An Incredible Picker, But....

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

He/she is an incredible "picker", but the total sound leaves much to be desired. "Cheesy" sound effects, effectively cause a divergence from the euphonic qualities heard in stylistic steel guitar entertainment. Is this complaint justifiable?

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Since I began listening to instrumental steel recordings about 3 years ago, I have on more than one occasion purchased a CD (performance, not instruction) only to discover that it has really cheesy effects on the steel, and even worse, fake instrumentation. Some of these recordings are just weird-sounding. Some if it even borders on creepy. I think the attempt in the 70's to bring the steel into the mainstream by putting six-string effects on it was misguided. I don't understand the desire to make the steel sound like another instrument.

While we're talking about it, I would also like to say that the fake string sections do not enhance an instumental steel recording - much the opposite, actually. They are distracting and a disappointment when they invade the mix. The best steel recordings have a real band with real instrumentation - bass, drums, fiddle, guitar, steel and piano. Even the washed-out background vocals that "let you know what tune it is" are not necessary.

All of this is only opinion, of course. There are so many of these CD's out there that I'm sure many here disagree with me. But I do believe that steel insturmentalists would enjoy a larger audience if some of the material wasn't readily dismissed for unnecessary reasons such as tacky production.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Bill - yes. I've heard many "hot" players with horrendous tone, whether on steel or any other instrument. And it's a terrible distraction.

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Yes Bill, it is justified by each of us being justified and allowed our own opinions.

There are a couple artists that I don't and won't listen to simply because they chose to be a sideperson for an act that I don't like. I turn them off before I get to the best steel part.

Maybe it's a personal thing, or a personal distaste for the kind of car the player drives..

I don't need justification. Nobody does.

OTOH, sometimes a musical snippet, ride, instrumental or whole ensemble is so taltalizingly tasteless, or hauntingly horrible that it pervades your inner being, and apon reflection, you seek to sate yourself with it yet again like they say in proverbs..

Some things I've listened to for years on that account.

EJL

PS/ Players that ask for input on the things they play cannot complain about what opinions are proffered in response with any justification.

Billy Wilson · From: El Cerrito, California, USA

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

I think steel players individually and collectively tend to have an inferiority complex, partially justified, and partially not. Many steel players are left out of band arrangements, but it's because they just can't play the parts, all they can do is "rides." If your band is going to play "Sweet Home Alabama", learn the guitar parts and the solos, right? (please don't stomp on a chorus, in the expectation that it will improve your "ride"....)

Somehow, it also seems as though the guitar players and singers have convinced steel players that they don't deserve any of the mid-range either, and that the guitarist gets to hog it all. Maybe it's it's because they're old and fat, maybe it's because they're sitting down, but the steel players even have special amps designed to eliminate the most appealing and musical part of the tonal spectrum. Oh now I'm mad, hand me my fuzztone....

I do agree about the cheesy steel instrumental albums, but you have to remember that most steel players don't have the budget to hire real musicians, they've spent all their money on fuzztones. Even regular guitarists require BOTH great skill and really strong material to stay interesting for a whole album, like Steve Morse, Julien Kasper, or the trio of McLaughlin, De Lucia and Di Meola. I have to skip through at least half of every Eric Johnson, Wes Montgomery or Robben Ford album, for example. And jazz saxophone players all sound alike....

The (lack of) strength of the material is more killing than the effects, I think. I've given away several copies of Dave Easley's "3now4" to musicians, and they always comment on how good the music is, totally besides the jaw-dropping steel technique. The main reason Perlowin's stuff stays so listenable to me is the strength of the songwriters he use - Stravinsky, Bernstein and those kind of guys. If I see that a CD has both "Sleepwalk" and "Perdido" on it that's pretty much a deal-killer for me - if that Earnest Bovine fellow would ever get around to making his "Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin" CD, I'd buy half a dozen....

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Searching for probabilities or reasons for a lingering dissatisfaction, that something is amiss in the tonal musical output, can be a trying experience. The trite utterance, " Can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear", applies with no uncertain terms. The same basic generalization stands firmly in place, when inferior equipment is regarded as adequate, to obtain the captivating and elusive smooth productions of well established steel guitarists. There remains an imposing heap of nonsense in trying to overcome the odds of ever meeting a criteria that far exceeds faulty equipment.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

How about when the player who basically has "Accentuated the natural tones" ( being kind here) asks you how you like his or her SOUND and are very excited about it ...

now what...?

"You play great but I couldn't listen because it sounded like Crxp" ?

I think not...

We were at a club not all that long ago seeking a gig, there was a band with a gal singer that we knew of but never heard. Being kind, she was not the worst singer but far from the..,,uhh..best..

At the break she comes over to us to hang out then all of a sudden aks..

"How do you like my voice " ?

no joke..truth...

I made like I didn't hear her and Bolted..I left the guys to deal with her...

I may have been born in the dark, but it wasn't last night !

T

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 21 November 2006 at 10:26 AM.]

Scott Shipley · From: The Ozark Mountains

Yes, it is a valid complaint. However, you hit the nail on the head...."entertainment." Not everybody considers the same things entertaining. I don't think it's the effect or tone or gadget-du-jour, so much as the application thereof. Just my opinion.

Dave Van Allen · From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth

"Nice legs...shame about her face."

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Dave Van A.,

Many gallons of water have swirled under the old bridge since your last visit to this area of Berkshire County. You proved to be a real trooper at the National Music Foundation, when you gave a great performance in spite of not feeling well enough to play. You were surrounded by 4 steel guitar players who were very adept at playing uptempo music. You took everything in stride, and blended your expertise with amazing skill, when the rotating jam session called upon you to "go for it". Thanks Dave...

Dave Van Allen · From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth

thanks Bill, for remembering. It was the Dayquil...

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

The state of Rhode Island should be very proud of a steel guitarist, by the name of Jay Andrews. He is a remarkable player who's style befits that of upper echelon levels. He's left his home state, and has been living in the Nashville, TN area for a number of years. Sources that will lead you to his "noteworthy" appearances on major TV broadcasting networks this fall, as he has been backing the sweet lady who sings "My Red High Heels", are becoming more prominent. He has appeared on The "Today" show, and Jay Leno (Sp.) show this month. In December, he is scheduled to appear on the Martha Stewart, and Ellen D.'s shows. I'm wondering who might be catching Jay's appearances of late. When he backed Johnny Paycheck, I was convinced that his valuable contribution to artists' vocalization is "noteworthy", and is distanced from mediocrity.

Herbie Meeks · From: Arkansas, USA

Hey, Boys, it's hard to be humble when you pick like me, nothing but a Volume pedal, and a ,El-Cheapo Amp.
( Just rattling your chains )
All those "Gizmo's" to make a steel sound like an Organ, probably only pushed the Steel in the background, where the listener does not know what they are hearing,
Where would some of the all time Classics Hits be, without the Old 6 and 8 string Steel
sound, selling the songs,
The audience, knew what they were hearing
The first 6 string,E. tuning,Electric Steels
No Gizmo's, Was, in my estimation, the biggest factor that made some super stars,
When, Hank and Lefty, was on ever Jukebox.

Herbie

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Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

TP .. it sounds like she was a "butter voice"

Ron Sodos · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I have an interesting solution, "Don't play Sweet Home Alabama!"

Joe Casey · From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)

Bill ,Right you are about Jay. I ran into him last Sept in Nashville the night before Smiley and I drove to the St. Louis show. The long hairs gone from the Paycheck era. He stopped in, had a drink with Smiley and I as he was doing the rounds on Lower Broadway. A few other Rhody boys are still in Nashville also. Kieth Bradford has a recording studio in Madison although not on the road anymore, is doing great.

[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 23 November 2006 at 06:34 AM.]

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Joe, thanks for the update! I hope you enjoyed the Nashville tour with Smiley. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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