The Steel Guitar Forum

Once upon a time in my days as an engineer in Nashville, wwe had a know it all producer whose expertise was the steel guitar.

Weldon was on the session and has more patience than ten of us. This "producer" was never happy with what Weldon did. He would say "try this phrase or change this note" after every take.

Finally Weldon stood up, everyone got quiet cause Weldon can be quite a figure when he stands, and took off his bar and picks, walked into the control room and gently gave them to the producer and said "Here ya go, show me what you want me to play". That shut the guy up for the rest of the session.

Weldon called his bluff in a classy way and that was the end of it

I invented Crop Circles.

This is my first post, so be gentle. Been a lurker for a long while. Anyhoo, along this line, I lived in So. Cal during the '70's. I can't tell you how many guys told me a. They used to sing/play with Merle Haggerd, or b.They personally came up with and made the famous Buck Owens red white and blue guitar.
I think most name droppers and blow hards are really just trying to cover up a lack of something inside. But they sure can wear on your patience at times.
I remember about 30 years ago, a very elderly gent told the band I was with that he had played with Bob Wills for a spell. I don'r recall his name, but I believed him after he got up because he SMOKED that guitar. "Sometimes" you just never know........

I like "The empty can rattles the loudest".
Sounds like the most accurate description of most of the blow hards I've met.

Well Yeah, I have played with several big name stars, several on their way up, and down; I just put their CD in, and start playing right with them ...I start telling that kind of thing to people, naming names, then how I put the CD on & stuff, good for a few laughs.... (my only claim to fame)

Willie Nelson once gave me this advice: "Don't be a name dropper."

On a recent gig in the backwoods of western Quebec (of all places) a bar patron approached me to tell me he wanted to sit in - that he was a fiddle player who just got off the road with Brad Paisley.
So I said "How's Randall doing anyway?" and the blank look he gave me told me all I needed to know.

The bandleader, however, fell for it, and the next set found this consummate liar onstage with us, pounding away mercilessly on the bandleader's beautiful Taylor flattop. I think he learned a hard lesson, when the guitar was handed back to him at the end of the set with only 4 strings left on it and the top hacked up beyond repair.

I mentioned it to a group of locals who howled with laughter and explained that the guy in question had hardly ever been out of the village (population 500 or so) in his life.

There have been others, but that's the most recent.
Hang in there, Bill.
-John

How do I handle a know it all? I like to tell them that those who think they know it all, irritate the heck out of us who do!

I hate "name droppers"!!! I was just talking to Bobby Daneiro about how I hated it!

I have found that what works best for me is to tell them, "You know, I bet between you and me...we pretty much know all there is to know in the world." This usually takes them by surprise and I generally get the answer,"Really?" or "How's that?"
To which I reply. Well, you seem to know everything there is to know......... except that you are full of $#!& ..... and I know that!
Works every time!!

I have a brother in-law who lives is California who knows all there is to know about investing money and making me rich. Strangely, he and his wife don't have pot to p**s in but, he knows how to make me rich with my money.

one tme I worked on computers for an internatonal firm. I had co-worker(s) in Atlanta. Being that I was from Brmingham and a junior member of the team, had to call often. After a whle I got quite good myself. One day I called and ths yahoo started tellng me how good he was. I told him yes I know you can jump tall buildings in a single bound keep up with a speeding locomotovie and stop bullits with yout teath, but then ask my queston. But then I had to learn tact so I replaced this with. Damn,I wish we were as good as we think were are. Worked much better

Look him straight in the eye,turn my smile into a frown,and say"if bs was music,you'd have a full brass band" and walk away.

I've worked with a few people that were really good musicians and had no reason to lie, but were compulsive, I guess, and couldn't help it. One in particular that wrote a song of the year, and played bass in Hags band for a while (true).

A lot of what makes us musicians, is the ability to embellish, enlarge, and make something out of nothing.

The best of "us" have learned how to point our skill soley at the work at hand...

Another reason to plug in the tele cause I don't seem to be one of them...



EJL

The ones on this forum? , .Joe

I used to know this 20-year-old steel player, thought he was the best in the world, and always was offering to give the other local players advice on playing steel...

But I haven't done that for at least 30 years now

I just watched an old episode of "Home Improvement". Wilson told Tim (over the fence, of course) that a man that's wrapped up in himself makes a very small package.

I'm sure Wilson was quoting some ancient philosopher, but it sure is a great line!

I'm surprised that anyone would admit knowing the answer to that question!

I really work hard at not droping names mainly because I don't have any to drop .I do Have a very close friend in the Music Biz Who happens to manage a CMA artist that I won't mention but I must add
I have to laugh at some of the stories and replies it cracks me up.
Yeah the Politically correct term for this condition is reallity augmentation, this person sufferes from low self asteem.
Do you Remember this quote: Its better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt! or something to that effect
Long Live The Forum, Bless you all

The best way to handle a know all is not to ask him any questions...

I was reading the liner notes on a cd of Jimmy Rivers and Vance Terry,Jimmy said he ran into his guitar playing hero[the man was one of the hottest players of all time,won't name him he's no longer with us]Anyway Jimmy said he went up and said,I have always loved your playing ,your are my favorite guitar player,the guy ans,[SO WHAT] then turned and walked away,Could never understand why some people are like that.DYKBC.

my momma had a saying about folks like this guy.....
"the empty can....rattles the loudest".....

Sort of like, "The harsher the critic, the deeper the envy."

We've all seen em...........Big Hat...........No Cows!!






Carter D-10 NV1000/400 Lexicon Mx 200

Tele.........twin..........boss pedals

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