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Topic: Height |
Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2003 6:12 pm |
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How many tall pedal steel guitarists we got out there? I'm 6'7" and I have a hell of a time setting up a guitar. Even when the pedal rods and legs are long enough I have to put extensions on the knee levers to sit comfortably at the thing. I just got back from Tom Bradshaw's place (thanks Tom for that awesome donation to the forum) where he outfitted my BMI for me. Tom is a great guy to have work on your guitar BTW. There is nothin' he can't do for a steel guitar. So who is the tallest pedal steel guitar player out there? How tall are ya?
Billy |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2003 6:21 pm
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I'm 6' 2" and have my guitar raised 1". I've never heard of anyone adding knee lever extensions, not for length anyway.  |
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Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2003 6:44 pm
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Jim.
These knee lever extensions are L shaped and extend out the player side of the instrument so that I dont have to scootch in so close to the guitar. I got the idea from a photograph of Jerry Brightman (6'4") who had them so I had Tom Bradshaw put them on mine. We'll see how it goes.
Billy |
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nick allen
From:
France
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 12:01 am
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Well I'm 6'5" and *thinking* about a pedal steel... and the height question does cut down the choices a lot  - no way I can play a Carter Starter for example...
I haven't seen a whole lot of steel players in person, but Jimmy Day was pretty tall - 6'2" or 6'3", I would guess...
Nick |
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Budd Kelley
From:
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 4:45 am
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| I am 6' 2" and I have raised my Carter Starter an inch and a half. I could use some extensions on the left knee levers. |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 5:30 am
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I'm 6'1" and have 2" extensions on the rods and legs.
More important than your height is the distance from the top of your knee (while seated) to the floor. Mine is greater than some taller friends. |
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Allen Peterson
From:
Katy, Texas
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 7:00 am
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| I am 6' 4" and have a 1" extension on the legs and pedal rods of my Carter. I tried a 2" extension, but that was too much. I felt like a little kid at the breakfast table. My only hope is that with age I will shrink back to the point where I won't need the extenders at all. |
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Lawrence Lupkin
From:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 7:13 am
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| I'm only 6'4", but finding a steel with existing extensions was definately a deciding factor for me. The sad thing is that I don't play steel any better than I did basketball. |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 7:24 am
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The bottom of the back apron should clear your knees by an inch or so. As Joey and possibly others pointed out, that measurement is what determines the height of your guitar. Sit at your guitar with your feet flat on the floor, more or less in playing position, and measure the perpindicular between the floor and the top of your knee / thigh. Add an inch, and that's about right for the height of the back apron. The actual length of the front legs and pedal rods will depend on the guitar design. And, YES, play a guitar that fits you. The seat height is also important. You should sit such that your forearms are more or less parallel to the floor.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 7:42 am
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Billy, my bud... howya doin' up there in the Stratosphere?!  Great seein' ya in Sacramento. Since you know my physical stature, I have no contribution to this thread whatsoever except to give ya a big Texas "howdy."
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 9:03 am
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So far I'm the tallest pedal steel guitarist out there. Hey! I gotta have some claim to fame. Herb, thanks for posting on this one. You're a giant in my book.
Billy |
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Stephen Gambrell
From:
Over there
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 9:15 am
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| Well, Billy, I'm only 6'5", but I don't have any leg extensions. The front legs of my seat are about 6 inches away from the back legs of my D-10, and it seems to work OK for me. But I can't play worth shucks, anyway! |
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Nicholas Dedring
From:
Beacon, New York, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 9:18 am
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I'm a puny 6'3", and I raised mine two inches. Any less and it was too hard to get a decent angle on the knee levers, and fit under the thing with a volume pedal on the right side.
I could use a few of the paddle things that extend the levers back towards you, but I'm trying to live without. |
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john buffington
From:
Owasso OK - USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 10:29 am
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I am 6' 3" and have to have all my guitars built 1" over standard height. One of my pet peeves is (and this will probably open a bag of worms) 99% of manufacturers always want people to sit down behind their products (which are always standard height)and try them out, that's fine except to really get the true feel of a guitar you have to be able to get under it in the normal playing position. With guitars being displayed being standard height, guys like myself are unable to do this. It is just as uncomfortable for guys under 6' to try and play a guitar over height. Then to add insult to injury, when you order a guitar over height, IMHO, it is like you are being penalized for being tall. Why, because you are charged extra for longer rods and legs. This is just my own opinion only, so keep the blazes down, please. Rarely have I ever found a manufacturer who goes the extra mile to accommodate taller potential customers trying out their products. Like I said, this is just my opinion from personal experiences.
John Buffington |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 11:05 am
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Oh how my heart doth bleed for ya 
I have JUST the opposite problem. I am only 5' 7". I feel like a midget in comparison to you men. In fact I don't even feel like a man when I think of you guys.
NO stock guitar out there will accomadate me as to knee levers. NOT one. I have to extend them all, UNLESS, I have the guitar made 1" shorter than normal. And even here, NO way can I even reach the standard vertical lever with my foot up on tippy toes.
On standard guitars, the top of my left knee goes right under the bottom of LKL.
So fellows, bein short goes right along with what you are saying. Believe me been there done that. The entire world is made for what society calls "regaler".
Would to God I had been born regaler. No I don't either, for if so, I am sure many of the blessings he bestowed would be regaler and that would truly be sad.
carl |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 11:13 am
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| Quote: |
| Rarely have I ever found a manufacturer who goes the extra mile to accommodate taller potential customers trying out their products |
You bring up an interesting point, brother Buff. It's worth making a few phone calls with such suggestions, and I'll bet that someone like John Fabian, Jerry Fessenden (no shorty himself), or even Maurice might have a set of rods with 1" and 2" extenders (available from George Lewis), and simple leg extensions (1" and 2" tubes for the front legs) available for guys who fit into your category. Total cost to seller for demonstration leg/rod sets: 16 rod extenders and 4 very short tubes.
I get my rods/legs cut down 1.5 inches, but I don't have trouble trying out a regular-height guitar. Tall guys, on the other hand, have a hard time fitting under my guitar.
What the hell am I doing on a thread entitled "Height," anyway??
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 18 November 2003 at 12:22 PM.] |
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Don McClellan
From:
California/Thailand
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 8:04 pm
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Hi Billy,
Sorry I didn't get to see ya last time I was in Oakland. I think you guys should organize a little basketball game. Don |
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Don McClellan
From:
California/Thailand
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 8:49 pm
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Several years ago I saw Kareem Abdul Jabar and a woman sitting at a little round table for two at an outdoor resturaunt in Lahaina. Kareem's knees were sticking way up, well above the level of the table. One on either side and his butt was down too low because the chair was way too small for him. He looked uncomfortable and I remember thinking, what a drag it must be to deal with that constantly. Doorways, chairs, cars, planes (flying coach must be out of the question) beds, clothes and even pedal steel guitars.
Oh well, at least Wilt and Magic had a good time being tall. Something tells me it ain't all that bad. |
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Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2003 11:29 pm
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Well, I guess I am the tallest pedal steel player. The closest one so far is two inches shorter than me. If we find one taller I guess I'll have to woodshed like crazy if I still want to have a claim to fame
Bill W. |
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