I've joined the club!

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 5 Sep 2003 11:08 am

As of yesterday, I now own a pedal steel. (Note that I didn't say I'm a pedal steel player).
I bought a used Zumsteel ten string 3p/4kl through Blue Note Music in Berkeley, CA, and took it to my regular Thursday night gig with my band Go Van Gogh.
It was an interesting night. I normally play a National Dynamic lap steel tuned to open D. Here I am with four extra strings, all these pedals and knee levers, and a tuning a whole step higher, trying to play songs I know well. Parts of it didn't suck

but what amazed me was that the parts that didn't suck sounded pretty darned good.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 5 Sep 2003 11:56 am

Boy! That took guts to bandstand it immediately. I don't think many experienced PSG players would gig a new one right out of the box.

Congratulations on your new PEDAL steel. You're going to have a ball with that.

That one, being from Berkeley, might be tilted to the left side a bit. An adjustment to the legs should fix it right up.

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HagFan

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 5 Sep 2003 12:14 pm

It's actually a nice store on Telegraph Avenue just before you get to the loony bin part of the street. The steel was there for a while on consignment...I don't think anybody in the store knew much about it. The guy who helped me was pretty amazed when I went to take it apart; his quote was, "Oh, so THAT's how you do it!"

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 5 Sep 2003 5:36 pm

Congratulations Brad.

We all knew it was only a matter of time before you took the plunge.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 5 Sep 2003 6:41 pm

The pedal steel and backgammon have something in common. Easy to get started but a lifetime to figure out.

Congratulations on taking the plunge. It's a wonderful obsession.

Emmons s-10, Dekley S-10, Nashville 400

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 5 Sep 2003 7:12 pm

Congratulations Brad. That's pretty rough taking it out the day you got it. I can sympathize with you. But the next time will be easier.....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 5 Sep 2003 8:10 pm

moved from No Peddlers.....

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 6 Sep 2003 1:22 am

Hey Brad..congrats. You should get some sorta medal or something..

When I play at my gigs I'm still waiting for the parts that don't suck !

tp

Charlie Fullerton · Post by **Charlie Fullerton** » 6 Sep 2003 4:50 am

Caved in, eh!!!! At least you didn't totally "Suck"! I know a few players for whom that cannot be said (no names -- no way!).
I was a little saddened that you went all the way to E9th: you could have had pedals, etc. with a nice C6th or even a Bb6th, or better still Herb R's pedal A6th which has alot of possibilities.
I hope you enjoy those first two strings!
I really mean it! Congrats, and have fun!

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 6 Sep 2003 6:26 am

<font size=1>Just Jokin'</font>

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 6 Sep 2003 9:00 am

Way to Go Brad! I hope you didn't have anything else planned for next few years... Ray's comment about Backgammon is appropo in another way- doubling- as in "I'm gonna need twice as many necks", twice as many knees, twice as much gear to haul, twice as much practice time, twice as many new cds... Have Fun!

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C'mon by and visit!- www.markvanallen.com
My Bands: Sugarland Kate and the Retreads Kecia Garland Band Shane Bridges Band Dell Conner Blues Band

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 6 Sep 2003 12:50 pm

Thanks for the good wishes and advice, everyone. And special thanks to Rick for the portrait of Benedict Arnold!

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 7 Sep 2003 6:18 pm

Say it isn't so! Sob!

Good luck with your new steel, Brad. You'll make some good sounds with it.

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 7 Sep 2003 8:26 pm

Brad, best of luck with your new guitar. The Zum sounds cool.

I'll be your replacement...for the first time in about 20 years I'll be pedal-less. I got the non-pedal bug about a year ago and can't seem to get enough. My new faux-deluxe is almost ready for the finish coat and I'm excited.

Tom Jordan