I've been on a Feet Rogers tangent lately working on getting his sound.
I already had a Post War Bakelite Panda, so I strung it up in his tuning.
Saw a photo of him with a Harmony 303A amp and figured I'd give it a try.
When it arrived, the cabinet had been damaged from shipping pretty good. Reverb refunded me the full amount ($250) Even the chassis was knocked loose. Mostly particle board, I delicately took the chassis out and any other support planks screws, etc. Re-glued epoxy'd, contact cemented the tolex back in place. Came out nice. Put it all back together. Plugged in my Feet Rogers Bakelite and it sounds really really on par with the tone in the Lanai Sessions. The harmonics pop easily and the dyad's have a slight overdriven tone especially when you slide into a chord. Very happy with the outcome. If you are looking for that tone, this is right there.
These recordings are still somewhat new to me, but I've been playing them on repeat.
Does anyone know if the tuning he's playing on these recordings is the D major tuning he used mentioned in another thread? I believe it was hi-low: f# d a F# D D (octave down)
Cody,
Yes, I've been using the following and it seems correct.
The Low D I may actually increase the gauge to 0.062w or 0.065w. It seems a little floppy at 60w to me.
The other thing I'm going to try today is to switch back to standard 440 tuning. My open string riffs sound way out of tune. Wondering how others tune when using more open string riffs like this style.
Cody, another suggestion is to get the AnyTune app on your phone. I drop it down a half step when playing these songs and it seems to fit the tuning of the guitar much better. Many of these old recordings are not in the pitch they were played.
Here is part of an article written by Jerry Byrd in the 1970s:
"I had really hoped to do a piece on David "Feet" Rogers—the great steel guitarist with the "Sons of Hawaii," but it is difficult to get these Hawaiians in a corner long enough to get the information. They simply do not like to talk about themselves. So, after two "missed" and "cancelled" appointments, I gave it up. But David is a shy person to begin with. Except when he's playing steel guitar! To those of you who do not know of him or his work, I want to introduce him to you and give you a light sketch of his background and his music. So meet David Rogers!
He is tall and looks Hawaiian, even though the name Rogers belies the fact. He must be about 90% Hawaiian and 10% Rogers. He is a retired merchant seaman and he told me once in one of our "intermission" conversations that he had been around the world something like 8 or 9 times! Now — in Hawaii they say "he's from the Rogers clan—all steel guitar players." And it's true. Benny Rogers (now deceased) played terrific steel guitar and is heard on many Hawaiian recordings, particularly those of Genoa Keawe, that lovely lady with an unmatchable falsetto voice. Then there's his father— or as he's known here—"Pop" Rogers, who, by the way, is still playing quite regularly. Steel guitar is a tradition in the Rogers family!
David—or "Feet", as his buddies call him—plays an old 6-string black bakelite Rickenbacker (same as the one I used to play) and uses an E major tuning with a G# on top: 1st: G#, 2nd: E, 3rd: B, 4th: G#. His speciality is his single-string harmonic work and I rate his the best in the world on harmonic technique. Every note just simply blooms; perfect in clarity; attack; and expression. Words cannot express his sound—it has to be heard. To do this I most heartily recommend to you any of the albums made by this great group, the Sons of Hawaii. Others in the group are Eddie Kamae, leader and fantastic ukulele artist; Dennis Kamakahi, 6- and 12-string guitar; Moe Keale, M.C., vocal and ukulele, and Joe Marshall, bass, M.C.
Some of their early recordings include the legendary "Gabby" Pahinui, a many-talented guy. He was replaced by Dennis Kamakahi. But David's steel guitar is the identifying mark of their pure Hawaiian sound. Their albums can be ordered from the "House of Music," or Sears-Roebuck, both outlets in the Ala Moana Centre here in Honolulu."
^^^^
Too bad the interview never happened. It would have helped to flesh out a somewhat shadowy figure and presumably answered many questions. Thanks for posting that. It's really nice to get some thoughts from Jerry about the esteem in which he held Feet Rogers and others.
Not to hijack the thread, but do any of you have the National Geographic Music of Hawaii LP or cassette?
I had the cassette version, since lost, it had Feets on a few vocalcuts and 2 instrumentals Moana Chimes and Hilo March, never reissued on cd as far as I know, LPs are online, pretty rare stuff.
Aloha. Bill Flores
Feet is probably my favorite Hawaiian players after Jules. His style was just so beautiful and pure. His taste was exquisite and his harmonics technique impeccable.
