. Preference/budget, I like the optical ones (Hilton/Telonics), some say the pot ones have a certain tone to them but I can't stand any amount of scratchiness (Which is exacerbated the more dusty your playing environment is).

5. Stick with it!
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Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Give praise to the Lord with the harp, chant unto Him with the ten-stringed psaltery. Sing unto Him a new song, chant well unto Him with jubilation. For the word of the Lord is true, and all His works are in faithfulness. The Lord loveth mercy and judgement; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
- Psalm 33:1-5

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

I'm not sure that strings and picks and pedals are that important to begin with, but the correct guidance in playing certainly is.
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Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs

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

If your bar is stainless it will drag a bit on stainless strings.
There are great online instructions available for pay or free but a little guidance from a person is valuable now and then. Where in NY are you?
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KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing.

Larry Jamieson · From: Walton, NY USA

Hi Joe, I been using nickel string for years and always liked them. You need 2 metal finger picks and a plastic thumb pick. Any volume pedal will work to get started. I bought a Hilton after replacing several pots in pot pedals over the years. Where are you in New York? I am in Walton, east of Binghamton and south of Oneonta. I teach. Good luck getting back into the madness...

Chris Brooks · From: Providence, Rhode Island

"You need 2 metal finger picks . . . "

Or three!

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Joe,Where you Be in New Yawk?
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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.

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

In my opinion, what is needed to start playing E9 pedal steel:

Steel Guitar: a solid steel guitar that 1) stays in tune and changes go to their intended pitches and return smoothly and accurately; 2) has enough of the standard E9 changes to not inhibit learning; 3) well fits the player ergonomically - its height is appropriate for the player and pedals and levers can be comfortably actuated.

Accessories: 1) A thumb pick (most use plastic) and 2 or 3 metal finger picks that fit you; 2) preferably a bullet bar at least 7/8" diameter and 3-3/8" long - as stated, stainless bar tends to drag on stainless strings; 3) any working, non-scratchy volume pedal, ideally 500K potentiometer if it's passive, but even a cheap Ernie Ball pedal with 250K pot is OK to start with; 4) any type of seat that places you at a comfortable height for you and your guitar; 5) any guitar amp with a reasonably clean, full-range sound; 6) enough good instrument cables to get you from guitar to volume pedal to amp; 7) correct tools to tune and set changes on your guitar - this will depend on the guitar; 8 ) effects pedals if you like - reverb and delay are the most common - but these are not really necessary to learn.

IMO, when starting out, it is not necessary to focus on 'special' strings, picks, volume pedal, bar, amp, cables, seats, or any of that kind of stuff. Don't get junk - but it takes time as one is progressing to zero in on what one really prefers. After some time spent practicing and learning, money will be much more likely well-spent getting the 'right' specialized tools you prefer.

Of course, if you can find a good teacher near you, great. But there is a helluvalot of good material available online, much of it available freely.

If you do a search, you will find, quite literally, dozens if not hundreds of threads with opinions about each of the items you mentioned, and much more. I wouldn't expect to find much consensus on preferences. But some discussions get into the details of why people prefer different stuff, and you may be able to glean a better of idea what you might prefer yourself. But I wouldn't fuss too much about this kind of stuff to start.

Bill Ladd · From: Wilmington, NC, USA

Joe - on your question of if you should use thumb and finger picks, yes! You can always take them off once you start to master the instrument - although I imagine you won’t want to unless you’re going for a definite sound. If you start without them, it’ll be harder to relearn how to use them once you get tired of the somewhat muddy, no-attack sound of pick-less playing.

Also, another enthusiastic vote for the Paul Franklin courses. I’ve recently subscribed to his entire course and am blown away by how much useful info is contained within. I started learning the minute I logged on.

John Sims · From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

YouTube is your best friend regarding free lessons...
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Best Regards,

John

1997 Carter U-12 Double Body-Natural Birdseye Maple-8p/5k, Peavey Nashville 1000 Amp, Goodrich L10K Vol. Pedal, Boss DD-3 Delay, Boss CE-5 Chorus, Behringer UMC-204HD Audio Interface, AKAI MPK Mini MK3 Professional Midi Keyboard/Controller, Gretsch Bobtail Resonator, Fender Banjo, Rondo SX Lap Steel (C6), DIY Lap Steel (Open D), and a few Mojo Hand Cigar Box Guitars (MojoHandGuitars.com).

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