Do you play your steel tilted?

Ken Williams · Post by **Ken Williams** » 27 Mar 2007 6:08 pm

This topic may have already been covered and if so please excuse me. I've noticed different players sometimes tilt their steels. I've wondered what is the advantage of doing this? Or is it a matter of personal feel? When I first started, about 30 years ago, I had the steel tilted back just a tad. Maybe it would allow me to see the frets or position markers better, or maybe it was that way when I bought it and I never changed it. I don't recall the specific reason. Nowdays, I like the steel to be as level as possible.

Ken

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 27 Mar 2007 6:17 pm

Ken, most players that tilt their steels do so because the guitar won't clear their legs. My guitar was built an inch taller than standard so it clears my legs without tilting the guitar. To my knowledge, there is no Advantage to tilting the guitar (Unless you like to play downhill) JMO

John Parker · Post by **John Parker** » 27 Mar 2007 6:19 pm

I have one inch extenders on my steel and still need the back just a tad higher to get under it comfortably, otherwise I would be constantly engaging my vertical knee lever. I am 6'3" and have long legs.

Charles Pompe · Post by **Charles Pompe** » 27 Mar 2007 6:28 pm

I'm not 6'3"

but I still have to tip it forward a bit to clear my legs.

Charlie

Stan Paxton · Post by **Stan Paxton** » 27 Mar 2007 6:32 pm

A few of us tilt backwards. I do this due to wearing tri-focals it helps to see that top string just past the edge of the neck; just an orientation thing so the strings seem to be in the same place all the time.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 27 Mar 2007 7:17 pm

I tilt mine forward. The lower half of my legs are longish, and I can't fit under it otherwise. When I had to wear the boots with Tammy for all those years... well, those heels just made it worse. I'm so used to that position, when one is level now, it feels like it's caving in on me!

Years ago, at a studio here, Sonny Garrish played a funny joke on me. I was booked to play harp on the 10 and 2, and steel on the 6pm. Sonny was there for the 10 and 2. My steel was set up in the corner, out of the way, with a cover on it. After the lunch break, Sonny asked me if I'd lift up the cover. I asked him why, he said he wanted to see the endplate on my guitar. I said, "Sonny, it looks just like yours. No different." He said, "I just want to see what it looks like." So I lifted up the end of the cover... and he had stuck one of those small curved bubble levels on my endplate! I could really tell how "off" it was now! We all got a good laugh with that one...

Jonathan Cullifer · Post by **Jonathan Cullifer** » 27 Mar 2007 8:02 pm

I'm in the same boat as everyone else here. 6'1" and abnormally long legs. I try to keep the steel as level as possible but it usually winds up that the back legs are half an inch longer than the front. When I first started playing, I was so short that I was on inch shorter legs and had the steel tilted back just to keep the end of the knee levers from bruising my legs!

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 27 Mar 2007 8:09 pm

I tilt mine forward. Right foot on the volume pedal gets hard to activate the right levers, so I tilt it ahead to make a little more clearance.
It really doesn't help much, though, my playing still sucks---

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 27 Mar 2007 8:09 pm

I'm 5'8" with short legs, so I set the steel up level. Even then, with a standard height guitar with standard length knee levers, I'm often just catching the ends of the levers. But I can't play with the guitar tilted back toward me--bar technique never feels right.

Q: Do I play my steel tilted? A: Maybe--but the steel is level!

Ken Williams · Post by **Ken Williams** » 27 Mar 2007 8:16 pm

I always figured it might have something to do with the placement angle of the right hand. I never thought of the height factor. Thanks for the responses guys. I'm 6 foot, or at least I used to be. I've shrunk about 1/2 inch over the years. I have plenty of clearance in under the steel. I guess my lower leg bones are kinda short. As a matter of fact, the Legrande SKH that I have has no height adjustment on the vertical lever. I had to tape about a half inch extension on it because it was too far above my knee. Even with that it could stand to be a little lower.
Some of this may have to do with the footwear one plays in. I normally play in deck shoes which have a low heel. If I played in boots, I'm sure it would be more of squeeze to fit in under the steel, especially the vertical levers.

Ken

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 27 Mar 2007 8:19 pm

I just found out my guitar is to high for me I built 2 2x4s 13" and drilled 2 holes in each for the leg to sit in, 1 3/8" higher now i CAN SEE THE FRONT STRINGS MUCH BETTER. I was playing the top strings blind. I can see the whole guitar much better, helps my playing.

ernie

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 27 Mar 2007 8:43 pm

Even with a 2" lift kit, I tilt every guitar forward a bit except my Carter, which works fine level. I'm 6'4" and have long legs. I think it takes 3-4" of lift for me to keep most of them level. I would definitely prefer a level guitar, so I really need to find a better solution than piling a ton of liftkits on.

Jamie Lennon · Post by **Jamie Lennon** » 28 Mar 2007 1:29 am

i have mine really foward, I find I can pick faster, and cleaner.

Archie Nicol · Post by **Archie Nicol** » 28 Mar 2007 3:27 am

It really depends how much I've had to drink.
I have been severly tilted at times.

Arch.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 28 Mar 2007 4:42 am

Tilted back.

"I'm a little short...."
--Inspector Closeau

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 28 Mar 2007 5:29 am

Mine is tilted because it's more comfortable to me that way.......level gives me cramps in my wrists....

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 28 Mar 2007 7:05 am

Guys... In the 1950's, the approximate average height of the male of our species was about 5'8". The average height in the present is about 6'. Maybe the manufacturers should take note and build the guitars at least an inch higher? Just a thought. Responses welcome.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 28 Mar 2007 7:21 am

The Youtube videos of Curly Chalker show him sometimes tilting the guitar back towards him.

Dennis Schell · Post by **Dennis Schell** » 28 Mar 2007 7:33 am

I tilt mine slightly forward....
(Keeps my bar from rolling off during breaks!

)

Dennis

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 28 Mar 2007 9:31 am

MY first was a MSA S10 and I kept it slightly tilted forward to keep the bar from rolling off.
With my Derby D10 I keep it just a little higher in the back..just more comfortable.. and keeps my forearms level and relaxed.

Brian LeBlanc · Post by **Brian LeBlanc** » 28 Mar 2007 11:00 am

...it just looks cooler...

Max W. Thompson · Post by **Max W. Thompson** » 28 Mar 2007 11:18 am

I try to keep mine level so that my beer doesn't slide off...

Dave Seddon · Post by **Dave Seddon** » 28 Mar 2007 11:35 am

Very slightly forward, that way my wrists are at a natural angle and makes it more comfortable to pick.
Dave.

Mike Wheeler · Post by **Mike Wheeler** » 28 Mar 2007 1:57 pm

Slightly backward...like my playing.

William Peters · Post by **William Peters** » 28 Mar 2007 3:18 pm

I measured my legs from the floor to the tops of my knees, and had Del make my Mullen to fit me with it being level.

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