Whats the average age of a new steel player?

Bob Smith · Post by **Bob Smith** » 22 Dec 2002 6:26 am

I hear ya Scott , I thought about the expense thing too. I went into a music store about a month ago and a young salesman(about 21} approached me and asked if he could help me.I sked if they sold any pedal steel acessories and he didnt know what i was talking about. After i explained he said "OH Yeah" i think i saw one once. bob

Michael Garnett · Post by **Michael Garnett** » 22 Dec 2002 8:40 am

Most kids my age, even the ones that listen to "Country" music don't even know what a Steel Guitar is. I started almost exactly a year ago to the day, and I'm 23 now. I grew up listening to good music, and wanted to play the steel just after hearing what it sounded like. I'm obviously the exception to the rule, and got into a great deal and bought myself one as a Christmas present. (Thanks Jake!)

So far as I know there's only one other steel guitar player in the College Station area, and he's played less than me. Also 23, he's wanting to make music a career. Myself, I started playing piano since before I can remember, probably around age 5. Kept it up for around 9 years, and threw in a year of organ also. I think I wouldn't have a chance at being any kind of good without the ear I've acquired for music over the years.

And If I hadn't been in the situation I was financially, I know I wouldn't have been able to afford one. I just planned ahead and saved up for it. Not too many people my age do that now, etiher, come to think of it.

The average age of steel guitar players is increasing, I think simply because it's not a staple of the modern "Country Music" with middle-aged boy bands singing.

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"The Not-Quite-So-New Guy"
Carter D-10, no BCT
Peavey Deltafex
Nashville 400
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Bill Moore · Post by **Bill Moore** » 22 Dec 2002 8:54 am

I just watched Robert Randolph's Austin City Limits show, my God, the young man is a genius of showmanship and even though it wasn't country, I'll bet he can play great country if he chose to. He is in his early 20's, I guess, so there are some young people on the way. I started at age 38, now I'm 57, still trying.

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Bill Moore...
my steel guitar web page

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 22 Dec 2002 6:47 pm

Gordon Borland · Post by **Gordon Borland** » 22 Dec 2002 8:37 pm

I bought my steel at age 46 Iam 56 now. I used to go vist Jerry Blanton in San Antonio when I was in High School. Jerry was building steel guitars at the time. I played a three pick up Airline archtop electric guitar and had a brown Fender deluxe with no reverb. I still have the amp. At the time steel guitars to me were something I never thought I could afford much less play. They were for only a special few chosen people.

MSA D10 CLASSIC, PEAVEY NV400, PEAVEY ADDAVERB, SOME CHORDS AND A BATTERY.

Matt Brydges · Post by **Matt Brydges** » 22 Dec 2002 11:13 pm

Well, I'm a new steeler at 21 and having a blast! Mind you, most friends my age had never even seen a picture of one before mine. Everyone always asks "what is that thing?!"
Matt

Ricky0ne1 · Post by **Ricky0ne1** » 23 Dec 2002 12:24 am

Was 20 when I first said "I'm gettin me a damn steel"... was 47 when I actually did it... made more sense than my dear old dad's bagpipes... hehehe

Bob Smith · Post by **Bob Smith** » 23 Dec 2002 4:55 am

Man, lots of great replies ! Keep em comin! Hey Matt, i would like to borrow about 25 yrs off of somebody and start where your at! But im havin a blast at it too. bob

Gerald Menke · Post by **Gerald Menke** » 23 Dec 2002 7:14 am

Hmmm...I also played a Jazzmaster through Marshalls and Oranges for years before becoming obsessed with steel guitar and buying one nearly three years ago, let's see, I guess I was 30 then. My biggest regret? That I didn't start earlier!!

Gerald

Brian Wetzstein · Post by **Brian Wetzstein** » 23 Dec 2002 10:51 am

I started last year at 26. Can I get 20 years experience without 20 years of hair loss?

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 23 Dec 2002 10:57 am

Well, it seem like the original question was how old ARE beginning steel players today, not how old WERE they back in the day. Most steelers, beginning or not, are 50 or beyond it seems. A lot of people seem to think that means the steel is a dying instrument. I don't think so. Even though there were times in the past when steel was more popular than now, if you listen to a country station, you still hear steel on most songs (but not all). And if you watch CMT on cable, you see some young steel players in some of the videos. Also, there seem to be a lot of steel manufacturers still cranking them out for those who can muster up the big cash.

One might ask if country music itself is dying out. Well, yes, it's been dying out since the '50s (when rock'n'roll hit), yet it's still here. I would think that as long as there is country music, there will be steel guitar, and country music seems indestructible. It definitely changes slower than any other kind of music.

Anyway, I came up from Mississippi to Nashville at the age of 26 in '72 playing Dobro and slide guitar. I had several years of lessons on piano and sax when I was growing up. In '73 I traded a metal body biscuit cone Dobro even on a used Sho-Bud Maverick from a session player named Bobbe Seymour. In those days he looked like the photo on his Uptown tape, and played more than he horse traded. A steel player from Bristol named Charlie Gore took me and the Maverick over to Sho-bud. Up in the attic where they did the repair work they had a big pot of venison stew from a Shot Jackson hunting trip. They rebuilt the Maverick undercarriage and added a knee to give me 3 and 2.

After a year or so of playing in rinky-dink clubs in Nashville and Knoxville, I quit and went back to school (it wasn't the playing at night that bothered me, it was the construction work during the day). About a year ago I got the old Maverick out and started playing again. I just got an Emmons E9 S12 P/P that I am rebuilding, and I just closed a deal on a used S12U Fessenden. We'll see what happens.

I think a lot of steelers start in middle age because 1) you need to already be a musician with a good bit of musical knowledge and a good ear to even attempt steel, and 2) the damn things cost a lot. It's a pity, because so many of the great steel geniuses of the past (and present) started very young.

Stella Mask · Post by **Stella Mask** » 23 Dec 2002 11:00 am

Boy do I feel better now.... I just started, I'm 28 and I was worried that I was too old!

Bob Stone · Post by **Bob Stone** » 23 Dec 2002 11:18 am

In the House of God "sacred steel" tradition it's probably about 10, maybe 12--no kidding.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 23 Dec 2002 12:02 pm

I started playing steel at 33. I'll be 57 next month.

There seems to be a resurgence of interest in the steel among teenagers. Our fellow Forumite Abraham is 17 now? Here in California 12 or 13 year old Derek DePlussey is showing tremendous potential, and 2 years ago Johnathan Culpepper, who was I think 14 at the time (I could be mistaken about that), blew everybody away at the convention.

I hope this trend continues.

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 23 Dec 2002 12:46 pm

Started at 13 on Dobro, now at 73 on D10 8+4[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 23 December 2002 at 12:46 PM.]

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 23 Dec 2002 1:05 pm

Ditto RickyOne1 ... I wanted to buy a lap steel after I saw David Lindley playing a Rick Bakelite. I was about 20; it only took me another 27 years to buy one and start playing (earlier this year).

Blake Matthies · Post by **Blake Matthies** » 23 Dec 2002 2:07 pm

I just started playing the steel four months ago, at age 49...and like a lot of you other folks..it's something that was on my "to do" list for the last 20 years or so!

Ray Rasmussen · Post by **Ray Rasmussen** » 23 Dec 2002 5:32 pm

I had a false start 20 years ago when I was 27. Life happened (marriage, kid, etc.)so I sold the guitar after a year of collecting dust in the closet. I bought another one a year ago and plan to stick with it this time.

Matt Brydges · Post by **Matt Brydges** » 23 Dec 2002 6:59 pm

Hehe, well Bob you have a point there, I feel very fortunate to be starting early. Mind you, my problem is that I when I'm older with more experience on the steel, I won't have too many excuses left to explain bad nights - I'll just flat out suck.

Matt

rhcarden · Post by **rhcarden** » 23 Dec 2002 8:01 pm

I started at 16, and at 65, sometimes I feel like I just started. I still love it!

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Bob Carden 66 Emmons P/P 8/9
BMI 13 string 7/7

Pat Carlson · Post by **Pat Carlson** » 29 Dec 2002 2:31 pm

I started playing this year.Truman was president when I was born.

DroopyPawn · Post by **DroopyPawn** » 29 Dec 2002 4:38 pm

I got a used Sho-Bud Pro II in less than perfect condition when I was in college. So I must have been about 22. I didn't have a clue what to do with it so it became too frustrating and I quit and traded it for a Roland ready strat, a CS800, a 4x10 cabinet and some other goodies (or some combination thereof).

Then a couple of years ago I got an MSA Classic U12 - couldn't do it - sold it. And last year around Christmas I got my current guitar - Sierra Session U12.

I plan on sticking with it this time. At least now I can find some chords and play with the radio - sort of. I turned 34 on Dec 15th.

I think it's really cool to have a place to talk to other steel players. Thanks b0b.

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Gary Shepherd
Sierra Session 12
www.16tracks.com

Robert Thomas · Post by **Robert Thomas** » 29 Dec 2002 5:59 pm

I started learning at the age of 12 and then started playing at 15 for dances by myself. I am right close to 69 now and have no plans to quit until I can't play anymore or I am dead.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 29 Dec 2002 6:26 pm

Not an easy question for me. Started playing guitar in 1966 at age 11 and my best buddy had bought a "hawaiian" guitar from the music store- a steel-string "Marathon" acoustic guitar with a raised metal nut and a pickup. We learned a little steel back then, but it didn't stick. I had a "Norwood" (made in Ohio, don't know much else about it, but would be interested if anyone knows anything) S10 3&1 in the early 80's and worked my way through the Winnie Winston book. I enjoyed it immensely, but wasn't in a band and soon traded it for a Tele... or 335... can't really remember.

After playing jazz, blues and rock all my life, I joined an excellent country band (on guitar)last year. The other guitar player had a Fender Champ lap steel, and I played it on a couple of tunes. All of a sudden we sounded like a different band- I couldn't believe that little insignificant-looking instrument had such a powerful sound! I had the fever again. So... I started messing around on eBay and fell into a deal, then another. Now I have a ShoBud Pro I and a Pro III. I'm 47, and having fun with it! Glad to be a part of this forum- my playing and knowledge is taking giant steps because of the treasure of knowledge (and opinions!) I find here.

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Rick McDuffie
Debbie Elam Band/Tarheel Jazz Q-tet
www.tarheelmusic.com

Brian Lethert · Post by **Brian Lethert** » 29 Dec 2002 10:20 pm

Started at age 17 in 1986, when i was a junior in high school.

Ricky Skaggs Highways & Heartaches album, 7 Year Ache, Bellamy Bros. Whistlin, Dixie. That's what did it.

Saved up for two years and in 1986 I bought a Sho-Bud D-10. (The old one with the barrel tuners).

Played in a hillbillyish sort of band for a year or so. Everyone thought i was the piano player. After a while they introduced me like this:

'... and Brian over here on the string piano...'

Bought a used Williams S-12 last year and now I don't tip over when I carry my steel.
Haven't broken a G# string YET!
Stays in tune too.

I wish it was maple instead of mica, but at least it keeps my Sho-Bud from getting jealous...