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Topic: I just took the pad off my SD10 |
John Neff
From:
Athens, GA
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Posted 24 Sep 2013 4:52 pm |
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| 8 years ago I went from a D10 to a Rains SD10. There are a few moves that still don't feel as easy as they did before. I think the pad sat higher than the back neck did, or maybe its just that the strings were more elastic, so 30 minutes ago I removed the pad. It looks a little weird. I'm gonna try not to set beers on it and see how it goes. Anybody else done this? |
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Tucker Jackson
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2013 5:13 pm
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Just to experiment, I took the pad off of a Carter SD-10 to see how it would affect the tone of the guitar. I had a theory that removing the pad from any steel would make it more resonate.
Interestingly, it did change the tone -- to a much thinner one that I didn't like. Since I didn't notice improved sustain and it didn't seem to have any other benefit other than being slightly lighter, I put the pad back on. However, I didn't cinch the screws down too tightly because that would probably kill some good body vibration since the pad, unlike a second neck, is a dampening factor -- and there's no reason that the screws need to be cranked down on a pad, IMHO. Middle ground for me: pad on, lightly screwed on. Sounds good.
Please report your results after you've had a chance to check it out. Oh, and I love your playing.  |
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Douglas Schuch
From:
Valencia, Philippines
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Posted 24 Sep 2013 6:02 pm
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Zane King has a video about pads interfering with bar-hand position:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv3ZUhZSKuA
Obviously, not everyone agrees with Zane on this.
My Zum had a narrow pad on the same level as the neck that I removed. Fortunately, it was held on with 2-sided tape, so no holes.
Doug
_________________
Bringing steel guitar to the bukid of Negros Oriental! |
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Jeff Metz Jr.
From:
York, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2013 11:05 pm
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For the longest I thought that the pad was there to be used while playing. Lloyd green I believe was the first to incorperate a pad, and I think it was only for a place to rest his hands while not playing? Correct me if I am wrong.
I once built a pad for a maverick and it was as high as the strings and it was a forearm wrest. That thing worked great while playing. The Sd10 Pads today probably shouldn't be used "While" playing. Just my personal opinion.
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Mullen G2 SD10 , Lil Izzy Buffer, Goodrich 120 volume pedal, Boss DD-7, Peterson Strobo flip, Peavey Nashville 112 |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 25 Sep 2013 3:34 am
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I'm thinking about adding a pad to my GFI SM-10. I need the support for my forearms.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Gerald Shaw
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2013 12:02 pm
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| I did it because I found I was anchoring my wrist on the pad. You want your hand free to move vertically from bass strings to treble and having my arm glued to the pad had me stationary. It also helped my blocking as I could move my hand across the strings without shifting my wrist. I got sick of the bar falling off onto the floor (the pad kept it from rolling off the edge) so I added it back. And I'm back anchoring my wrist on the pad. |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 25 Sep 2013 7:02 pm
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I had a leather shop build me an engraved peice that looked very country. The picking angle is much better SD10 shobud!
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A.K.A Chappy. |
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Zane King
From:
Nashville, TN
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Posted 26 Sep 2013 1:33 pm
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I'm not going to be critical of those who have pads on their guitars only to say it's makes your guitar look like a piece of furniture and clearly there are technique interferences. Now that wasn't too critical was it?
Well, the way I see it I might as well defend what I believe in it. Thanks for passing my video around. I've seen a good number of people follow me in this direction.
RESPECTFULLY
zK
_________________
Zane King
Email: zaneking@me.com |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 26 Sep 2013 1:50 pm
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| I don't like pads at all. My posture in relation to the guitar,,,, don't need to rest my forearms or wrists. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 26 Sep 2013 2:47 pm
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| There are other things you can do if the pad bothers you. Tilt the guitar, raise your seat, or even pull your arms away from your body. (I'm not one who thinks your arms must be tucked in tight to play well, or comfortably.) Do what's comfortable for you! Also, keep in mind that copying another player's ergonomics doesn't necessarily make you play like him, or play better. Different people sometimes have vastly different physiologies, and each has to find what works for him. |
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Ronald Sikes
From:
Corsicana, Tx
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Posted 26 Sep 2013 5:09 pm
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very true Donny . I remember the first time I saw Buzz Evans play . He sits so low to his guitar it looks like he's reaching up . But that guy can really play . Billy Phelps tilts his forward and he plays extremely well also . Whatever works .
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Show Pro #26 & #83,BJS bars,Stereo Steel,Tommy Huff cabs loaded with JBL D130's, Wampler pedals,NV112,NV400, Steelers Choice Seats |
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John Neff
From:
Athens, GA
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Posted 28 Sep 2013 4:03 pm
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| Thanks, Tucker, and everybody. The Rains had its pad-less studio debut today and it sounded great. I had seen Zane's video, and he said what I had already been thinking. I think I'm gonna look for some kind of soft rubber adhesive surface to go where the pad was. |
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Scott Swartz
From:
St. Louis, MO
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Posted 28 Sep 2013 6:37 pm
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This is an unexplored area of steel playing compared to other instruments like violin where there has been analysis over a long period.
The point in Zane's video about a natural left arm position is very similar to lots of other instrument instruction.
The rest is IMO:
However for the right arm the dynamic is different. To pick a string with force and accuracy something must serve as an anchor point that the finger moves relative to.
With no pad, the anchor is the back of the hand on the lower strings ala Zane's video.
With a pad or back neck, the anchor (at least for me)is the underside of the forearm on the back neck strings or pad.
For my right hand, I have better freedom of movement in the fingers with the arm weight or anchor on the pad versus supported on the back of the hand.
Its easy to test this, hold your right arm in mid air, and test finger mobility with your left arm supporting the right forearm vs. the left arm supporting the back of the right hand.
_________________
Scott Swartz
Steeltronics - Steel Guitar Pickups
www.steeltronics.com |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 28 Sep 2013 8:57 pm
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| the edge of my right hand rests naturally on the changer. i wouldn't think you'd want your forearm or wrist lying on a pad while picking. |
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Gerald Shaw
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2013 4:18 am
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| Scott Swartz wrote: |
However for the right arm the dynamic is different. To pick a string with force and accuracy something must serve as an anchor point that the finger moves relative to.
With no pad, the anchor is the back of the hand on the lower strings ala Zane's video.
With a pad or back neck, the anchor (at least for me)is the underside of the forearm on the back neck strings or pad.
For my right hand, I have better freedom of movement in the fingers with the arm weight or anchor on the pad versus supported on the back of the hand.
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For me, it works best if I don't anchor at all. The side of my hand (the karate chop part), gently rest on the strings or hovers above. To me the benifit of not having the pad is that I could move my hand across the strings to block (low strings to high)-the hand floats above the strings so I can block. My right hand doesn't change shape at all, as I move from bass strings to treble. I'm using the old school blocking approach. I could never keep a consistent blocking approach when my hand was anchored to that pad. Moving from low to high strings with my hand anchored,meant I had to change my hand posture, and there went my blocking. Also, for me, sitting up higher worked much better. With my elbow at a right angle, my hand sits right where it needs to be. (though a lot of great players seem to have thier arm going up hill- for me that meant my arm would get hung up on the pad. I wish I could have kept my arm moving across the pad, but I couldnt break the bad habit of locking it down there.
ditching he pad worked for ME. But I see lots of guys who play great using different methods- so I guess there is no right or wrong way. |
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Scott Swartz
From:
St. Louis, MO
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Posted 29 Sep 2013 9:35 am
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I would add that in my post above the word anchor is a very light pressure, and it is instantaneous with the picking.
Then my arm moves floats along the back neck strings to whatever position is needed next.
In Zane's video you see the back of the hand touch down as he picks, then hover, basically the same thing.
I have a Fender 400 S-10, and use the back of hand on the strings as support when playing it.
_________________
Scott Swartz
Steeltronics - Steel Guitar Pickups
www.steeltronics.com |
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steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
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Posted 29 Sep 2013 3:33 pm Steel guitar and furniture look
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| I totally agree with what Zane said: " I'm not going to be critical of those who have pads on their guitars only to say it's makes your guitar look like a piece of furniture..." Just my opinion but with lacquer guitars, in particular, I think pads hide the beauty or all that naked wood. I realize those who use pads obviously have different notions. steve t |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2013 8:59 pm
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For me, a single neck guitar doesn't feel right whether it has a pad, half pad or no pad. I am very uncomfortable on a single neck. I guess this is very strange because I am very comfortable on the back neck which you would think would feel the same as playing a single neck guitar but for me that is not the case.
Jerry |
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