Clueless Beginner..help?

Larry Otis · From: Napa, California, USA

Been playing guitrar and slide/lap steel for 40 years and I'd like to make the leap into pedal as the band I'm in can't afford another member. What's a good, solid beginner's rig? Hop many floor/knee pedals? Videos?? anything that would help would be mucho appreciated. Larry Otis

Frank Estes · From: Huntsville, AL

It depends how much you have to spend. You can get used pro-level steel guitars etc. at very good prices. You are better off doing that than buying a new student model, IMHO.

David Weaver · From: Aurora, CO USA

Larry...

I'm a relative beginner with a few clues. (Two or so years at it).

Guitar: Carter Starter or Sierra Artist are two good pro-capable starter guitars. About 70% of plays play in the "Emmons" configuration, the rest in "Day" configuration. To go with the flow, order it "Emmons"

Pedals: You want a single neck E9th tuning 10 string guitar with three foot pedals and three or four knee levers. Get a double neck if you can get a deal on one or if you are a fast, fast learner. The C6th neck is an armrest for many medium skill players who are getting started.

Videos: You want Jeff Newman's AB pedal course and you probably want his Alpha Right Hand course. Lots of courses out there. The Joe Wright comprehensive course will be something to consider after you get going. Also more of Newman's stuff.

An underutilized and very inexpensive "helper" are Chuck Lettes's services. I have not used him nearly enough, but I have been very happy with all the stuff I got from him. He has a million songs with pretty easy tab and play along tapes. They are inexpensive. don't overlook his stuff especially if some of the songs on his list are what your band plays. When you first order from Chuck he will give you some blocking exercises, etc that will help you.

This forum is an amazing resource if you use the search feature and look for stuff in tabulature.

Other good advice by those with more experience is sure to follow.

I love, love, love, to sit and play the steel. It is one of those things that's a blast. Be patient..make slow improvement..and one day you will jump from your chair with joy when you finally hit a sound that you want.

Good luck

Ziggie · From: Freeland, Mi. USA

I would recomend one of the lower priced GFI pedal steel guitars. I have a ShoBud and a GFI and they are both set up the same. The GFI is light, easy to carry around, sounds great and plays great. It plays as good as any steel I've worked with and is very reasonably priced for what you get. It's not like my ShoBud but then again neither is the price. My ShoBud stays in the studio and I use the GFI for gigs and it works just fine. Good Luck!

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Don Zeitler aka Ziggie

Glenn Austin · From: Montreal, Canada

I would recommend a good used pro model single neck guitar with 3 pedals and 4 knees. You are only going to want that eventually anyway, plus
a good used guitar doesn't really depreciate in value the way a new one would. If things aren't working out and you need to unload it, a pro model is much easier to sell. Next would be a Peavey amp like a Nashville 400 or 1000, both of which can be had used for a reasonable price. I highly recommend Scotty's books from Mel Bay. They start you off with simple little tunes and licks, and shows you where to find chords, nothing too overwhelming to start, a great confidence builder. Good Luck

Steve Schaefer · From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA

I would NOT get a Carter Starter, particularly if you are going to be playing out with it. I am playing a Carter Starter now and wished I would have saved up for a better guitar. There are some mechanical things I do not like about it, but the tone is my biggest complaint. A friend of mine has a Emmons that he plays through a Nashville 400 and a Boss delay. Playing his guitar I almost sound good (not as good has him), but playing the Carter Starter through his rig, there is a laughable difference. What I have learned in the short time I have been involved with psg is you get what you pay for. Play as many guitars as you can before you buy, they all sound different.

PS This has nothing to do with the people that make and sell the Carter, they have always been helpful and friendly, and I under stand that there pro modals are good guitars.

Steve

Jim Eaton · From: Santa Susana, Ca

Fessenden!!!!!!!!!!
JE:-))))))>

Joerg Hennig · From: Bavaria, Germany

I understand you want to augment your band with steel as soon as you possibly can. Therefore, I´d go with a used pro model instead of a "student" model; it looks better on stage

All the instructional material mentioned above sure is very good, but it won´t hurt finding a competent live teacher, also regarding the fact that you want to start performing soon; a real live person can help you to clear things up in case you don´t readily understand something. And, by all means try several different amps instead of settling for a Peavey right away; MAYBE you´ll find that you like a different sound better...

Good luck, Joe H.

Bobby Snell · From: Austin, Texas

C6 an armrest? Hardly...and if any experience with a 6th tuning from lapsteel, a single-neck will probably not keep you satisfied.

Used Pro model doubleneck won't go down in value. Standard set-up, 8 & 4, should be a good start. Good luck...but with lots of slide/lap steel experience, you should take to it quickly!

Gary Glisson · From: munford, tn 38058

hi larry , i agree with bobby after playing pedal steel for 25 years,dobro for 30 years ,playing professionally as a road musican, and living and playing in nashville. get you a good used pro double neck i love the stainless steel necks but other pickers like the old wood necks, but whether you buy a sho-bud ,emmons (legrande),mullens,carter,mooney,or zum,gfi steel. get a double neck with 8 pedals and at least 4 or 5 knee levers with some jeff newman courses and find you a teacher there in california you will quickly pick up the basic's in 6 months to a year. then you can drop to the C6th neck and play some great tunes. your goal is practice,practice,practice which most people don't do .you must be able to play licks and runs and fills without even thinking about it, like tying your shoes. no when to play and when not to play. playing all the instruments you name, you should have, basic music theory down and scales, so your ahead of the game now you have to learn pedals,knee levers and neck positions and string groups. yes c6 th is a little harder than e-9th but if you have the time to apply your self it will be far from a resting area for your arm.
good luck e-mail me any time gary

Bobby Snell · From: Austin, Texas

I'd like to add that I wasn't disagreeing with David Weaver, who made a valid point that the C neck is neglected by many. Just that in Larry Otis's case (decades of slide and lap steel), the range a double neck offers is nothing to fear.

I played equal parts lead, slide and pedal for 15 years, on a single neck 3& 1...admittedly, some diferent tunings through the years looking for more range and thick chords (wish there was an internet back then!). And interestingly, after I got my first double neck about 10 years ago, some of the most valuable information came from a Maurice Anderson article (Steel Guitar World #2 or 3 IIRC) on the universal tuning. The two tunings so easily combined in a universal tuning are actually very closely related, and I recommend using some of the universal learning material to understand that relationship.

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