Pedal Steel at Harmony Central

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 13 Nov 2000 9:45 am

Someone's been reading our mail!

Check it out:
www.harmony-central.com/Features/PedalSteel/

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 13 Nov 2000 10:23 am

wow, b0b. Spiff!

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 13 Nov 2000 1:01 pm

That's really cool! Maybe I should move to NYC..

Bill Rowlett · Post by **Bill Rowlett** » 13 Nov 2000 4:42 pm

I've been supplimenting my income with it for years - at $20 a week, I'll have one of them paid off in , say, 2006. . .

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 13 Nov 2000 5:24 pm

Makes me want to buy one and learn to play. Oh wait, I do have one and can play (questionable). Man, I told you I hate Mondays.

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Carter D10 8p/10k
Richard Sinkler BS, www.sinkler.com

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 13 Nov 2000 6:27 pm

"after a month of solid practice" WOW! I didn't think it would take that long to master!

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Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 13 Nov 2000 9:23 pm

Howard- in some cases there's such a thing as being "too good"... don't practice for two months straight, you'll outpace your target audience (or the rest of your band); and if you have been playing for years, well, it's all over for you my friend.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 13 Nov 2000 11:06 pm

Mike Bieber,
Great article ! Hopefully it will help a few guys make the jump over to the beloved contraption.

I'm really proud of Mike Daly of Whiskeytown. I found him an old Sho-Bud with the help of Bobbe Seymore. Showed him how to put the picks on and a couple emergency licks. He went right out on the road playing steel in big halls opening for John Fogerty.

There are piles of hungry young musicians that are grabbing steels. I always tell them that if they put in the practice time they will have people giving them plane tickets and money. I have 3 guys I helped out that are living proof that it does happen.

NYC has little to do with it. The fact that these guys love music and go out to hear or play in bands every chance they get has everything to do with it.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 14 Nov 2000 10:07 am

And hopefully one of these young hungries will take the instrument in yet another amazing direction.

I was just bein' cranky, Bob. I played my first gigs after only a month... granted it wasn't opening for John Fogarty in cavernous venues, and I had a long way to go to get near the neighborhood of having any technique.

But I still shudder to think that many will hear some guy who has only played a month (even if it was a well spent month) because of that massive exposure, and think that THAT is great steel guitar, or something like that...

I'm conflicted

[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 14 November 2000 at 10:08 AM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 14 Nov 2000 10:55 am

"It's not just Country anymore"
Thanx 4 the good news b0b.
that's just what is needed to keep pushin the Steel furthur
Thanx Bob Hoffnar 2
Steel thrivin'

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 14 Nov 2000 12:33 pm

But I still shudder to think that many will hear some guy who has only played a month (even if it was a well spent month) because of that massive exposure, and think that THAT is great steel guitar, or something like that...

Sort of like Jerry Garcia?

Duck and cover!

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 14 Nov 2000 12:42 pm

ROTFL

Cyclic redundancy and self referential forum humour... gotta love it....

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 14 Nov 2000 2:27 pm

Hmm....
I guess all those regular guitar players that can't play like Joe Pass should give up.

Us steel guitar snobs should pull over so life will have an easyer time passing us by !

Bob

Mike Bieber · Post by **Mike Bieber** » 14 Nov 2000 7:08 pm

First off, Bob Hoffnar owns the steel scene in New York City, and I run it for him. So beware, all ye New Yawk hatin' tumbleweeds.

In all seriousness, I would like to use this post to clarify some points in my article. Indeed, it was this this very forum, and the realization that a community existed that was bound by love for the PSG, that inspired me to write the article.

Thus, as someone who was simply attempting to farther the cause, it's unfortunate to read such seemingly jaded responses. It is ironic, also, to be met with such feedback AFTER reading anxiety-ridden posts bemoaning the PSG's "death" in country music or the "dearth" of young or (in my case) closing-in-on-middle-age players who want to learn. So, along comes li'l ol' me to share my newfound love for this great instrument with the "outside world," only to be met with such a sorry lot. Fellas, cheer up! You play the greatest instrument in the world!

Allright, so the article perhaps emphasized the instrument's ability to work without confinement to C&W. Apologies it that was interpreted as disrespectful, but the article was meant to appeal to all types of musicians--essentially Harmony-Central's demographic.

Hey, guess what? I did get a call to play "out" after just a month. The spotlight was on ME, and I in fact sounded pretty bad. But I was having the time of my life at a Williamsburg loft party with lots of sexy womans who were diggin' my amateurism.

Granted, the article addressed the $$$ aspect of playing PSG, which seems to be a "sticky" issue among forumites, understandably so. The fact is, I'm learning steel simply by virtue of my love for IT and MUSIC. And not the almighty buck. Of course, I ain't refusing anyone's charity if they can put up with my godawful tone.

In sum, I hope forumites will realize that I wrote with only the best of intentions. And stop bashing on poor old Jerry Garcia.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 14 Nov 2000 8:36 pm

now I remember why I started playing steel guitar!

it was to get girls!!!!

actually it wasn't. I heard a sound and I knew that that is what I had to do come hell or high water. I had no sense of the history of the instrument, or knowledge of the great players. I just heard a sound on a record and it changed my whole life.

I was smug and insensitive and I apologise. sincerely.

I guess the green eyed monster raised it's ugly head.

Here I been dedicating my life to this machine for 30 some years and some kid who wasn't born when my MSA came off the assembly line is opening shows for Rock Stars. Or playing trendy parties for women I just see the likes of on TV.

Well life goes on and my days of possibly acheiving R&R notariety or impressing trendy wimmen are about 150 lbs and 20 years gone.

I could crawl back into my little honky tonk and inhale second hand smoke six sets a night.

Or I can continue to record and play with exceptional musicians, at big clubdates for trendy slinky wimmen, playing with folks like LTH and Bill Kirchen.

either way I'll still be making "that sound" and loving it. and you can too. I hope you grow to love the way you can make the thing do what you will it to do. I hope That the music you make will be inspirational to yet another generation of PSG wannabes.

and I ,of all folks here , enjoy that players are taking it beyond "the confinement to C&W". I've been there, and tried my best to break the "boundaries"... visit my Live365 station http://www.live365.com/cgi-bin/directory.cgi?autostart=moosemuse
and hear for yourself how un-country a steel can be.
I was young once and ain't quite fergot it yet...

go for it.[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 14 November 2000 at 08:39 PM.]

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 15 Nov 2000 8:27 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Hmm....
I guess all those regular guitar players that can't play like Joe Pass should give up.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Listen to Nine Inch Nails and the others playing that type of music. Sounds like they have given up.

Mike, great article and welcome to our forum.

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Carter D10 8p/10k
Richard Sinkler BS, www.sinkler.com

Post by **b0b** » 15 Nov 2000 9:31 am

I need to apologize too, Mike. The truth is, I really enjoyed reading your great article at Harmony Central, and I truly appreciate the exposure. My "Jerry Garcia" comment was intended only as an inside Forum joke - I'm actually a big fan of his. I didn't mean to poke fun at you or your article.

Mike Bieber · Post by **Mike Bieber** » 15 Nov 2000 4:54 pm

I can sleep happy now knowing that I'm okay wid the forumites. But I have a confession: I only mentioned a trendoid loft thing and wild women to get make Dave nuts.

Dave, IT WAS A JOKE! there were no wimmins or heroin-chic models doing the wild thing in front of my S-10. It was me and a bunch of drunken bums (okay, my friends)in some rat-infested bar, and we sounded worse than a Yoko Ono LP at 16rpm in reverse! We started with an audience of 10 but they left before we got to the coda.

Listen, if you want to play in the rotten apple, ya can. Maybe I'll even sublet you my dirty, rotten, filthy apartment. And once you see this place, perhaps you'll be counting the miles back to Doylestown. Remember, the grass ALWAYS seems greener away from our mundane little lives. And while I've never seen where you call home, it seems a helluva lot better than the flaming pit I call home.

New York is drag just like any other place.

Anyway, maybe you guys will have a beer with me in St. Louis. Then again, maybe you'll want to kick my ass, too. 'Nuff said. Sorry for my rambling.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 15 Nov 2000 5:16 pm

Mike, I visit H.C. regularly and it was great to see a steel item - and the first article on the page.

Keep it up and thanks for promoting the steel.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 16 Nov 2000 6:41 am

I only mentioned a trendoid loft thing and wild women to get make Dave nuts.

I feel so gullible

Actually, your description of the first gig sounds very much like my first gig. Sounds a lot like my last gig.

Let's have 2 beers in St. Louis.

IBSG

International Brotherhood of Steel Guitarists
A fraternal organization dedicated to the promotion and perpetuation of the only instrument not found in nature.

Pat Smith · Post by **Pat Smith** » 16 Nov 2000 8:58 pm

Hey Mike....Bob is the man...I have some pictures of Bob Hoffnar tearin' it up in a real Texas roadhouse, believe it or not...Remember the 'real cowboys' Bob???...We had a great time that night

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 18 Nov 2000 2:54 pm

Ooooops. Sometimes we open our mouths only to change feet!

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Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 19 Nov 2000 11:44 am

I loved the article. I also see that an article was in Time this week as well regarding the steel. I did a review of my Mullen D10 (now gone for a Carter) a couple of years ago at the Harmony site. I get emails from aspiring steel players who read this post, asking for advice on steel purchases. I'm excited that we are starting to see a little more interest in this instrument!!!

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Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas
Carter D10/Evans

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 19 Nov 2000 1:47 pm

FWIW - I DID see a pedal steel at Guitar Center once...in Chicago...a Sierra Artist. Of course, I still believe in the tooth fairy as well....

Post by **b0b** » 21 Nov 2000 10:59 am

I also see that an article was in Time this week as well regarding the steel.

WHAT? Are you joking, Steve?