Famous electric guitar players who play PSG

Dave Stagner · Post by **Dave Stagner** » 29 Sep 2023 12:15 pm

Ron Hogan wrote:Yes, Jerry Garcia. “The world’s foremost Pedal Steel Guitarist “.

Yeah, the world may not know all the great players by name, so they think they one they've heard of is best. On the other hand, "Teach Your Children Well" is probably the most widely-heard pedal steel part in history, and he inspired a lot of players.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 29 Sep 2023 6:01 pm

Jerry Overstreet wrote:Wanda Vick is another one...Tele Wizard...I reckon she plays everything.

One might be surprised at the number of guitar slingers who can lay down the guitar and smoke me and many others on the steel. The reverse is also true. Lots of times, players pick up an additional instrument where one might be missing in the configuration they are involved, maybe not as much in recent years but pickers do tell stories of such happenings in their experience from past years.

Wanda was part of the band Wild Rose, and in the nineties, played fiddle with the Music City Tonight staff band, which Tommy White was also a part of. With Wild Rose, she played fiddle, banjo, steel, and guitar.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 30 Sep 2023 7:42 am

I'm convinced that Wanda Vick is not from this planet. She is too good at everything she touches. Love her.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 30 Sep 2023 11:47 am

The previously mentioned Milo Deering in fact plays all guitars, steel, mando, and fiddle, all with mind boggling expertise. IIRC, in our last conversation he allowed as he was taking up cello.

He isn't as much of a household word as are the names of the guitar stars listed above, but I'd venture to say Milo has been heard, nationally, more times than most rock guitar gods. He's the fiddle and guitarist on the Motel 6 "we'll keep the light on for you" with Tom Bodett radio spots. Played for decades thousands of times every night.

John Larson · Post by **John Larson** » 30 Sep 2023 1:21 pm

Dave Stagner wrote:
John Larson wrote:Jerry Garcia also played steel on the entirety of the first New Riders of the Purple Sage album.

Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes plays PSG in addition to guitar and a bunch of other instruments. He's played steel on several of the projects he's produced for other artists.
I just listened to the autobiography "Home Before Daylight, by Steve Parish (Jerry's main roadie and JGB road manager), and he said that the main reason Jerry left New Riders of the Purple Sage was to unchain them from the Grateful Dead. As long as he was a member, they'd just be opening for the Grateful Dead, not headlining their own shows. A good decision, because obviously they went on to a long and successful period as a band, and Buddy Cage is one of my favorite players!

(I say this as someone who got a ZB largely because it's what Jerry played...)

Agreed that was really the best result for both parties they ended up with an absolute wizard on pedal steel and weren't tethered to opening for the Dead.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 6 Oct 2023 12:32 pm

here's one no one mentioned-Rick Derringer...

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 6 Oct 2023 1:23 pm

Steve Howe
Pete Townshend

and Gene Parsons of the Byrds who invented the stringbender with Clarence White. a fine guitarist who also plays drums, banjo, and pedal steel

Tim Sergent · Post by **Tim Sergent** » 7 Oct 2023 4:43 pm

Sid Hudson

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 7 Oct 2023 6:26 pm

Tim Sergent wrote:Sid Hudson

Most definitively Sid Hudson! (Hey Tim!

)

Tim Sergent · Post by **Tim Sergent** » 7 Oct 2023 6:31 pm

Hey, Herb! I'm about ready to go bar hopping again scoping out some good pickin'

John Larson · Post by **John Larson** » 7 Oct 2023 6:48 pm

Apparently Joe Perry played PSG on Aerosmith's "Rag Doll"
Sounds like a Lap Steel to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrEC8xGc3ZM

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 8 Oct 2023 4:23 am

Ron Hogan wrote:Yes, Jerry Garcia. “The world’s foremost Pedal Steel Guitarist “.

I understand the consternation, and the little dig, but lets face facts.. he had a studio discography that many "real" studio steel players would envy.. Played steel sessions with some very big names back in the day.. Some very good pro[non pro as well] steel players liked his playing.. It was simple, easy to understand, had a tone that many of us liked, and was always musical... Listen to his work on Change Partners by Steve Stills, Oh Mommy by Brewer and Shipley, and his own pedal steel drenched song "The Wheel".. he was not a virtuoso on steel and he knew it, but the guy had first level musical instincts.. He wasn't a great 5 string banjo player either, but how many banjo players can claim to be on an album as popular as well crafted and as influential as Old and In the Way?.. I give him all the credit he;s due... No great session steel player could have made Teach Your Children any better at all...bob

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 10 Oct 2023 11:38 pm

LOL,

A couple of names listed above who may have " played a Pedal Steel" for a brief moment or two, or wiggled their way thru a specialty song are not exactly Pedal Steel players. We are denigrating the Instrument and its value. I know a bunch of chords and a couple of licks on the Mandolin but please do not list me as a Mandolin player along with the likes of Skaggs, Marty, Thile, Bush, Hull etc... I shouldn't be listed in the same book as those players !

Interesting TRUE story about Banana, (Lowell Levinger) I spoke with him a few times over the years, we even traded some music, nice guy ! Jerry Garcia gave him his Fender Pedal Steel and taught him a few licks which he played on a couple album songs and on gigs now and then, but he did NOT consider himself a Pedal Steel player . That Fender Steel was stolen from the equipment Van in NY during a Youngbloods tour and never replaced, he never acquired another one. Well , not up to the time we spoke. I did see the Youngbloods one time at a show, the PS was set up but he never played it, go figure.

I cook Steaks on the grill but clearly I am not a Chef !

Just my thoughts on the matter.

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 13 Oct 2023 4:20 am

Sid Hudson. Buddy used him on guitar a bunch and he played steel with a flatpack.
I was at Rick Derringer's house, in NYC in 1981 and he sold me his Sho~Bud Pro II for $900. It went to Mike Cass and onto someone else.
Probably all the Hellecastsrs play pedal steel.
When I worked for Robert Randolph, he would often play some fine guitar on the bus.
I'm guessing Tommy Emmanuel plays killer steel too.
Bass player, Keith Horne, who played bass for Trisha Yearwood and also plays super Tele, plays pedals..
Here he is playing bass for Waylon on "Clyde":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGgTPfeoC5I