Lap Steel Dying?

Ted Smith · Post by **Ted Smith** » 14 Sep 2000 7:43 pm

Along the lines of simple to play - it's 10pm here and I just finished a 7-string Rattler for a guy in Ireland, that I've been playing for about 20 minutes, and just having a blast with. Keeping that stock standard spacing and adding another note to the open E makes a HUGE difference! I don't understand why more people haven't jumped on the 7 instead of a 6 while they are still manufacturing the bridge and humbucking pickup. I think it is the answer to NOT having to work so hard to grab stuff. I'm going to offer it at the same price as the Rattler for a month because I'm convinced it could really open some eyes. I'll put a picture of it on the hotsheet. Dad used to call that the wild card tuning where you can hide the flatted 3rd on the bass side on a .026 wound string and grab it when you need it, OR, put a .014 on the treble side - tune it to the 6th, and easily choke it to a flatted 7th-fun stuff.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 15 Sep 2000 7:38 am

Marty, been hearing that Fastball tune a whole lot these days. I had been wondering whether it was bottleneck style or steel. Great stuff!!

Marty Rifkin · Post by **Marty Rifkin** » 15 Sep 2000 6:25 pm

Hi Chris,
Thought I posted a reply earlier but I guess it never came up.

Thanks for the kind words. The guys in Fastball are lot's of fun. Glad you liked it.

Ian McLatchie · Post by **Ian McLatchie** » 15 Sep 2000 8:04 pm

Further to what Bob said above regarding Cajun steel, some of my favorite records are the early '60's Goldband "Cajun rock 'n' roll" sides by Jay Stutes' bands the Sugar Bees and the Hillbilly Ramblers. Not what you'd call sophisticated steel playing, just some of the rawest, raunchiest records ever made. The Hop Wilson Goldband records of the same period are also remarkable.

Ian McLatchie · Post by **Ian McLatchie** » 15 Sep 2000 8:06 pm

Further to what Bob said above regarding Cajun steel, some of my favorite records are the early '60's Goldband "Cajun rock 'n' roll" sides by Jay Stutes' bands the Sugar Bees and the Hillbilly Ramblers. Not what you'd call sophisticated steel playing, just some of the rawest, raunchiest records ever made. The Hop Wilson Goldband records of the same period are also remarkable.