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Topic: My First Pedal Steel Arrived today |
Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 14 Apr 2005 5:25 pm |
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The MSA Millennium SU12 arrived today. This is literally the first time I've sat behind a pedal steel except for a few seconds behind a Carter Stater.
Man, what fun.
I can't belive I an actually play a scale without moving the bar!! Baby, where have you been all my life!
The first problem that people warned me about with the U12 is lack of teaching materials, but I'm working through Winnie Winston's book right now, and so far I'm able to make minor adjustments in order to follow along just fine.
I can't make any thing resembling music at the moment but it sure is fun. |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 14 Apr 2005 5:40 pm
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| Congratulations Bill, since you already play lap, dobro and other instruments, I'm sure you'll pick it up in no time. You're sure starting with a great one, too. Have fun. |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 14 Apr 2005 5:40 pm
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Bill,
I'm tickled for you. The delight and unbridled excitement come through in your post loud and clear. Without enthusiasm and love for the instrument, everything else is just window dressing. And, it's funny, but with most steel players, the love for the instrument has always been there and will always be. Some may give up trying to learn it, but few, if any, grow to dislike the sound and expression the instrument possesses. YOU'RE HOOKED, HOSS.
You selected an excellent instrument and, in my opinion, an excellent tuning. You will grow into it just like one grows into a D-10. Don't try to bite off more than you can chew and you'll do fine. I'll invite you to take a look at my website for some additional info on the universal tuning. It's a lot to wrap your brain around, but I think it's a more musically powerful way to go, since everything is available at all times.
You mentioned the Winnie Winston book (we're all thinking good thoughts for Winnie as he faces a health crisis). It is a WONDERFUL place to start, a common starting point for many steelers on the Forum. And you are right, using tablature written for either E9 or C6 should be treated as a needed skill for any E9/B6 player. Just read E9 from the top down and C6 from the bottom up and it will be much easier.
Good luck with your new obsession. 
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 14 Apr 2005 6:19 pm
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Thanks Jim and Larry, and Larry, I've already been to your site many times already. Now it will have more meaning.
A little side effect that I was not expecting as a result of the new baby: my wife just asked me: "Now that you have that pedal steel, are you going to be wearing your SHOES in the house from now on!?" She's used to me in my socks when she is trying to get some sleep. |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 14 Apr 2005 6:49 pm
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| BILL...Geez, nice deal getting a Millenium for your first horn!!! Sure beats the crap out of a Maverick or Red Baron!!... You will love her. Play your FINE new MSA in good health!! bob |
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 14 Apr 2005 6:57 pm
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Well, that is the one and only advantage of waiting till your 50 to start playing. I couldn't have afforded it any other time in my life.
In fact, I couldn't have afforded it 6 months ago. After 5 long years, and 5 years of losses, my company is finally taking off and making money. So I'm making hay while the sun shines.[This message was edited by Bill McCloskey on 14 April 2005 at 08:00 PM.] |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 14 Apr 2005 7:03 pm
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| Good for you, Bill. Go for it, enjoy it and have fun. Hope your company continues to do great. |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Apr 2005 8:44 pm
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Bill, you'll love it..... Glad for you and can't wait to hear about the progress.
phred
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"From Truth, Justice is Born"--Quanah Parker-1904
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 14 Apr 2005 9:16 pm
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Well,
I can now play the world's worst version of Red River Valley, from the Winnie Winston book. Was able to easily translate from the E9 tuning to the universal (for those who will search this forum years from now trying to decide if they should go with universal tuning).
Then after a couple of a drinks I just went loose and started playing a very sweet version of the Tennessee waltz, just having fun and experimenting. I brought myself to tears.
I don't know exactly how to describe what I feel: it is sort of like drawing with a pencil for years and then someone hands you a box of oils.
I feel like I've been living the whole history of pedal steel: from dobro to lap to multineck lap to pedal. and I can appreciate each step, but understand why each step was made and the advantages of each progression. At 50, I had to make the journey fairly quickly. But everything I learned along the way contributed to the next step. I could actually sit there and play a song that moved me (although not ready for prime time yet) because I had that dobro and lap steel knowledge. An hour with Winnie Winston freed me enough to start just playing music. And I sounded like myself. Amazing. |
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Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 15 Apr 2005 5:11 am
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way to go Bill!
you sound just like me when my first steel arrived. so many chords w/o moving the bar. amazing. this steel will keep me facinated for a long long time.
such tone, such richness, such a mechanical device that sings so sweetly.
pinch yourself.[This message was edited by Randy Reeves on 15 April 2005 at 06:12 AM.] |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 15 Apr 2005 6:11 am
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| Quote: |
| I brought myself to tears. |
I think I heard the dog crying too.... 
Good luck with the Millenium and play it in good health.
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 15 Apr 2005 6:22 am
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I'm sure you've already figured out, but it bears repeating that you should find where the tunings you are used to can be found on the universal. Obviously, the C6 with the E's lowered -- but be sure to translate what you know without pedals. It will help you 'home in'. Strings 5,6,8,9,10 are the same relative pitches as the Dobro G tuning. If you play non-pedal A6, that's there with A+B pedals -- just figure out which strings and work your way through some of the stuff you already play. And remember that if your favorite tuning isn't available with what you already have, you can add a pedal and/or lever and . . . there it is. We don't call it 'universal' for nothing.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 15 Apr 2005 6:31 am
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You are treading on very dangerous stuff here-you may never be welcomed again in the no-peddlers section.  |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 15 Apr 2005 8:02 am
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Wow Bill!! Great to hear. You're hooked and will never be the same. U12 is the way to go, right?
phred
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"From Truth, Justice is Born"--Quanah Parker-1904
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Bob Kagy
From:
Lafayette, CO USA
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Posted 15 Apr 2005 9:17 am
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Ah this warms my heart. Bon Voyage Bill.
May the enthusiasm and discovery never stop. |
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Bob Eldridge
From:
Bartlesville, OK USA
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Posted 15 Apr 2005 11:03 am
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Bill, I'm brand new to the forum, but I just gotta say... "I'm sooooo jealous of that MSA"!!. You bought a GREAT axe!!!
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Bob Carson Wells D-10 / GFI S-10D - Nashville 1000 |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 15 Apr 2005 3:47 pm
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Bill, I see some late nights ahead!! Wife saying "turn it off and come to bed"!! lol..
Best to ya
Larry
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Emmons S/D-10, 3/4, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 15 Apr 2005 7:15 pm
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| "Pedal steel guitars sense fear!!!" |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 16 Apr 2005 7:16 pm
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Bill-Congratulations on getting such a great guitar for your first pedal steel. Good choice in going to U12 too. You seem to have made all the right moves....al
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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
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Pat Burns
From:
Branchville, N.J. USA
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Posted 17 Apr 2005 4:21 pm
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quote:
After 5 long years, and 5 years of losses, my company is finally taking off and making money. So I'm making hay while the sun shines...
...I don't know exactly how to describe what I feel: it is sort of like drawing with a pencil for years and then someone hands you a box of oils.
...bad time to take up pedal steel, just as the business is taking off..but I'm glad to see that you got your priorities straight  ... |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 17 Apr 2005 4:36 pm
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| Quote: |
| "Pedal steel guitars sense fear!!!" |
Boy now there's a quote.
They also seem to sense poverty or weaknesses of other sorts...
EJL |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 17 Apr 2005 9:58 pm
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What Bob said
"nice deal getting a Millenium for your first horn!!!"
DANG, why start at the bottom, when you can go for the gold!
Well you sure will have no instrument issues blocking your progress.
Good move.
Also nice to hear your asctually getting songs out early on.
Have fun, your bitten by the bug! |
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2005 2:12 pm
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Wow.
GLad for you man. Enjoy.
I have been playing my new M3 SU12 two weeks now. Just the guitar, amp, and goodrich pedal. No efx. I am just soaking in the best sounds ever.
Ron
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