Specific shoe question, 2 types

Brett Hansen · Post by **Brett Hansen** » 18 Sep 2022 3:26 pm

Have any of you ever tried playing with the Organmaster brand shoes that professional organ players use on the pedals?

Have any of you ever tried playing in old style bowling shoes?

I don't want to start another huge footwear thread. I'm looking specifically at the 2 types only. Looking for first hand experience from you guys.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 18 Sep 2022 5:32 pm

Interesting questions. Following.

Christopher Woitach · Post by **Christopher Woitach** » 19 Sep 2022 8:16 am

I looked up the Organmaster shoes - I know that even with my guitar 1” higher than standard, I can’t wear anything with heels. I attempted boots once to try, absolutely impossible, especially because I keep my guitar level (I know, many disagree with this). My right leg becomes glued to underside of steel, untenable.

Bowling shoes are something I never considered - I’ll be interested to hear what people say.

Ron Forrest · Post by **Ron Forrest** » 19 Sep 2022 8:22 am

Hey Dude shoes are the best shoes that I've found to play steel in. Light weight but still look dressier than tennis shoes.

https://www.heydudeshoesusa.com/product ... arbon-blue

Ron

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 19 Sep 2022 8:40 am

This is a topic I've been waiting for. As a new pedal player, as opposed to lap steel, and having both flat feet and ankle problems, finding the right shoe has been a challenge. I got a pair of Hey Dude's and they seem pretty good so far. but really interested in those organ shoes

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 19 Sep 2022 9:28 am

When I first read this, I thought what a ridiculous idea. I've always told pedal steelers you should be able to play in any and all footwear. Whatever matches the clothing you are wearing. It just seemed a bit anal to have a particular pair of shoes to play pedals.

But, after passing by this thread several times, I decided to look in on the Organmaster site. Those actually look pretty doggone good with the less cluttered conventional sole welt and all that. The heel height would work good for me as I used to always wear boots.

I've been wearing Skechers Chads for more comfort lately instead of hard leather shoes and boots I generally wear, but they seem to make me lean on the adjacent pedals too much.

The price of these Organmasters is very reasonable. They are something I'm considering. If any of you are or start using them, I'd also be interested in some comments about these shoes. https://organmastershoes.com/

Bill Duncan · Post by **Bill Duncan** » 19 Sep 2022 9:54 am

Interesting

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 19 Sep 2022 10:33 am

cowboy boots

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 19 Sep 2022 10:34 am

I'm thinking I wouldn't care for the fairly high heel on Organmaster footware, any comments from wearers how that works and feels for pedal work?

Stan Joyce · Post by **Stan Joyce** » 19 Sep 2022 1:29 pm

I can't wear cowboy boots because of the heel. The bands want me to wear decent looking shoes. I have bad ankles wide feet size 14. Zeba shoes work well but do not look good on me. Hey dude looks good but they don't seem to be wide enough.

Brett Hansen · Post by **Brett Hansen** » 19 Sep 2022 1:54 pm

Ron Forrest wrote:Hey Dude shoes are the best shoes that I've found to play steel in. Light weight but still look dressier than tennis shoes.

https://www.heydudeshoesusa.com/product ... arbon-blue

Ron

I'm going to check these out too

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 19 Sep 2022 1:59 pm

Merrell Jungle Mocs, leather or suede. Comfy & slip-on, leather or suede. My favorite everyday shoes, steel guitar or not.

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 19 Sep 2022 2:00 pm

Merrell Jungle Mocs, leather or suede. Comfy & slip-on, leather or suede. My favorite everyday shoes, steel guitar or not.[/i]

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 19 Sep 2022 2:25 pm

I played Ollie Strong’s Fulawka D10 a couple of weeks ago when he was in town (getting a lifetime achievement award) and I could barely fit my left leg under his guitar. Being around the same height as me, I asked him how he did it and replyed
“I don’t wear a shoe on my left foot”.

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 19 Sep 2022 2:31 pm

Just checked out the Organmaster shoe site. $65? These might be my next pair!

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 19 Sep 2022 2:49 pm

I just ordered a pair. Let you know how I like them.

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 19 Sep 2022 4:14 pm

Wore cowboy boots all the time for many years;I liked having something under my heel when playing, but walking got more and more uncomfortable so I went to tennis shoes, with a black pair for gigs so as not to draw notice.

Some country folks prefer(at least the appearance of) leather boots to beards and Roman sandals.

EDIT: Been watching this thread.I miss having a taller heel and I'd be real interested to know how those Organmaster shoes are for walking and standing.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 19 Sep 2022 4:21 pm

Brett Hansen wrote:Have any of you ever tried playing with the Organmaster brand shoes that professional organ players use on the pedals?

Have any of you ever tried playing in old style bowling shoes?

I don't want to start another huge footwear thread. I'm looking specifically at the 2 types only. Looking for first hand experience from you guys.

Hopefully, this discussion can be confined to these two styles of shoes, as requested.

I just took a look at the Organmaster shoes.

I wonder if there is a source for old style bowling shoes.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 19 Sep 2022 4:27 pm

The Organmaster shoes look very interesting to me, but will the suede sole hold up? I tend to put my playing shoes (Puma Driftcat driving shoes) on at the beginning of gigs and don't remove them until the gig is over. So I'm walking on all kinds of different surfaces during breaks. I suspect a suede sole and heel would wear out pretty quick unless I changed back to street shoes at the end of every set. That seems a bit inconvenient.

Bowling shoes have soles that are intended to slide. I don't want my foot sliding on the pedals. But I've never actually tried them on PSG.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 19 Sep 2022 4:38 pm

I wouldn't think from the site info that these are meant for walking...solely for playing. They mention feeling the pedals as you play. Being suede soles, I don't expect they would last very long walking around.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 19 Sep 2022 5:07 pm

As I recall, jazz great Daniel Jones wears something similar to bowling shoes when playing pedal steel guitar.

Time to go back and review the videos of his band, Standard Deviations.

Here is a link to a photo:

https://i0.wp.com/cuhonorsprogram.com/w ... nnamed.jpg

~Lee

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 19 Sep 2022 6:28 pm

The Hey dude shoe are nice. I have a couple of pairs, very similar from 'Wally World' and they were only about $25.00. Oh, by the way. I just looked at my facebook page. and there's a Hey Dude add already there. No, it can't be that somebody is looking at everything we post, can it?????

Scott Spanbauer · Post by **Scott Spanbauer** » 20 Sep 2022 4:03 pm

Lee Baucum wrote:As I recall, jazz great Daniel Jones wears something similar to bowling shoes when playing pedal steel guitar.

Time to go back and review the videos of his band, Standard Deviations.

Here is a link to a photo:

https://i0.wp.com/cuhonorsprogram.com/w ... nnamed.jpg

~Lee

They are indeed bowling shoes. He says he got em at a bowling alley. I wear skateboard shoes, because I get them free from my (adult) kids. I've seen other folks wearing Converse Chuck Taylors. Both have a fairly thin sole.

Bill Duncan · Post by **Bill Duncan** » 21 Sep 2022 6:14 am

I have always worn cowboy boots for work, playing PSG, even to church. I have and ride horses so cowboy boots are required.

A few years ago we refinished our hardwood floors and my wife bought me some slip on shoes with smooth, hard, soles to put on when I came in the House. I solemnly promised to leave the boots on the side porch and put on the slippers. I started playing in them at home and figured out I really like them.

I don't wear them outside, but I love to play steel guitar in them. Spurs don't work on them either.

Scott Denniston · Post by **Scott Denniston** » 21 Sep 2022 1:08 pm

https://www.ebay.com/itm/262765233534?v ... 1e49d2771f <<< These have that Organmaster type heel but maybe a bit more stylish. And some of us might still have a pair.

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Specific shoe question, 2 types

Specific shoe question, 2 types

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