WHAT made some steel players so GREAT?

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Back when Eddy Arnold was just starting out........
Little Roy Wiggins was his faithful steel guitarist.
When you heard ROY kick off a song you knew you were going to get another ARNOLD hit to enjoy but more importantly, you were going to get to hear some really great steel guitar playing.

The same was true for little BILLY ROBINSON and his guitar picking buddy Grady Martin with the Red Foley contingent. Those Saturday night Grand Ole Opry Shows were fabulous opportunities to hear great steel guitar intro's and solo's.

In YOUR opinion, what set "Little IVAN" apart from his colleagues of the day, fellows like Leon McAuliff, Cecil Campbell, Herb Remington, and countless, long forgotten others?

Was it RCA's method of recording the steel guitar? Was it the OPRY's sound man that held the secret?
Or, was it because so many of the others were playing in DANCE BANDS vs. the popular STAGE SHOWS of Arnold, Foley, and the like?

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

Ray, I don,t think it was so much that they were exceptional players, I truly believe that it was the personal dedication to each other in those times and era. A handshake was worth more and more sincere than a thousand page contract in those days.

That was also the era that baseball and hockey players stayed with the same team throughout their careers. That was the era that marriages lasted until death parted the couple. That was the era that a contract was a loosely worded agreement sought by corporations.

We don't live in a dedicated or trusting world anymore. Shit, even a marriage has a legal contract written into it now.

(By the way, my wife's and my fiftieth wedding anniversary is looking around the corner at us. A young marriage with no contract involved. That's dedication to each other because there sure in blazes is nothing special about me)

Roual Ranes · From: Atlanta, Texas, USA

I think another thing is that they "heard" things the other players didn't hear. It has to be in your head before you can do it.

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

There is also another thing that should be remembered when answering a question like this. In the 40s, 50s & on into the 60s, a signature sound of a band was a big thing and many bands worked and worked to get that particular sound that would set them apart from other bands.

Going back to the likes of Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, Hank Williams Sr., Eddy Arnold, Hank Thompson, Earnest Tub and Marty Robbins, and many others, all had a band sound behind them that was very distinguishable to that band or artist.

Do any of the modern artist have a band behind them that has a signature sound?

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Those guys didn't have tons of CD's and LP's to sit around and listen to before going to a gig. They were lucky just to get to hear one or two songs in an hour by their favorite country DJ.

No Tableture.....to train by....no really progressive
steel guitar teachers in their neighborhood. They were were the TREND SETTERS of the music most of us still love today! True pioneers!

They had to be listening........like a fox in the glen....to hear "that voice"....beckoning to their inner-self.

The sounds of the guitars and amps that they each owned or borrowed.......all had their distinctive sounds unlike the next guy.

NOW, all guitars made to nearly identical spec's and amps included, plus the widespread use of affects boxes.....and ZAPP! They all sound nearly alike.

Joe Casey · From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)

Joe Casey · From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I think Roy was one of the more simplistic (stylistic?) players of the day. He kept it simple, but novel, and it worked well in the "backup musician" role that he occupied. I see (and remember) Herb and Leon much more as instrumental players who were more adept, and liked to lead the band. Roy was probably not as technically sophisticated, but he was a good backup guy with a unique style and sound, much along the lines of Pete Drake.

All IMHO, you understand.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Donny....what did YOU think about Roy's solo's in those many, many Eddy Arnold songs?

They were more than just scattered notes and sour tones with repititious phrasing?

The fellow that played with Porter Waggoner couldn't hold a candle to Wiggins.........always solid, and a joy to listen to.

"I Had One Kiss Too Many" and "It's a Sin" are exampeles, as well as "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S".

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

"WHAT made some steel players so GREAT?"

Originality.
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Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Ray, Roy was a good player, though not one of my favorites of that period. I'm glad he's one of yours! Smile

What Ken said rings more than a little true. Of course, I think it's a little easier to be original in the early stages of any instrument (since there's so few "greats" to copy). There have been so many wonderful "greats" in the last 30-40 years that I think it's proving harder for most players to set themselves apart from the crowd. Most choose either to copy someone else's sound and style quite closely, or to simply add more pedals to get more variety and uniqueness in their sound. But, I do believe that imagination and energy are two keys to originality, and I seem to see very little of those two qualities at steel shows.

jusmy2centswuth

Joe Miraglia · From: Jamestown N.Y.

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Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

I look at Buddy Emmons down through the years and just believe he was destined to be a great steel guitarist. There are others who are probably destined or had such a great desire to be set apart from the rest of the pack. I guess there could be many different answers to this topic.

Joe Naylor · From: Avondale, Arizona, USA

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Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

DONNY.........With all due respect for Roy Wiggins and his creative, original playing, I cannot place him in the same circle as Lloyd Green or Buddy Emmons or the numerous other exceptionally fine SOLO, performing steel guitarists.

HOWEVER his rock solid solo's and great back-up with Eddy Arnold made him an outstanding player of his time. There are many so-called front-line steel players today that can't begin to hold a candle to Roy's outstanding back-up and fills. He was always there in the song when needed and in the background when not. And what he did contribute musically in every song was most appropriate.

When I started out, Roy WIGGINS was clearly an outstanding LEADER of the day.

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