How old were you when you started playing, and in what year?

Sam White · Post by **Sam White** » 12 Feb 2013 5:28 am

I* bought a Steel Guitar back in 1977 knew nothing about it had it a couple months Sold it I was 41. In 1983 I bought another one had had it for about four months I was 47 still could not figure it out Sold it .Then in 1997 I bought a Zum Student model at 60 years old I had it for about a month and had a heart attack so that slowed me down.After a couple months I bought a brand new Fessenden Steel Guitar from Jerry Fessenden.I took a few lessons from a friend Tony Palmer. A friend of mine John Jiacovelli I use to go to his house and he would show me a lot to get me going. John knew all about the Steel Guitar and he just could not sit down and play with people around him.He said to me one day Manny Escobar takes all the furniture out of his living room and has about 5 to 6 Steel players come over and Jam so I went over to Manny's with John and had a great time. Then I Started the Rhode Island Steel Guitar Association in 1997 and had about 6 steel players and the next year it got bigger.I'm still playing but not like I want to.I'm now 76 years old and I will not give it up now as I'm doing 75 % better today.All for the love of a Steel Guitar and all the great friends and people I have met.I will be moving to Florida next month and I joined the Florida Steel Guitar Club.
Sam white

Joe Rouse · Post by **Joe Rouse** » 12 Feb 2013 6:51 am

I took lessons on a lap steel in El Paso, Texas in or about 1954, I was 10 and that lasted for 2 years. Then went on to play guitar for about 5-6 years and left it in the dust in the West Texas town of El Paso. Retired from the railroad in 2001 and started taking pedal steel guitar lessons in or about 2006. Still taking the lessons at age 68, and love the instrument more everyday. Started out with a Carter Starter, then a CW SD-10, and now a Desert Rose S-10(lighter on the back). Like many I do wish I had started sooner but am spending my retirement years learning this amazing instrument and listening to the masters who share the wonderful music. Don Pack, Denny Mathis, Herb Steiner, Bobby Bowman, Billy Phelps, Jody Sanders,Roger Edgington, Dale Thomas are some of my "HERO's", and a lot more that I have failed to name....jr

Jack Ritter · Post by **Jack Ritter** » 12 Feb 2013 6:58 am

12 years old/1946.

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 12 Feb 2013 7:17 am

Charles Davidson wrote:1948 AT AGE 9.YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Charles-Why is it that we are the same age but you think so much older than I do.

Must be that Southern cooking

Kirk Eipper · Post by **Kirk Eipper** » 12 Feb 2013 9:22 am

I was 20 years old and started in 1972. I should play a lot better than I do!

KE

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 12 Feb 2013 11:54 am

26 in 1978 -- I have played guitar since I was 12 as well

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 12 Feb 2013 2:14 pm

Got my first Hohner Marine and harmonica in 1945 (5 years old). Got into the chromatics in about 1950 (10 yrs old) then was introduced to a Precision Bass guitar in 1956 (16 yrs old). From there it was acoustic, ukulele and electric guitars. Always loved the sound of a steel guitar but was so wrapped up in the other instruments that I didn't get around to buying my first steel guitar until 2004. That's what I now play about 75% of the time . I have always and still play a very clean, non-cluttered style of music (sticking strictly to the melody)

Skeeter Stultz · Post by **Skeeter Stultz** » 12 Feb 2013 9:01 pm

10 years old in 1948.

Zeke Cory · Post by **Zeke Cory** » 13 Feb 2013 5:47 am

at age 6 in 1961

David Milliken · Post by **David Milliken** » 13 Feb 2013 11:10 am

Picked up a cheap acoustic in 1957 at age 12 and been playing ever since. Picked up my one and only steel in 1998 at age 53. Still learning to play both of them!

Sid Hudson · Post by **Sid Hudson** » 13 Feb 2013 12:35 pm

1964 at age 9

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 13 Feb 2013 1:49 pm

Started taking lessons in 1980 at 25 years old.

Leland Ogle · Post by **Leland Ogle** » 13 Feb 2013 2:02 pm

I started in Feb. 1980 at 27 years old. Wanted to start about 8 years before that.

Dick Chapple Sr · Post by **Dick Chapple Sr** » 13 Feb 2013 2:06 pm

I started playing in 1947 at 6 years of age. Played an Oahu guitar and took Oahu lessons. I've loved the sound of steel all my life. I wanted to sing and play just like Gene Autry, Cecil Campbell,Jerry Byrd, Sons of the Pioneers and oh boy Vaughn Monroe and Ghost riders In the sky and so many more. For being way too shy to play in front of my parents(I'd play my heart out when they were gone on errands)they gave me an ultimatum one day to play in front of them or they would sell my beautiful Oahu MOP with matching amp. It got sold in 1950 and I was just sick. Then along came Santo & Johnny with Sleepwalk and I just could not take it anymore and dropped what I was doing and ran down to the music store, bought a Kay 6 string and Premier amp and started in again. Frustration really took over as the pedal steel had come along and I could hear that sound but couldn't achieve it on my lap steel and didn't know why. I went through gobs of lap steels and different amps to no avail. in late 60's to early 1970'a I chanced upon a pedal steel in a music store, sat down to play steel guitar rag and the owner come over and "said" push down on those two pedals there and right then I knew what I was missing and couldn't duplicate. But that $2000.00 guitar might as well been $20,000, no way could I afford it. About 1978 I bought a custom built S10 3x4 built by Bob DeVou of Billings Mt for $450.00, still have it. I self taught along with Winnie's book, and DeWitt Scotts book and anything I could find. Then other "stuff happened" and steel went on the back burner again until last half of the 80's. Then it was of and on until this past year when I made a conscious decision at 70 yrs old(one of those rare moments LOL)to set up and play EVERYDAY. I have and I'm so darned happy with the results. My support has been The steel Guitar forum, the excellent courses out here now, and my wife even likes the sounds. In fact I hope to find someone willing to play along with me to get past playing alone all these years. I also play resophonic 6 string lap, baritone and tenor ukuleles.
And to top it off, I bought a perfect Oahu MOP 6 string with matching amp just exactly like the one I had as a kid from Tommy Hannum a few years ago. I played and played. My Mom once said while was in my late 30's that I'd never play as good again as I did, that really hurt. I was determined then to prove otherwise. The first chance to play for them was after I bought the Oahu from Tommy hannum in the late 90's and went over and set up and played for my parents. their jaws just hit the floor and they went silent. The second chance came on stage one night to dedicate and play steel guitar rag on my resophonic with my parents in the front row to hear. That closed a 50 year hurt. I then played for them occasionally, mom's favorite Harbor Lights, and Have I told you lately that I love you. They have both since passed away. But it is with great joy that I made that rare (conscious decision) to play daily and I especially love my lap steel sounds.

Dick

Richard Smelker · Post by **Richard Smelker** » 13 Feb 2013 2:54 pm

I started today - at age 66!

I just got my Sho-Bud Maverick that I bought from the forum this afternoon.

I have played bass, 6/12 string guitar, Dobro, lap steel, and keyboard since I was 11 (1957). My parents owned a music store and recording studio and my 2 brothers and I played in a lot of country bands in Michigan. My brother Jerry played pedal steel for about 10 years as well as lead guitar and mandolin. He has been concentrating on 5 string banjo for the last 4 years. I decided it was time to get started on pedal steel before I get to old (is that possible??).

I know that I'll outgrow the maverick, but that's what I could afford right now.

I bought the Maverick from Ronnie Green on the forum and you couldn't ask for a better person to deal with - and the steel actually looks better in person than the pictures - not even any dust on it!!!!

I am going to use the steel in our cowboy church band - along with the current mandolin, acoustic bass, fiddle, guitars and singers - just your non-average church band!!...and I plan on having a lot of fun learning (and probably some hair pulling moments too)

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 13 Feb 2013 10:35 pm

I was in my twenties in the sixties when I started playing a Fender 400. Gave it up two years later and went back to lead. Started lap steel about 10 months ago and love it with my tuning. The lap steel has got me back to loving to play. I play it every day and am finding lot's of pedal licks on it. Dave A. Burley

Tony Farr · Post by **Tony Farr** » 14 Feb 2013 6:04 am

1951 early part of spring---age13 1/2

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 14 Feb 2013 7:49 am

40 years old in 1984

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 14 Feb 2013 9:39 am

1995 - i was 25 when i found my first steel..i was heavy into bluegrass at the time and had been invited to jam with an ex-Bluegrass Boy at his place. i noticed in the corner something covered by a bed sheet that had a pedal rack sticking out underneath and i asked him about it. it was a well worn Sho-Bud Professional in all its (former) glory. i had never even seen a "real" pedal steel. Wanting to get rid of it, said he'd sell it with an old amp (Ampeg Gemini) for $400 - i just had to have it, didnt know squat about how to tune it or nothing - took me all weekend to get it in tune. sadly, after a few months of piddling, frustrated i put it away.
I finally found a local player to show me the basics around 2005, but its only been the last 3-4 years i've made the decision i want to play this beautiful instrument and i'm slowly progressing.

Robbie Daniels · Post by **Robbie Daniels** » 14 Feb 2013 6:31 pm

14 years old in 1947 flat bar round hole acoustic guitar with a raised bridge and thought I was in heaven.

Jeff Scott Brown · Post by **Jeff Scott Brown** » 14 Feb 2013 6:56 pm

2012, I was 42.

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 15 Feb 2013 5:07 am

I started playing in 1975 after our keyboard player told me I needed to learn another instrument besides banjo and bass. It was good advice, and have been playing with the same band (The Settlers) since 1976.

Dave Grothusen · Post by **Dave Grothusen** » 15 Feb 2013 5:59 am

In 1965 I was 17 yrs old.

Rich Gardner · Post by **Rich Gardner** » 15 Feb 2013 6:01 am

I started in 1957 at age 8. My first steel was a pearloid Oahu lap steel, that I wish I still owned. I bought my first pedal steel, a Carter Starter in 2008. I bought a Zum Stage One in 2012.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 15 Feb 2013 7:14 am

1971...18 years old, first instrument. Awesome guidance getting started from Tommy Cass...had a Fender 400 for a few weeks before Tommy got me into a black push pull Emmons which I still own...

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