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Topic: Magpie Syndrome?? |
richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 12:16 am |
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Judging by some recent posts, a lot of people who own steel guitars (players?) are more interested in how shiny their instrument is, including all the mechanical bits, than in how good the thing plays.
What's the point of stripping a steel down to its last nut and bolt, shining every part to the n'th degree, and re-assembling it with all its original mechanical inferiority ?
I much prefer playing a steel that has been improved mechanically
Last edited by richard burton on 1 Jun 2011 11:27 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 1:13 am
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Richard, I think that's 'BETTER'
Lots of mods, but that's what it's all about, isn't it ?
Shiny is for showrooms!!
Baz[This message was edited by basilh on 26 March 2006 at 03:43 AM.] |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 4:23 am
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Richard, Tommy doesn't just shine them to be shiny,
he does that because he thinks looking good
is professional too.
But that said he ALSO thinks a properly cleaned and polished steel mechanism,
wears less, plays smoother and lighter,
and last slonger bewteen maintainance sessions.
I have played 4-5 of his rebuilt steels, plus he did my Bud,
he knows his work. He also likes to send them back looking
AND working better than new if possible.
I was importing mine and had heard horror stories about French customs
thinking if it looked too good, to charge an arm and a leg for duty.
So i REGRETFULLY didn't have Tommy really polish up the Bud,
But the mechanics were redone and worked perfectly.
If your trombone is raggedy looking,
then you might be considered a poor player,
not respecting your horn,
but a gorgious bone, shiny and bright, will look better on the bandstand.
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 6:38 am
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| Anybody wanna start a thread on dirty British steels? |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 7:20 am
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I've already started one  |
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Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 7:34 am
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Cleanliness is close to Godliness !
There are folks that don't want to look
like a pig .
So what's the Beef with that ?
Hick |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 8:48 am
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Richard, I agree with you 100%.
In the words of my high school music teacher: "He should spend less time polishing his horn, and more time polishing his tone." |
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Herman Visser
From:
Rohnert Park, California, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 9:12 am
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Can you imagine someone stripping a 200yr old Fiddel ( NO) if it sounds good dont touch it. It might never sound the same way again
2cents |
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Herman Visser
From:
Rohnert Park, California, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 9:16 am
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Can you imagine someone stripping a 200yr old Fiddel ( NO) if it sounds good dont touch it. It might never sound the same way again
2cents |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 12:49 pm
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'59 S-10 Bigsby, that had been mangled. I took the liberty of "modernizing" the underneath and keeping the rest of the guitar original, and it still sounds like a Bigsby.
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 4:19 pm
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| Most of the steels I saw on the forum in which members want to show them off are mostly new ones, check out doug beamier's post of that emmons that is a sweet guitar guitar and I'm sure it is very sound mechanically, my wife fixed me a magpie for dinner once.... |
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John McGann
From:
Boston, Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 4:31 pm
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| Quote: |
| a lot of people who own steel guitars (players?) are more interested in how shiny their instrument is, including all the mechanical bits, than in how good the thing plays. |
I doubt this thread would have ever gotten started if you'd ever heard Doug Beaumier (player!) play.
I've played Tommy's rebuilt p/p's and they play like butter-talk about mechanical improvements![This message was edited by John McGann on 26 March 2006 at 04:34 PM.] |
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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 26 Mar 2006 8:10 pm
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I have another take on this. Electric steel guitars are not like Stradivarius violins, or any other acoustic instrument. They are more like highly mechanical instruments like pianos and organs, or even automobiles. Nobody leaves a beatup old car, even an antique one, in junk-yard condition. They restore them to stock, or customize them. Likewise, old pianos are routinely restored, both the mechanics and the finish. Unless a steel guitar has true historical value as one of the first of a production line, I see nothing wrong with restoring it to stock, or improving it mechanically, especially if it is to be played rather than put in a museum.
Also, I don't see the point of disparaging people who simply like to work on and appreciate the cosmetic and mechanical beauty of old steel guitars. How well they can play is irrelevant, and their own business. Restoration is a valid hobby or business in its own right. I doubt if everyone who works on Steinways, new or old, or who restores old organs, is a concert level pianist. Who cares, as long as they are good craftsmen. And what's wrong with some of us who appreciate the craftmanship spending our hard earned cash on beautifully restored old guitars, even though we know we will never play like the top pros. There is room for all types, with all areas of interest and levels of talent and skill. It's a big family.  |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 8:33 pm
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For the record :
Tommy Cass has been on of the best New England players for 40 years.
Always on the A-list country circuit.
And truely modest about his abilities.
He was the house steeler for my fathers studio / record company for years,
He ONLY ever got bumped from sessions,
in favor of Lloyd Green.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 26 March 2006 at 08:34 PM.] [This message was edited by David L. Donald on 27 March 2006 at 06:51 AM.] |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 10:52 pm
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| Dave, you summed it up perfectly. The pedal steel guitar is NOT an acoustic instrument. Its a machine. They have to be maintained to play well. Richard, go try and sell that ZB of yours in the condition that its in and see what you get for it. It wouldn't be much if anything. I've seen too many old pedal steels that were butchered, trashed, or poorly maintained. Its just irresponsible personal behavior. Tommy Cass does incredible restorations and his guitars play beautifully. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 26 March 2006 at 10:53 PM.] |
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John Davis
From:
Cambridge, U.K.
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Posted 26 Mar 2006 11:49 pm
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Kevin, I think I am the "Crap" player that Richard was aiming at not Tommy Cass as I probably own more of Tommy`s work than anyone else in these parts! but thats ok, I can live with it,I got as much work as I can handle, four nice tours lined up this year, and "Fender" gave me a freebee Steel King to to do them with (and keep)How bad is that!!
But I can play well enough to promise you guys that"Blondie" plays as smooth as silk as do Tommy`s other restorations and any "Player" that has tried one will testify to that> |
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Mark Dunn
From:
Suffolk, England
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Posted 27 Mar 2006 3:12 am
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Well I like shiny... Without doubt I need to practice more. That's why Tommy does the shining for me. Sorry Herman but I have to correct you. A chap I know who plays with the London Philharmonic Orchestra bought another fiddle a few years back, it cost around £40,000 (and we think steels are expensive). Since he intended to use it he had it completely disassembled cleaned and re-glued. This apparently improved the tone. It surprised me but this man is a world class player and knows exactly what he's doing. I've heard Tommy's playing, it sounds like he's done a fair bit of practice too.
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 27 Mar 2006 3:31 am
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| I'm not a paid up member of the Shiny Club, but there's nothing wrong with someone who does take a pride in the overall appearance of their guitar (including the mechanics). One of the better players to come out of the UK, Gordon Huntley, had guitars that showed their hard road life but still managed to get them to sound as sweet as any new and highly polished instrument. It's really all about trying to keep the instrument in pristine condition if it is the type of guitar that would appreciate in value by doing so. Also, we are all different; some of us are immaculate in everything we do and own and some of us are not. Just a fact of life. [This message was edited by Ken Byng on 27 March 2006 at 03:33 AM.] |
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Mark Edwards
From:
Weatherford,Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2006 4:00 am
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I have seen both scenarios played out (no pun intended), for instance I have seen one of nashvilles session players/hot artist steeler, with a ton of dust, lent, smoke stained etc... steel. Also have seen one of the hottest Texas, nationally renowned steel players with his emaculantly, super shiney over the top chromed out purtiest steel i've ever seen. If I had closed my eyes, and these guys were in the same room, I could not have told you who was playing the craped out guitar, or the shiney guitar, other than the difference in individual style. Both had great tone, sustain etc...
It's just personal preference. |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2006 6:38 am
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I can't play worth a flip, so maybe if my guitar dazzles them, they won't listen to my playing. Thats why I got them purty new MSA's.
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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
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Marlin Smoot
From:
Kansas
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Posted 27 Mar 2006 7:18 am
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As any regular player knows, it's very hard to keep your gig gear in "like new" condition.
Consider the venues we play in that have lots of dust, smoke etc...then consider all the lugging around, in and out of bandstands, playing outside including
temp changes, rain etc..
Sometimes I think my rig gets the most abuse just being hauled around. Sometimes, as careful as we are...things go bump.
I've thought of buying a "new looking" steel but I would be afraid to gig with it. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 27 Mar 2006 8:30 am
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I dunno, maybe. It seems steelers are very meticulous about the looks of their instruments. Meanwhile, a lot of very famous lead players play instruments that look like they were bought at the thrift shop. All in all, I guess it's explained by the complexities and idiosyncrasies of our weird instruments, which are mirrored in their owners.
Whenever I tell folks I'm a pedal steeler, it's almost foregone conclusion that I'm "weird".  |
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Dave Seddon
From:
Leicester, England.
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Posted 27 Mar 2006 8:59 am
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| Well I don't Richard but that thing must be a pig to tune, so many rods going here there and everywhere, around corners even by the look of it. Looks like some Sho-Bud bits there as well. With everything crossing each other it must rattle like crazy when you press the pedals. Even if things ain't polished I'm sure a guitar with straight rods has got to play better than all that lot all jumbled up. Dave. |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 27 Mar 2006 10:20 am
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Gentlemen,
More of my handiwork, for your delectation
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 27 Mar 2006 11:05 am
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| I thought March 20th was the "First Day of SPRING' !! |
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