The Steel Guitar Forum

Claims, advisements, directives, warnings, sneaker proclivities, erasures, supposed biases, - all are the basic "tools" used with varying degrees of negative approaches by "killjoys". Did I mention blameworthy? Some don't pick a note by attempting to learn to play the steel, while the loudest outcries seem to flood from beginners who can't put in the time needed for progressing on the instrument. Mr. Barry Blackwood delights in pretentiosness. Much of his absurdities appear as unscrupulous, at best.

Much of his proclamations appear as unscrupulous, at best

Yeah Bill, I know.....the truth hurts...

Gene,

Do you wear sneakers or cowboy hats to church on Sunday? If you are taking a lovely lady out to dinner, would I see you climbing out of your vehicle wearing an imported sneaker, sale priced at twenty bucks? I wouldn't go that far in matters that concern risks. To dishonor the pedal steel in a formal situation, is a poor choice in terms of desiring to advance the respect from onlookers. At this point in time, the steel guitar is respected throughout the entire U.S.A. - Of all the things in life that cling to our hearts, the steel guitar will always be secure, in our last waking moments.

Thank you to all your kind words. I am humbled to have such great people in our industry say such great words about my playing.
Bill...sigh.... I would suggest you post a picture of you playing in fine attire as opposed to the pic you currently have to better prove your point. (Kind of that pot and kettle thing. I have to go to a gig now. I'll be wearing slightly faded $50.00 jeans, a $40.00 shirt, and $100.00 BASS loafers. (real leather and everything!) Probably a very nice Ball cap too! I don't feel like wearing my $400.00 kangaroo boots and my 12X Stets. People pay to hear me play not put on a fashion show. Keep after him guys...This is a hoot!
Have a good evening Bill and all
Thnaks again Herb, Pat, and Fred

To dishonor the pedal steel in a formal situation, is a poor choice in terms of desiring to advance the respect from onlookers. At this point in time, the steel guitar is respected throughout the entire U.S.A.

Bill, please don't anthropomorphize the steel guitar. It is an insentient mechanism of metal and wood that does not know or care what you are wearing, therefore, it cannot feel disrespect or dishonor. If you want "respect from onlookers," you will have to play well enough to earn it.

The vast, and I repeat VAST, majority of the population in the United States not only doesn't know what a pedal steel guitar is, they could care less about knowing. So how could anyone with half a brain make the statement that

"the steel guitar is respected throughout the entire U.S.A"


Just another vacuous, hyperbolic statement from the keyboard of the almighty Mr Know-It-All.

hmmm, I'm not certain though that Bullwinkle deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Moose was always a gentleman.

Don't you guys have some practicing to do?
I would like to buy another new cowboy hat soon. I have a hat I bought in 1976 at our local tack saddelry shop "Eatons Ranch" and have worn them for years.
I often buy a hat when visiting places, especially down home where mama is from. What was the dilemma?

Kevin,

These discussions ARE a big part of centering on objectives. In this example there have been claims made that I've underestimated the "Great Monster Player, (Scotty) of Lake Of The Ozarks, Missouri. I didn't say as much, I'd simply know better. It's music to my ears, in fact I'm anxious to hear his rendition of "I'll Come Runnin'", or "The Orange Blossom Special". According to Scotty's supporters, I'd imagine those two #'s would be a slice of apple pie, topped with vanilla ice cream.

From Wikipedia

Hotchkiss's seven deadly sins of narcissism

Hotchkiss identified what she called the seven deadly sins of narcissism:

1. Shamelessness - Shame is the feeling that lurks beneath all unhealthy narcissism, and the inability to process shame in healthy ways.
2. Magical thinking - Narcissists see themselves as perfect using distortion and illusion known as magical thinking. They also use projection to dump shame onto others.
3. Arrogance - A narcissist who is feeling deflated may reinflate by diminishing, debasing, or degrading somebody else.
4. Envy - A narcissist may secure a sense of superiority in the face of another person's ability by using contempt to minimize the other person.
5. Entitlement - Narcissists hold unreasonable expectations of particularly favorable treatment and automatic compliance because they consider themselves uniquely special. Any failure to comply will be considered an attack on their superiority and the perpetrator is considered to be an "awkward" or "difficult" person. Defiance of their will is a narcissistic injury that can trigger narcissistic rage.
6. Exploitation - can take many forms but always involves the using of others without regards for their feelings or interests. Often the other is in a subservient position where resistance would be difficult or even impossible. Sometimes the subservience is not so much real as assumed.
7. Bad Boundaries - narcissists do not recognize that they have boundaries and that others are separate and are not extensions of themselves. Others either exist to meet their needs or may as well not exist at all. Those who provide narcissistic supply to the narcissist will be treated as if they are part of the narcissist and be expected to live up to those expectations. In the mind of a narcissist, there is no boundary between self and other.

Geez, some things just never change, do they? I haven't been around here much lately and it's nice that I can come back and it's the same as it was then.... :p

On one level this thread is just downright funny. Funny like someone getting a pie in the face. Really stupid, and yet funny in the right context, circumstance, etc.

It's nice to see some of the Forumites who I greatly respect and admire for their experience and wisdom here, people whom I have never met in person and most likely never will, like Fred, Herb, Gene, Scott, Mike... and many others.... people who have publicly proven their musical abilities for many years, playing with so many top-name stars. They know what they're talking about and deserve respect.

These and others have delivered so many knockout punches in this thread, if this were a boxing match, the ref would have thrown in the towel pages ago. I'm not sure whether I should admire Bill for his single-minded tenacity or pity him, at this point. Leaning toward pity.

BTW snipes and smartassed response from you won't even bother me, Bill.

And, as has been said before, I'd love to hear some clips of yours someday.

I think I'll go put on my Stetson now. It'll go well with my t-shirt and jeans.

Jim Phelps,Some people like to play with words,and others like to play their Steel guitar.

Bill, I've a got a start getting ready for tonight's Gig. Celoron NY( Home town of Lucille Ball)at the American Legion.Yes, this not so good steel player,is still at it. I wounder how many not so good steel players are playing tonight? Bill if you choose to answer me, please use words that have less than four syllables. Can you do it. Joe

I quit wearing hats when I walked off my last ship.

And when I get back there, I'm bringing my DS-11 and joining the Celron Legion. There, they let vets wear cowboy hats, pick the git-tar and sing a good ole country song.

Thanks for the clarification Bill. I am playing a Southern Gospel Jubilee tomorrow in church www.bereanbaptist.com after the two services. There will be KFC chicken feed & potluck. Just me, bass and the Copper Street Brass Quintet. I said ALL that to say this, I will not be wearing my hat on stage however and am concerned about my playing abilities.

Kevin,

I have a feeling that you are an impressionable steel guitarist. Expanding on your activities would be most welcome. Once again, I'm assuming that you may have seen and heard Scott Henderson perform in the area where you live. If so, that would be interesting to learn. (BTW -It's "SADDLERY")

Joe,

I hope your gig went well in Celeron, N.Y., last evening. Lucille Ball was very popular in the 50's. Her husband's broken English, stood out like a powder keg. Don't try to tell me that Lucy wasn't a ball. Good luck in the future.

Ken,

I came close years ago to buying a used dbl. nine Sho-Bud from a dealership in Connecticut. I haven't a clue where the steel is now. Have you ever seen one? Larry Coxx (Sp.) of the Coxx family of musicians, was the salesman there at the time. I think the store was located in New Britain, Ct. I still regret not picking up that Tom Brumley styled steel. Tom toured all through New England with Buck Owens. He could have sold or traded the steel, who knows?

Don Poland,

There is a smidgen of crack cronyism suspected, whenever a subject feels free to inject as much indexing as possible into an off the cuff derisive statement. Quote, "Beware of companies who claim to have your best interests at heart". "If it sounds to good to be true, stay away"! Thanks for the expressly indignant message. As a steel guitarist, I can associate the writer with the same contrariness that matches the lack of progress seen in narrow minded individuals attempting to play the steel guitar.

Scott,

Please e-mail me if you are booked in or near Massachusetts during 2010. I wouldn't want to miss catching your performances. Your supporters have created a desire to shift priorities. Your preferential ratings have taken the high roads upon hearing of your accomplishments.

COMPATIBILITY is in a slump here at the moment. Surrounded by thread uprooters, the serenity of compatibility is hopeless. In keeping with the reservations alluding to hats (big and bountiful) in addition to poor choices observed in footwear by steel guitarists, is a sure-enough valid complaint. The hatless steel player with colorful sneakers, looks the part of a hiker out for a walk through the symbolic wooded terrain. Away from catty critics - compatibility is assured, I can see THEIR point.

Admittedly, Barry made me stop and think by expressly referring to the steel guitar as "insentient". I immediately began to rethink. What does he know about creativity - absolutely, nothing! He hasn't an iota of a clue where the wonderment of creation began, or a word to delineate knowledge of such matters; as time. My alarm was subdued by those thoughts about Barry's comments that first appeared to make sense.

Admittedly, Barry made me stop and think by expressly referring to the steel guitar as "insentient". I immediately began to rethink. What does he know about creativity - absolutely, nothing! He hasn't an iota of a clue where the wonderment of creation began, or a word to delineate knowledge of such matters; as time.

Well, Bill, it sounds like it's time to open a new thread, and explain to the rest of us Luddites all about creativity. No harm in sucking up a little more bandwidth here on the Forum.

Maybe there is no Heaven. Or maybe this is all pure gibberish — a product of the demented imagination of a lazy drunken hillbilly with a heart full of hate who has found a way to live out where the real winds blow — to sleep late, have fun, get wild, drink whisky, and drive fast on empty streets with nothing in mind except falling in love and not getting arrested...
Res ipsa loquitur. Let the good times roll.

This guy wore a hat

No disrespect, Duncan, but this guy is ....?

I'm sorry Barry. That guy, who also was responsible for the quote, is Hunter S. Thompson. I'm not sure if he ever played the pedal steel, but he was a lover of music and famously wore hats on account of he was also famously bald.
Duncan

'centering on objectives' is what i find you, bill, of being incapable of. nothing personal..it's just my opinion of course..but you seem kind of 'nutso' in that department. on the other hand, i find many respondents to your posts..such as barry, glg, ss and others to be perfectly centered, yet you seem to either not notice, or defensively put them down, or (this is one of your amazing traits) totally ignore good solid points made by some.

Duncan,

Mark Twain wrote, "Never argue with an idiot, the witnesses may not be able to tell the difference."

I doubt if Mark wore cowboy hats and sneakers, or ever envisioned a dbl. 10 steel guitar. He was very limited in that category of thinkers. The steel guitar has definitely paved the way for a new breed of exceptional problem solvers. The insipid minorities are sidelined for their contributions to a nonartistic attitude. At last, a means of identifying artless forms who are prone to shadow progressive musicians. The steel guitar is perfect in this regard. You either have it, or you lack the ability to move closer to the instrument. There is always ample elbowroom for those who seriously participate in the favorable cultivation of a mind.

Well, I guess that closes the thread then!