how many steel players play tele guitar?

Mike Archer · Post by **Mike Archer** » 29 Sep 2006 10:44 am

LAST QUESTION
HOW MANY ALSO PLAY FIDDLE??
OR ANYTHING ELSE? AS WELL AS STEEL
BY THE WAY ALL YOU GUYS HAVE NICE TELES
AND COOL PICS
AS WELL AS WAY COOL STEELS ETC[This message was edited by Mike Archer on 29 September 2006 at 11:47 AM.]

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 29 Sep 2006 11:07 am

I play guitar, mandolin, and a little fiddle as well as steel. We have two great guitar players in our band so I very seldom play guitar except when one of them is absent. We do a few songs that I play mandolin on, and we did a bluegrass song a few months ago that I played fiddle on. I play steel 99% of the time.

This is unusual in that our band is a contemporary Praise & Worship band at my church. How many times have you seen a steel or mandolin in a Praise band? I'm a lucky guy.

I have several Tele's and Strats, but I'm a jazz wannabe. When I play guitar at home, I almost always grab a hollow body. I have quite a collection of these too, I just recently bought my first all handmade jazz box, made by Matt Cushman.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Post by **Joey Ace** » 29 Sep 2006 11:30 am

I double on Keys when needed, some mandolin.

Tonight I have a rare acoustic duo gig at a Country Club. I'll play lead on a flatop and some dobro. The other guy is a singer songwritter who will be playing guitar.

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<img align=left border=0 src="http://joeyace.com/sgf/sig.jpg" >
-j0ey-
www.JoeyAce.com

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 29 Sep 2006 12:07 pm

Watch this YouTube clip for perhaps the greatest Tele player of all time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqRnaSRyELA

He manages to wring every emotion possible out of his guitar.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 29 Sep 2006 12:14 pm

If the question is how many steel players also play a 6-string electric guitar the question should be how many steel players don't play the guitar. I've never met one.

If the question is how many steel players play a Telecaster, I have a Telecaster, but I prefer a Stratocaster, although it's not my favourite.

I like to play a 7-string with the exta B string, and Fender don't make a 7-string as far as I know.

Being brought up in England, Fenders were just not available over there during the 50's. That's why so many of the Merseyside groups played Hofners, Ekos, Burns, etc.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 29 Sep 2006 12:23 pm

I've always been a guitar player who doubled a little on steel. I started playing full time in '63 mostly on guitar with a little steel in there from time to time. I got my first "real" pedal steel in the middle sixties which was a Fender 400 on which I tried to learn some Mooney Licks. In the seventies I got a S-12 ShoBud which I played until 1989 or so when I went to my current U-12 BMI. My main guitar is an '83 Tele with P/W B-Bender and I have a '79 Tele which I keep tuned a whole tone flat for gigs with people who like to do "Workin' Man Blues" in G instead of A. I just aquired a very nice Highway One Telecaster with a Warmouth maple neck and Joe Barden pickups as well as bridge piece. I'm going to install a Parsons/Green bender on it sometime soon. Nowadays I play guitar and steel on most gigs and use the same thumbpick and fingerpicks for both.........JH in Va.

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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 29 Sep 2006 12:24 pm

I just read Mark's second question.

I also play 5,6,7 and 12-string banjo, mandolin, harmonica, autoharp, lute, cittern, hammer dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, hummel, bouzuki, glockenspiel, viola, cello, psaltery, bass, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14-string guitar, dobro, Weissenborn, recorder, and have recently taken up the accordion. I just love music.

But, of course, I play the steel every day, and the other instruments when the mood takes me, or when I want to add backing to my multi-tracked recordings.

(My wife is trying to get me to box up some of the instruments: I have them hanging from every wall except the bathroom.)

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 29 Sep 2006 3:37 pm

I played B-bender Teles from about '75 or so until last year when I developed hand problems. Still have my main squeeze and a couple others, though. This is "Nashville West" Serial number 001 from the Stringpull Guitar Shop - number one of 42....no more to be made. Long-pull Parsons-White Bender, Red Rhodes Velvet Hammer pickups, and Red's custom wiring he did for Clarence White in the early 70's. Also has a double-thick body...doesn't need it as the original did, but it adds an incredible resonance to the guitar. It's pretty much a priceless instrument. I can't really play it for more than 5 minutes or so because of my left hand, but it'll never be for sale...

[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 29 September 2006 at 04:38 PM.]

As far as the second question - I play Dobro, and used to play upright ('53 Kay S-9) and Electric ('66PBass, '59 Dano, Sadowsky 5-string) bass; a Rigel A Plus Deluxe mando; Gibson RB250 Mastertone and Iida RB4 copy; Gibson and Gretsch ukes; '63 Jaguar; a Trussart Steel DeVille; a '39 Kalamazoo Archtop; Martin D-41; Liberty roundneck resonator and a bunch of other stuff. The upright, Sadowsky, a couple Teles and the banjos are gone. Still have all the others just in case my hand starts working, in addition to my Fender 400, Fender 1000 and GFI Ultra. Honestly, if I had my 'druthers, I'd be playing the Nashville West or Jag...[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 29 September 2006 at 04:42 PM.][This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 29 September 2006 at 04:45 PM.][This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 29 September 2006 at 04:47 PM.]

LARRY COLE · Post by **LARRY COLE** » 29 Sep 2006 5:01 pm

I play piano too.

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Playing For JESUS,LC. WILLIAMS U12,SHO-BUD PRO1,CARVIN TL60,GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM,YAMAHA L-10A ACOUSTIC,ROLAND JW-50 KEYBOARD,G&L AND BC RICH BASS'S

Bobby Johnson · Post by **Bobby Johnson** » 29 Sep 2006 5:40 pm

Like alot of others here i to love the Tele. I like the bite it has. And if you want to rip it up it will cut through almost everything. IMO it's a great guitar i have 3 of them and I'm building the fourth one now. But this one is my dream guitar. Will post a picture of it when it's done. Body is a custom Flamed Blue burst double binded, birdseye maple neck with gold hardware instead of chrome with noiseless pickups. Wired the same as a Nashville Tele with 5 way switch and a middle pickup reverse wound. White Perl pickguard. Should be really nice looking and I'm so exited about playing it. Can't wait.
But i just have to wait I'm taking my time with this one.

Bobby Johnson
[This message was edited by Bobby Johnson on 29 September 2006 at 06:44 PM.]

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 29 Sep 2006 7:36 pm

I really hate finger picks. A Tele feels so good in my bare hands...

C#
www.calsharp.com

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 29 Sep 2006 8:37 pm

If it's got strings and frets, I can play it at least a little bit. If it's played flat with a bar, I can do that a bit too. I also play middle-eastern hand percussion and a smidge of flute. Brass instruments and double-reeds defeat me completely

I suck on keys.

Guitar is my main instrument, and I favor the Strat over all others. Mine is a 2003 Am Strat Deluxe with fat 50's pickups. Tele's are second though.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 29 Sep 2006 9:42 pm

Kelly Hydorn · Post by **Kelly Hydorn** » 29 Sep 2006 10:28 pm

Yup, I got one too, just this year, a new Am Dlx tele sure plays purty, Also have a very good friend who plays a wicked tele getting into pedal steel maybe the boy will turn out someday Ha.Ha. He plays a 52 reissue tele and you ought to hear him. Had so much fun with the tele waiting for it and all, had to buy a strat just to have something to play.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 29 Sep 2006 10:43 pm

I play my ‘94 American tele on about 4 gigs a month.

My ‘68 has been retired to the closet!

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My Site - Instruction [This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 29 September 2006 at 11:55 PM.]

Mike Maddux · Post by **Mike Maddux** » 29 Sep 2006 11:13 pm

I started on six string when I was 12, bass at 13, mandolin at 20, lap steel when I was about 21, pedal steel when I was 22, and right now im 25.

And yes I do have a tele (1985 Tele Custom). Am. Nashville B-bender Tele is on layaway (halfway done with the payments!).

I cant decide which I like "better", but I always find myself cheating on my fender with my sho-bud. Jealous![This message was edited by Mike Maddux on 30 September 2006 at 12:15 AM.]

Frank Estes · Post by **Frank Estes** » 30 Sep 2006 7:22 am

I play steel and lead at church. Can switch between the two fairly quickly during the same song. I mainly play a fat strat, I own a Tele copy and other types of guitars.

james sluder · Post by **james sluder** » 30 Sep 2006 8:55 pm

Mike i think your question was who plays 6 string electric & steel..well i have played 6 string electric lead guitar for around 30 years..I always loved the steel guitar sound & was using a lot of the steel licks on my lead guitar & did not notice it untill a steel player told me one day..now i have a fender 400 psg.and im trying to learn it . getting there a little at a time.i just wanted to put my 2 cents worth in..james

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 30 Sep 2006 10:24 pm

Murray MacLeod · Post by **Murray MacLeod** » 1 Oct 2006 6:01 am

No discussion of the Tele would be complete without a link to the greatest Tele player of all time, playing one of his most memorable songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqRnaSRyELA

Murray MacLeod · Post by **Murray MacLeod** » 1 Oct 2006 6:15 am

Apologies to Ken Byng, I didn't see he had posted that link earlier

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 1 Oct 2006 7:29 am

I am quite at peace with my ineptitude on either instrument.... bob

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 1 Oct 2006 1:49 pm

"...favorite axes. A 67 Tele and 69 ZB..."

<img src=http://home.earthlink.net/~themusicmote ... zb1511.jpg>

Like minds, Dave...(unlike the other two, I don't think you'll be getting this ZB...) [This message was edited by Ben Elder on 01 October 2006 at 02:50 PM.]

Darryl Hattenhauer · Post by **Darryl Hattenhauer** » 1 Oct 2006 4:00 pm

Rick's got the right idea. Butterscotch with Bigsby. My favorite solidbody. Unfortunately, I sold mine. But a good substitute is my Guild Duane Eddy with DeArmond Dynasonics. Sounds like a 6120

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 1 Oct 2006 8:49 pm

I have an original 72 Thinline natural and a 79 Strat and I play whichever fits the tune. When I got back to playing steel after a long layoff about 2 years ago, I mostly stopped touching the Fenders.
I wonder how many steel players have never played anything else. I only know one.