When You Think Of Speed...

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 13 Feb 2009 9:45 am

For your own sake you really might consider giving this a rest; you’ve only succeeded in proving Stephen Silver’s point over and over:

No this thread is not about speed picking. Like all posts eminating from hankeyland, it's all about him and whatever he deems worthy of writing. He most often hijacks his own threads…
One would surmise that is due to the need to be the center of attention and one who professes to know it all.

Jerry Fleming · Post by **Jerry Fleming** » 13 Feb 2009 10:25 am

Bill,

I apologize for hijacking your intriguing thread and expressing my worthless off topic opinions.

Several have asked for examples of your work. Is it unreasonable to ask again or are you just full of hot air? If I were a betting man I would chose the latter.

Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge.

Jerry

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 13 Feb 2009 10:59 am

Insipid noodling, no matter how fast, is still insipid.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 13 Feb 2009 11:12 am

Jerry,

Have you ever heard the trite expression, "Where there's smoke there's FIRE?" Before you get too involved in making poor judgment calls as Peter has been doing, try to remember the words that I've stressed. I reminded Peter that I had arrived.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 13 Feb 2009 12:23 pm

Peter,

If you will, "pardon the pun", "I'm just "gonna" play it by ear." I can't enjoy a band that keeps repeating numbers one thru five during a broadcast.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 13 Feb 2009 1:45 pm

Barry,

I've read your input on various subject matters. You don't seem to have a problem with what this thread is about. May I remind you, Peter F., and others, that there are those pickers who would have contested the threads concept, had they thought it to be insipid.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 13 Feb 2009 4:35 pm

For the benefit of those just starting out on the steel, or those who plan to secure an instrument, I wish to explain my comment to Peter Finney. I'm sure he knows what I mean by saying, "I've arrived." I've met hundreds of folks who make a game of playing "dumb". He's one of them when it comes to trying to get a point across. It just won't come close to happening. "I've arrived" simply means that I've reached a level of playing that satisfies my expectations after years of practice. Peter simply has nothing to complain about. He is in a lively circuit, according to sources.

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 13 Feb 2009 5:02 pm

...has nothing played musically that I desire.

Unfortunately, Pete and many others can't say the same about you since your alleged musical expertise/knowledge is nothing more than lip service.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 13 Feb 2009 5:21 pm

Gary,

Simply put, that is a false statement.

John McGlothlin · Post by **John McGlothlin** » 13 Feb 2009 5:27 pm

Removed

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 13 Feb 2009 5:34 pm

When it comes to speed, there was no one who matched the talents of Mark Donahue. One of the smoothest performers ever, he could shift gears from a standing start to full throttle without so much as a bead of sweat. Watching him was a pure delight. And a generous and very nice man.

SS

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 13 Feb 2009 5:36 pm

BH, I have a sincere question for you, serious in nature.

Are you a masochist?

SS

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 13 Feb 2009 5:59 pm

SS,

Nope.. I know when I've had enough, although I don't get myself in a position to be abused. Certainly not by a layman like you. Sorry b0b, he asked for it!

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 13 Feb 2009 7:09 pm

Bill Hankey wrote:

"I've arrived" simply means that I've reached a level of playing that satisfies my expectations after years of practice.

Bill, some people are more easily satisfied than others.

Peter simply has nothing played musically that I desire.

I guess then that you don't like what he's doing with Patty Loveless, for instance.

Barry,

I've read your input on various subject matters. You don't seem to have a problem with what this thread is about. May I remind you, Peter F., and others, that there are those pickers who would have contested the threads concept, had they thought it to be insipid.

Bill, this thread, thanks to you, has been about many different topics, some insipid, some not. I've been tempted to ask those who would play fast just for the sake of playing fast - when you hear a beautiful ballad played with taste and tone, are you tempted to exclaim, "I wish I could play like that, and then I wouldn't."

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 13 Feb 2009 7:20 pm

ya know hankey, I've never laughed with you, just at you. You a funny boy.

SS

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 14 Feb 2009 4:18 am

SS,

I'm not fully prepared to address fellow steel guitarists in the manner that I've been stressing replies. Responding to derogating remarks, and comments is a messy business. Who needs it? I heard a man say years ago; "No foolin' around, or horsing around, someone can get hurt that way." He was referring to being bullied by someone pretending to be "foolin' around." I realize that kidding around with things that are meant to humor whomever is lending an ear, is a way of life. Laughing and crying are closely associated. The same emotion triggers either of the two. There are tears of joy, as well as tears of sorrow, and laughter is part of a nervous habit, upon seeing or hearing humorous situations. Originally, this thread was meant to create responses about the fastest picks in whichsoever's township he would taxi into. His method of arriving was simple. Travel via airport to airport, and taxying to the bandstand. I believe it to be, the most commonly used option to find his audiences. Buddy turned 72 years of age on January 27th, and that puts him in the only position of trailing he's ever known. He's trailing hundreds of forum members who are in the upper 70's group of steel guitarists. I'll be trying to envision others who have made similar strides in promoting steel guitar excellence. Without reader's responses, the incentive to explore is lessened, as any activity would be, by expressed evidence of disinterested parties. In recognition of super pickers in America, UK, Austrailia, Hawaii, Japan, Africa, Europe, S. America, and all others, I'm overwhelmed by their achievements in promoting the steel guitar.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 14 Feb 2009 5:43 am

John M.,

Thanks for "The Foggy Mtn. Breakdown! I wish that I had the chance to sit in with you on 6 string guitar. You're pretty fast my friend, while playing those difficult note patterns. It isn't difficult to realize that you've been doing your homework.

John McGlothlin · Post by **John McGlothlin** » 14 Feb 2009 6:41 am

Thanks for the kind comment Bill. Its a lot of fun trying to reach a goal of playing fast and making it sound clean which is what I will have to really work hard at...thanks again. John

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 14 Feb 2009 9:13 am

One of the best versions of Foggy MT Breakdown on PSG I have ever heard was done by none other than Smiley Roberts. Fast(real fast) Clean and you can almost hear Old Earl smiling.In fact T.O. (Tommy Overstreet featured Smiley often with that solo on many shows...Speeds great, it impresses pickers and most of the time is over the head of the audiences who buy the sweet sounds 99-1. Being able to play fast is a great skill, but knowing what to play and when to and what not to play and when not too, is a super skill. Probably what to say and what not say too, fits somewhere in there.

You guys want speed ? check out Daytona and the 500 this weekend.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 14 Feb 2009 9:34 am

Hi Joe!

It was a long time ago when I stopped in at Mtn. Park in Holyoke, Ma. where you were booked in. You've always been one of my all time favorites singing the good "stuff". You had the Ray Price tunes covered. To tell the truth, it's not that easy to find a lead singer who would know anything at all about Ray Price. Ray is 82 yrs. old now, but The Cherokee Cowboy can still get the job done. I've always appreciated your vocalizing of Ray's celebrated tunes.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 14 Feb 2009 2:34 pm

Jerry F.,

Two of the most difficult challenges in life are courtships and steel guitars! Perhaps you would allow that bit of truth to be less hot air than you have deemed other written messages to be. No?

Archie Nicol · Post by **Archie Nicol** » 14 Feb 2009 3:33 pm

What we need here is a bucket-load of kittens.

Arch.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 14 Feb 2009 6:53 pm

I'm with you, Archie.

something like Zaga here?

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 15 Feb 2009 5:09 am

Bent,

I must have a dozen or so cat stories that refuse to fade in memory. I've heard stories from others involving cats that like to play around after the player returns home for some rest at 3:00 A.M. in the morning. I have a friend who introduced me to steel players in The Boston, and North Shore area. 200 miles from home, with needed rest, I slept over as friends often do. The family was sleeping, and I quickly dozed off. All of a sudden I was awakened suddenly by a cat attack on stocking covered feet. The family kept a cat that looked like
"Zaga". Those "purebred" cats can be much more vicious than blotched or spotted pets. I learned that from personal experiences. My friend's pussyfooter spiked me with about 10 needle pointed claws, near my left toes. I explained to the pet when it tried to sneak up again, that it was not a way to treat sleepy guests. So much for cats, and their behavioral traits! BARRY, when I mentioned to PETER that "I had arrived", you commented in your last post by stating that, "Some people are more easily satisfied, than others." Very true, provided that I'm not included in the congregation.