The Steel Guitar Forum

Rick Campbell wrote:

Don R Brown wrote:Three who come to mind are Carmen Acciaioli in Texas, Sandy Watson in upstate New York, and forumite Rick Campbell in Tennessee.

Don...thanks for mentioning me.

I'm ashamed that I neglected to mention you pal

Hey Tommy Detamore thanks for mentioning me in this post. miss working with you and hope you are doing well John

John Clark wrote:Hey Tommy Detamore thanks for mentioning me in this post. miss working with you and hope you are doing well John

Likewise JC. Sorry I missed you the past few times you were in the area...

The only thing that steel and fiddle have in common is that you need to work on and be constantly aware of your intonation. Apart from this they have nothing in common whatsoever.

I would never advise a steel player to take up fiddle with the expectation it will improve their steel playing. Fiddle technique is extremely difficult and there is very little payback for years of effort. In the meantime you'll be taking valuable seat time away from your steel. If you really want to improve your steel playing work on your intonation. That's when people will start paying you compliments and you'll start to enjoy it yourself.

John Clark wrote:Hey Tommy Detamore thanks for mentioning me in this post. miss working with you and hope you are doing well John

John - I saw you about a year ago in Maggie Valley, NC with Moe. It was one of the best country shows I've ever seen. Your playing was great.

Tommy D. - you're forgiven.

RC

Don R Brown wrote: Carmen Acciaioli in Texas

Saw Carmen Acciaioli with Michael Hearn and South by Southwest at Society Hall in Alamosa last night. A wonderful trio and a delightful show. Mr. Acciaioli not only tore the place up his fiddle, but his Super Pro sounded great through a little NV 112. Carmen is a true master of knuckle harmonics. Go see them if you have that opportunity. You won't be disappointed.

Do not know why I started playing fiddle, but it has pleased the crowd for years, and got me a few Garth Brooks and George Straight cover band jobs as I can cover steel and fiddle.

It is all about putting your butt in the seat and working, working, working. I still need a lot more of that.

David Mansfield is another fiddlin' steel man

and the forum's own Jack Goodson!

Don't forget Milo Deering! He plays every thing with strings on...

Proof:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIHD4bkUojM

Kind Regards, Walter

Jack Hanson wrote:

Don R Brown wrote: Carmen Acciaioli in Texas

Saw Carmen Acciaioli with Michael Hearn and South by Southwest at Society Hall in Alamosa last night. A wonderful trio and a delightful show. Mr. Acciaioli not only tore the place up his fiddle, but his Super Pro sounded great through a little NV 112. Carmen is a true master of knuckle harmonics. Go see them if you have that opportunity. You won't be disappointed.

Carmen is a busy man. The last I heard from him he was also playing with Cooder Graw, plus occasionally with Agave Posse Band. A nice guy and a very talented musician.

Raises an interesting question though, what are the most useful extra instruments for a steel player on the bandstand? Especially for those not playing straight ahead country, when steel doesn't fit the tune.

Guitar's the obvious one, although I always figured harmonica would be useful...

As well as Guitar, I play Mandolin and Harp, and I am trying to play fiddle. I also do a majority of the vocals.
Playing Steel really helps me with fiddle intonation (and visa-versa). as expected, I'm "a Jack of all trades, master of none", but I enjoy a challenge!
The band benefits from the variety of instruments, though I bluff my way through on some!

Sandy

Here in the UK we have an excellent steel player who is also terrific on fiddle his name is Maurice Hipkiss. Maurice can be heard playing both on many styles of music on many albums released here in the UK.

just saw THIS on facebook!!!

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Fooch Fischetti!absolute killer on both axes.

I started out on cello, long before steel. Gave it up after high school, though. Wish I could play it now.

If steel and fiddle are so different why do fiddle players almost exclusively use the same amps that steel players use. I know there are exceptions but I am interested in both instruments and am struck by how many fiddle players use steel Amps.

On amps....
I play fiddle as my first instrument, steel second, in a 5 piece country band. Since adding steel to the mix, I have not been happy using a steel amp for fiddle or vice versa. I've tried lots of combinations of amp and speaker and monitor mixes - in small bars and big outdoor stages. I'm back to using Stereo Steel with 15" JBL for steel. For fiddle it's a good preamp with either a Fishman Loudbox Performer or my personal monitor. Both signals are sent to the band PA also. I'd really like to have one amp for both, but haven't found it yet.

The fiddle players who I have listened to most and like the most, the late French Burke, Bobby Flores, and Reggie Rueffer all played Peavey amps (1000, 500, LTD) and if I remember right Reggie played through a Webb amp also.

I played fiddle for quite a while actually, but have laid it aside these days so I can concentrate on making the steel fit the tune hehe !! "when steel doesn't fit the tune." is not in my vocabulary, so I find ways where the pedal steel belongs in the song - regardless of the type of music.

I also play Dobro and lead guitar as well.

Paul Haaker plays both very well,and excellent C6 too.Not to mention Banjo and other instumments

Rich Upright wrote:I play banjo,guitar,and bass. Does that count?

I'm sorry ?