Too old?

[Carl Mesrobian]

I'm 65 and have been playing only a brief time - 4 years. I have about 50 years of 6 string guitar and many hours of lessons, mostly jazz. The theory definitely helps, but pedal steel is a whole learning experience. The longer I play it the more I find the answers to questions I had when I began.

I started playing gigs on the steel (3x4 Sho Bud rack and barrel) very soon after I got one - a few months. You get out of it what you put into it, and like any other discipline, there is no magic.

And as others have said , get a decent one - it will be easier to sell it if you decide to.

Enjoy the ride! It's a blast.

[David Milliken]

Hey Jim ... no such thing as too old. I played six-string rock for 50 years, bought a wonderful Sho-Bud LDG in 1998 to dabble with while briefly in a country band, then back-burnered it for 10 years or more. In 2013 I retired at age 68 and got back into my steel. Haven't regretted it for one moment. Still managing to play 20 to 24 gigs a year and learning more and more about this magnificent instrument every day, thanks to this fabulous Steel Guitar Forum. Seven months ago I was diagnosed with cancer but I refuse to let that hamper my love for the steel. So I soldier on. I am booting 71 and plan to play as long as possible. As for a steel, I'm happy with the S10, 3&4. I've had an ETS (too small), a GFI Ultra (nice, but I wanted a D10), and a Carter (D10). But the LDG is perfect. Good luck. Age is all in the mind.