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Topic: Largest Number of Pedals on a Guitar |
Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 9:13 am |
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What is the largest number of pedals and knee levers ever put on one guitar?
I know that one of the Harlin brothers had a steel with two rows of pedals, one behind the other. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 9:26 am
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Al Petty had almost 22 pedals (heel and toe pedals).
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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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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 9:29 am
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
| Al Petty had almost 22 pedals (heel and toe pedals). |
But, didn't he have 4 feet? 
_________________
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 54 years and still counting. |
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Dustin Rhodes
From:
Owasso OK
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 11:49 am
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
| Al Petty had almost 22 pedals (heel and toe pedals). |
First person who came to my mind. I'm sure its like his business schemes too. So complicated only he could understand it...... |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 1:51 pm
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When I first met Al, early 1971 as I recall, he was playing at The Mint in Las Vegas (I was at the Golden Nugget across the street) on a Fender 1000 with either 18 or 20 pedals. Heel and toe style, the guitar was built for him by Gene Fields.
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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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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 2:19 pm
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Anybody remember the guy from around Allentown, PA? He came to St Louis back in the early '80s with a steel guitar laden with microswitches. There was one on each pedal and knee lever, along with small wires that protruded up from the fret board. The bar, string and wire formed a closed circuit at each fret. The whole contraption was connected to a Guitorgan or Chordovox type of device.
If I recall correctly, he was at one of the Thursday night talent searches. So help me, the guy used up his playing time just getting the thing set up. I wish Herby Wallace was still with us. If you knew how Herby could laugh, that was one of his all-time best!
Al Petty on the other hand, was an accomplished musician and could really play well.
Craig
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"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name. |
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Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 3:36 pm
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Alan, PA Bigsby made a T-10 with fifteen pedals for Chief Mack Thomas:
Not quite as slick as Al's guitar, but all cable pull.
Do you have a photo of the Harlin Bros double pedal row that you could post?
FWIW, as a builder, if you don't already have a copy of Babiuk's Bigsby book, I am sure that you would enjoy the photos and drawings.
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"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 4:01 pm
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| Michael Maddex wrote: |
| ...Do you have a photo of the Harlin Bros double pedal row that you could post?... |
No, but I've seen one somewhere. Danny James might know. He's the best-informed person on the subject of MultiKords that I know.
I have to admit that, even with six pedals, I sometimes lose track of where my feet are and hit the wrong pedal. To be able to control all those pedals you would need eyes in your boots.
Maybe a perspex body, or some sort of mirror set up would help. |
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Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 8:31 pm
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In 1973 Julian Tharpe had a single 12 string Wright Custom PSG with 11 pedals straight across the pedal board. 
Roger |
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Eric Moon
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 9:20 pm
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Wow, I am stoked that I am not the first to think of heel pedals!
I kind of wonder why the idea is not more widespread. Any thoughts on that?
Anybody have Al's copedent? Just wondering how he used all that power! |
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Cartwright Thompson
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Posted 26 Oct 2015 12:42 am
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Vance had a few
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Bryan Bradfield
From:
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
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Posted 26 Oct 2015 6:36 pm
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| Al Petty is still alive, and is about half-way through his incarceration time. He has had heart bypass surgery and a pacemaker installed. His current address is available either on his website, or through the federal bureau of prisons "find an inmate" website. He can receive letters. He might discuss his copedent, or perhaps not. |
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Rich Upright
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 27 Oct 2015 2:35 pm
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Once saw Buddy Cage at the Lonestar Cafe in NYC playing a Larry Hilt steel, with 16 knee levers.
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A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 27 Oct 2015 2:50 pm
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| Rich Upright wrote: |
| ...with 16 knee levers. |
Just how many knees does that guy have?  |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 27 Oct 2015 3:04 pm
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| what is al locked up for?? ...steeling?... |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 27 Oct 2015 3:13 pm
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He says the prosecution didn't understand the way his investment scheme worked.
They say he ran a Ponzi game.
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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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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Oct 2015 8:31 pm
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Last time I saw Al was at one of Stoney's shows around Knoxville in the mid '80s. He carried all of his belongings; steel, midi rack, etc. in a motor home. Rather than pay top insurance rates, he simply kept a pet Doberman Pinscher on board.
(In Al's case, perhaps it should be called a Dobroman Pinscher)
He played well at the show, but away from the steel guitar, I believe Al kept beat with a drummer unknown to the rest of us.
Craig
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"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name. |
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Jim Bob Sedgwick
From:
Clinton, Missouri USA
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Posted 28 Oct 2015 5:03 am
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| Eric Moon wrote: |
Wow, I am stoked that I am not the first to think of heel pedals!
I kind of wonder why the idea is not more widespread. Any thoughts on that?
Anybody have Al's copedent? Just wondering how he used all that power! |
Jerry Stevens RIP, bought one of Al Petty's Fender guitars with 16 heel and toe pedals. He told me Quote: " This was the most uncomfortable guitar I have ever played. I had to sit on a piano bench with a cushion under my left leg as it had to dangle above the pedals due to the fact I could not set my foot down as it would activate the pedals. " This design was before the advent of knee levers. (Jerry also played the fire out of this guitar) |
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Mule Ferguson
From:
N Wilkesboro NC,
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Posted 28 Oct 2015 5:35 am
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https://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=EQNV_xi6I2E
Harlin 32 pedal
_________________
Emmons La Grande D10, Zum Encore, Multicord,Marlen S10 1972, Nashville 112, Evans HVP #2, Peavey Profex ll, Martin, Merle Travis D28M Bigsby Neck.
D28 Henderson, Dobro and Tut Bro. Fender Tele, Stelling Stagehorn Banjo |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 28 Oct 2015 10:19 am
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| Mule Ferguson wrote: |
https://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=EQNV_xi6I2E
Harlin 32 pedal |
I watched the video hoping to see a 32 pedal MultiKord, but the guy uses a regular Double-necked MultiKord with no added pedals. In fact he has fewer pedals than my single-neck MultiKords, of which I have three.
He also perpetrates the myth that the pedals can only be used for changing tuning and must be held down throughout the number. That would be very uncomfortable, and if that were the intention then the instrument would have been designed with pedal locks.
You CAN play a MultiKord like a modern pedal steel, but the position of the pedals is awkward. I'm thinking of putting regular pedals onto one. |
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Dustin Rhodes
From:
Owasso OK
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Posted 28 Oct 2015 12:13 pm
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
He says the prosecution didn't understand the way his investment scheme worked.
They say he ran a Ponzi game. |
To me it always sounded like he was just smart enough to come up with the scheme but not smart enough to realize that it was illegal and why. |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 29 Oct 2015 11:00 am
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I got to sit down at Al's Sierra, believe it's the one pictured above. Quite unique and wasn't that hard to play. It was when he was promoting that midi deal that he had.
As far as Al's incarceration, you can Google his whole trial and it's some very interesting reading. I think they just made an example out of him. I've know people who committed murder or armed robbery and got less time.
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Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 3 Nov 2015 5:55 pm
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Deleted
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 7:07 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Eugene Cole
From:
near Washington Grove, MD, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2015 5:11 pm
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| Bryan Bradfield wrote: |
| Al Petty is still alive, and is about half-way through his incarceration time. He has had heart bypass surgery and a pacemaker installed. His current address is available either on his website, or through the federal bureau of prisons "find an inmate" website. He can receive letters. He might discuss his copedent, or perhaps not. |
The Al Perry site: http://www.alpettytrial.com/LifeofAlPetty.html
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Regards
-- Eugene <sup>at</sup> FJ45.com
PixEnBar.com
Cole-Luthierie.com
FJ45.com
Sierra U14 8+5 my copedent, 1972 MSA D10 8+4, and nothing in the Bank. 8^) |
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