Taking two steel guitars on a gig.

Paul Strojan · Post by **Paul Strojan** » 1 Jul 2020 12:41 pm

I am watching Asleep at the Wheel on the Circle and the steel player is switching between a D-8 console guitar and D-10 pedal steel. What can be on a console guitar that can't be done on a pedal steel?

Curt Trisko · Post by **Curt Trisko** » 1 Jul 2020 12:45 pm

Tone, brother.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 1 Jul 2020 1:56 pm

The last time I saw the "Wheel", Big Jim Murphy was playing a triple eight string, no pedal Fender. Jimmy played more on his Fender than I could ever play on my D10 Emmons with nine pedals and seven knee's.
I guess it's all in who's picking the strings.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 1 Jul 2020 4:29 pm

I've done it, plenty of times. In the end, I decided that my Zum universal or any one of a number of D10s did the non-pedal B6/C6 thing just fine. I play on relatively small stages a lot, and I often don't have much time to change guitars between songs in a live situation.

However, I admit that I'd love to just shove a pair of early long-scale Stringmaster pickups or a 10-string version of the Bigsby-style pickup that's on my Clinesmith cast-aluminum 8-string lap steel on one of my D10s.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 1 Jul 2020 6:49 pm

I've been taking a Supro lap steel, tuned to C6th, to most gigs, along with a D10 pedal steel. The Supro just sounds different in a good way for some songs. With an overdrive pedal it really screams.

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 1 Jul 2020 10:48 pm

Dave Mudgett wrote:I've done it, plenty of times. In the end, I decided that my Zum universal or any one of a number of D10s did the non-pedal B6/C6 thing just fine. I play on relatively small stages a lot, and I often don't have much time to change guitars between songs in a live situation.

However, I admit that I'd love to just shove a pair of early long-scale Stringmaster pickups or a 10-string version of the Bigsby-style pickup that's on my Clinesmith cast-aluminum 8-string lap steel on one of my D10s.

Lollar has made a 10 string humbucking stringmaster-type pickup before, bet theyâ€™d do it again! I was scared off by the custom-shop price...

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 2 Jul 2020 4:59 am

Curt Trisko wrote:Tone, brother.

You are absolutely right. Even if you don't engage any pedals and don't use the top 2 strings, the sound of the C6 neck on a pedal steel is completely different tonally from the sound of a non-pedal. I'm pretty certain I could identify the difference from a recording.

Floyd Lowery · Post by **Floyd Lowery** » 2 Jul 2020 5:23 am

I've always said us steel pickers look for a sound to please ourselves, not the public.

K Maul · Post by **K Maul** » 2 Jul 2020 5:38 am

I try to use the right tool for the job. However, stage space limits and aversion to hauling gear can be a factor for sure!

Rich Upright · Post by **Rich Upright** » 6 Jul 2020 8:36 pm

With what gigs pay in Florida, they're lucky I show up at all!

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 7 Jul 2020 5:50 am

Be smart like Fox not dumb like Ox is my motto.If I could walk into a gig with only a throw pillow and my guitar I would.

T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 7 Jul 2020 9:12 am

If itâ€™s Eddie Rivers playing, he plays the leg steel standing which allows him to play sax easily. He normally plays the leg steel and not pedal steel w AATW. When they did Last Of The Breed tour, I believe Eddy played pedal steel as well on some numbers. The Fender that Eddie plays (which I believe belongs to Ray) sounds great in the capable hands of Mr. Rivers.