How many have burned out sometime during your pedal steel ca

Dean Brown · Post by **Dean Brown** » 3 Jun 2002 12:20 pm

I?m sorry I haven?t been on the forum for many months. Plain and simple. I had a burnout year. Employer went out of business, Mother passed away and the grind of playing in bars, bars, bars took its toll. Last Saturday I played on my steel after not touching it for a couple of months. It felt pretty good. Any similar experiences out there???

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 3 Jun 2002 12:25 pm

you mean like a burned out pancreas?

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 3 Jun 2002 12:27 pm

I have and you know what? I've found that down-time away from playing a regular grind to be some of the most rewarding musical time I've ever experienced. Sitting down at the steel...."new things"; "ideas"; "picking
techniques"; "runs", and the like all of a sudden seem to dance out of the dark and right into my finger tips and hands. I've discovered MORE about how to play C6th since I purchased my first 6-string Rick lap steel
than I had while playing it for some 50 yrs.
It's a great time to learn and take chances.
That's where creativity lies.....

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 3 Jun 2002 12:53 pm

I didn't play steel from '83 til 89. Couldn't touch it... Thank God I play again

Steve Miller · Post by **Steve Miller** » 3 Jun 2002 1:05 pm

YES! I'm burned out right now. Six months ago I was playing in three bands and it was just too much for me. I quit two and the other went bust. Ray, you are right. I'm learning lots of new stuff and have just started learning to play my Fender D8 lap steel which was given to me five years ago! I am getting a little itchy to get out and play again, though.

Steve

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 3 Jun 2002 1:15 pm

I'm usually burnt out by Sunday night. I'm not ready to pick again until at least Wednesday.

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 3 Jun 2002 3:02 pm

Every once in awhile you have to forget everything and grab the fishing pole or jump on the motorcycle and air your head out.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 3 Jun 2002 5:00 pm

I always tought that I wont get burned,ever.And then it happend."MEDORA",this time last year,musical in Medora,ND,7 nights a week for three months,same 12 songs every night thru 2 hour musical.With a fiddle player all the time out of tune and drums under my left ear.Sound crew total beginers,so it was not enough that music was disaster but on top of that sounded terible.Music was so bad that my wife,when I first got the tape to practice,wouldn`t listen not a one song all the way thru.She told me that I can practice and listen that while she is at work and not when she`s home.And she on the Belmount,major in vocal.After three months I got home and I SOLD all my gear.Everything.I was so sick of music.Never again I will take a gig like that,no matter how much doeas it pay.There was buncha other problems but that doesn`t have anything to do with music,it was bussines part of the gig.My advice,stay away from that gig and gig`s like that.That was a year ago and I can still remember like it was yesterday.
Damir

------------------
http://hometown.aol.com/damirzanne/damirzanne1.html

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 3 Jun 2002 5:43 pm

I went thru total burn-out a few years ago and didn't touch my guitar for 2 1/2 years as a result. Only thru love for the sound of the pedal steel and friends in the circle of steel guitar was I able to rekindle my interest in playing again.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 3 Jun 2002 5:51 pm

Every three years.
Ricky

Gene H. Brown · Post by **Gene H. Brown** » 3 Jun 2002 7:05 pm

Hi,
Well, talking about burnout, I played steel six nights a week for 31 years and ten years ago I just walked away from it and said thats enough. I sold everything I had and didn't even listen to music for ten years. Then all of the sudden , 2 months ago I was driving along and heard Lloyd Green play a lick on the radio and man I got the bug terribly. I went out and bought a new steel and Amp and all the fixins and I am right back into it big time. Let me tell you, the first week back with those picks on, I had my doubts, but practiced everyday for three weeks and played my first gig last Friday night and man what a time I had. I think a burn out is sometimes good for you and you come back with a different attitude completely. I think thats whats happening to Lloyd Green right now, he's just regrouping himself and I'll bet he comes back a happy man. Thanks for the thread, it really made me think of my situation, I just wish I hadn't sold everything, its too expensive to go out and buy everything again.

------------------
If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gene H. Brown on 03 June 2002 at 08:07 PM.]</p></FONT>

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 3 Jun 2002 8:41 pm

Didn't get my guitar out of the case from 93 to 98. Didn't even play the radio! Allows the bad picking habits to get lost :~)

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 4 Jun 2002 1:52 am

I didn't play for 12 years while I went overseas to teach English. Burned out with all the usual things ... not so much the notes as the other stuff. Plus the financial insecurity. My colleagues smile now when I tell them I went into teaching to save money, but it has worked out.

I packed my big Guild 6-string with me to Indonesia, Kuwait, and Poland and used to play a bit. Then in 1998 after a tough year in Poland and the death of a family member I bought myself a new Carter SD 12 and brought it with me to UAE.

As Dean, Jim, and others have stated quite well, laying out for a while brings a new attitude into your playing. I may not have the chops (chop?) I did in the 80s but that's just superficial. Now I can lay back and play, not compete for a gig or play for the rent.

And I have learned a lot about teaching music from teaching English.

Chris

------------------
from the oasis ....

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 4 Jun 2002 2:37 am

Up until 3-4 years ago I had not touched my guitar in over 12 years.I began playing a bit of acoustic and slowly got a bit of feeling back then dragged out the steel and am sure glad I did.I can't play nealy as well as I used to but enjoy it just as much.Then I found this place now spend too much time here while I should be back there on the guitar.Oh well such is life.
Regards Brendan

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 4 Jun 2002 5:54 am

Burnout has happened several times in my life, nearly always due to the lack of control of my situation, usually in bars. With agents, club owners, group leaders telling you where to go and what to do, eventually you'll end up in black depressions which are symptomatic of burnout. If this happens to you, recognize the symptoms and remove yourself from the situation. I've never given up playing, but changing my surroundings did wonders.

Michael McGee · Post by **Michael McGee** » 4 Jun 2002 6:37 am

I switched to bass guitar for 3 years - 1987 thru 1989. I totally lost focus on steel. Couldn't play, couldn't practice. It was a massive rut.

Started up again in 1989. Everything sounded new and fresh again.

What was the biggest factor to me? I quit trying to play it to earn a portion of my living and resumed playing it because IT WAS AND IS FUN TO PLAY STEEL! I had lost that aspect somewhere along the line.

My respect for the pro's among us who have managed to earn their living on this beast is unmeasurable. There is so much more to being a true professional than just playing great steel guitar music.

Hello, Dennis D.! Dale Hopkins and I send you a great big howdy!

Mike

Dave Frye · Post by **Dave Frye** » 4 Jun 2002 7:44 am

After playin for forty years, i gave it up in :76: and moved to Nebr.,to live and work a day job. Didn,t start up again until 86. Moved back to Calif, played a few years had a severe medical problem. Still playin in Church but that about all i care to do . To ole to carry all that heavy stuff around! But it was fun! Ole Dave Frye

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 4 Jun 2002 1:53 pm

Twice. Quit once in the 80's for about 6 months. Again in the early 90's. This time for about 7 or 8 years. Never touched my guitar during those times.

------------------
Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 5 Jun 2002 3:51 am

In the immortal words of Mac McAanally
"It's a shame when we hate the things we're
Lovin" or something like that. Sorry Mac.
You will rebound.

Bob Farlow · Post by **Bob Farlow** » 5 Jun 2002 4:31 am

Sometimes it's a good thing to just shove it (the guitar) in a corner for a few days. Then when you drag it out again all is well. One thing I have learned over the years, I always play better when I am relaxed. I can't explain it, but it's true for me.

Carl West · Post by **Carl West** » 6 Jun 2002 9:23 am

I got burned out and stayed that way for 29 years. Worked for Fender 7 years, worked for Underwriters Laboratories for 29 years . . . retired and decided to buy a new Emmons.
Try'in to keep from gett'in burned out again,as not pick'in fer that long has a tendency to aggitate ya trying to learn all over again. Mercy !

Carl West
Emmons D-10
Fender 2000
Fender Twin-Rev
Evans 150

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 6 Jun 2002 10:37 am

I've burnt out a thousand times at least since I started playing in 72, but since I don't have any other marketable skills I've had to tough it out and keep playing through those dark periods. It does feel really good when you come out the other side. I've learned to take inspiration in any way I can get it.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 6 Jun 2002 4:07 pm

That old adage, "Too close to the forest
for the trees", is very true. I've found when
I've not played in weeks/months and come back to the steel, it seems almost as exciting and 'new' as when I first started out.

The really great thrill is to just sit and let your hands, knees, and feet GO. Noodling
around. The big difference, tho, is now I have 27 years of playing behind me, so the moves are more precise & calculated, than when just starting out.

I always grab something new and interesting
[well, for me anyway].

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 6 Jun 2002 5:30 pm

My last road gig I was making $500-$600 per week and decided that I need to get "real" job with benefits and job security.Today I work a day job, 40 hour week and making $280 and no benefits and not to mention that I can get fired any time, like anyone else.Sometimes I`m asking myself "am I stupid or what?"

------------------
http://hometown.aol.com/damirzanne/damirzanne1.html

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 6 Jun 2002 6:19 pm

Damir
In the long run,you will find you made the right decision. Hindsite is 20/20...I know
I have been there many times in my life.

Have confidence in your decision...it will prove to be the right one you made.

My very best to you. Follow your sucess,and it will follow you.

Jody...see this wasn't too long a story.