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Topic: Playing on the level |
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 18 Jul 2003 6:24 am |
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When I set up my steel, I like to tip it a little bit forward. It seems like my bar just lays more natural on the strings. Does anybody else do anything like this? 
Erv |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 Jul 2003 6:40 am
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Hi Erv-Perfectly natural for a lot of guys in the old days to do that. We used to raise the back legs a little.
The big reason was to get your knees under the guitar for the taller guys.
Now days, you just get pedal extenders, for the taller guys....al 
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[url] www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/ [/url]
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Gord Cole
From:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 18 Jul 2003 8:13 am
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Erv:
Yep I do. My MSA is tilted forward. Mainly because I bought it off of "Tall -guy" Al Marcus (see above post) and I just left it that way. Works for me. --Gord |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 18 Jul 2003 8:49 am
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| I like mine perfectly level front to back and side to side. I hate playing uphill or downhill or trying to hang onto my bar like Junior Brown.I like to put my bar on the strings and have it just sit there and not roll or slide off the front of my guitar. You'd be amazed how much energy is misspent fighting gravity - especially with a 1" 12-string bar.Of course in the real world of one-nighters this ideal is rarely achievable - but I strive. -MJ- |
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Dave Van Allen
From:
Souderton, PA , US , Earth
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Posted 18 Jul 2003 9:53 am
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| Michael- do you carry a bubble level with you to gigs? |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 18 Jul 2003 9:57 am
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I guess I do it just because it feels "more natural". Also, maybe because, I suffer a little carpal tunnel syndrome in my wrists and it just feels better. Also, by playing a little downhill, I get better mileage. 
Erv |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 18 Jul 2003 10:42 am
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| I think you are absolutely correct that it is more ergonomically friendly to your wrists to give it that forward angle. I do it too. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 18 Jul 2003 5:17 pm
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I like to keep mine level! If I can't lay the bar on the strings without it moving, I adjust the steel.
Most players who tilt the steel forward use a stock steeler's seat. Every one I tried was too tall, and I wound up cutting an inch and a half off of the one I bought. It's useable now, but still too high. My own "right feel" is having the thighs of my legs parallel with the floor, and a slight upward angle on my forearms.
I think the steel should be perfectly level...just like a grand piano, but different people have differing physiology. Do whatever's comfortable for you! (And don't worry what others think.) |
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Doug Seymour
From:
Jamestown NY USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 Jul 2003 6:01 pm
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Dave Van Allen is going to think I'm weird.
Lots of folks already know that Dave! I did actually cary a bubble level in my seat. A mini one I got in a bargain bin at some junk store one time years ago. About the size of a pen, with a clip on it. I used to check my steel every once in awhile. |
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Chris Erbacher
From:
Sausalito, California, USA
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Posted 18 Jul 2003 6:31 pm
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| mine is tilted a bit, but not enough that the bar wants to slip forward, but to me a little bit of a lean is more comforatable. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 19 Jul 2003 8:45 am
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You know what Confucious always said:
"Any picker who plays on a tilted steel guitar not entirely on level." for whatever that might be worth. |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 19 Jul 2003 4:35 pm
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Does this topic have any Masonic undertones?
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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande
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Dave Van Allen
From:
Souderton, PA , US , Earth
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Posted 19 Jul 2003 8:02 pm
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It ain't as weird as playing steel in the first place...It's just the steeler's curse of "retentive" attention to detail...
rmember you can't spell "psychoanalysis" without "a-n-a-l..."[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 19 July 2003 at 09:03 PM.] |
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Stephen Gambrell
From:
Over there
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Posted 20 Jul 2003 11:53 am
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| Lee, this only works if the stage is plumb! |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Jul 2003 12:57 pm
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For what it might be worth, whenever I've seen Jerry Byrd standing to play his Sho-Bud always has a slight tilt forward.
For me to stand under any conditions is difficult. I always sit to play, and always make sure my guitar is level, whether PSG or NPSG! “Big John” SASS #6788 a.k.a. “Bad Feet Kid”
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“Big John” “Uh~” ƒƒ< wknsg®
Franklin, D–10 w/9 & 8
Fender, T–8 “The Custom”
Peavey, Classic 50 – 212 http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 21 Jul 2003 6:58 am
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I believe that the fretboard on the guitar you are playing should be at the same angle as your forearms. This oft times would require either tipping the guitar forward or backward. If your foreams are level, then your guitar should be level.
Erv |
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Brian Davis
From:
San Francisco, USA
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Posted 21 Jul 2003 7:52 am
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I like to tip mine forward...kind of in the position if you were playing a lap steel. I found the standard seat height of 21" to be about two inches shorter than I like. My ankles felt like they got smashed...and I'm only 5'10"! I just use a keyboard bench now.
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www.floorbirds.com |
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Jimmy Dale
From:
Ripley, W.Va
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Posted 21 Jul 2003 9:39 am
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| Lee and Stephen, I do like mine Plumb Level. It tends to make me sit Square. Jim Miller I'D RATHER BE STEELIN' [This message was edited by Jimmy Dale on 21 July 2003 at 10:41 AM.] |
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Jackie Anderson
From:
Scarborough, ME
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Posted 21 Jul 2003 12:55 pm
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| Quote: |
| It ain't as weird as playing steel in the first place... |
Now there's the perfect response to any number of questions asked on here![This message was edited by Jack Anderson on 21 July 2003 at 01:55 PM.] |
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 22 Jul 2003 1:24 am
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I've always used a taller than usual stool & tilt pretty far forward. What my original motive was I really don't remember, but now I've found that it's much easier to play with an electric guitar hanging around my neck at the same time...it also leaves me in a better position if I need to sing. I really don't think playing that way has made me any better or worse as a steel player. I just can't do the "look Ma, no hands" trick.  |
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