My new rig setup...(Video Added)

[Savell]

As of late, i have been playing both the steel and keyboard. Like doing the intro on some George Strait and Freddy Fender songs and then catching up on the chorus with the steel. The twisting around and aligning myself with each instrument took too much effort and time. So I bought some parts off ebay from camera equipment and keyboard stands and made a hybrid of sorts to make life a little easier.

I used it over the last 3 weekends and man does it work nice. Thought I would show it here. Even though I made it to slide back and forth over the top of my steel, I have found it works very well in a fixed position just the way you see it here. The entire keys & frame weights less than 13 lbs. and has absolutely no tendency to fall forward due to the low center of the gravity and lower location of the connectors on the front legs.

Let me know what you think and feel free to post any pics of your setup for playing more than one instrument during a set.

[Don Mogle]

Very cool. How about a video of the rig in action?

Don

[Greg Cutshaw]

Thanks for posting this! Lots of great ideas there. Wish I could could play keyboard good enough to double on them with steel guitar like you do.

[Richard Sinkler]

When I played both steel and keyboards, I used an "A" frame stand and had 2 keyboards, the main one was mounted so the keyboard was about 2" from the front of the guitar and just a little higher than the strings. The 2nd keyboard was mounted above the other and angled down towards the steel guitar. Worked great, but no one in the crowd could see me. That saved them from seeing how ugly I am.

[Mack Quinney]

I like that! I play keyboard and steel about 50/50. I had Joe Naylor build a steel seat like his sewing seet with wheels and swivel seat. I roll back and forth because I like set heights on both the steel and piano. (There about the same height) like what you've done here! Looks good and functional.

[Herb Steiner]

John Ely used to play steel and keys with a reggae band here in Austin back in the 70's and had a rig setup just like yours Savell. He went from steel to keys and back to steel seamlessly.

[Dan Robinson]

Very impressive, Savell.

There seems to be more opportunity for multi-instrumentalists than pedal steel only, so it should give you a huge advantage. Add one more gadget with a banjo and you'll never be out of a job.

How much does this affect the weight of your gear and setup/breakdown time?

Dan

[John Goux]

Nice. Do you play keyboards with your fingerpicks and thumb pick on? J

[David Milliken]

I've been wanting to do this for some time now but the local music store cannot find a suitable stand. I love what you have done and wonder if there's any way you could post a photo without the keyboard in order to get a better look at the stand setup. Thanks.

[Larry Lenhart]

That is a really nice looking set up !

I have this set up for my one man band type of thingy I do,,,not as neat, but it works pretty well, and obviously picture taken at my place in Az, not on the bandstand. Since I usually stand up playing the non pedal steel, the guitar holder screws onto a mic stand which eliminated the problem of either keeping it over my neck or having to put it on when switching between guitar and steel...not perfect, but better. The pedal board is usb driven and is programmed to forward to the next backup track on my
lap top computer via pedal and then a start pedal, which keeps me from playing with a mouse to navigate.

[Savell]

Thanks to all for the compliments and responses.

Don Mogle: Sorry, no videos as of yet.

Richard Sinkler: Fortunately, I am tall enough to see over it. Unfortunately, I they can see me.

Dan Robinson: No real weight to speak of, however, tear down time has increased a few minutes. The lead picker also plays fiddle, so we have been working on a song where he plays fiddle and I play the banjo. Not sure I am open to doing it very often.

John Goux: I do leave my picks on more than I expected I would, but only when I go back and forth frequently in the song.

David Milliken: No pictures yet, but I will take some of the frame without the piano on my next gig.

Larry Lenhart: Nice setup!

[Lyle Bradford]

I have seen Jeff Hogston play lead guitar, keyboard and steel and never move out of his seat. I have tried to hold the guitar while sitting at my seat and it is awkward.

[Don Hinkle]

I have a simular setup that my bass player built for me. I'll have to dig it out and set it up and upload some pics
It actually attaches to the front legs of my Emmons... it works well.
I haven't played keys at a gig in months.. I'm gonna have to!!!!
And I agree with whoever mentioned playing tele while setting down at the steel.. its very awkward for me too.
If I lean back, or scoot back in my seat its "ok" at best... but when I'm not playing the tele, I put it in a stand. I friend of mine leaves it in his lap.... I tried and just can't get comfy.

[Sam White]

Savell where did you get the RV-3 holder on your Right Leg. I use to make them a few years back and sold them for $15.00 and I made the Picks,Bar and Tuning Key Bracket for the Left leg. I still us mine all the time.
Sam White

[Sam White]

Savell where did you get the RV-3 holder on your Right Leg. I use to make them a few years back and sold them for $15.00 and I made the Picks,Bar and Tuning Key Bracket for the Left leg. I still us mine all the time.
Sam White

[Savell]

Sam, that is an oversized cellphone holder on a microphone stand clip.

[Savell]

So Don, I know it has been a while but I finally got a video of using the rig.

Take a look see here.
https://youtu.be/E_YbeH9hkCM

Thanks,
Savell

[Greg Lambert]

So Don, I know it has been a while but I finally got a video of using the rig.

Take a look see here.
https://youtu.be/E_YbeH9hkCM

Thanks,
Savell

Sound and looks great !

[Pete Woronowski]

Great job Savell and thanks for the link to your videos.
Cheers, Pete

[Don Mogle]

Savell,

Sounds great! Love that Emmons sound...it really cuts through the mix.

Thanks for sharing this video and rig setup.

Don