How many 6-stringers have turned to steel?

Stan Paxton · Posted 12 Feb 2007 1:48 pm

I often wonder how many of us Forum members started as 6 string players and went on to learn steel/pedal steel? Does anyone know if a poll or count was ever taken on the forum to find this out? Or, maybe it would be easier to just learn who did NOT start as a 6-stringer. .....I notice that about all the new members in the recent past have been or are 6-string players....
Any how many have "turned to steel" and quit the 6-string?
I recently have just about given up the 6-string, altho it was my first instrument since just a kid of 9 years old when I bought my first flat top with blackberry pickin' money. ...
Gettin' old I guess, fingers just don't want to act right...
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Mullen Lacquer SD 10, 3 & 5; Mullen Mica S 10 1/2 pad, 3 & 5; BJS Bars; LTD400, Nashville 112, DD-3, RV-3, Hilton VP . -- Gold Tone PBS sq neck; Wechter Scheerhorn sq neck. -- "Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone." -anon.-

Joe A. Camacho · Posted 12 Feb 2007 2:37 pm

You need to add another selection for guttons of punishment like myself who started off on 6-String before Steel and still play both...

Stan Paxton · Posted 12 Feb 2007 3:02 pm

Yeah, I intended to have that as the first category, but it didn't turn out right, and couldn't figure out how to edit the Poll part of the post......

Jim Peters · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.

Started on 6 str. Still 90% guitar,10%steel. JP
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Carter,PV,Fender

Chuck Thompson · From: Illinois, USA

transition in progress

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I started on lap steel, went to "6 string" guitar and bass and then went back to (pedal) steel.

When I was (trying) to play lead guitar, I would try pedal licks on the guitar and decided the only way to get pedal licks was to get a pedal steel.

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

yup, need another categroy for "started on 6 string , now play both"

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

You need yet another category for "started on 6-string, then worked on 5-string b@njo, then pedal steel, still play all 3." But b0b would probably disallow that. Wink

But I certainly started on guitar, pedal steel came later, and I still play both.

Roman Sonnleitner · From: Vienna, Austria

Does lap steel count? I have been playing "regular" 6 string guitar for a long time, and started to play lap steel (6-string C6 tuning) about a year ago. In my alt.country/American band I divide my time between about 1/3rd Telecaster, 1/3rd acoustic guitar, and 1/3rd lap steel.

Ben Edmonds · From: Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA

Played and stiil play 6 string for 19 years, steel for 1 1/2 years and rarely play 6 string anymore. In fact just last night at a rehearsal I played some 6 string and really didnt like it too much. Steel seems more natural to me and that I cant figure out why and dont really want too!

Steve England · From: Austin, TX

Played guitar since I was 13 years old, but pretty much gave up after taking up steel, I thought I'd got pretty good, but found out I'd forgotten 95% of my chops when I doubled on guitar waiting for our guitar player to show up. Embarassed

Geoff Barnes · From: Sydney, Australia

Can't cast a vote on this because I still play both.... and am only playing steel since Nov. 06... playing six string for 40 years.

Six string sounds pretty in a number of flavours... can think about how cute that girl looks dancing around her handbag over there... shoot looks at other musicians for any number of reasons... wonder if I can get my car in for a service tomorrow etc. etc.. and not skip a beat... "cellular memory" someone once called it.
OTOH
The steel sounds pretty at times, but any momentary lapse in concentration can turn my noodlings into tunless howling noises... love it more than is healthy... but really need more chair time before I can vote Embarassed

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Too much equipment....I think I need help.

Stan Paxton · Posted 12 Feb 2007 6:50 pm

Ben & Steve, I am about the same way as to steel seeming more natural to me after a few years, rather than 6-string after many years. Never was very good lead picker by today's standards, but got by with a country and then later Gospel bands. Later years after taking up steel, used the 6-string on the faster stuff, since wasn't up to doing steel parts on fast songs. But, I don't have any call to do speed pickin, anyway, and the steel is just the kind of music that really is my heart. Arthritis in the fingers kind of helped to put the 6-string aside. Only play in church anyway, now, so it works out OK......... Very Happy

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Mullen Lacquer SD 10, 3 & 5; Mullen Mica S 10 1/2 pad, 3 & 5; BJS Bars; LTD400, Nashville 112, DD-3, RV-3, Hilton VP . -- Gold Tone PBS sq neck; Wechter Scheerhorn sq neck. -- "Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone." -anon.-

Ben Edmonds · From: Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA

Stan, I forgot to mention that after smashing my left hand with a hammer too many times I decided that it was time to buy a steel. I still have pain in my left hand index finger that makes six string painful, but I have to say that NO instrument has brought me more pleasure than steel...and although I cant stare at the girls, they seem to really like the steel so really everybody wins! it suits my personality better

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Made a decent living for about 30 years playing six string,Have not played guitar on stage for about 15 years,Made about half as much money playing steel,but have THREE times as much fun.

Paul Redmond · From: Illinois, USA

I started on 6-string at the age of 10. I had played ukelele at 7 and 'graduated' as my small hands would allow. I always was intrigued by 'what that guy up there on the stage was doing with those pedals' and couldn't hold back any longer at the ripe young age of 32. I still mess with the 6-string now and then when studio stuff calls, but I'm 99% steel now and , I guess, always will be.
PRR

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

i did'nt vote since i did'nt give up 6 string

i did start out on guitbox, picked up steelin' & still play guitbox

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

first 6 string, then Steel, now both..

it's much better to spend twice as much money on twice as much stuff Sad

Larry Strawn · From: Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.

Well,
I actually started on bass guitar, then to 6 string then to steel, still play 6 string along with steel. Wife's been playing bass with our band for the last 10 yrs. so I don't even pick it up any more [except to load, unload, set it up, tune it]. Looking more and more like I'm her roadie! Very Happy

Larry
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Carter SD/10, 4&5 Hilton Pedal, Peavey Sessions 400, Peavey Renown 400, Home Grown Eff/Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

Gee, I started out on standard guitar & played it for years, before starting on steel, I still play them both, but I like the pedal steel guitar the best & consider myself a much better steel player than a lead guitar player.

Ernie Pollock Shocked

http://www.hereintown.net/~shobud75/stock.htm Laughing

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

40+ years of guitar/bass/mando, then left-hand problems...voila, turned to steel. I didn't really "quit" guitar - but I can only play for 10 minutes or so before my hand rebels...weirdly, I can play mando for an hour or so; same with bass. On guitar it's a "C"-chrd type position that causes lockup. Guess I could try to become a parallel-universe Django and play with my middle/ring fingers, but I'm having too much fun with these 8 and 10 string octopi...
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

David Collins · From: Madison, North Carolina, USA

Dobro is 6 string, so I guess I did. I still play my resoguit, and love it, but love the D10 Emmons PP as well.

Sometimes I play both at the same gig.
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David Collins
www.chjoyce.com

John De Maille · From: On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.

I started on six string, picked up the steel, and continue to play both. Being able to play the six string competently, helped me in learning how to play the steel. I know that, it's not the same for everyone else, but, it helped me. I still play my 66' Tele with a B-String bender, but, I play my steel more often.

Dave Biller · From: Texas, USA

i play both now. several years ago my gigs around Austin started to dry up. i ended up making a living for almost 2 years as a bass player. i started playing gigs on steel way too soon but before i knew it i was playing more steel gigs than guitar. there are alot of bands around here from all levels that like steel. i initially took it up for fun but now it's helping me make a living. i haven't lost any interest in playing guitar and i don't intend to quit but i don't play them both on the same gig and when i'm practicing i devote ALL my time to the steel.

Doug Childress · From: Orange, Texas

Started on 6 string. Converted to steel and play probably 95% steel now.

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