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Topic: New Member Intro |
Rick Hulett
From:
Hood River, OR
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Posted 24 Apr 2008 12:53 pm |
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Howdy folks, I'm proud to be a new member of the Forum. I recently bought a used Carter Starter and am having a blast trying to figure out which end you blow in. I've been playing guitar for a long time, 44 years to be exact, and it's interesting to see how much translates. I do a fair amount of guitar teaching and I'm having a bit more sympathy for my students now. When I was younger I played in the Joe Ely Band along side Lloyd Maines. That's when I fell in love with the steel. I live in the Northwest now and play in a couple of bands.
www.djangoscadillac.com
http://cdbaby.com/cd/wascobrothers
If anyone knows a good player in Portland that would give me a lesson or two I'd love to hear about it. Thanks and happy to be here.
Rick |
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David LeBlanc
From:
New Brunswick, Canada
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Posted 24 Apr 2008 2:58 pm
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Howdy,Rick.Welcome aboard.If you like steel guitar, this is the place for a ton of information,Have fun  |
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Antolina
From:
Dunkirk NY
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Posted 24 Apr 2008 3:02 pm
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Don't know anyone in Portland but good to have you aboard. Hang out and get to know us. There's a ton of folks in here all too willing to help 
_________________
The only thing better than doing what you love is having someone that loves you enough to let you do it.
Sho~Bud 6139 3+3
Marrs 3+4
RC Antolina |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 24 Apr 2008 3:30 pm
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Welcome Rick,Your name sounds familiar to me? 
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Wally Taylor
From:
Hardin, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 24 Apr 2008 3:49 pm
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Howdy Rick, this is the place to be. Lots of good folks are ready to give you any help they can and all ya gotta do is ask!!
Wally |
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Danny Bates
From:
Fresno, CA. USA
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Posted 24 Apr 2008 3:53 pm
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Hey Rick,
I was having a bowl of Taco Sauce when I read the notes on "The Wasco Bros" site.
It was so funny it made me spit up my "Del Scorcho" all over the Del Taco bag with the empty packets in it!
Welcome to the Forum!
Danny Bates |
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Rick Hulett
From:
Hood River, OR
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Posted 24 Apr 2008 4:27 pm
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Thanks for the welcome. One thing I've noticed is that only certain shoes seem to work. If I wear the wrong ones I'm an even bigger klutz than normal. Do folks have "lucky shoes" just for steel or are maybe all steels designed to be played with cowboy boots? Or does somebody need to invent special autograph pedal steel shoes?
Rick |
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Antolina
From:
Dunkirk NY
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Posted 24 Apr 2008 4:34 pm
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Already yer startin' with a can o' worms 
You'll fit right in.
_________________
The only thing better than doing what you love is having someone that loves you enough to let you do it.
Sho~Bud 6139 3+3
Marrs 3+4
RC Antolina |
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Rick Hulett
From:
Hood River, OR
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Posted 24 Apr 2008 5:19 pm
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| I was afraid of that. |
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Mike Shefrin
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Posted 24 Apr 2008 9:23 pm Shoes
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Rick,
First off- welcome to the forum. Like yourself, I'm also a guitarist (professional for 40 years) that crossed over to the steel. When I began playing, I could only play in slippers. I had a heck of a time trying to play in any other shoes, and cowboy boots were impossible for me. Eventually I got tired of having to change into slippers from shoes every time I wanted to play, and gradually learned how to play in running shoes, and any other shoes. I also finally learned to play in cowboy boots. I wouldn't worry too much about it right now if I were you. Just play in whatever shoes are easiest for you at the moment. You've already got plenty on your plate with just learning the steel itself so hang in there...it takes awhile, and it can be frustrating, but if you persist and are dedicated, and really love the instrument enough then you will make progress, and finally enjoy what you hear yourself playing, and be comfortable doing it. |
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Rick Hulett
From:
Hood River, OR
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Posted 24 Apr 2008 11:24 pm
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Thanks Mike, that's encouraging. Strange, at first I could only play in slippers myself. That seemed to go away after the first week. Now, I can only play in those Croc things. I guess I'll have to work my way up to boots. The other thing that's kind of giving me trouble is the seat. I have an old drum stool that I'm using. It's 18 inches off the ground. When I look at the steel seats for sale it seems like they're all 21 inches. It seems like you'd have your knees up in the gears at that. Does that get better with time or do I just have big knees?
Rick |
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Keith White
From:
Norfolk, UK
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Posted 25 Apr 2008 1:06 am New Member
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Hi there and wellcome to this forum.They are all a great bunch of guys and some ladys too.There is allways help and advice and plenty of good humour.Its a real pleasure to be a part of as we all have a love for the steel in what ever make or form we own.Best regards: Keith white :UK:
_________________
Sho-Bud 'LDG', Sho-Bud 'The Professional', Rains SD10, Fessenden D10, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 500, Peavey 112, Lots of PV PA, And of course, the BJS Bar (for the best tone)! Love all Steel Guitars! |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 25 Apr 2008 5:19 am
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Hello from Austin and I would like to suggest to help you learn quicker. I always would put on Swim Fins for that extra challenge, then when you play with out them it will seem easy.
Ken
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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Pit Lenz
From:
Cologne, Germany
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Posted 25 Apr 2008 5:23 am
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Hello Rick,
Took me YEARS of harmonica playing to find out:
You don´t blow In AT THE ENDS! 
Try to blow in the middle, saves you a lot of breath.....
WELCOME
pit |
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Mike Shefrin
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Posted 25 Apr 2008 8:36 am seats
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Rick,
I never had any problem with the height of my seat which is a Walker, and I doubt that the problem is that your knees are too big. All I can suggest is to try and find a seat that you are comfortable with, able to play on, and one which makes playing the knee levers easy to access. I suppose if all else fails then you might consider trying one of those piano seats that have a knob to adjust the height. They are super comfortable but their drawback is that they're expensive, and heavy, and would be a real pain to transport to a gig. I never heard of anyone having a problem with the height of any of the standard steel seats before. Anyway, good luck with it. I'm sure you will find a solution one way or another.
Mike |
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Rick Winfield
From:
Pickin' beneath the Palmettos
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Posted 25 Apr 2008 9:39 am Hi Rick
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For the last 10 months I've been using a metal folding padded piano bench. It was about $30 at Musicians friend. I think I've raised it to 20 or 21 inches, & my axe is about 25 inches from the floor, to bottom edge of cab.
Good luck, and keep practicing.
Rick winfield |
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Mike Shefrin
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Posted 25 Apr 2008 10:11 am
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Rick W,
Good advice. I was totally unaware that there was a reasonably priced folding piano seat. The one I suggested was one of those black concert piano ones and totally impractical for transport. I learn something new every day.  |
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Rick Hulett
From:
Hood River, OR
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Posted 25 Apr 2008 10:41 am
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| Thanks for sure on that folding piano bench idea. There's an old school music store here and I bet I can pick one up there. I've spent the morning practicing and all the neighborhood cats have petitioned me to take a break. |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 25 Apr 2008 10:51 am
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| Rick Hulett wrote: |
Thanks Mike, that's encouraging. Strange, at first I could only play in slippers myself. That seemed to go away after the first week. Now, I can only play in those Croc things. I guess I'll have to work my way up to boots. The other thing that's kind of giving me trouble is the seat. I have an old drum stool that I'm using. It's 18 inches off the ground. When I look at the steel seats for sale it seems like they're all 21 inches. It seems like you'd have your knees up in the gears at that. Does that get better with time or do I just have big knees?
Rick |
I also started playing in only my socks! Right now I play either in my socks or with my classic Reeboks. I find that having as little upturn in the toe of the shoe as possible to be important.
As for seats, I highly recommend a drum stool with a screw-type of height adjustment. I use a Tama HT730, very comfy!
If you can make it out to the steel jam this Sunday, I'd highly recommend it! Check the event announcements section of the forum and search for "oregon".
_________________
Primitive Utility Steel |
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Rick Hulett
From:
Hood River, OR
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Posted 25 Apr 2008 1:45 pm
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Twayn,
Thanks for clueing me in to the get together in Ridgefield. I'm going to see if I can move some things around so I can make it.
Rick |
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Carl Williams
From:
Oklahoma
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Posted 25 Apr 2008 2:13 pm
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Welcome aboard Rick! As a guitar player already, I'm sure you'll adjust to the pedals/knee levers in no time...I hope that BIG Tuning Wrench will help you with whichever tuning (ET or JI) you decide to go with? Trust me (or do a Search of the subject here on the Forum)the ET/JI saga has been played/rung out numerous times here in River City and I may get "flamed" for even mentioning it!  Anyway, glad to have you join this great bunch of pickers. Carl |
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Rick Hulett
From:
Hood River, OR
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Posted 25 Apr 2008 4:47 pm
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| Uh oh, thanks for the warning. I was just thinking of asking what in the heck a copedant is. Sounds like cough syrup. My curiosity is about to have me looking up ET/JI. |
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