Do you tilt your PSG.? How? Why or why not?

Bo Legg · Posted 26 Sep 2009 9:30 am

I've seen PSGs tilted forward, tilted backward or not tilted at all. I've often wondered if there was some logic to to their choice or they just thought one way looked cool compared to another.
What do you think? Vote and explain why.
Include pictures of your tilt if you got 'em.

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

i realize that some people tilt forward to make room for their long legs.
For me standard height is ok. I like level best because it looks the coolest to me.
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richard burton · From: Britain

I tilt mine forward, with the front legs about 1 1/4" shorter than the back legs, to make it easier on my wrists

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Bo,
I tilt mine a bit forward. I'm almost 6'3" tall, and the tilt actually makes my long arms more comfy. I don't know if you can see the tilt in this pic. I can, but,,,Look at the changer end. Ricky put a lift kit on my ShoBud S-10 when he hot-rodded it for me. It sits flat.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I'm also tall, and I definitely used to tilt mine forward to fit my long legs underneath. But now I just jack it up enough so that I'm comfortable with it level. I think it's much more comfortable level - I never really wanted it tilted. Any pix of the tilt are getting pretty old by now.

It's taken me a while to dial in how high the steel and seat should be so I can really let my arms and legs relax - these things are emphatically not made for tall players. I think it's finally starting to happen since I worked with Mike Sweeney this past summer. Sometimes all the words in the world don't cut it - nothing like feedback from someone who really knows and can watch you closely while you're playing.

Bo Legg · Posted 26 Sep 2009 3:51 pm

I have to answer “Yes, tilted back” and here is my logic.
The closer you can get to having a straight line from your shoulder to your elbow perpendicular to the floor the more relaxed your arm muscles will be and you can transfer that energy to the fingers for better dexterity and speed.
The only way I have found to accomplish this with a D-10 is to tilt the PSG back toward my body so that the front of the PSG is considerable higher than the back to the point that the back legs become almost perpendicular to the floor.

Glenn Suchan · From: Austin, Texas

Like many others, I raise the rear legs just enough to accommodate my long legs, I'm 6'1". However, I maintain a posture that my thighs and forearms are always level with the floor. This allows upper arms and legs to remain relaxed while I play... I need all the help I can get. Smile

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn
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Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

I tilt my steel forward, with the back legs raised about an inch or so higher than the front.
Just feels right. And actually I feel like I can get a little better speed with it tilted forward. Oh Well

Terry

Austin Tripp · From: Westminster SC

I used to tilt my steel forward just a little, to take the glare off of the fret board when the stage lights shine on it. But since I have built up my chops just a little bit more, i raise it up with the leg adjusters but I try to keep it as level as possible,,,,,,,, but only because I feel more comfortable playing that way.
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Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

I've been told that I have the most extreme forward tilt that any of my steeler friends have ever seen. Most of them think it's gonna fall over frontwards. I don't know how to post pics, but here's a link to some:

http://gallery.me.com/johnnypez#100174&view=grid&bgcolor=black&sel=16

I do it because:

1.) It's alot more comfortable to sing and play guitar on my lap at the same time.

2.) Every knee lever that I have activates changes on both necks...some as many as 5 pulls on one knee. No clusters. All I know is I want the pulls I want, and don't worry too much about how many pounds resistance they have. Sitting up at that angle makes it ergonomically possible...for me. My legs would really get tired bent at standard pac-a-seat height. I don't get backaches as much either.

3.) Yes, it really is easier on my wrists. And I also get less parallax.

4.) I've been told many times by audience members that they enjoy watching my hands more because of the angle (when there isn't a music stand blocking the view) Nothing wrong with trying to showcase the steel player a bit. Smile

One thing I'll never be able to do with the steel tilted is the whirly bar trick ala BE.....but then again I doubt if I could ever do that anyway. Ha

Ernest Cawby · From: Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Mine is backwards for proper higth, also I can see the seperation of the strings better.
a
ernie

Ryan Barwin · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

My D-10 is pretty close to level...maybe tilted a couple of degrees forward. Its comfortable that way. I'm pretty tall (about 6'3) and I've got it raised up an inch, so it doesn't have to be tilted for me to fit my knees under it.
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Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

No.
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Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Steve Hitsman · From: Waterloo, IL

I used to tilt mine forward to get my knees under. When I went for a lesson with Buddy Charleton, he wanted to know why my guitar was tilted and suggested that I set it level. I did and he was right... much better.

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

No. My PSG's standard height suited my 5'7 just fine from the start, and I like it leveled.
I have added a little height to my pac-a-seat - made it 1" higher than original, to get my legs and arms at the right angles for easy playing.

Stuart Legg · Posted 27 Sep 2009 7:53 am

It appeared to me that Buddy and Paul had the PSG tilted slightly back and Day and John close to level but never forward. It seems that this tilt forward thing started with the younger players. I think I'll stick with the Hall Of Fame players and vote for tilted back.

Rick Collins · From: Claremont , CA USA

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

well, i'm no pro & i got mine level
quite comfy w: that

Jamie Lennon · From: Nashville, TN

I have mine tilted alot forward because of my wrists!
It does not look sloppy at all it personal preference !
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Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

The truly caring and professional set the instrument level.
It really, really, really looks sloppy to have it tilted in any direction.

Well that just about says it all.

Rolling Eyes

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · From: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana (deceased)

I once had a very parochial attitude toward steel angles and preferred the look of a completely level steel over the look of one tilted forward or backward. And, I used to play with my guitar nearly perfectly level with only so slight a backward tilt that it was barely noticeable, but I increased the tilt a little after I suffered some ulnar nerve damage in my right elbow.

After the nerve damage occurred, the tilt (as in the photo below) became necessary in order for me to play and is what worked for me since ...

As far as "looking professional or non-professional" for a guitar to be tilted forward, backward, or level with no tilt, I believe that personal taste is what drives a steel player to view it one way or the other.

For myself, when I see someone whose guitar is tilted one way or the other, I never view it as being professional or non-professional ... it is merely what works for that particular player. Smile

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Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Level. I see no reason to tilt mine.

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

I've usually run 'em pretty level, but the used Zum I'm playing now came with (I think) shorter than standard legs, so I have to tilt it forward quite a bit. I'll eventually get some longer legs and rods when I can afford it (I don't like lift kits).

Allen Peterson · From: Katy, Texas

I have mine tilted forward about a half of an inch. I am 6'4" and it is easier to get my legs under the guitar this way (even though the guitar legs are 1" over). Even so, the forward tilt is almost imperceptible. Definitely not sloppy!

Allen Peterson
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