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Topic: Why Restrict a Band to Just One Steel Guitar? |
Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 9:23 am |
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Tell a jazz band that they can only have one trumpet player, or a symphony orchestra that they can only have one violinist, and they will think that you're crazy, but we seem to have accepted that a band only needs one steel guitarist.
It's my opinion that when someone is playing the melody on steel he is taking the vocal part, so a second steel guitarists putting in all the fills that you would with a vocalist would fit in well. This works particularly well with Hawaiian music.
And remember, that if people got used to every band having multiple steel guitarists there would be a lot more work out there.  |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 10:19 am
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Jim said
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and they ask in response: Why so many?
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Jim - it would get a number of panhandlers off the street & open up a few spots on the corners for others to sell pencils out of a tin can in SF    |
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Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 11:49 am
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| At one time, Hank Thompson had two steel guitars in his band. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 12:16 pm
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To anyone familiar with the artist and his touring band at the time, it's possible it was the only song during the evening where both Eric Heywood and Greg Leisz were featured on pedal steel concurrently but nevertheless, here is Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs from a few years ago performing God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVUL6KI8INs
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Mark |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 1:50 pm Re: Why Restrict a Band to Just One Steel Guitar?
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| Alan Brookes wrote: |
...but we seem to have accepted that a band only needs one steel guitarist.
...if people got used to every band having multiple steel guitarists there would be a lot more work out there. |
Evidently, "we" is not "people". |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 3:13 pm
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It can be done, and has been many times, but with great care, discretion, musical generosity, and discipline.
On the other side, quoting my late friend and mentor Jimmy Day, "having two steels in the band is like having two Hammond organs."
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My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 3:16 pm
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As in "pretty damn cool, as long as they stay out of each other's way"?
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 3:53 pm
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| Every band needs a "steel section " |
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Bill Moran
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 4:46 pm Re: Why Restrict a Band to Just One Steel Guitar?
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| Alan Brookes wrote: |
| Tell a jazz band that they can only have one trumpet player, or a symphony orchestra that they can only have one violinist, and they will think that you're crazy, but we seem to have accepted that a band only needs one steel guitarist. |
More than one lead guitar or one steel would create , as Clint Eastwood would say, " A Cluster F "!
I have seen it tried. 
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Bill |
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 5:00 pm Re: Why Restrict a Band to Just One Steel Guitar?
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| Bill Moran wrote: |
| Alan Brookes wrote: |
| Tell a jazz band that they can only have one trumpet player, or a symphony orchestra that they can only have one violinist, and they will think that you're crazy, but we seem to have accepted that a band only needs one steel guitarist. |
More than one lead guitar or one steel would create , as Clint Eastwood would say, " A Cluster F "!
I have seen it tried. |
Bill - I strongly agree with you and Clint.
RC |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 9:14 pm
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| At the Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, there are two steel players named Gary and Martha Brown. Gary plays a Zum and Martha plays an Emmons |
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Marty Rifkin
From:
Santa Monica, CA
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Posted 7 Jul 2014 10:34 pm
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| At the Barn Dance in L.A., JayDee would sometimes sit in with us on pedal steel. Since I played standing up (double 8 Stringmaster) I had a bird's eye view of his hands. When he'd go up the neck, I'd play low and vise versa. The combination of pedal and non-pedal was a really cool combination. |
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John Lacey
From:
Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 8 Jul 2014 2:53 am
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| I play in a Calgary band called Spur Crazy and the leader of the band loves steel (plays one at home). When came into the band they already had a steeler (Tim Jeffries) but he suggested bringing me in so they did. Unfortunately, we can't get together to rehearse some twin stuff but thru repetition we're starting to play together after half a dozen gigs. It definitely takes some heads up and open ears and putting down of the bar to leave open spaces. We usually have about 4 leads in the band, so it's discipline and caring from us all. So far, so good. |
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David Cubbedge
From:
Toledo,Ohio, USA
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Posted 8 Jul 2014 8:05 am
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Never had any luck at all with additional steels, but to be fair I've never been in a rehearsed situation with another steeler. Most of the time the players are just all overplaying, myself included. It would take a lot of practice and discipline to make it work, which is probably why it doesn't happen often.
The first track on the Emmons Tribute CD is proof that it can happen with good effect...
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Red Emmons D10 fatback #2246D with sweet Hugh Briley split cases, Black Emmons S10 #1466S, '73 Fender "Snakeskin" Twin Reverb, Peavey Nashville 400, Line 6 Pod XT, Fender 400, Fender Stringmaster Double-8, too many guitars, one bass! |
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Smiley Roberts
From:
Hendersonville,Tn. 37075
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Posted 9 Jul 2014 3:28 pm
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When I worked with Jimmy Stephens in Wheeling W.V. (W.W.V.A. Jamboree) he used "Big Jim" Murphy & me. When I worked w/ Tommy Overstreet,he used Jimmy Crawford & me. I learned a BUNCH of stuff from both!! I miss both of them immensly!!  |
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Zeke Cory
From:
Hinsdale, New York USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2014 10:49 am respectfully disagree with - Its a Cluster ****
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| I very often play in bands who have another steel player and myself. It is both challenging and enjoyable, and I always learn something new from a different steel players perspective. Some bands even seemed thrilled to have two steels. More-over - its a very good lesson on how to play with another steel guitar player as well as how to play with other lead players in general. Also, Playing with two steels in the band with help you learn to compliment one another given the comparative similarities of the same instrument. I will, however, admit that it would become a cluster **** if one of the steel players is the type who starts playing and doesnt ever stop, but that is true of any lead instrument in the band. And I have worked with some of those as well. Then, I just do beds all night, get paid and go home. And - Dave, (excluding a personal solo), just keep in mind that a steel or any lead instrument needs to be hot only 8 bars at a time, (for both backup or lead), then let another lead take over. It will soon become second nature. Just another perspective to consider. Best Regards. |
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