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Topic: Idea to Practice on the Road - Your thoughts |
Michael Strauss
From:
Delray Beach,Florida
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Posted 11 Sep 2007 12:26 pm |
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Hi all,
I have a question and need some advice. I’m learning to play Pedal Steel (Carter S-12U) and am a consultant (on the road 4 days a week). Recently I have been on the road a lot which means I’m not practicing and am not progressing and maybe moving backwards. I’m looking to a travel guitar, but need something really small that would fit in my suitcase. I’ve found a guitar called a Lapstick (www.lapstick.com) . I’ve been in contact with Phil Neal and he is trying a C6 tuning on this 20” long, 17”scale guitar.
My question is this a good idea? Is practicing on tiny guitar and using it as a Lap Steel something worth pursuing?
Any and all opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Michael
_________________
Carter S-12U, Sho-Bud LGD (80's), Fender Jazz King, Korg Pandora Toneworks PX4D, Modulus Q6, Ampeg B5R, Lapstick Travel Guitar mod to lapsteel |
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Chuck S. Lettes
From:
Denver, Colorado
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Posted 11 Sep 2007 12:46 pm
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Hi Michael,
For me, two of the most crucial elements of the steel guitar are bar technique and blocking. Getting a good tone out of your guitar is more important than what tuning you use, plus at least you would be practicing when you travel. I say go for it with the tiny guitar! Best of luck with the steel guitar.
Chuck |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 11 Sep 2007 2:33 pm
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I would think you could buy a regular lap steel for much less money and have something that would work just as well for practicing while travelling. I seem to remember someone had a short little device set up with ten strings and about a 6" scale, just big enough to practice your right hand techniques, but not big enough to make any noise.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 11 Sep 2007 4:45 pm don't really need an instrument
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| Often when I don't have my steel and would like to practice, I'll just draw up a grid on a piece of paper to approximate strings over a fretboard. Sometimes I'll pretend my left index finger is a bar... sometimes I won't and just use my eyes. It's fun to try to work out licks and visualize the patterns while committing them to memory. Then, when you get back to your instrument, it's all there in your brain. |
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John Bushouse
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Posted 11 Sep 2007 9:32 pm
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| Since I'm working in one city for 8 weeks (going home most weekends), I shipped my guitar to the hotel. The hotel holds it for me over the weekends. I bought a Danelectro Honeytone amp plus some earphones. |
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Mark White
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 12 Sep 2007 12:28 am
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| Michael: You might want to post this in the Pedal Steel section. I know someone used to make a 'practice board' for pedal steel players. I thought it was Tom Bradshaw but his site doesn't show it. Someone in Pedals section may know where to get one if they're still made. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 12 Sep 2007 3:16 am
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Practice board:
http://bsgsteelguitars.com/practice.htm
Get a practice board, the Joe Wright right hand book and a metronome. It will help quite a bit. Put 2 or 3 hours a night into it as long as you are stuck in a hotel.
The string spacing on a 6 string is very different than a Carter U12. You could have a steel builder make you something for the same money that would be much more productive. Talk to Don at BSG. You really don't need a pickup so it could be pretty basic and do everything you need.
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Bob |
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Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado/ Lives in Arizona
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Posted 12 Sep 2007 4:26 am
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I travel quite a bit and found that a small lap steel, a Korg Pandora 3 and a Ipod/ headphones (or CD player) work the best for me. This would not help the pedal work but everything fits in a gig bag and travels well.
I download back-up tracks from Band in the Box or practice CD's to the Ipod and play along. My Melobar lap steel should get flyer miles... I have never had a problem getting it on the plane. If I drive I carry a MicroCube.
I did try a practice board but didn't like it at all.
When it's all said and done you want the sound to be real. the practice board sounds awful. (maybe it's just me)  |
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Michael Strauss
From:
Delray Beach,Florida
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Posted 12 Sep 2007 4:32 am
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Thank you all.
I'm sending Don an emil to get the info on his practice boards.
When I was on long term jobs, I used to bring my travel bass (Fernandes) and leave it at the hotel. These days, it only a couple of weeks and I hate checking baggage (airports have gotten tough about more then two carry-ons), so whatever I get has to fit in my suitcase. I really want to learn and get good at PSG.
Again Thank you.
Michael
_________________
Carter S-12U, Sho-Bud LGD (80's), Fender Jazz King, Korg Pandora Toneworks PX4D, Modulus Q6, Ampeg B5R, Lapstick Travel Guitar mod to lapsteel |
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Mark White
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 12 Sep 2007 2:03 pm
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| Thanks Bob, I couldn't remember where I'd seen it. |
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