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Post new topic Bottleneck lap steel?
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Author Topic:  Bottleneck lap steel?
Russ Young


From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2005 5:29 pm    
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Yeah, I know it's a contradiction in terms ...

I saw a concert DVD last night (Lighting in a Bottle -- great blues, if you're so inclined) that included guitarist/singer/actor Chris Thomas King playing a beauuuutiful Gibson EH-150 upright with a bottleneck. He wasn't fretting it, -- as if there were any frets, anyway -- just playing pure slide, with a thumbpick and three fingerpicks. The sound, as you might imagine, was really raunchy down-and-dirty blues.

Has anyone seen others playing lap steels the same way?

[This message was edited by Russ Young on 11 April 2005 at 08:32 PM.]

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Orville Johnson


From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2005 9:32 pm    
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russ, there used to be a guy here in seattle named dan abernathy who did that. i haven't seen him for years but he was a very good bottleneck player and used a little gibson on a strap. he was in a few different bands and i saw him play several times with jerry miller (moby grape).
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db

 

From:
Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA
Post  Posted 19 Apr 2005 7:32 pm    
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I do that!
Play it, make it, sell it.
www.bigsbypalmpedals.com
Check out the PS-67 links and the "Where's The Steel" article.

------------------
Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A & G3


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Russ Young


From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
Post  Posted 19 Apr 2005 8:08 pm    
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What do you play, Dan? I've been wondering if one of the long-scale Supro/English Electronics guitars might be well-suited to playing with a bottleneck.

Oops ... I should have followed the link!

[This message was edited by Russ Young on 19 April 2005 at 10:04 PM.]

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Paul Arntson


From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 19 Apr 2005 8:30 pm    
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Dan!
That guitar looks absolutely scarey!
What a wonderful and unique instrument!

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db

 

From:
Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA
Post  Posted 20 Apr 2005 5:53 pm    
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I have been using it for "New Country" and "Blues-Slide" (multiple-tuning) cover.
It's really not as scary as it looks.
There are just multiple 'A' & 'B' pedals
that are used depending on what strings you are picking,
plus an "F" hip-lever and a 'B'&'C' "pedal combination".
I have "videos" of the thing "in-action"
If you have a media player on your computer,
I could send you a file of a song for you . . .
If you can wait for the download.
email me with a request
------------------
Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A & G3

[This message was edited by db on 20 April 2005 at 07:00 PM.]

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db

 

From:
Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA
Post  Posted 21 Apr 2005 6:43 pm    
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I one file that is compressed for email.

Neon Moon (Brooks & Dunn)

------------------
Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A & G3


[This message was edited by db on 06 May 2005 at 05:30 PM.]

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David Doggett


From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2005 8:42 pm    
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The Black Ace was a Texas bluesman who played bottleneck style blues with a Hawaiian bar on a National square-neck tricone. He had his own radio program, I believe in the '40s or early '50s. I have an LP from the '70s on Arhoolie.

In Los Angeles, L.C. "Good Rockin'" Robinson played electric blues on a Fender lap steel. He also played blues fiddle. I have an LP of him also.

One could argue that the whole Sacred Steel tradition is bottleneck blues played on lap and pedal steels.
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CrowBear Schmitt


From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
Post  Posted 25 Apr 2005 5:35 am    
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David, was'nt there a tune by the Black ace that had a verse ?
" i am the Black Ace
i'm the balls caught in your hand "

[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 25 April 2005 at 06:36 AM.]

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Russ Young


From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
Post  Posted 25 Apr 2005 5:51 am    
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CrowBear, did you forget to add a "smiley?"

It's "I am the Black Ace ... I'm the boss card in your hand."

You might want to add that one to 'scuse me, while I kiss this guy.

[This message was edited by Russ Young on 25 April 2005 at 06:55 AM.]

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David Doggett


From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
Post  Posted 25 Apr 2005 8:31 am    
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Yeah, I always heard it as "boss card in your hand." But "balls caught in your hand" makes it a lot more interesting.
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db

 

From:
Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA
Post  Posted 7 May 2005 2:03 pm    
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I now have some additional Video files ready.

"There Goes My Heart" - The Mavericks
Distinct "steel signature" utilizing the 'F' lever and 'B&C' pedal combination.

"He Stopped Loving Her Today" - George Jones
My interpretation of Phil Baugh's classic "String-Pull" lick.
(I used a pitch shifter to get the "low-notes" for the intro.)

"Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground" - Willie
This tune did not originally feature steel.
So, this is an example of my own playing style.
------------------
Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A & G3

[This message was edited by db on 07 May 2005 at 03:11 PM.]

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Buck Dilly

 

From:
Branchville, NJ, USA * R.I.P.
Post  Posted 8 May 2005 5:38 am    
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I have heard and seen Dan play- He is awesome.
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