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Topic: The MSA Superslide double 8 has arrived |
Bill McCloskey
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Posted 30 Aug 2005 7:08 pm |
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Long day at work, but waiting for me was the Double 8. I'm too tired tonight to go into too much detail - I'll do that later tomorrow.
First impressions though: what a gorgeous instrument. The color was so far beyond what I was expecting. I ordered the Mystic Red on Reece's recommendation, but I was a little nervous because I thought the shot on the site was a little too bright. Needn't have worried as Reece knew exactly what he was talking about: the color is deep and darker than in the picture. Just really really beautiful.
The sound, well I was somewhat used to the sound from the 12 string, but the 8 really growls. The 12 is more like a concert grand piano ,the 8 more like a ...what? words fail. I want to say deep cello, but that doesn't get the blues and rock growl it lets off as well.
I had put a SS Darick Campbell tuning on the close up neck and a G6 tuning on the upper neck. Once I got it I realized I had told Johnny Cox the wrong tuning so I changed it to a Jerry Byrd c6/a7th tuning because it was pretty close. Felt kind of dumb, but obviously I'm going to play with some different tunings with it till I'm happy.
By mistake the stand didn't go out until today, so I won't be able to report on that or really put it thorugh it's paces until that comes tomorrow. It can sit on the lap, but unlike the 12 string, it's a little too wide to sit comfortably so I think the stand is a necessity. Serial number SSD082001. SS for Superslide, D for Double, 08 for 8 String, 2001 - first production model I'm assuming. Got an email today from someone who bought the one Bobbe played on the Slide off video and that was 1001, so it looks like the moved this to 2001 instead of 1002. Kyle?
The other thing about this beauty are just the sensuous lines on the thing, the attention to detail, its like a sculpture.
You lucky ones who are going to St. Louis will see for yourself and I supposed have the pleasure of watching Reece play it.
And through it all Kyle kept me informed. He was like an expectant father all day waiting for me to get it. It is here Kyle and it's a beautful baby.
More tomorrow. time for bed.
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Joy Wofford
From:
Battle Creek, Michigan, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2005 8:12 pm
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That sounds like a beauty, Bill...can't wait to see the pictures! I'll bet you don't get much sleep tonight with that new steel sitting there calling to you, lol. Hey, thanks for "spelling out" what all the abbreviations meant in your post...SOMEONE has been reading the Forum Feedback section!
Really, I'm excited to see the pics of your new baby. Will check back tomorrow for them.
Joy |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 30 Aug 2005 8:31 pm
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| Man, I'm going to have to get a real job so I can afford stuff like that again.... but then I wouldn't get to play as much.... there's that durn Catch-22 thing again.... shoot.... |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 30 Aug 2005 8:44 pm
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| You're right Joy. Started to head off to bed. Picked it up once more. Slipped on some Sonny Treadwell and Campbell Brothers and now its 1 AM. Yikes, this thing is amazing and addicting. It has been a couple of weeks since I picked up the lap steel: I just got a couple of 6 strings I was trying out and my son and I are getting ready for a gig on monday doing mostly Dawg and Gypsy Jazz stuff we've been working out, so it took me about a hour to get back in the swing. Wow. It is a whole new world. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 31 Aug 2005 1:02 am
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| You can't sleep? It's 5:10 am and I'm reading your thread. Sounds like a winner & a beauty. |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 1 Sep 2005 12:48 pm
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Got the stand last night. They are made to go together. What a beautiful site. Spent last night up late again playing. I'll try and get some pictures posted this weekend.
Here is wishing everyone a great time in St. Louis. I wish I could be there. Make sure you stop by the MSA store.
I got a call from Kyle and Reece just before they headed out to make sure I got the stand ok.
Oh,
And I got my hat!
And a T-shirt to boot! Only took my 3 instruments to get it.  |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 1 Sep 2005 1:23 pm
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| Yeah, this weekend. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 1 Sep 2005 2:16 pm
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| of the Superslide Bill, not the hat & T shirt..... |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 2 Sep 2005 10:34 am
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Bill-how are you coming along with the 12 string tuning on the other SuperSlide?
Reece makes it look easy on the DVD, as did Bobby Black when I saw him play out here on his 12 string custom built by West Coast Steel Guitars, using the Reece tuning. Whether its a major league hitter ripping one down the line for extra bases, or a top musician playing their instrument-the great ones all make it look easy.
I'm inclined to bite the financial bullet when I'm ready to place my order and go for a double 8, but that concert grand piano thing on the 12 just grabs me. One of my concerns is the lack of learning materials for the 12 string tuning, and we know there are plenty of materials for 8 string non-pedal steel.
Like pedal players that have gotten rid of the second neck, I like the idea of a non-pedal version of a U-12.
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Mark
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 2 Sep 2005 11:35 am
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Mark,
For me, I don't worry about the lack of teaching materials, mainly because I mostly, and this is a fairly recent thing, I spend most of my time learning theory so that I'm not wedded to anyone else's style. So from that perspect the 12 string is a amazing, becuase the possibilities it opens up. I wouldn't want to have to choose. They both have their strong points.
I will say that I heard from Kyle that the 12 string is the big seller, much to their surprise as well. There is something about having all those chordal possibilities. On the other hand sometimes I want a slightly wider spacing and less options to get in the way when I'm playing more blues licks.
It's all good. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2005 5:29 pm
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Bill,
Congrat's on your new double ....Pictures , Pictures, and more Pictures .........Please
...........Sincerel y, Jim[This message was edited by James Quackenbush on 02 September 2005 at 06:30 PM.] |
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George Manno
From:
chicago
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Posted 2 Sep 2005 6:22 pm
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I think that next week, I'll put several of my lap steels up for sale and order a double 8 in Green with the pearl pickguard and a fancy stand. Or maybe two single 8s.
The MEGABALL Lottery is 111mil this evening. Jesus' house needs a new roof and maybe I just celebrate his birthday early.
I'm happy for you.
George |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 2 Sep 2005 7:09 pm
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Well I've spent the last 6 hours playing this thing. I even went back to the original G6 tuning on the upper neck and liked it.
When the Double 8 arrived I hadn't played slide for a few weeks as I was working on some standard guitar stuff with my son. So it took me a day to settle in with this D8.
But after spending the last 6 hours just jamming (I've been jamming to blues and Sacred steel records) I can say, thing just seems to play itself.
It was weird. With the 12 string, I feel I'm still learning - not ready to play out on it yet. But this Double 8!! I feel like I'm ready now. In fact I'm doing a neighborhood block party on Monday, and I'll think I'll try it out there.
I'm just so happy with this instrument. It is really quite a remarkable achievement. Just everything about it makes me feel good. That's the thing about this: its' just fun to PLAY. I could go on for hours more if I wasn't exhausted. It's almost like I can't hit a wrong note.
Pictures tomorrow, I promise. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 2 Sep 2005 7:45 pm
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| Quote: |
| It's almost like I can't hit a wrong note. |
I can show you how to do that.......
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 3 Sep 2005 12:09 pm
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Howard R.
There is only one in this world |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 3 Sep 2005 2:47 pm
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| I think I could contribute a lot to the wrong note gang. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 3 Sep 2005 3:12 pm
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| I don't play any wrong notes.....I play DIFFERENT note's to add to the character of the song !!..... [This message was edited by James Quackenbush on 03 September 2005 at 04:14 PM.] |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 3 Sep 2005 3:14 pm
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I don't play any wrong notes.....I play DIFFERENT note's to add to the character of the song !!.....  |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 3 Sep 2005 5:13 pm
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You guys crack me up.
so Howard. We gearing up for the Lap Steel teach-in? |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 3 Sep 2005 11:27 pm
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I don't play wrong notes either, but people have a tendency to hear them wrong!!  |
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George Manno
From:
chicago
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Posted 4 Sep 2005 3:45 am
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Sometimes I play the right notes but for a completely different tune.
GM |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 4 Sep 2005 6:26 am
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Pictures, Bill, pictures!
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Mark
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 4 Sep 2005 6:57 am
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Bill, yes, I'm intent on making my additional store space available for steel get togethers and workshops.
I'm over my head right now going back & forth between the island & the city, but that will end by the begining of Nov.
We could put your SS up against a few other D8s......Stringmaster, Canopus, National, Gibson Consolette.....
Speaking of November, it would be great if all of us local guys would meet at the PSGA show. We could plan out some of this. It would be great to meet & see Jody there. It's one thing to hear him play, but it's a whole other thing to see him play. It's an education.
Not to hijack this thread any longer. Bill, it's Labor Day,....get to work!!!  |
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