Whats the average age of a new steel player?

Bob Smith · Post by **Bob Smith** » 21 Dec 2002 4:07 am

Im just curious, im 47 and started this year. Most of the guys i see playin around here ,(and theres not many)are at least my age or older. Just curious about the other new players! Are there any young people into this cool instrument? Bob

Bennie Hensley · Post by **Bennie Hensley** » 21 Dec 2002 4:10 am

Bob,I have been making noise on the PSG for just over a year. I am 58 years old. Bennie

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 21 Dec 2002 6:27 am

Bennie,
Why have you not posted your e-mail addy,occupation,or interests,hmmmmm???
Are you hiding from the law???

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©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

Leon Roberts · Post by **Leon Roberts** » 21 Dec 2002 7:05 am

The only new player that I am aware of in my area is a 45 year old veterinarian. I helped him acquire a Sho-Bud Lloyd Green model with 3+5. He is a very good guitar and banjo player and I have high hopes for him. The man who sold the guitar also included all Jeff Newman’s videos and courses, so he should get started with proper instructions.
Leon

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 21 Dec 2002 7:07 am

Be kind,, Smiley......
It's Christmas time.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 21 Dec 2002 7:29 am

Add seven years to each pedal and knee lever
and follow the theory of the age of a dog.

The more pedals the older you are the less
the younger you are.

Im a non peddler

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 21 Dec 2002 7:37 am

Quit it Smiley or you'll blow Bennie's cover. On the subject though, the newest steeler I know personally in my neighborhood started a few years ago at about 63,

ahem. He must be 70 now. I helped him with some stuff and he's hanging tight.

Anders Brundell · Post by **Anders Brundell** » 21 Dec 2002 7:54 am

There are several lap newcomers around 25-30 years old over here, but pedal steelers seemes to be older and a lot fewer. You proably need a decade to save enough cash to afford a full size PSG, or - rather - non pedals fits the younger pickers taste better - rockabilly and early rock style (Bill Haley, Elvis) is popular amongst large groups of younger people over here since a couple of decades.
I was a bit over 30 when I started pedaling; I was unemployed and down, and couldn´t afford a booze propelled suicide (liquor is very expensive here). Now I must agree with J R Mecille when he says "I have to play steel, to keep sane." Very well expressed!
But if any shop owner had known the mere existence of steel guitar when I was young (when Elvis, the Everlys, and later the british pop wave came), I should have gotten one instantly, ´cause I´ve always loved the that sound, also when I was a young and rebellious rock consumer.

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 21 Dec 2002 9:37 am

Between 55 and 60.

Ed Naylor · Post by **Ed Naylor** » 21 Dec 2002 10:39 am

I don't know the average age- but I am building a Steel for a gentleman that is 88 years old. His first guitar.I was working a few weeks ago with a gentleman 92 that was "Steelin". Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works

Mike Delaney · Post by **Mike Delaney** » 21 Dec 2002 10:59 am

I was 44 or 45 when I got my first one.

Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 21 Dec 2002 12:25 pm

I started at 34. Why do I always think that was too late?

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 21 Dec 2002 12:30 pm

I was 21 when I got my first steel guitar.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 21 Dec 2002 1:49 pm

I started at 16 in 1971. Of course I'm only 29 now

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Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler

[This message was edited by Richard Sinkler on 21 December 2002 at 01:50 PM.]

Quesney Gibbs · Post by **Quesney Gibbs** » 21 Dec 2002 3:35 pm

I was a rock musician in the DC area and played a Fender Jazzmaster for years. I took up the steel at the age of 31. Go figure that.

Scott Howard · Post by **Scott Howard** » 21 Dec 2002 4:41 pm

My son started learning last year after I started playing again.I have been back at it about 2 years this time.I am 40 he is 19 now 18 when he started and passing me at a rapid pace.

Bennie Hensley · Post by **Bennie Hensley** » 21 Dec 2002 5:16 pm

Smiley, believe it not I AM THE LAW, that's why I am hiding it! Bennie

Bob Smith · Post by **Bob Smith** » 21 Dec 2002 5:21 pm

Well from the replies here, i guess it looks like any age is a good age to start. I wanted to try it 25 yrs ago and didnt have the b*lls to do it then. (guitar seemed much safer then) Anyway, ive been at it since last May and im havin a great time with it. bob

Joey Gaskins · Post by **Joey Gaskins** » 21 Dec 2002 5:46 pm

I got my first steel for Christmas last year, I too was 47.

Jim Whitaker · Post by **Jim Whitaker** » 21 Dec 2002 6:35 pm

48 here & loving and hating every minute of it !!??

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JIM
"Carter SD10" "74" LTD & NASHVILLE 400, Profex II "55" Esquire, "63 Epiphone, "63" Precision,
"71" Jazz

Pat Irvin · Post by **Pat Irvin** » 21 Dec 2002 6:47 pm

I'm 30 and I just bought my first PSG 4 months ago.

I would not have bought one if I had not have found this site. Though the learning process is slow, it would have taken me 20 years to gather the information I can gather here in one day.

Keep up the good topics.

PI

JACK HEERN · Post by **JACK HEERN** » 21 Dec 2002 11:15 pm

Pat
Some of the stuff you learn on the forum might not teach you to play. But you can always put it on your garden and raise a bumper crop

jp

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 22 Dec 2002 3:53 am

I started playing steel in 1984 at the tender age of 17, on a brand new Sho-Bud Pro I and a Pak-A-Seat and whatever amps I had at the time. I didn't know there was a difference until many years later.
My first instrument , oddly enough, was the drums. I started playing them in the 4th grade in 1975, I was 8 years old. At that time, I didn't even know what a steel was.
Thanks to the only two players I knew in Southern Illinois at the time, Fred Rushing and Jim Alexander, and a few years later, Scotty in St. Louis, the steel has become my main instrument and has kept me busy for almost 19 years now.
Thanks guys.
Michael T.

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UTILITY MAN PRODUCTIONS
'73 EMMONS D10 FATBACK, '92 EMMONS D10 LASHLEY LEGRANDE,
'85 DOBRO 60DS, '95 DOBRO F60S,
'95 MELOBAR CUSTOM, 1955 FENDER TRIPLE NECK STRINGMASTER. EVANS, FENDER, PEAVEY,
and MESA BOOGIE Amps.

Bill Fulbright · Post by **Bill Fulbright** » 22 Dec 2002 4:25 am

After 40 yrs of playing guitar I "snapped" and started playing PSG at age 49....just a pup. Even after knowing about Doug J. and Buddy E., even after having an LDG Bud for a while in the '80's the light didn't go on.

Duh. What a bullheaded rock!

Well, I am better now. 2 years and a Mullen D-10. I think I am on the right road now...it makes playing regular Jazz Guitar/Blues a real breeze in comparison!!

AAAHHHHH!!! Expansion!

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Bill Fulbright
Mullen D-10 8x7; Gibson ES-165; Peavey Vegas 400;
ICQ# 2251620 My Music Site

Scott Howard · Post by **Scott Howard** » 22 Dec 2002 6:14 am

Just a thought here but one reason some players may not start so young is the cost.I am sure my son would not have started if my guitar was not sitting there.Another is the junk most kids listen to now.In the last 2 years I bought a Sho-Bud and 2 Mullen steels from guys in thier 50's who gave up after a year or so of trying to learn.