Author |
Topic: Any pedal players in Hawaii?? |
Jim Hollingsworth
From: Way out West
|
Posted 2 Nov 2010 9:28 am
|
|
I hope this isn't sacreligious .... but does anyone know if there are any pedal steel players on the islands? Just curious......
Mahalo nui loa,
Jim |
|
|
|
Mat Rhodes
From: Lexington, KY, USA
|
Posted 2 Nov 2010 5:50 pm
|
|
If memory serves, I believe Jeff Au Hoy owns a pedal steel.
But you're right, it's a sacreligious question. Pedal steel has no place in Hawaiian music. It can't be done "correctly" (cue Baz).
If such a contraption ever has the misfortune of making it to The Islands, it should be pitched into the bowels of Kilauea.
b0b, please delete this thread. |
|
|
|
basilh
From: United Kingdom
|
Posted 3 Nov 2010 2:58 am
|
|
Jim, It's NOT sacreligious, it's an integral part of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar and has been for decades..
Mat, Hi... we've had this discussion elsewhere !!
No problem resurrecting it though..
Pedal steel probably was developed by players that played Hawaiian Style.
Someone said:-
Quote: |
The pedal steel is too bright for Hawaiian Steel Playing |
I believe that is flying in the face of all known facts regarding the use of pedal steel in Hawaiian recordings.
Jeff au Hoy
Beyond the Reef
Is THIS album NON Hawaiian ? "Steel Guitar Magic"
Some of the finest examples of Hawaiian style ACCOMPANIMENT done on PEDAL Steel.
Dahil Sa'yo
Princess Poo-Poo-ly
Flowers of Paradise
Noticeable usage of pedals :-
The intro of Da Hill and also 2:37
The solo in Princess Poo-Poo-Ly at 1:24 to 1:47 AND the last chord at 2:25
The Intro of Flowers of Paradise and the chord changes throughout the fills behind the vocal.
This would (In my opinion) be the definitive example of the Hawaiian Side of the Pedal Guitar, disguised pedal usage, as was the way then.
Basil
BTW In posting these EXAMPLES I am presuming that the readers of the topic honour the fact that they're for EDUCATIONAL purposes only and NOT for distribution etc.
Furthermore I believe that the recognisable signature sound of Hawaii has been promulgated as much by the pedal steel as any other form of the instrument we are all associated with. Being on the inside (So to speak) we tend to forget just what has instilled the "Signature Sound" in the minds of the general public..
Probably the most publicised and purchased products were the Webley Edwards presents "Hawaii Calls" albums, and anything else recorded in that era. The radio shows must have also instilled the sound in the minds of the listeners.
This is a Fender pedal steel just a few days after I first purchased it, Pat and myself
The complete set of tunes from that PRACTISE session are HERE Too bright ?
My favourite from those early days Just trying to learn it
Further to my post, this is PART of the article in the September 2009 issue of Aloha Dream, If you want to learn more and read what Jack de Mello, Webley Edwards and many more world-wide promoters of Hawaiian music and records from the "Hapa Haole" era have to say about the "Signature Sound', then you should subscribe.
Jeff's quote is from This post
My Favourite Castaways era track is Sweet Leilani
My favourite more modern recording of mine..Analani E' - Pua Mana _________________
Steelies do it without fretting
CLICK THIS to view my tone bars and buy——> |
|
|
|
Jim Hollingsworth
From: Way out West
|
Posted 3 Nov 2010 5:35 pm Thank you!
|
|
Thank you Basil for all your well informed guidance! AFter 25 years of spending a great deal of time in Kauai each year I am finally fulfilling a lifelong ambition and am moving there in 2 months. I did bring my D-10 Mullen over last year and it was well received by the local pop & folks players but I wasn't sure how the "Hawaiian" aficinados would accept a haole with pedals. I am hoping I can find a place in their world.
I do own a Magnatone D-8 and plan to use it too! Any recommendations for a second tuning besides the C6 that I am very familiar with??
Mahalo nui loa,
Jim |
|
|
|
basilh
From: United Kingdom
|
Posted 3 Nov 2010 11:45 pm
|
|
Hi Jim, just time for a "quickie" It's 07:41am and I'm heading out for a session..
So second tuning HAS to be B11th
These are the gauges I use:-
Ernie Ball are as good as anything, I usually change my strings on my lap steels once a month and on my pedal guitars once a fortnight and on my 6 stringers once a week.
All wound strings just plain old fashioned 'Nickel Wound', NOT Stainless.
Fender Stringmaster 26" Scale
E13th neck (NEAREST TO PLAYER)
1= E .013
2= C#.015
3= B .017
4= G#.022 PLAIN
5= E .032 WOUND
6= D .040
7= B .046
8= E .054
B11th neck
1= E .013
2= C#. 015
3= A .019
4= F#.022 PLAIN OR 24 WOUND
5= D#.032 WOUND
6= B .038
7= A .048
8= B .068
BASIL 23" Fender 1000, 400, 800 and 2000, for the Fender PS-210 (Keyless) add .002" to all gauges
A7th neck
1= .015
2= .017
3= .018
4= .022 PLAIN
5= .036 WOUND
6= .042
7= .048
8= .054
B11th neck
1= .015
2= .017
3= .019
4= .022
5= .032
6= .038
7= .048
8= .068
These are other gauges I use for 22.5" Scale
D13th
1= D.016 OR .017
2= B.018 0R .020
3= A.020 OR .022
4= F#.024 PLAIN OR .026 WOUND
5= D.034 WOUND
6= C.038 WOUND
7= A.042 WOUND
8= D.068 WOUND OR .070 WOUND
A6th neck
1= E.014 OR .015
2= C#.017
3= A.018 OR .020
4= F#.022 PLAIN OR .024 WOUND
5= E.030
6= C#.036
7= A.042
8= G.048
PAT ACC GT GAUGES (Elixir)
1= .012
2= .016
3= .024
4= .032
5= .042
6= .052
Basil Acc Gt (Martin)
1= .013
2= .017
3= .026
4= .034
5= .044
6= .054
Basil Telecaster 50th Anniversary model (D'Addario)
1= .010
2= .013
3= .017
4= .026
5= .036
6= .046
These are the gauges I use for my Emmons
E6/9
1= F#.015
2= D#.014
3= G#.010
4= E.013
5= C#.015
6= B.017
7= G#.22
8= E.030 WOUND
9= B.036 WOUND
10= G#.048 WOUND
I'm gone out the door, Bye.. |
|
|
|
Alan Brookes
From: Brummy living in Southern California
|
Posted 4 Nov 2010 6:35 am
|
|
Matt Rhodes wrote: |
...Pedal steel has no place in Hawaiian music. It can't be done "correctly"... |
...by the same logic, the electric steel guitar, whether it has pedals or not, has no place in Hawaiian music, since it's not a traditional instrument.
In fact, neither are the acoustic Hawaiian guitar or the vibraphone.
Traditional Hawaiians might even question the ukulele, which originated in Europe.
How far do you have to go back ? Traditional Hawaiians played to drums and archaic flutes. If you go back far enough, the Hawaiians themselves are not native to the Hawaiian Islands... |
|
|
|
Jim Hollingsworth
From: Way out West
|
Posted 4 Nov 2010 7:35 am Mahalo
|
|
Basil.... thsnk you very much for your wealth of information. It is much appreciated.
Alan ..... my original intent was not to play ONLY Hawaiian songs .... some would be great sport, but my interests run farther afield.And having been on Kauai on & off for years I can say that the majority of gigs are the pop, reggae, & folk variety. The traditional stuff is reserved mostly for luaus & family get togethers. So if it is trad I spose I will bring the Magnatone, and for the other stuff - pedals. A LOT of folks on the islands these days are into country. Who'd a thunk it?
Jim |
|
|
|
Dave Zirbel
From: Sebastopol, CA USA
|
Posted 4 Nov 2010 7:39 am
|
|
There is a pedal steel player named Ned Selfe over there. I bumped into him on Maui or Kaui when I was doing some gigs.
There is another guy over there too but his name escapes me. _________________ Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps |
|
|
|
Mat Rhodes
From: Lexington, KY, USA
|
Posted 4 Nov 2010 9:29 am
|
|
Alan, I apologize if the subtlety of my joke was missed. It was directed at the purists. I should have put a second smiley on it. |
|
|
|
Bill Creller
From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 4 Nov 2010 10:58 am
|
|
Yeah Alan, you are right!! The Hawaiians came from another polynesian place,(Bora Bora )? and were guided to the Hawaiian islands by Mano the shark.
And everything was fine until English sailors came, and the natives caught colds from them and died off by the thousands. No immunity from a common cold etc.
That was the beginning of the end for Hawaiians. Seems like there are more Hawaiians (I heard this recently) in Las Vagas than in Hawaii. Hawaiians can't afford to live in their own home islands. Quite sad if it's true..... |
|
|
|
Mat Rhodes
From: Lexington, KY, USA
|
Posted 4 Nov 2010 11:22 am
|
|
edit |
|
|
|
Bill Leff
From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
|
Posted 5 Nov 2010 4:23 pm
|
|
Jim, congrats on the move. Keep us posted on how it goes music-wise for you and the steel guitar. |
|
|
|
Jim Hollingsworth
From: Way out West
|
Posted 6 Nov 2010 5:42 am
|
|
Thanks Bill. It will be an adventure. But what a place to be!
Mahalo,
Jim |
|
|
|
Butch Pytko
From: Orlando, Florida, USA
|
Posted 6 Nov 2010 10:08 am Hawaiian Pedal Steel--Sacreligious?????
|
|
I'm posting this picture of my all-time hero Jules Ah See. Apparently, back in the 50's, Jules had not heard or was not told that pedal steel was sacreligious! Also, when I visited Hawaii in the 60's, Barney Isaacs told me he used a Fender Pedal Steel(owned by Webley Edwards) to record the great classic album "Evening in the Islands". So, additionally, I guess Webley Edwards who was responsible in promoting AUTHENTIC HAWAIIAN MUSIC--for about 40 years world wide & Barney Isaacs, another great steel player who played along side Jules Ah See for years, didn't get the word either, that pedal steel was sacreligious! Sorry, but I couldn't resist posting this!
|
|
|
|