| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Anyone playing vintage pedal steels on gigs?
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Anyone playing vintage pedal steels on gigs?
Tom Quinn


Post  Posted 16 Jul 2020 5:07 pm    
Reply with quote

I've been watching videos of country gigs from the '50s and '60s on youtube. There are some pretty amazing pedal steel tones on them. I started thinking: anyone here playing one of the early pedal steels on stage? Finger tips, guitars of that era? They sure do sound great.

Lloyd Green could make anything sound great. But I gotta think his old guitar added a bit on this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJQdR0ciwYg

I think this is an older Marlen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBzE6vb9a9I

Thenthere's this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=troL2Toww24


Here's a ZB. My eyes aren't what they were:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYKVb7T1n2I
_________________
I need an Emmons!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Daniel McKee

 

From:
Corinth Mississippi
Post  Posted 16 Jul 2020 6:58 pm    
Reply with quote

I have a Miller D-10 that is a cool steel but I'm not dragging that thing out. Its HEAVY
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
K Maul


From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
Post  Posted 17 Jul 2020 5:57 am    
Reply with quote

Until recently I had a '59 Sho-Bud Permanent. I played it on many gigs. Heavy but not as heavy as my Crossover(pictured in my avatar) which I take out less and less lately. Well....not at all right now! I've giggled with Fender 400s and 1000s also over the years. I love those tones but also love my super modern EXCEL keyless.
_________________
KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
George Geisser

 

From:
Branson, Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 17 Jul 2020 6:28 am    
Reply with quote

I'm not sure if a 1981 MSA UNI is considered vintage enough
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Matt Sutton

 

From:
New York, USA
Post  Posted 17 Jul 2020 9:27 am    
Reply with quote

When there were gigs, I played a ZB of about the same vintage that Brumley plays in that Buck Owens clip. When gigs come back I'll play it again.
It's heavy, beat up, needs constant attention, and I love it to death.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bobby Hearn

 

From:
Henrietta, Tx
Post  Posted 17 Jul 2020 2:02 pm    
Reply with quote

I switch between a 72 and a 75 Emmons depending on the gig and string age.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Colin Swinney


From:
Wisconsin, USA
Post  Posted 17 Jul 2020 8:41 pm    
Reply with quote

Peter Andersson seems to always have a vintage Fingertip or similar. Easily my favorite modern player.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA0Ru_A2Dvg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSjFtccZAbM
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jeff Mead


From:
London, England
Post  Posted 18 Jul 2020 3:17 am    
Reply with quote

I use a 70's Sho~Bud.

No idea if/when I'll get another gig though Sad
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Kenneth Cartright


From:
Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 18 Jul 2020 9:14 am     Vintage
Reply with quote

I have owned two vintage Marlins, a SD10 and a S10. They sound as good as anything out there on my opinion.
Still have the S10 I gig with. Great guitars, way ahead of their time.
_________________
Promat D10, Goodrich, Milkman
NV 400 Amps
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ian Rae


From:
Redditch, England
Post  Posted 18 Jul 2020 9:28 am    
Reply with quote

Didn't those old guitars tend to have single-coil pickups? That would account for the sound, and there were no thyristor dimmers in those days!

I used to have a great old knock-off Permanent but the one time I risked abdominal injury to gig it I got too much shash from the lights.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 18 Jul 2020 9:44 am    
Reply with quote

what are you defining as vintage ? Question
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Jeff Mead


From:
London, England
Post  Posted 18 Jul 2020 10:46 am    
Reply with quote

Ian Rae wrote:
I used to have a great old knock-off Permanent but the one time I risked abdominal injury to gig it I got too much shash from the lights.


I've never done a gig on a big stage and a serious lighting rig with my Sho~Bud but I've never had a problem with my Telecasters or my trap pickups on my double and triple 8s so why would a pedal steel be any different?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Herb Steiner

 

From:
Spicewood TX 78669
Post  Posted 18 Jul 2020 11:31 am    
Reply with quote

For years I played my '64 Emmons wraparound as my main gigging guitar. Only about 5 years ago did I go with Infinity. And there have been a few hardcore western swing gigs in the past decade or two that I've played my T-8 Bigsby, as it was the most appropriate for the engagement.
_________________
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?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Herb Steiner

 

From:
Spicewood TX 78669
Post  Posted 18 Jul 2020 11:47 am    
Reply with quote

Tony Prior wrote:
what are you defining as vintage ? Question


I think that is a variable age, but for me a guitar built in the 1960's or earlier would be considered "vintage."

But I started playing in the '60s. Someone who started in the 90's or 00's might consider steels built in the 1970s as being "vintage."

YMMV
_________________
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?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
John Goux

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 18 Jul 2020 8:16 pm    
Reply with quote

When your steel is older than your kids....
John
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jul 2020 5:25 am    
Reply with quote

I like that one! Laughing
Erv
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Michael Sawyer


From:
North Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jul 2020 11:13 am    
Reply with quote

I play a '58 Fender 400 on stage
4 pedals and an added homemade knee lever
Out of 1/2" copper tubing.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Johnie King


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jul 2020 11:24 am    
Reply with quote

If could play well enough to gig I would choose a old pedal steel with 8 an 5. Bill
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Johnie King


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jul 2020 11:29 am    
Reply with quote

If could play well enough to gig I would choose a old pedal steel c with 8 an 5. Bill
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Kevin Fix

 

From:
Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jul 2020 1:57 pm    
Reply with quote

1980 Sho Bud Super Pro D10, 8+6.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Rich Sullivan


From:
Nelson, NH 03457
Post  Posted 19 Jul 2020 5:34 pm    
Reply with quote

1949 Bigsby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOAKxnLHPbE&feature=youtu.be
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Rich Upright


From:
Florida, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jul 2020 11:59 pm    
Reply with quote

I used to play my '66 bolt-on on gigs, but the bands in my area were not worthy of such tone, so I sold it at tremendous profit.
I do regularly play my '65 Mosrite on the gig, however. No tone greater.
_________________
A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron