When Will Your Interest In The Pedal Steel Commence To Wane?

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 20 Jul 2014 2:33 pm

When the steel becomes a burden to carry? When minor adjustments become a hassle? You may notice a few favorite tunes just don't sound the same as they once did. Your dreams of taking on tough challenges no longer occupy your thoughts. Failures are more readily accepted. It may be time to quizzically question why all of nature must at some point in time, adjust to unfavorable changes.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 20 Jul 2014 6:39 pm

It may be time to quizzically question why all of nature must at some point in time, adjust to unfavorable changes.

Time marches on...

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 20 Jul 2014 7:13 pm

No matter what you've heard about those Golden Years, FORGET IT! It's all a conspiracy! A bunch of lies spread by the young!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 20 Jul 2014 7:48 pm

speak for yourself, bill.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 20 Jul 2014 7:51 pm

...a burden to carry? When minor adjustments become a hassle?

Maybe you should switch over to a lap steel, Bill?

Bill L. Wilson · Post by **Bill L. Wilson** » 20 Jul 2014 9:23 pm

Bro. Bill, these things have always been heavy, but we either lug'em around ourselves,(as in last night, and my back still hurts) or someone helps us. Adjustments on my Emmons are far and few, between gigs, but things do wear down, but a drive over to Music City, and a visit to Mike Cass would be a solution.....I will say this,"My Passion for Music has Never Waned" in the 60yrs. that I've been playin' it........And when I'm gone, is somebody gonna end up with a fine Emmons LeGrandeII? YES SIR!!!!

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 21 Jul 2014 2:47 am

Wane who?

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Jul 2014 3:20 am

Kevin Hatton wrote:Wane who?

+1

Ken Campbell · Post by **Ken Campbell** » 21 Jul 2014 3:45 am

Never. That is all.

Don R Brown · Post by **Don R Brown** » 21 Jul 2014 5:31 am

I hope it never does. But if that day comes, I can always sit at the computer and post rambling philosophical threads pondering the inevitability of regressive permutations in our mental and physiological capabilities.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 21 Jul 2014 6:20 am

What Don said.

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 21 Jul 2014 7:44 am

When the grass grows over me.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 21 Jul 2014 9:19 am

...to paraphrase Hank, "When the Good Lord ain't willing and the creeks rise." $:\$

My love of the steel guitar grows with the years, not wains.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 21 Jul 2014 10:51 am

Alan,

Wouldn't you agree that we are at the mercy of certain unforeseen events? You've decided that the pedal steel guitar must go wherever you go, in good times and bad times. I don't have a problem with that, excepting that the "Balance Beam" located at the very core of such profound commitments, could sag in time, due to unrealistic expectations. Certain demands materialize with the passing of time. For those who refuse to let go and move on, I ask you, what lies beyond?

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 21 Jul 2014 2:17 pm

Doug B.,

Before you suggested moving to the studies on lap steel guitars, I had been giving much thought to the possibility of considering what JERRY BYRD knew from the start. Get rid of the multiplicity of mechanical hardware, and concentrate more on finesse. Who can deny that it worked for JERRY?

The other option would be to build a downsized pedal steel. After all, we don't live in a world of weight lifters.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 21 Jul 2014 2:40 pm

Certain demands materialize with the passing of time.

Demands like aging, illness, and death?

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 21 Jul 2014 3:55 pm

Barry,

Yes Barry, walkers, crutches, canes, wheelchairs, and dozens of manufactured goods to make living more tolerable are available to those who need them. I've sampled most of those items. A black bear was seen about 75' from my front door, which prompted me to walk with a cane.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 21 Jul 2014 4:15 pm

Bill, are you going to rap that bear in the nose with your cane?

Bob Simons · Post by **Bob Simons** » 21 Jul 2014 7:02 pm

I can relate, Bill. A quintuple bypass drove me all the way back to a single acoustic guitar! Got offered a great gig the other day and my first thought was about how I was gonna lug my steel, seat, rack, Webb etc. Maybe my MSA lap steel and my tiny battery powered amp is the answer!

But whatever I do out in the world, I still have a steel plugged in and warmed up on every floor of my building so I'm never more than a few steps from a satisfying moment or two....

Al Udeen · Post by **Al Udeen** » 21 Jul 2014 8:02 pm

Bill: I'm 84 and playing weekends, Also, Waiting on a new Ritt, I don't play Jonesy any more! Al

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 22 Jul 2014 5:08 am

Bob S.,

Surgical set backs would tend to weary the soul to the point of becoming moody. A bypass is the only highway out of trouble city. I know several musicians who had to undergo different types of bypass surgeries. It's amazing knowing that it is possible after surgery to do the things you've always wanted to do. I wish for you all the powers of healing. Thanks for checking in on this thread.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 22 Jul 2014 5:30 am

Al Udeen,

I think you were in your early forties when you played "JONESY" in that music store in Pittsfield, MA. I was there at that special steel guitar presentation. If my memory serves me well, I think you played two different steel guitars. One was the LLOYD GREEN single with an armrest. I hope you are enjoying good health. The lady who taped the show has passed away. Her name was Sue.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 22 Jul 2014 6:34 am

Billâ€¦

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 22 Jul 2014 9:48 am

Barry,

A while ago poachers were very active here and neighboring states poaching black bears. Their purpose was to collect the gallbladders of black bears and sell them illegally. It is believed by some that they possess aphrodisiac properties. Too much cash flow going into the wrong pockets soon became a thing of the past. There goes my morning walk into secluded wooded trails. Many claim that the black bear is harmless. I'm not ready to find out!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 22 Jul 2014 10:53 am

Bill, I'm knocking on wood, but so far I haven't developed anything that adversely affects my playing of the steel guitar, (other than a lack of talent !), but I'm only 68, coming up to 69; who knows what the coming years will bring? $:\$
A friend of mine, who was one of the greatest lute players in England, developed a tendon problem which has been interfering with his picking, and I once sat next to a concert pianist on a transatlantic flight who told me that he was developing tendonitis and arthritis in his hands and had only a few professional years left at the most.
As great men have said before, growing old stinks but it's better than the alternative......

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When Will Your Interest In The Pedal Steel Commence To Wane?

When Will Your Interest In The Pedal Steel Commence To Wane?

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