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Topic: 1950's 1960's laps-Who bought these then? Why? |
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 13 Jun 2004 10:27 am |
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Fender, Gibson, Supro, National all made non-pedal steels in the late 50's through the 1960's. This was long after the Hawaiian music craze. Western Swing was also dying out rapidly. Pedal steel had already staked it's claim.
There had to be a market for these things or the companies wouldn't produce them. My question is who bought these and for what style of music?
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 13 June 2004 at 12:09 PM.] |
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Karl Oberlander
From:
Austin, Texas, USA
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Posted 13 Jun 2004 12:01 pm
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Gerald,
I've often wondered the same thing. First Elvis then Rock-a-billie then surf then motown. Who was using these then. Of course Valco quit making then in the mid-60's probably due to declining interest from buyers. But there were some sold. My guess is that some of the old guys that weren't into any of the new music and saved up some bucks over the years then finally bought just as they were going out of style.
Anyway I'm glad they did because now I own a bunch of nice examples from the late 40's through the mid-60's.
Makes me happy. And I like to play both swing and Hawaiian.
Kobe
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Gibson D-8 Console Grande - Stringmaster T-8 - Alkire EHarp D-10
Fender Super Reverb
kobe@austin.rr.com
http://home.austin.rr.com/kobeco
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 13 Jun 2004 2:48 pm
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Since the local GIBSON sales outlet refused to discuss selling me a Gibson Console like Roy Wiggens had.......I was quite elated when I saw my first Fender triple-8.
My reasons for the purchase: It was in the showroom, waiting to be purchased by ME.
I walked out of the store with it.
Any number of the western swing tunes were being performed in different tunings making the triple neck and ideal choice for ME. "Boot Heel Drag" in C#min.; "Playboy Chimes" in A6th; JB's stuff mostly all in C6th at that time.
Never regretted having it and so sorry I sold it to a fellow who shortly thereafter butchered it......... Why O'why. I understand he never learned to play it..... |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 13 Jun 2004 4:17 pm
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For me, and I guess for many others, it was a matter of money. Sure, you could have gotten a used pedal steel for $300-$400, but when I started, investing that much into a hobby was unthinkable. 
The inexpensive Valcos, Supros, Oahus, Teiscos (ugh!), and Magnatones gave us playable lap steels for around $100.
Well, we had to start somewhere! |
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George Rout
From:
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 13 Jun 2004 6:57 pm
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| I'd say the same folks (like me) who were buying them then......and now(when I can find them)!!!!!! Geo |
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Gary Slabaugh
From:
Scottsdale, AZ
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Posted 14 Jun 2004 8:01 am
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| I wanted to play guitar when I was about 7 (1959) but the teacher said my hands were too small so I got an accoustic lap, then an 8 string Supro. My friend started playing a Fender lap about the same time. Must have been a few hold overs but once the "British Invasion" got under full swing the steel seemed to get hidden except for some special sounds. |
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Paul Arntson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 14 Jun 2004 10:35 am
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| Hi. New guy here. Sorry for butting in at the end of the thread, but I've gotta say, Karl - those photos slay me! You have got a beautiful bunch of strings there! |
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Dave Van Allen
From:
Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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Posted 14 Jun 2004 11:15 am
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nice Amp Too  |
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Bill Byrd
From:
Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 20 Jun 2004 4:03 pm
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| I just bought one. My assumption was that it would be a logical place to start to learn steel. If, by some miracle, I develop some skill at it I can move up to a pedal. But... maybe it doesn't work that way. Am I wrong? Isn't a lap steel a good place to begin learning? Or is it a totally different animal? |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 21 Jun 2004 12:00 am
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i started out w: a gibson br6 round 1969 cause i had the blues.
i prefered it to bottleneck (which i do like)
ended steppin'up to psg
still got the blues too ! 
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 21 Jun 2004 5:12 am
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To Bill Byrd,
Yes the lap steel is a good place to start. You can get many of the basics down without investing a lot of money. It's also a good place to stay.
Don't look at the lap steel as simply a stepping stone or as a starter instrument. The non-pedal steel guitar will give you a lifetime of enjoyment and learning experiences.
Many people in this area of the forum have no desire to "move up " to the pedal steel guitar. In fact many of us have quite a religious fervor about the instrument.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Jun 2004 8:21 am
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I started playing on a lap-steel in 1948, and have been playing PSG since about ’56. I certainly don't see anything wrong with playing non-pedal steel in these modern-days! Last year I stopped playing PSG and now/again only play Non-Pedal steel and am as excited about it as ever! They are a different instrument although closely related! Both have great possibilities, with different limitations! “Big John”
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“Big John” Bechtel
Franklin PSG D–10 (9 & 
Fender ’49–’50 T–8 Custom
Fender ’65 Reissue Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here
click here
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Jun 2004 8:59 am
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A lot of non pedal steels (especially single 6's) were purchased by or for students in the 50s & 60s. I remember seeing photos on teaching studio walls of steel guitar classes, with 20 - 30 students all holding their lap steels. In those days you could buy a new Fender or Gibson lap steel for under $100. Now these student models are all "vintage collectibles" Who knew?? I wish I had known - I'm just glad I bought my Fender Champion for $50 and my Fender Dual Pro for $75 over 20 years ago when most people didn't know or care what a lap steel was. I just bought a 61 Stringmaster D8 for about 1K - oh to go back in time to do some steel shopping!!
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Bill Byrd
From:
Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 21 Jun 2004 3:49 pm
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Quote from G Ross: "Fender, ...all made non-pedal steels ...through the 1960's. Pedal steel had already staked it's claim.
My question is who bought these and for what style of music?"
After I read this my heart sunk because I thought you were asking - What kind of idiot would buy one of these, and I had just ordered one. But in the post below ... Well- now I'm all better. Apparently I misunderstood. Thanks
To Bill Byrd,
Yes the lap steel is a good place to start. You can get many of the basics down without investing a lot of money. It's also a good place to stay.
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Jun 2004 4:45 pm
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Bill,
Lap steel is the coolest instrument to play for several reasons -
1. It has the most possibilities - there are as many tunings as there are players, and you can play ANY genre of music on it.
2. It is the most expressive of all instruments. Fact is, you can't hide how you feel when you're playing steel.
3. Chicks dig it.
For many years the "general" concensus was that lap steel was made obsolete by pedal steel. Nothing could be further from the truth. That would be like saying the bicycle was made obsolete by the motorcycle! Bill, trust me - that little Fender biscuit board was the smartest purchase you'll ever make.
Rick
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 22 Jun 2004 5:44 am
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"Chicks dig it"????
A guy sitting in a chair with a staring down at a plank on his lap is probably not not what I think most women find sexually attractive...
If you're looking for a chick magnet, I'd go with a an electric guitar or bass, or a golden retriever before reaching for a lap steel.
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 22 Jun 2004 9:10 am
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You have a point there, Bill - but there may be a certain onanistic imagery that triggers a sympathetic response. I can't be sure - I'm just guessing here.
When I play steel on stage, I raise it so I can stand up to play. Then I can sing some and jump around a little too. It doesn't help accuracy and intonation, but showboatmanshipwise it works.  In the studio however, I just sit and look down at my plank . . .
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 22 Jun 2004 9:45 am
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...
Last edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 19 Jan 2018 2:35 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 22 Jun 2004 10:54 am
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Bill Byrd: You are definitely NOT an idiot. If you are, then I am also along with my old phart of a friend, George Rout who fits that desciption also. I have NO QUALMS with the pedal guitar whatsoever. I love it when it is played properly. But the fact remains, while I was around and very active on steel when the pedal guitar was in its infancy, it held little appeal to me especially in the Hawaiian idiom. I did a lot of western swing back in the fifties, (sans pedal) but that soon died out.
I wonder if Minnie would have swooned over Mickey Mouse if he were playing pedal instead of lap as pictured ?
Anyway, to each his own. I'm a dyed-in-the- wool "lap" steeler who has always prefered the term "Hawaiian Steel Guitar"....(but let's not go there again!). |
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Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Posted 22 Jun 2004 10:55 am
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| We steel guitarists like to Keep our eyes on the hands... |
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 22 Jun 2004 11:52 am
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Are those Rickenbacher Pandas, Gerald?
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 22 Jun 2004 12:48 pm
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| I didn't even pick up on that one Bill. Very quick! You should get a job working with computers. |
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