Cowboy Boots

[Don Brown, Sr.]

For what it's worth. I'd say if your steel "fits" you, you should be able to play in any type slipper, shoe, boots (with high heels) or barefoot. If the pedal action is light enough. On the other hand, if your steel doesn't fit you, you'd definitely not be able to play with high heeled boots at all.

Also, concerning folks who play in high heeled boots, having their pedals higher. I've never seen that, nor have I ever changed mine to fit the bill. I think one of the most important aspects of playing comfortable, in anything, is, the steel has to first, fit the player.

I must say though, that I really don't like these new (to me) skinny pedals they've nearly all come out with now. After playing the same steel with wide pedals for years on end, and then change.

The above is only my personal opinions, and probably to many, not a factor at all. Don

[Dave O'Brien]

I've always found it easier cause the heel lifts your foot up so you don't get sore in front part of your leg. Anyway when I switched from bass to steel 34 years ago I already wore boots cause it was the uniform.

[Ray Kedge]

I just love playin in boots and these are gonna be special.

Ray

[Hal Higgins]

Like a few that have posted.....I started off playing in boots (pointed toes) and just love it. I was born with a "club-foot" (a birth defect on my right foot) and so I have to set my VP facing to the NW just to the corner of the pedal rack.....and having the boots helps with the height especially for that......I've never had to re-adjust the pedal height to any great degree from the standard height coming from the factory.....Of course....individual pedal height of AB BC pedals for rocking the ankle will vary.....but I assume all of us adjust that anyway. I can play in tennis shoes or even my loafers, but for the first few minutes, it's uncomfortable....so I usually wind up putting my boots on......For 38+ years I've been playing, and I just feel more comfortable playing in my Boots. IMO.

[Bill Duncan]

Ray,
Is your tone brighter with those boots? Do you have to compensate by backing off on the treble pot? Also, does your speed increase when wearing those red, white, and blue boots?

I've got to have me a pair of those boots! I'm sure that's what has been missing in my tone. All along, I thought it was the rosewood formica.

[Ray Kedge]

Bill,
Think they go well with my Williams D10.

Ray

[Bill Duncan]

Ray,
The Williams is without a doubt a fine pedal steel. However, I don't know if the boots will clash. Is that steel a polkberry color?

Yes, on second thought they will clash.

[Ray Kedge]

Bill,
Maybe they will go with one of these !!!

[Bill Duncan]

I would go with one of those. It is such a drag being poor. All I can do is look and wish!

[Antolina]

I played in boots for years until I saw my hero (PF) playing in sneakers. I made the switch and haven't looked back.

[Chris Schlotzhauer]

I've been playing in boots from the beginning. I wear really pointy boots too. No problems at all. I don't see how anyone can play in soft shoes. My Chuck's as seen in my avatar work OK. You won't see me on stage with them on.
I guess it's whatever you get used to.

[Dan Beller-McKenna]

[Tommy Shown]

It really doesn't bother me, I wear my tennis when I practice around the house, and cowboy boots when I play in public. I guess it comes down to personal preference. What ever you are comfortable with.
Tommy Shown

[Mike Shefrin]

Here's a LeGrande I sold someone two years ago. I kept The Tony Lama vintage boots though.
They don't make the stitching on their boots as nice as they use to. When I started out I could only play in slippers.
Now I can play in boots, running shoes, or whatever. I find boat shoes to be real comfy and the easiest
to play with although I can quickly adapt to almost any shoe or boot.

[Michael McNeill]

I wear boots all the time. When I played an older classic pedal steel, I had to wear boots because the pedal action was not as smooth as the steels being made today.

Now I can't "feel" the pedals wearing Cowboy Boots. I have GFI that I could play barefoot. My Carter is almost the same. The boots look much cooler but the music suffers.

Happy New Year Y'all

[Alan Rudd]

Most of my boots are at least 15 years old, so I went out and bought a new pair of Justins J-flex with a double welt sole (double stitching) and they are much too bulky to play in. I usually find my house shoes are the most comfortable around the house to play in.

[John De Maille]

I wear boots when I'm playing a gig, always. Been doing it since I first started playing steel. I've experienced that rocking my foot and pivoting my foot to be much easier. Especially with boots with an undershot heel, which, all of mine have. Around the house I like to wear mocassins, though.
I once did a studio gig wearing work boots. I had to be there right after work and forgot to pack my "other" boots. It was a real challenge, but, I got the job done. So, it goes to show you, that, the steel can be played in all assorted footwear. It's whatever makes you feel comfortable, but, my first choice is "cowboy boots".

[Jim Sliff]

I can't wear cowboy boots - I've never found a pair that fit my wide feet, and I can't stand the high-heel. I've had a couple pairs I HAD to wear with certain bands, but simply hated 'em (bad enough on stage, but I couldn't walk 100 yards without wanting to take 'em off and throw them!).

And playing steel I can't even fit under the things with boots - my legs are too long and my Fenders don't have the same kind of leg adjustments or lift kits available as "modern" steels; even with my GFI, which has a lift kit, I don't fit if I use a volume pedal!

I'll stick with a pair of Vans, or moccasins, or boat shoes. There's a nice tactile-feel with soft-soled shoes that's also totally missing with boots.

[Pat Carlson]

You are Out of uniform with any thing but Cowboy Boots! I like the heel to me they are the easiest thing to play in!

[Jim Sliff]

You are Out of uniform with any thing but Cowboy Boots

Maybe in some country circles, but in most circumstances I'd probably out of uniform IN them!

[Zeke Cory]

Either Moccasins, sneakers, or those black canvas top - rubber bottom slip-on type shoes. You can really feel the pedals with these on. I have tried but couldnt get any feel with any type of hard bottom shoes or boots. Just me by any means. Zeke

[chris ivey]

i got sucked into the cool, romantic vibe of the hip country steel players from years back. especially the uniformed buckaroos and twitty birds. then the new riders when buddy cage still wanted to look cool with short jacket and boots and hair. i've always worn tall pointy boots cause they look great, feel good and work perfectly for me on steel. i know lots of old pros now carry on with tennies...like paul and buddy. maybe if i were that good i wouldn't care, but i love the look of boots..it's kind of traditional to me, and if you can't understand that, you just come from a different developmental background than i do.
there is a picture of john hughey in winnie winston's old book..john's sitting at his wood neck emmons with his short country jacket twitty bird suit on, looking like the baddest steel icon in the universe! you can't see his feet, but i would assume he's wearing cowboy boots.

[Bryan Daste]

The first few years I played steel in sneakers, and over time I developed chronic pain in my left foot arch from rocking the pedals. Lowering the pedals helped, but what really solved my problem was getting a pair of boots. I use Frye harness boots with a square toe:



I did have to adjust the pedal height a little when I switched to boots, but now I never play in anything else. If I do try to play in sneakers, the pain comes back pretty quick. Plus, wearing boots (especially onstage) makes you feel like a PRO!

[John McClung]

I often take boots to a gig just for dancing on the breaks. But for playing, comfortable street shoes have more ankle flexibility than any cowboy boots I've tried. Like many of you, I agree that the more you can "feel" the pedals, the better you can play.

[Roger Rettig]

Any regular shoe for me and, when I'm at home, bare feet are fine, but I can't stand cowboy boots! They're almost impossible to walk in - I feel like I'm going to fall forward all the time - and I get a crick in my ankle if I try to play steel in them.

When I first emigrated to the USA and got my first gig in a theatrical show ('Always - Patsy Cline' at Roanoke, VA for a three-month run) I was loathe to 'rock the boat' and defy the Costume Designer, so I suffered for the first two weeks wearing the boots she'd forced on me. I soon learned to assert myself, however, and nowadays I'll state clearly at the costume fitting that I "...can't play in 'em!!!"

Ray Kedge - what about the colour of that Williams????? Clearly you have no lack of self-confidence - just like me when I wear one of my pink golf-shirts! "If it's good enough for Arnie.....", etc, etc.