30 years from now.....Where will the Steel Guitar Be?

Abe Stoklasa · From: Nashville, TN

I thought I'd ask where will Steel Guitar be 30 years from now, and how can we all help to keep it alive in traditional country, as well as other genres. I just wonder where it will be, the types of innovations and stuff. Will there be more or less players? What will Styles be like? Who will be "the players"? Will players remember who Don Helms, John Hughey, Lloyd Green, and many more were? Something to think about. How can we push steel guitar more today to make a difference in the future? I think the Carter-Starter was a brilliant idea, especially putting it in retail stores and Musician's Friend Magazine. I think this forums a great idea. These types of things, I think, are what we're going to have to think up as the years go by. Anyway, what do you think? What are your ideas?

Maybe I, age 45, will be playing on the moon! Probably not!

b0b, I don't know if this is the right section.

[This message was edited by abraham on 29 June 2002 at 01:36 PM.]

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Haven't been there since early 1970's...but I understand one of the most famous steel guitars, the Bakelite Rickenbacher....that Jerry Byrd made so famous...has actually been removed from the "new" Country Music Hall of Fame. WHether or not it's true or not, I can't say, but the point that I'm attempting to make is.....there's a very real chance that "steel guitar" instruments and memories and sounds, will one day in the future, end up.....locked away in some dark, dank warehouse, controlled by some R&R activist, non-musician that personally prefers LEAD DRUMS and working full time by Gaylord Enterprises. But again, those rich memories... we Forumites can lock away in our minds where NO ONE can touch them.

Abe Stoklasa · From: Nashville, TN

Smiley, YOU take lessons from ME? That'll be the day....

Hehe, Smiley will be the founder of NLSGA

NORTHERN LUNAR STEEL GUITAR ASSOCIATION

Good point, Ray. Does anyone know if they sell booths at the CMHOF. If so, that would be something to consider. Maybe all the Steel Associations could back the project, and put the memories in the HOF where they belong. Just a thought.

[This message was edited by abraham on 29 June 2002 at 02:32 PM.]

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Great Question!

If you're playing on the Moon the weight of your guitar won't be a factor, even if you're an old-timer of 45.

So keep the MSA!

Have things really changed that much in the Steel world on the last 30 years?

Let's see, 1972, I was listening to NRPS and Commander Cody. Nope, hasen't changed much for me!

Folks like you, Abraham, will determine where it will be.

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

"30 years from now.....Where will the Steel Guitar Be?

No one can tell the future with ANY degree of accuracy unless it is a Swag

But IMO, the steel guitar, UNLESS something happens dramatically, will fall into the same pit as the accordian. Or the banjo in all forms of music save "Blue Grass". As such Dobro might last a while longer.

The kids just do NOT like its sound. You can dress it up in Rock and Roll like Garth and Shania do, but the masses will not take to it. They 'jes don lack it!

A few will, but not enough to keep the ship from sinking. NO body on this earth loves the steel guitar more than I do. But if you want it straight with no punches pulled, these be my opinions. I will not be here to see it.

But time will tell,

Carl

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

I did a rehearsal with a 'Christian Rock" group today that was looking for something different in their sound. They loved it. This group has drums, bass, keyboard, cello, lead guitar and rythmn guitar. The oldest player is probably 25. I will be doing a gig with them next week. I am also on a new CD with a rock group just signed by Capitol . I think the steel guitar will find new venues and will be around for a long time. It is up to us players to capitalize on these venues and make the most of it. Best regards, Jody.

Abe Stoklasa · From: Nashville, TN

Congratulations, Jody. Maybe we'll hear you on the radio soon!

Bobbe Seymour · From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.

Abraham, 30 years? I'll be outta' here and you'll be running my store, Brandy will be 52 and you'll love her the way we all do now!
The new guitars will all be plastic and the Emmons P-P and all Sho-Buds will be a million bucks each. ( but a hamburger will cost $50.000.00).
Seriously, I don't see alot of change in steels, but quite a lot in the music we play and how we play it. There will always be "The old scene", and it will become "cool" to be in it. So remember what is happening now because you'll be bragging that you were in it someday! Life is great, don't miss it!
J. Hummell Duffleburger

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · From: Southaven, MS, USA

I don't suppose I have to be concerned about going to the moon: John Hughey says that I've been "off the planet" for some time! It's fun out here, but lonesome!---HJ

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

"Where will the Steel Guitar be 30 years from now"? I have no idea.

However, I would hope that it will be exposed to more musical Areas. I think it will.

These record producers must get off that sterotype idea of Pedal Steel Guitar and let the players stretche out and show how versatile the instrument can be.

As far as the instrument goes, you can expect to see better mechanics and tuning, easier to change pulls, lighter weight guitars , and more precision in MFG, for the new Millenium. .....al

[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 29 June 2002 at 09:10 PM.]

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I think if you listen to Greg Leitz with Bill Frisell, or BJ Cole with Sting, or Bruce Kaphan's "Slider" CD, you'll have a bit of a clue as to where modern steel guitar is heading. I expect to hear it more in "smooth jazz", "new age", "soft rock", etc. where the contrast between analog and digital is becoming an essential element of the artform.

Steel guitar is the ultimate analog electric instrument. Steel players do things that are very hard to do with computers. Producers and session leaders are starting to understand that. The steel guitar adds an extrememly versitile, fluid, corporeal element to the music. It adds a smooth, round texture with voicings that no keyboard player would even think of.

I don't think the steel guitar will ever become "popular" again, like it was in the Hawaiian guitar era, but I think it will always be in demand in studio music of all kinds. The more adventuresome road acts will carry a steel player, as artists like Bob Dylan and Neil Young often do, but few in the audience will understand what it is, or which sound is coming from it.

If blues has a future, steel will be there, too. The "sacred steel" players have, in a remarkably short time, brought pedal steel into blues. Blues is very much a fringe category, though, and I sort of doubt that it will grow much in the next 30 years. Still, it gives steel players another market, and I think we all owe a debt to Bob Stone and Arhoolie Records for bringing the sacred steel players to the record store for us.

Last but certainly not least is country music. The steel guitar puts the sad in sad songs, and a good steel player adds a lot of excitement to fast country tunes as well. On the country tunes that rock, you often hear pedal steel playing "slide guitar" parts that have their roots in the blues. I don't think any of this will fade away in 30 years time. Country music will continue to evolve, and most of us geezers will continue to complain about it, but it will always contain a healthy dose of steel. It's one of the identifying characteristics of the sound, like the sax is to jazz or the cello is to classical music. So, Abraham, your time is not wasted learning to play country. I'm sure those licks will come in handy 30 years from now, as much as audiences today still love to hear Don Helms and Lloyd Green licks. Country steel will not die away.

Good topic, Abraham. Thanks for posting it.

Martin Weenick · From: Lecanto, FL, USA

I think Bobby Lee is exactly right.

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Martin W. Emmons LG III 3/5 Peavy 1000

Gary Slabaugh · From: Scottsdale, AZ

It keeps amazing me where I hear steel guitar, I was listening to an older Tracy Chapman tape (the one with "Give me one Reason" and several of the songs had pedal steel on it. Our local Ford and Chev truck commercials always seem to feel that a resonator expresses the truck they are trying to sell. One of the problems with getting greater popularity is access to learning the instrument, very few teachers in a 200 mile radius in Seattle.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

looks like b0b got it right;
i'm w: ya' on this 1.
Steel lookin' onward...

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

I wonder if folks will look back on Garth, Toby, and thier peers and remember how great they were.

in my best Geezer voice:
"Ah the classics...
Girls these days don't even show their navels... and the drums are too low in the mix... yep, yep... but I still listen to hear that Abraham dude..."

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · From: Southaven, MS, USA

Commercial steel players need to think about staying ahead of the computer world. Cool Dudes like Brent Edstrom (Univ. of No. Carolina) has combined sound waves and can duplicate about any instrument; he does an excellent job of reproducing the sounds of COUNTRY STEEL in his CD-book: Making Music with Your Computer. HJ

Jerry Horner · From: Tahlequah, OK, USA

I know there is not one member of this forum that is going to agree with this, but as I think back, my opinion is the steel guitar started going down hill the day we put pedals and knee levers on them. Before that you could tell who was playing and what they were playing. There are a few that stand out today and when you hear them you know who they are, but not near as many as back during the non-pedal age.
Ok, give me hell guys.

Jerry

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

JERRY.....I'm ONE, that agrees with you!

Theresa Galbraith · From: Goodlettsville,Tn. USA

Being a daughter of a builder,I disagree!
With everything, we all change! The steel has so much more to offer with change! Changes!

We have young players, so many that never post on here.

Bob Hoffnar,Randle Currie,Robert Randalph, Brian Dixson, Chad Udene, and the ones like Derek Duplessie, Abraham that have the fire to know what they want to do for a living. It takes that to become one of the best.

I think steel will be "Living And Living Well" as George Strait sings his #1 for the second week now!

Theresa

[This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 30 June 2002 at 01:33 PM.]

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · From: Southaven, MS, USA

To: Jerry Horner - It's not the pedals; it's the way they have come to be utilized!! Compare the Pedal Steel Guitar to what the Harpist does with his/her instrument and those pedals???! It's like apples and oranges! NO comparison. -- HJ

Jerry Horner · From: Tahlequah, OK, USA

Your right Hugh in that respect but we did take alot of the idenity away from the steel when we went to pedals. That's not to say I don't like them, I have on mine and even enjoy using them though I do miss the days when you could tune up a quad Fender and just flat get after it. There are still some of those pickers around, but very few.

Jerry

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Hopefully, not extinct. I will not be here 30 years from now (depressing thought), but I hope the instrument that I love can survive.

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Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler

Gil Berry · From: Westminster, CA, USA

Guess the trouble is the tendency of all of us to want to copy what someone (one of our "hero's" is doing). PF comes up with a neat change - everybody's gotta have it. Why? Come up with your OWN changes and sound like YOU. (Personally, I could never sound like PF no matter how many of his licks I tried to copy, anyway.) When we all play the same licks (and face it, that's a lot of what pedals allow us to do), we sound more and more alike. The instrument is suffering because of it.

Joe Miraglia · From: Jamestown N.Y.

What steel guitar needs is some steel player's recordings that would sell, sell, sell! That would keep steel guitar alive for another thirty years. Maybe some new and catchy and not so fancy. Remember Pete Drake's "Forever" and Santo and Johnny's "Sleepwalk"? Seems those two recordings put a shot in the arm for the steel. Simple, but you know people--at least a million of them. Joe

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