Survey: age of most steel players

Wayne Baker · Post by **Wayne Baker** » 22 Jun 2003 6:22 am

How old are you now and how old were you when you started playing steel? I was just wondering. I'm 36 and started when I was 15 or 16.

Thanks,
Wayne Baker

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Emmons Legrande d-10 w/8&5 Nashville 400, peavey ultraverb II.

Carl West · Post by **Carl West** » 22 Jun 2003 6:51 am

Hey Wayne,
66 here. Started at 20 Started on pedals at 23. Mercy, Older than I thought !

Carl West
Emmons LaGrande 8/7
Evans 150

Jim West · Post by **Jim West** » 22 Jun 2003 6:56 am

53 here. If you add up all the times I've started and stopped the instrument I've been playing about 10-12 years though it sounds more like 2-3

. Started when I was 19.

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 22 Jun 2003 6:56 am

Started at 19, fell off the horse, gettin' back in the saddle at 43.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 22 Jun 2003 6:59 am

Wayne, It was 1979 and I was barely 19 when I bought my first pedal steel. Now I am 43 and still learning. Man I wish I could be 19 again and know what I know now.....Paul

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 22 Jun 2003 7:03 am

about one year older than last year

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 22 Jun 2003 7:43 am

81-Started at age 15 in 1936. First Pedal guitar in 1947. Gibson Electra-Harp.

Quit professional playing and practicing about 25 years ago.
Except for occasional gigs to help out friends, when called upon.

It has been quite a trip........al

[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 22 June 2003 at 08:45 AM.]

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 22 Jun 2003 7:47 am

FYI, here's a long thread going back a few years which discusses steelers' ages (it's an archived thread, meaning you can't post replies to it):

http://steelguitarforum.com/Archives/Archive-000003/HTML/20011227-1-008363.html [This message was edited by Bill Llewellyn on 22 June 2003 at 08:49 AM.]

John Cox · Post by **John Cox** » 22 Jun 2003 7:47 am

Started at age 13 in 75 and I'm 40 now and I can honestly say its been intresting.

J.C.
Carter&Peavy

Pat Burns · Post by **Pat Burns** » 22 Jun 2003 8:21 am

Now 51, started at 46.

pdl20 · Post by **pdl20** » 22 Jun 2003 8:40 am

started at 16 playing 3 neck fender( still have it) and stopped at 18.started back on pedal in 1965 and keep picking till i got it half as)*&^%^& right. will be 62 in dec.

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Rudy

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 22 Jun 2003 9:41 am

Now 73. Celebrated 60th anniversary of my first steel (a resinator) last December 10.

RON PRESTON · Post by **RON PRESTON** » 22 Jun 2003 9:47 am

Started in 1980, and I was 27. I am 49 now, and STEEL playing.

Lawrence Lupkin · Post by **Lawrence Lupkin** » 22 Jun 2003 9:58 am

Started at 33, now I'm 34. I guess that explains it.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 22 Jun 2003 10:07 am

Started at 30, am now 55. When I started, there were those, who in a futile attempt at discouragement, (because they were too unmotivated to do anything difficult themselves) would say that it will take at least 10 years to learn how to play it of get good at it (it takes 20). My response was simply that I planned on being 40 and I wanted to play this instrument when I got there.

These are the same kinds of detractors that when I decided to return to school, when I was 24, told me that I shouldn't because I would be 29 before I got my degree. My thinking was that I was going to be 29 anyway, degree or not, and I would rather have it.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 22 Jun 2003 1:32 pm

I'm 47 Started on Dobro about 34 years ago, got a lapsteel 11 years ago,
and pedals last april.
And I am kicking my self big time for waiting so long ;[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 22 June 2003 at 02:58 PM.]

RON PRESTON · Post by **RON PRESTON** » 22 Jun 2003 1:43 pm

Rather "KINKY", Huh, David?
Me personaly, I'm not into "S&M's, and "M&M's" and all that "Jazz".
I do know what you intended to say, though. I just got a "Kick" out of what you said, and how you spelled it.
It's not your fault that Bobbe Seymore taught you to spell.
If you do not know what I'm talking about, Just ask ANYONE on this forum what I mean, and they will explain it all to you in a "flash".
Ol' Dr. Bobbe is a

Dude, though, and he is...........well, just hang around, and you will find out alot about Good Ol' Dr. Bobbe.

Budd Kelley · Post by **Budd Kelley** » 22 Jun 2003 1:48 pm

I am 56 and it ain't music yet!

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 22 Jun 2003 2:02 pm

Ron it's typo...
I just finished 14 hour hard rock recording session in average 90 degree F. heat in the shade. With 4 hours of sleep.

And another definition of "kink" is to be bent out of shape... as opposed to "just bent" which might describe some S&M'ers.
I only take lessons about pick up lines that blondes prefer from Bobbe

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 22 June 2003 at 03:05 PM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 22 Jun 2003 2:14 pm

presently 54

Started 6 string at 12

First band at 14

Steel at around 24

Stopped Steel at 40

Started Steel again at 52

Don't plan on stopping until the final stop

Never stopped playing the 6 string

tp

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 22 Jun 2003 3:41 pm

52
i started guitar at 14
got my first steel Gibson BR6 at 19
first PSG a Maverick at 34
my first D10 3 years ago[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 27 June 2003 at 08:06 AM.]

David Coplin · Post by **David Coplin** » 22 Jun 2003 3:44 pm

65 Years young
started lap steel at 10,started playing 6 string standard at 14,Fender triple neck at 18, First pedal steel in 1960. Stopped playing steel in 1970 (continued playing six string)
Returnd to Pedal steel last year. Regret stopping all those years but with the help of the forum its starting to come back again !

Nicholas Dedring · Post by **Nicholas Dedring** » 22 Jun 2003 3:47 pm

Picked up a double-8 console a couple of years back (5?), but never really figured it out, had other stuff on my plate. Finally made the jump and bought a pedal steel a little over a year ago; I was in the evening of 26 at the time, now coming on 28.

Chris Scruggs · Post by **Chris Scruggs** » 22 Jun 2003 6:54 pm

I started guitar at 11.
Steel guitar at 17.
I'm now 20, and still don't need no stinkin' pedals

!

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 22 Jun 2003 7:08 pm

I started playing pedal steel at the age of eighteen in 1999. I'm twenty-one now and recently started lap steel. Brett Day, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel