The Steel Guitar Forum

There's no right or wrong here. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

You could play it anywhere, but it still does belong best on a honky tonk

But that just seems sad to me. How about on a million selling record? Or maybe upfront in the mix on national TV? Even a large concert? To be safe. Lets keep it real country. Say Allen Jackson?

Surely a hole in the wall bar is not the best place for a rare and cherished, (By some at least) instrument? Or maybe it is?

The more I read here. The less I know.

What all of yall should be discussing is the fact that in front of Bob in this photo is probably about 200 20-somethings getting drunk and dancing. And that there is a steel player at the white horse at least once a day. And that Bob has a killer Emmons and great gigs, and that wraparound is actually out working like it's supposed to be.
I'm sure Bob and that Emmons sounded great at the white horse and that a lot of people who were there thought so too.
Hoff is an actual working steel player and he's using that wraparound for a good cause - to get people dancing and subsequently laid. Good work.

Totally baffling arguments, which once again say more about the opinions of the arguers than the subject themselves.

I've owned 4 wraparounds and 2 woodnecks from 1964 (110764 and 110864). I've played them in honky tonks, recording sessions, churches, concert stages, restaurants, private lessons, and on my course material CDs. A guitar is a tool to be used by the craftsman, whatever and wherever he chooses to create, and not to be second-guessed by the Peanut Gallery.

It's way more about the player than it is the instrument. Is a classical mandolinist wrong to play a pre-war F-5 if he's not playing bluegrass?

FWIW, central TX is again THE place. I know of 9 wraparounds in the Austin/San Antonio corridor.

Putting an old Emmons where it belongs !

That's the thread title. Had the thread title been.

Putting my old Emmons where it belongs.

There would have been very little if any discussion. I don't see how anyone can make a blanket statement such as the above mentioned and not expect some negative feedback.

I've read enough of Bob's threads to know he's not just stuck on keeping any type steel guitar in Honky Tonks or country music.

I'll venture a guess, that if someone else had started a thread with this title. Bob would have offered some feedback. Perhaps not. But it doesn't really matter. For better or worse. Agreeing and disagreeing. That's what we do here.

Yeah, and the folks here whining about that steel probably don't even own an Emmons. Probably 12-string keyless whoo-whoos.

Look, the average concertmaster in a medium large city is playing a Strad or a Guarani worth many millions. Bluegrass players worth their salt are playing Martins , Gibson banjos and mandolins worth far, far more than that wrap.

As far as "other" music, I've seen that stuff on youtube. Not naming names but it is always the same -- a bunch of turgid blah "mood" music that sucks.

Pedal steels are for Country and for Western, to quote one of my favorite movies. It's a steep drop off skill-wise after that.

"There are none so deaf as those that will not hear. None so blind as those that will not see."

Matthew Henry
1662-1714

(insert audible "sigh" here)

I really do wonder about some of you guys. Seriously.

Ron Burgundy: Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast.
Champ Kind: It jumped up a notch.
Ron Burgundy: It did, didn’t it?
Brick Tamland: Yeah, I stabbed a man in the heart.
Ron Burgundy: I saw that. Brick killed a guy. Did you throw a trident?
Brick Tamland: Yeah, there were horses, and a man on fire, and I killed a guy with a trident.
Ron Burgundy: Brick, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. You should find yourself a safehouse or a relative close by. Lay low for a while, because you’re probably wanted for murder.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

if your over 40 think about the sound that made you want to play the steel
i doubt that it was some hot lick being played in a rock band or such .

i am willing to bet it was a crying steel playing some old honky tonk song

I know I don't share the same taste as in steel playing as most of you. But here's the 2 tunes that made me want to play steel.Because, he didn't approach his single string work as all other players I had heard at the time. More like a guitar player would. I later heard recordings of Joaquin Murphy. And thought yeah, that's where some of those ideas came from. Maybe some of you will enjoy these. If not, they only last about 2 mins each.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2wrCjk-XP0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDZJDiZU7lo

what is a honky tonk? I remember hearing about something like that back in the 70's. I dont think we have them here.............ha ha

Calvin Walley wrote:if your over 40 think about the sound that made you want to play the steel
i doubt that it was some hot lick being played in a rock band or such .

i am willing to bet it was a crying steel playing some old honky tonk song

well perhaps, but me, like many here ,backed up into country music from the likes of West Coast Country Rock bands who were not playing Merle or Buck tunes. Poco was playing..well..Poco .

So after I bought my first Steel ( early 70's) I picked up a few records in NVille,Loyd, Buddy and Curly Chalker ... and the influence began...it was like an explosion in my musical brain !

I didn't even start to listen to straight ahead country music ( traditional) until a year or so after I was learning to play.

By the way, Hank Sr is about as Honky Tonk as any human could ever be.If I recall, Don Helms was playing a ....

oh never mind whats the point....

Bob, great to see you in that photo with that 64 ! I'm jealous, I only have an 81 !

Once again....

Tom Quinn wrote:Yeah, and the folks here whining about that steel probably don't even own an Emmons. Probably 12-string keyless whoo-whoos.

What is a "12-string keyless whoo-whoo"?

Not to pile on, Calvin, but it' wasn't cryin' steel that did it for me. It happened to be Al Perkins playing a ZB Custom for Stephen Stills & Manassas. Just because that's what drew me in, doesn't mean my mind isn't open to other styles.

So-called 'crying' steel' doesn't do it for me - it's a tad predictable. But JayDee tearing it up on 'Hello, Trouble'? That's a whole 'nuther matter!

And I'm not all that fond of country music.

I really do love playing old country. But when I heard Mike Smith in Phoenix play some of his stuff OMG what a mindblower. No way steel is limited. Just listen to some of Buddys' jazz or Jim Loessbergs' tracks on his bebop CD. Absolutely love it.

I agree, Ron - Mike Smith has long been a great favourite of mine. Add Gary Carter and Jim Loessburg and you get lots of great music well outside the limits of country.

Define "Country" Roger...

And Ron S. can really pick. He's got it for sure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BURG_m8ohkU

Almost impossible, Tom. For me there are too many indifferent singers - not bad, exactly, just ordinary. Every so often I'll hear some real ability - Daryle Singletary comes to mind - and I briefly change my mind. Mostly it's lacklustre, though.

Talk about topic-drift! Sorry.....

Tom Quinn wrote: As far as "other" music, I've seen that stuff on youtube. Not naming names but it is always the same -- a bunch of turgid blah "mood" music that sucks.

Pedal steels are for Country and for Western, to quote one of my favorite movies. It's a steep drop off skill-wise after that.

And in other threads, people ask why the pedal steel is losing popularity and there are less and less gig opportunities available.

Bingo Jim! Along with a few other narrow minded posts. I wrote up a reply, but yours is succinct and so much better, so I'll just echo yours.

I would just add that the next time anyone decides to post a topic about popularity, maybe think about it first. The answer may be right under your nose.

Tom Quinn wrote:Yeah, and the folks here whining about that steel probably don't even own an Emmons. Probably 12-string keyless whoo-whoos.

I'm still curious to know what a "12-string keyless whoo-whoo" is.

Lee, from South Texas

Lee Baucum wrote:I'm still curious to know what a "12-string keyless whoo-whoo" is.

I met a Swedish girl with one of those, once.

Will Van Horn wrote:What all of yall should be discussing is the fact that in front of Bob in this photo is probably about 200 20-somethings getting drunk and dancing. And that there is a steel player at the white horse at least once a day. And that Bob has a killer Emmons and great gigs, and that wraparound is actually out working like it's supposed to be.
I'm sure Bob and that Emmons sounded great at the white horse and that a lot of people who were there thought so too."""

Seriously? You call what those kids do dancing? Back in the day, you would have been arrested for doing that sort of thing in public.

"""Hoff is an actual working steel player and he's using that wraparound for a good cause - to get people dancing and subsequently laid. Good work.

Thank goodness some things never change. lol

From this angle, that "stage" looks almost identical to Ginny's Little Longhorn - which I loved. Is that an Austin thing?
Gotta check this place out next time I'm down there... and there will definitely be a next time.
Also, my son played tuba in HS marching band... I truly do not miss freezing my butt off until half time was over and I was released from my parental responsibilities. I'm biased against tuba.