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Topic: Special footwear ? ? |
Jim Gorrie
From:
Edinburgh ~ road works congestion capital of The World.
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 9:14 am |
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Do you have special shoes/boots/footwear you use when playing (pedal) steel ? . . . or can you just sit at it and work the pedals with equal ease regardless of what you are wearing (or not wearing) on your feet ?
My present steel has really narrow pedals, and (especially when I first got it) I found it a bit tricky underfoot unless I was wearing "pedal steel friendly" shoes.
Every now and then I'd find the side of my foot falling into "the hole between" pedals A & B or B & C. I don't remember this being a problem with earlier steels I had as they had wider pedals.
Do any of you play in bare feet or in socks ?
There has got to be a big variety of answers to this ? 
. . . and how about your comments on pedal widths ? |
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Jody Cameron
From:
Angleton, TX,, USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 9:22 am
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This has been discussed a lot. I've always just played in whatever I happen to be wearing, usually cowboy boots, tennis shoes, or casual shoes. However, I have found that I cannot play well in lace-up type work boots....it binds my ankle to where it won't bend properly.
JC |
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Mark Lind-Hanson
From:
Menlo Park, California, USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 9:26 am
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| I find bare feet a hindrance & sometimes even just stick some shoes on in order to do the AB/ BC thing. Bare feet (or just socks) is a little too iffy unless you stick to one pedal or another. That's my own conclusion anyway. But nothing special, just as long as it has a sole & you can quickly move to cover the two pedals. |
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Mike Archer
From:
church hill tn
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 9:48 am
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i use a shoe called a boat shoe
its lite and nice and flat on bottom
bends good with your foot
i got mine at sears
its all i can play in
but others may be able to play in whatever but not me |
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 9:51 am
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| Jim this is what I look for... I like shoes with a very thin sole thus I can feel the pedals better and make sure the sole doesn't hang over the edge of the shoe so bad it would accidently catch another pedal, I have Athletic Works sneakers, they where only $8 bucks at wal-mart(they are ugly though). you may find your self having to experiance with different brands. |
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Grant Johnson
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 10:28 am
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Black, because they sound better! |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 11:21 am
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I learned to play bare footed since my steel was setup in my bedroom and it naturally carried over to playing onstage.
I had socks that covered every occasion like Christmas,Thanksgiving,Holloween etc.
As the years slipped by I got tired of removing my shoes onstage so I started wearing loafers which I find to be the most comfortable shoe to play steel.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 11:38 am
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| Grant's got the idea, all you needs a good pair of "Chuck Taylors". I like the black and white high tops myself. |
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Petr Vitous
From:
Czech Republic
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Pat Carlson
From:
Sutton, Nebraska, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 4:19 pm
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No moccasins or sharp toe Western Boots.Tennys or loafers or to be in uniform wide toe Boots 
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The Lone Prairie Steeler Pat
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Kyle Everson
From:
Nashville, Tennessee
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 5:42 pm
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I usually play in a certain pair of broken-in cowboy boots (the points help me feel where I am). But for some strange reason, I bought a pair of Gilligan slip-ons from walmart to try. I got home and realized why I subconsciously thought they would be a good choice.
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Kyle Everson
Sho-Bud Pro-II
Fender Twin Reverb
Goodrich 120
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 8:02 pm
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Kyle,,
That Gentleman could play with concrete blocks for shoes!!! 
Larry
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"Fessy" S/D 12, 8/6 Hilton Pedal, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"
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Scott Henderson
From:
Camdenton, Missouri, USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 9:53 pm
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I don't have feet I have boats. ( Size 14) So I have to be kinda selective about what I wear. I usually use slip on loafers or boots.(ropers with a rounded toe and narrow as possible) Finding shoes for my size is tough enough finding narrow shoes is even tougher
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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com
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Alvin Blaine
From:
Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 1:42 am
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 4:42 am
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I use soft sold (single layer) elk skin mocassins. They provide all the flexability of playing barefoot, but provide just enough cushipn to take away all the discomfort.
Unfortuntely, the company that made them. Taos mocassins, just went out of business. I don't know who makes these anymore.
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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site
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Roger Edgington
From:
San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 6:07 am
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| I have small tender feet so bare foot is not for me. I also like worn cowboy boots or maybe loafers or any shoe with a thin sole without a wide lip on it. Most bands I've worked in over the last 45 years all wore cowboy boots except the Hawiian and rock bands of coarse. |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 7:04 am
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I used to play in loafers or sneakers but a little over a year ago I had my pedal rods extended an inch and a half so I could play with cowboy boots. I use the half boot with the zipper on the side but has the cowboy boot heel and pointed toe. They put my foot at a better angle as the flatter shoes used to make my ankles ache after an hour or two........JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
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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 14 Jul 2006 8:24 am
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Good fitting velcro walking shoes. I like the shoe to be tight across the ball, so the bottom of the shoe stays with my foot as I rock on and off the A and B pedals. A loose shoe doesn't rock with my foot and never gets all the way off the pedal I am rocking off of, which makes me play out of tune. But I have bunions, and it hurts for me to walk around in tight shoes. So I get the velcro ones and wear them loose when not playing, and just reach down and cinch the velcro tight when I sit down to play. So I have the best of both worlds.
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Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards
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Jussi Huhtakangas
From:
Helsinki, Finland
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 8:38 am
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Alvin, you're The Man!!  |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 10:05 am
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 [This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 14 July 2006 at 11:03 PM.] |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 11:02 am
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Bobby, you got it wrong. That's what I wear when I'm NOT playing.
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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 9:14 pm
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I always wear a pair of Red Wing shoes whenever I play away from home, but; at home I'm always in Moccasins that are more than one size too large, because of a mistake i made when ordering them. Like the problem Dave might have with them is that my foot continually moves and leaves my moccasin behind. I have to really concentrate on what I'm doing or my foot loses track of the pedal. I can push (A)–(B) and let up on (A) with my foot, but; the pedal often remains DOWN! If I want to play seriously, I must put on my Red Wings which fit snug to my feet!
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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment
[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 14 July 2006 at 10:20 PM.] |
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Bob Kagy
From:
Lafayette, CO USA
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Posted 15 Jul 2006 2:02 pm
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Concrete Nike's?
Bet that right one broke on the boo-wah pedal playing Hold It. |
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 15 Jul 2006 8:30 pm
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| I really feel the right pair of shoes is vital to ones success, it is as important as picks |
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Perry Keeter
From:
Hemet, CA, USA
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Posted 15 Jul 2006 9:51 pm
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| Sperry Topsiders Authentic Originals are a good choice. Good variety of colors also. |
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