What the heck is this thing called?

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 2 Oct 2004 11:54 pm

This is a philisophical point and has probably been covered before. It may be entirely pointless, but I'd like to hear your ideas about this. It seems a little demeaning to call this instrument a "non-pedal" steel guitar. Once upon a time it was just the "steel guitar" or the "hawaiian steel" guitar. When they added pedals, that created a new thing called "pedal steel" guitar. So far, so good. Somehow the situation evolved to where now, folks are saying we play the non-pedal steel which makes it sound like a lesser instrument. Hey, we were here first! I say, let's proudly call it a steel guitar, plain and simple.

When you think about it, the name pedal steel isn't really ideal either. Players nowdays use knee levers (and even wrist levers) as much as pedals, so naming it a knee-lever steel guitar makes about as much sense.

If you follow the logic of calling something a non-pedal steel, then pedal guitars could be called non-original steels.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 3 Oct 2004 12:29 am

Yes it's been covered before - No it's not pointless. The term "non-pedal steel" most likely coined for clarification has caused more confusion than anything. For one thing, non-steelers have no clue about pedals or levers or hawaiian or resonators or any of it. To say any more than "I play steel guitar" to Average Joe is pointless. He doesn't know or care about the particulars.

So, if you're talking to other steelers or interested musicians and they ask what kind of steel you play - then tell 'em Fender Stringmaster or Rick Bakelite or National Tricone or whatever. If you're talking to Average Joe, tell him ever since you started playing THE STEEL GUITAR you have to to fight the women off with a stick and you're making more money than you could ever spend! If he's dumb enough to believe you, do you think his next question will be about whether your guitar has pedals or not ?

The STEEL GUITAR is not non-anything! It is a complete entity unto itself with infinite possibilities - needing nothing more than picks, a bar, and the skilled hands of a STEEL GUITAR Player.

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Rick Alexander
57 Fender Stringmaster T8, 57 Fender Champ, 59 Valco D8, 47 National New Yorker . .

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 3 Oct 2004 5:18 am

Rick has summed it up very well. This subject has been kicked around many times on the Forum. The term I really dislike is "lap steel" as it conjures up something akin to lap dancing. Since I don't play pedal steel, I always say either 'Steel Guitar' or just 'Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 3 Oct 2004 11:47 am

Ah yes - Lap Steel . . It's okay to have it on your lap, but if you lay a hand on it they throw you out of the club (I had that happen once)

Rick Alexander
Big Steel Guitar Player

http://rickalexander.com/BigSteel

Loni Specter · Post by **Loni Specter** » 3 Oct 2004 6:07 pm

IMHO
If it sits on your lap, it's a lap steel, or hawaiian guitar
If it has legs attached, it's a steel guitar
If it has pedals, knee levers, and legs, it's a pedal steel guitar.
If it sounds like heaven, in perfect pitch, with soul dripping bliss in every note, It's probably not you playing.

Paul Arntson · Post by **Paul Arntson** » 3 Oct 2004 7:24 pm

or for sure not me playing...

Zayit · Post by **Zayit** » 4 Oct 2004 11:38 am

Loni: Was that soul-dripping 'bliss, or soul- dripping 'gliss'?

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 4 Oct 2004 11:46 am

.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2004 at 08:36 PM.]</p></FONT>

Don E. Curtis · Post by **Don E. Curtis** » 6 Oct 2004 11:36 am

Many folks don't like the term, "non-pedal" so I agree it's either a Steel Guitar or it's a Pedal Steel Guitar. Everything else is taken for granted...Knee Levers, Wrist Levers, Laps, Legs and Stands.
Don Curtis
Pedal Steel Guitarist