Wiliam Litaker and the PolyCarb Pedal

Kenneth Caine · Post by **Kenneth Caine** » 26 Mar 2015 11:20 am

If you listened closely to this past Saturday's broadcast you may have heard mention that I have Mr. Litaker's PolyCarb pedal and will not give it back. That PolyCarb pedal is making sounds out of my steel that I have never heard before. I'm actually starting to sound like a steel player.

I'm learning a new technique or phrase each week. You can't beat it for $5. I look forward to each broadcast (I watch delayed). Mr. Litaker is the first instruction I've had on the vertical knee lever. Have not seen anywhere else using it.

As too the PolyCarb pedal, I might get a saxophone and try it on there. Note: Applying the PolyCarb pedal to a Banjo is not advised!

George Buechley · Post by **George Buechley** » 26 Mar 2015 11:27 am

Hey Ken,
Don't tell Dan Polycarpo you have his pedal now. I think he's been looking for it ever since Will i am got it.

George

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 26 Mar 2015 11:41 am

I keep hearing Will talk about it, but what IS it?
JB

George Buechley · Post by **George Buechley** » 26 Mar 2015 11:44 am

Cowboy boot with a steel shaft attached to the heel and to one's left wrist; at least that's the only thing posted on the deep web.

George

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 26 Mar 2015 1:55 pm

I've been meaning to talk to Mr. Caine about this. I cloned three of these out and two of them broke on me so I put the shotgun to them and out of their misery they went. The one that survived got away from me after an ill-timed boot-block dusted my Fender Volume pedal---string theory, naturally. This put me out of commission for a spell.

How George has managed to get so close to putting the design of the Polycarp/PolyCarb Pedal (pat. pending) together is still a mystery to me. I may have to have a talk with Mr. Litaker about this, as suspicions seem to consistently lead me back to his camp.

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 26 Mar 2015 2:02 pm

St Polycarpus
Patron Saint of pedal steel blocking
2nd Century AD

"Thou Shalt Blocketh in Accordance With The Gospel"

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 26 Mar 2015 2:07 pm

"So mote it be..." a forebear once said right before he dropped his bar.

George Buechley · Post by **George Buechley** » 26 Mar 2015 2:14 pm

"do you know how it feels to have not even a mote of hope?"
St. Polycarpus was quoted after the drop.

George

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 26 Mar 2015 3:44 pm

John Booth wrote:St Polycarpus
Patron Saint of pedal steel blocking
2nd Century AD

"Thou Shalt Blocketh in Accordance With The Gospel"

John, I'm going to take that image and put it on my Stage One tommorrow.

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 26 Mar 2015 5:13 pm

May St. Polycarpus go with you my Son

Stuart Legg · Post by **Stuart Legg** » 27 Mar 2015 5:25 pm

Iâ€™ve been trying for a long time to get William to convert his worksheets to â€œButt Braille Tabâ€œ.
You put your â€œButt Braille Tabâ€ worksheet between your butt and your "Pack A Pucker" seat and your butt reads the "Butt Braille Tab" leaving your full attention to just playing the steel guitar.
Bo is living prof the Butt Braille really works!

Stuart Legg · Post by **Stuart Legg** » 27 Mar 2015 5:53 pm

One drawback is when you apply that technology to your rear you can never go back to plain cheap toilet paper.
Nothing but the expensive perfumed will be acceptable to your rear for the rest of eternity!
On second thought William I suggest you don't go in this direction.
I can tell you for a fact after years of this Braille Bo does all his thinking with his butt.

Joey Andrews · Post by **Joey Andrews** » 28 Mar 2015 4:49 pm

With the blessing of ST Polycarpus (Saint of steel guitar blocking) and the announcement of the Saturday broadcast going global, William is going to
be a busy man.

George Buechley · Post by **George Buechley** » 29 Mar 2015 5:47 am

Hey Ken,
Did you get the sax yet? Wonderin' how it sounds.

George

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 29 Mar 2015 11:59 am

I'm just trying to imagine a banjo with a PolyCarP pedal. I wonder what Buck Trent's up to?

George Buechley · Post by **George Buechley** » 29 Mar 2015 4:04 pm

Daniel,
I think Buck has used a couple pedals on his banjo for years. But they look like Polycarb pedals!

George

Joey Andrews · Post by **Joey Andrews** » 3 Apr 2015 7:26 pm

I wonder if St Polycarpus will be with us on the broadcast this week. He really made a difference last week.

Joe Rouse · Post by **Joe Rouse** » 4 Apr 2015 3:06 am

Daniel, sounds to me like you need a boot jack to accomplish your goal....I've never used them in my playing but may try a boot jack after you try one...available in boot stores....jr

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 6 Apr 2015 4:35 am

Joe Rouse wrote:Daniel, sounds to me like you need a boot jack to accomplish your goal....I've never used them in my playing but may try a boot jack after you try one...available in boot stores....jr

Being an electrified Okie, I don't take off my chili boots for nothin'. The boot block can be worked according to one's personal preference, but then we're getting away from some of the more latent esoteric benefits.

Homer understood this, while his wife did not. Many steel players can identify with this scene....

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 6 Apr 2015 4:45 am

An exemplar and proponent for a good chili boot was ol' Ernest Tubb...

Long after his time with ET, Buddy Charleton continued to derive benefit from use of a good boot.

Historical references do not document whether Charleton executed boot block methodology.

Of course, a wide selection of tools ensure development and adaptability of the good ol' boot block

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George Buechley · Post by **George Buechley** » 7 Apr 2015 4:29 am

I don't want anyone to be too distressed, but William is on the way to the hospital this morning to have the 'boot block' removed from his wrist. Doctors say the removal will be successful and he will recover and be home in time to put together Saturday's live show. BE STRONG WILLIAM! We're all behind you!

George

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 18 Apr 2015 8:36 am

George, you know what they say, surviving a boot block only makes you stronger. Here's to another Steel-In today!

Joey Andrews · Post by **Joey Andrews** » 19 Apr 2015 2:25 pm

After watching the broadcast I think William is still showing signs that he hasn't fully recovered from the boot block accident. Its probably going to take another week or so!

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Wiliam Litaker and the PolyCarb Pedal

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