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Topic: Beginning of PSG era: converting to PSG |
Butch Foster
From:
Pisgah, Alabama, USA
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Posted 29 May 2003 1:11 pm |
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| I read an article years ago mentioning that at the start of the PSG switch, Lloyd and some others added mechanisms converting their steels to pedal steels- is this correct? Did any of you pickers on the forum do the same? Please share your knowledge on these possible conversions with us-Thanks! |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 29 May 2003 2:13 pm
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| The beginning of the pedal steel era began in 1938 with Gibson. We can thank Alvino Rey. Ten years later, Paul Bigsby made a pedal guitar with 4 pedals for Speedy West in Feb 1948. |
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Paul Graupp
From:
Macon Ga USA
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Posted 29 May 2003 2:17 pm
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chas: Any info on when Bud Issacs got his Bigsby ?? And did Webb Pierce ever get his after standing in line that long.......
Regards, Paul  |
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Chris Scruggs
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2003 10:51 pm
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| Webb found another way. Check the Johnny Sibert topic for the full story... |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 6 Jun 2003 11:50 pm
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Good Thread.
Hey Chas E-mail me, I have a question or two about the steel you made for Murph. |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 7 Jun 2003 8:04 am
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While the pedal steel guitar did indeed predate the classic Bud Isaacs' phenomena, the PSG as we know it today began with Bud's awesome beginning, break and ending of "Slowly" behind Webb Pierce.
Indeed, many of us did use bailing wire, coat hangers and anything else we could find because we simply had to have "that sound". There is no idea how many contraptions were created and used to "push that pedal" during those incredible years that ensued.
The "moving tone" sound that Bud created changed the steel guitar forever. And even today, we still do it, although it is now becoming very "fine tooth" combed. But lest anyone should doubt, it is STILL part of just about every pedal steel guitarist out there.
The PSG that Alvino Rey played and the likes of the Multi-Kords and Gibson Electraharps, has almost NO similarity to the PSG that Bud Isaacs created. The former were strictly used to change tunings instantly OR, play different chord voicings. Alvino Rey epitomized this latter scenario.
What Bud Isaacs did was far from that. He sustained one note while raising one or two notes around it. That moving tone sound IS the pedal steel guitar of today in 99% of the cases. And while today we lower AND raise around sustained notes; that IMO, makes the PSG the most incredible musical instrument ever created.
It has a sound that is truly unique in the world of music anywhere in the world. It is heartbreaking that such beauty is realized by so few.
carl[This message was edited by C Dixon on 07 June 2003 at 09:06 AM.] [This message was edited by C Dixon on 07 June 2003 at 09:12 AM.] |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 7 Jun 2003 10:11 am
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"it is heartbreaking that such beauty is realized by so few"
i like that Carl  kinda like what Winston said about the RAF pilots during the battle of Britain.
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Steel what?
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 7 Jun 2003 11:33 am
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| I have seen old non-pedal steels from the '50s that had holes drilled through the guitar behind the nut. They would stick a piece of coathanger wire up through the hole and hook the strings between the nut and tuner. They would put some kind of pedal on the bottom end of the wire so that they could pull the string with the pedal. The guitars I have seen had the pedal contraptions removed and were back to being used for non-pedal steel, so I don't know how well they worked or how they tuned them. You didn't need a changer, but you couldn't get any lowers. |
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