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Topic: What does the Pedal Steel mean to you ? |
Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 11:17 am |
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To me,after years of playing six string and going no where in music. The road, bars, drunks ect. Playing in bands that just wanted to party,do drugs and could care less about the music. Out of frustration I quit.
Then my friend John Daughtery convinced me to join the forum. I found out about the show at Benton IL.
I met John Hughey, Ron Elliot, Bobby Reed, Russ and Laney Hicks.Got to spend some quality time with Buddy Emmons, Don Helms and others. I came away with a brand new outlook towards music.I decided this is what I want to do in music. I had an old Miller that needed a lot of work, but I got it playing, but soon seen the need to have a better Steel. I bought a Nashville LTD, then the Derby D 10 I have now.
I've always love the sound of the Pedal Steel and now I'm creating that sound.
Because of my involvement with the Steel, and this forum, I have met some of the greatest people, and have made some of the best friends I've ever had.
In short I have a passion for the Pedal Steel and am working very hard to improve to a point where I can perform with confidence. Sorry I didn't mean to go on so long.
_________________
Custom Rittenberry SD10
Boss Katana 100 Amp
Positive Grid Spark amp
BJS Bars
Z~Legend Pro,Custom Tele
Honor our Vet's.
Now pass the gravy. |
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Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 11:26 am
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No need to apologize, Bill. I can tell you are very enthused about learning to play the psg.
BTW: I have seen posts 2--3 times longer than yours.  |
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Billy Carr
From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 11:33 am PSG
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| It's a way of life. 24/7! |
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Allan Thompson
From:
Scotland.
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 11:45 am
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| Everything, can't imagine life without it. |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 12:35 pm
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If it weren't for the big money, I'd quit  ...
actually, thats probably not too far from the truth in my case,,
I just don't "get off" playing alone in a dark lonely room all by myself.. If there is no one to hear it but me, why bother??... I mean the goal of musicianship is for other people to enjoy your music, at least some of the time.. Pedal steel is very important to me, always has been,but I can see a day perhaps in the near future when I sell out due to lack of interest... On my part perhaps, but more likely due to lack of interest on the part of other musicians, and listeners.... If there is no one to play it with, and no one to listen, I WILL lose interest.. Would NEVER have had a thought like this 25 years ago, but reality rears its ugly head....
so, what does pedal steel mean to me??.. In a musical sense, its been the love of my life since my youth...However,I need for others to hear me playing it to keep my interest at a high level...
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 1:17 pm
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Bob, I feel your pain, I get tired of playing to CDs
also. I take every opportunity to play. Benifit, jam sesson ect. I'm in the process of starting a classic country band, just so i can play steel. Most of the people are just like me, they just want to play for the love of playing. I could stay busy playing six string, but thats not what I want.
_________________
Custom Rittenberry SD10
Boss Katana 100 Amp
Positive Grid Spark amp
BJS Bars
Z~Legend Pro,Custom Tele
Honor our Vet's.
Now pass the gravy. |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 1:40 pm
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| I've played out with others on dobro and lap steel but not with my pedal steel so I'm still lookin forward to that but I'm also very content to just play for my own enjoyment as well. I don't ever see givin up on steel when it makes me feel so good to play. I guess what I'm sayin is that I don't need the approval of an audience to derive pleasure from it. |
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Terry Winter
From:
Saskatchewan, Canada
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 2:05 pm
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| The pedal steel has become very important to me over the years as a stress relief from our occupation.(ranching). I play for,if I count them all up, about 7 different groups. Two are paying groups and the others are all little donational gigs. Just enough playing not to get tired of it and just enough for me to strive to play better. I feel so lucky! |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 2:10 pm
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Let's see.
1> A sore back
2> Sore feet
3> Brain pain
4> lack of women
5> lack of money
6> Carpal tunnel and other arm/hand pains
Seriously, the sound of the steel guitar is what I imagine heaven is like. The challenge of the instrument makes me feel a little more special than those guys who ony play them instruments that only have 4 or 6 strings (just kidding guys. I couldn't play regular guitar if my life depended on it).
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Robert Thomas
From:
Mehama, Oregon, USA
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 3:32 pm
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Pedal steel is a way to express my love for the sound, the music and the pleasure of being able to share my love for the steel guitar with others.
I fell in love with it when I was ten years old. I am about to turn 74 years young. I played the bar scene for many years and I quit the bar scene many years ago. I have been playing for years now, usually 3 times a week, for nursing homes and alzheimer units.
I get to share my love with others who share their love for my playing for them. It is a win win for me. I never get tired of playing, but I do get tired because of my years. When I quit playing it will be pretty close to the end of the line for me, but till then I love what I can do!
I hope that you who love your music will share it with others who will appreciate no end. There is more to playing then just playing for party people. |
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Bernie Gonyea
From:
Sherman Tx. 75092 ,U.S.A. (deceased)
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 5:01 pm What Does The Steel Guitar Mean To Me??
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Well, Boys and Girls, Many in my family have often wondered about this question and why did I love the music , especially the steel guitar, and C/W ,in general. Over the years, they have become my best friends. We all are sad at times; my pedal steel is my alternative to staying that way. Useually, one is sitting up in the living room or my den, where I can work with the computer and my discs and CD's. Jeff is still my teacher; has been since the 80's. I have to give him credit for instilling this love affair, with the steel guitar, into my system. Attending several of Jeff's seminars gave me a reason to become better. At that point in my life, I had been TRYING to play for some 25 years, without any teaching what-so-ever. All of a sudden, my capabilities in playing surfaced. And my desire to be as good as the lord wanted me to be, became the dominate factor in loving my music; and the Pedal Steel Guitar. Thanks for giving me the chance to let the world know why I'm a fanatic when it involves PSG.. Bernie 
_________________
2007 Zum S-10; 1967 Sho-Bud [ D-10 ]; 85 S-10 Sierra; 1953 Multi-Kord [ 6 String- 4 pedals ] A Sho-Bro six String Resonator Guitar; Nashville 112 Amp; hilton Vol. Pedal |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 10:26 pm
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The pedal steel means everything to me. When I was nine years old, I started lovin' the pedal steel and its looks and sounds. The more I heard it in country music, the more I loved it! The thought of playin' steel came to me at sixteen or seventeen, but I started playin' when I was eighteen. The pedal steel guitar is such a beautiful and amazing instrument!
Brett |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 11:18 pm
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It's one of them there new fangled and unnecessarily complicated contraptions!  
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Amor vincit omnia |
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JW Day
From:
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 8:13 am Steel guitar and what does it mean to you
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| The cheapest medicine that I have ever purchased |
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Delvin Morgan
From:
Lindstrom, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 1:56 pm
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| Besides being my favorite intrument by far, and I have always wanted to learn it. I have met some great people through the steel. Be it at jams or at my house just jammin' |
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Delvin Morgan
From:
Lindstrom, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 1:56 pm
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| Besides being my favorite intrument by far, and I have always wanted to learn it. I have met some great people through the steel. Be it at jams or at my house just jammin' |
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John Coffman
From:
Wharton,Texas USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 2:20 pm
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It's my enjoyment, stress reducer and my main source fun. I love to spend my past time just playing away.
_________________
ShowPro SD10, Mullens RP, Bose S1 Pro, GK MB200, MB500, Bugera T50 Tube amp with SlidgeRig, TC HOF reverb effect. |
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Delvin Morgan
From:
Lindstrom, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 2:30 pm
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| Sorry about the double post. Please delete one of them. |
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Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 3:06 pm
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Pedal steel to me is my life. There have been many times that I could have quit. These times have been after major operations, as some of you forumites have seen on my website. This is "NOT" a plug from me to get people to visit my site. On one occasion I got nerve damage to my right hand from the medical drug infusions in my neck during an operation. Post surgery after I'd returned home, I could not feel the steel's strings beneath my hand for a long time. Nerves take months to regrow on some occasions, as did in my case. I persisted daily with repetitive practising to the point of picking as I did before the op!! I never once thought of calling it a day and just retire!! ....so this is "MY" answer to this thread!!
Micky Byrne United Kingdom www.mickybyrne.com |
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Bernie Gonyea
From:
Sherman Tx. 75092 ,U.S.A. (deceased)
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 6:24 pm Bravo, Mickey-You've Done Great, Buddy
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Congratulations, Mickey; don't really know how you did this miracle, after all you've been thru;Your guitar, at one point, didn't want you playing; got badly damaged in the fire; and your friend and you brought it back to life, after a major re-constuction job. Just as the good lord did for you. Miracles are fabulous; when there is a positive ending. Good going, Mickey..Your friend on this side of the POND..Bernie 
_________________
2007 Zum S-10; 1967 Sho-Bud [ D-10 ]; 85 S-10 Sierra; 1953 Multi-Kord [ 6 String- 4 pedals ] A Sho-Bro six String Resonator Guitar; Nashville 112 Amp; hilton Vol. Pedal |
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James Cann
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 6:44 pm
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| Deleted |
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Corky Anderson
From:
Alberta, Canada
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 9:52 pm
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Steel guitar, and music in general is more or less my lifeline. I have not considered quitting (not longer than 3/10 of a second), and the day I do quit will be the same day I leave this world. Music has been good to me. I am very fortunate.....life is good! Now if I can just get that cute blonde........
Carter D-10 NV 1000/400 Lexicon Mx 200
Tele...........twin.............boss pedals |
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Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
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Posted 14 Jan 2008 1:24 am
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Thank you for the kind words Bernie. Robert, the cute Blonde "IS" there, just look up from your fretboard at the next gig, she'll be there in the room, believe me. I always look around at each gig Blondes or Brunettes, either for me
Micky Byrne United Kingdom www.mickybyrne.com |
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Jim Walker
From:
Headland, AL
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Posted 14 Jan 2008 6:12 am
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I believe I get tons more respect sitting behind the steel then I ever did fronting the band or playing lead guitar. To me it means growth. Growth as a musician, growth as a human being. Not that I was all that bad before but I think playing steel and hanging around you folks has made me a better person. I thank you folks and all those that came before us that created the steel guitar world we live in today.
JW
_________________
Show Pro D10, Session 400 |
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Joe Drivdahl
From:
Montana, USA
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Posted 14 Jan 2008 6:28 am
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If a steel guitar makes a beautiful sound in an empty room with no one around to hear it, does it really make any sound at all? Of course it does. I don't need some tone deaf audience "listening" (waiting until the steel solo to talk) to enjoy playing my guitar, but it is nice to play with other musicians once in a while. Playing with BIB does get a little old sometimes.
Joe |
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