| Author |
Topic: Quiz. Who was the first person to add a pedal |
Bob Doran
From:
Ames, Iowa, USA
|
Posted 1 May 2007 5:18 pm |
|
to the steel guitar?
Bob |
|
|
|
chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
|
Posted 1 May 2007 6:47 pm
|
|
| Unless I'm mistaken, Alvino Rey. |
|
|
|
Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
|
Posted 2 May 2007 4:26 am
|
|
Alvino Rey.
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
|
|
|
Bob Doran
From:
Ames, Iowa, USA
|
Posted 2 May 2007 4:39 am First pedal
|
|
Well, according to Wikipedia it was Bud Isaacs.
I am no expert, so I could be wrong!
Here is quote from Wiki:
"In around 1955, a console steel player named Bud Isaacs attached a pedal to one of the necks of his guitar. The function of the pedal was to change the pitch of two of the strings, whereby Isaacs would have two of the most common steel guitar tunings available on one neck. When he used this pedal to change his tuning while sustaining a chord during the recording of Webb Pierce's hit "Slowly," he touched off a revolution among steel guitarists" |
|
|
|
Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
|
Posted 2 May 2007 5:02 am
|
|
My answer would be Jay Harlin, in the 1930's. Gibson used a version of the Harlin Bros. system for their Electraharps.
Alvino was probably the first "star" to USE a pedal as a popular artist.
Speedy West had the first guitar upon which Paul Bigsby put a pedal.
Wikipedia is not to be trusted, IMHO.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
|
|
|
Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
|
Posted 2 May 2007 5:05 am
|
|
It could have been Ed Fulawka
Back in 1949 and '50 he added not only 'a' pedal to his Hawaiian guitar but did the 2 pedal I to IV change |
|
|
|
Dave Van Allen
From:
Souderton, PA , US , Earth
|
|
|
|
David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
|
Posted 2 May 2007 6:13 am
|
|
| From what I've learned here on the Forum, Alvino Rey was the main steeler to popularize pedals (in the '30s?), but it is not clear if he was the first one to use them. But they were for changing the tuning and were not generally operated during sustained notes. Bud Isaacs was the first one to popularize the moving harmony "pedal mashing" style we now associate with pedal steel (Paul Bigsby added the pedal to Bud's Bigsby), in the monster Web Pierce hit "Slowly," in the mid '50s. |
|
|
|
Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
|
Posted 2 May 2007 8:01 am
|
|
| This is a really interesting question. For all the talking we do here about pedal steels, there's remarkably little interest in their early history. I've done a lot of research on the topic, and I feel that credit for the first pedals (knee levers, actually) to be put on a steel guitar should go to two gentlemen, Ken Clark and Art Harmon. Their device (the Harmolin, an acoustic Hawaiian steel with knee levers) was patented in 1932, so I feel pretty safe in saying they actually developed it around 1930. This was almost 5 years before the first floor pedals were added to an electric Hawaiian steel guitar, by Jay Harlin. By 1939, the idea of using pedals to create "moving tones" (changing chords with the pedals while playing) was known. Alvino Rey, as far as I know, gets credit for the electrification of the steel guitar (and every other guitar, too). An early press release (I have a copy) states that he designed the first magnetic pickup, but failed to get the idea patented. The first electric (non-pedal) steel guitar was the Rickenbacker "Fry-Pan", first produced around 1931. |
|
|
|
Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
|
Posted 2 May 2007 9:16 am
|
|
I am under the impression, perhaps mistakenly, that Alvino Rey wanted to use about 10 different tunings, and rather than deal with a 10 neck instrument or multiple instruments, he commissioned a machinist to design a system whereby he could automatically change tunings by stepping on a pedal.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
|
|
|
Bobby Bowman
From:
Cypress, Texas, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 2 May 2007 9:54 am pitch changers
|
|
I can't remember brand names, or people names for that matter, but I do remember seeing a 6 string lap steel (maybe a Framus or some German made guitar) that had a "cam" bridge and I think it changed an E tuning to and A or vise versi. That would actually be the "forerunner" of pedals/levers. Then I believe there was one that had a four or five position cam that gave you that many different chords.
There was a German fellow who was our neighbor and was a machinest that played steel. He made his own version of a pedal steel even before I was born (1936) and he was always working on it up until about 1941 or so. His name was Melvin Wisner, a very friendly and wise man. When the world war broke out, his home, shop and everything he owned was taken away from him and he and his wife were sent to a concentration camp in California.
We never heard of or from him again.
Dad started building our house in late 1934 and said that Mr. Wisner had been there since about 1930.
I can't remember where he said he got the idea from. Heck, I was only 4 or 5 then. I do know that he would occasionally play with my dad and some of my dad's musician friends and would let me try to play his lap steel sometimes.
BB
_________________
If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!
http://www.bobbybowman.com |
|
|
|
Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
|
Posted 2 May 2007 10:22 am
|
|
| There is a German brand of steel today called Wiesner. Any relation, I wonder? |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
Posted 2 May 2007 10:37 am Re: First pedal
|
|
| Bob Doran wrote: |
Well, according to Wikipedia it was Bud Isaacs.
I am no expert, so I could be wrong!
Here is quote from Wiki:
"In around 1955, a console steel player named Bud Isaacs attached a pedal to one of the necks of his guitar. The function of the pedal was to change the pitch of two of the strings, whereby Isaacs would have two of the most common steel guitar tunings available on one neck. When he used this pedal to change his tuning while sustaining a chord during the recording of Webb Pierce's hit "Slowly," he touched off a revolution among steel guitarists" |
Bud Isaacs was the first to use the country A+B pedal sound on a hit recording. Pedal steels were being produced and used long before that momentous occasion.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
|
|
|
Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
|
Posted 2 May 2007 11:41 am
|
|
I would like to contribute my early observations for what it is worth.
I saw Alvino Rey in 1938 playing a Gibson Console Grand D9 guitar, they were D8's but he had 9 strings on it..
On the right side he had 3 wires of some kind, going down to 3 pedals , they looked like spoons. He also had a violin E tuner on a string to change it.
He used the pedals to make chords at that time. He had a E6 tuning on the Bottom neck and a E7-9-E13.tuning on the top neck. By raising the C# to D with a pedal on just the one note on the second string he could get a 7th and dimminished. The next time I saw him in 1942, he had a Gobson 6 pedal Electra-Harp. I have a picture of it sent by Steve Sobecki on a email. Just like mine, but mine looked like new.....al.
_________________
Michigan (MSGC)Christmas Dinner and Jam on my 80th Birthday.
My Email.. almarcus@cmedic.net
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus
Last edited by Al Marcus on 2 May 2007 2:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
|
Posted 2 May 2007 1:25 pm
|
|
| Bobby, I had come across Paul Tutmarc's name and contributions before, when I was researching the early history of the steel guitar. And yet, the copy of the press release that I have mentions that Alvino had developed his magnetic pickup idea when he was but 12 years old! As Alvino was born in 1911, that would have put the date of inception of his device around 1923 or 1924, certainly not out of the realm of possibility, as this was a period of many young men and boys wanting to become experimenters. No doubt there were instances of parallel development going on all over the world, in the area of pickups, as well as in the area of pedal or tone-changer guitars. Nonetheless, many things are relegated to heresay unless some sort of documentation can be found. In the case of the statements I have made, I do have such documentation, but I am always open to insights and possibilities of revision on these matters. |
|
|
|
Barry Gaskell
From:
Cheshire, UK
|
Posted 2 May 2007 2:14 pm
|
|
| If my musical history serves me correctly, the classical harp had a cam action operated by a lever. I'm not sure the extent of its operation, but it was used a hundred plus years ago, and possibly into the 19th century. |
|
|
|
Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
|
Posted 3 May 2007 8:11 am
|
|
You're right Barry. The concert harp also uses foot pedals to change the notes on its strings, and there are differences as well as similarities on that instrument. Harps use a somewhat different methodology than pedal steels, in that the strings pass through a rotating shaft that has two pins on it. These pins therefore change the string tension as well as slightly changing the string length. The effect, however, is the same as on a pedal steel. Major differences include the differing string lengths on a harp, as well as the fact that no hand-held device (e.g., a bar) is used to shorten the effective string length. Indeed, a type of tension changing is also employed playing a kota (a Japanese string instrument), only in that case, it's done with the fingers - somewhat like bending the strings on a straight guitar. No doubt, some other instruments like the concert harp and kota may have provided the idea of changing the string pitch on a steel guitar. Without some reference, though, it's all pretty much speculation.
I think it's important to know the real history of things. Many times, important facts are lost or clouded by other famous discoveries. Imagine my surprise to learn that Edison did not invent the electric light bulb (as most of us were taught in school), but merely refined designs that existed long before. Even his "eureka moment" with a carbonized filament was mostly fabrication. Sure, Edison was great, but let's not overlook Joseph Swan - the inventor who really did it first! |
|
|
|
David Wren
From:
Placerville, California, USA
|
Posted 3 May 2007 9:06 am
|
|
What a great thread! Thanks for the info guys. I'm building a lap steel with a palm lever, and a RKR lever, and thought it was a pretty good idea.... just about 60 years too late
More facts, and tales please.
_________________
Dave Wren
'96 Carter U12,7X7; 1936 7 string National; Line 6 HX Stomp; Quilter TT-15/TB202; Quilter "Steelaire"; DV Mark "GH 250"with 15" 1501 BW; Boss "Katana" 100 Head w/Line 6 Cab; Telonics VP. |
|
|
|
Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
|
Posted 3 May 2007 9:18 am Re: Quiz. Who was the first person to add a pedal
|
|
| Bob Doran wrote: |
to the steel guitar?
Bob |
On the original post relating to steel guitar. Who knows exactly. There are many unknown steel players that probably added pedals.
I was always looking since 1938 for a marketed ,workable Pedal Steel Guitar that was available to buy. There was none that I knew of, I never heard of Multi-Kord at that time.
But in around 1942 when Gibson came out with the Electra-Harp and I saw Alvino Rey play it, to me, that was the first playable pedal guitar. Paul Martin on the West Coast was also playing one.
Gibson's Pres: T.McCartey told me where there was a used one for sale in a music store in New York . I bought it sight unseen COD in Jan.1946 after discharge from WWII in Nov. 1945. I used my mustering out pay and then some.
You can imagine what a huge step forward that was for me to have a 6 pedal steel guitar way back in 1946. I was lucky to get it....al.
_________________
Michigan (MSGC)Christmas Dinner and Jam on my 80th Birthday.
My Email.. almarcus@cmedic.net
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus |
|
|
|
Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
|
Posted 3 May 2007 11:02 am
|
|
REMOVED
_________________
"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 26 Feb 2011 6:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
|
Posted 3 May 2007 2:00 pm
|
|
Michael-Thanks for your extensive information. Yes, as I remember John Moore , whom I met in Kalamazoo, had a lot to do with developing the Original Electra-Harp. Wilbur Marker was involved with it to, in the production end of it.
I did try the National Electrachord back in those days but didn't like it. If I remember it had 2 pedals with cables on them front and back. You pushed down for one chord and back the other way for another chord. This gave you 4 chords with both feet on the 2 pedals. I also remember trying the magnatone with 6 chord changes by pushing a solinoid button, right on te guitar near the tone control. It made a loud noise when you pushed a button, with the amp on. The Gisbon was like a Rolls Royce compared to the tuning changers that I saw then.
Multi-Kord had the right idea, their changer was just like the Gibson, except for the lock nuts on the tuning screws with Multi-Kord had, stayed in tune better. It was so good and idea that Fender with Gene Fields built a great guitar., the PS 210 with the same type changer 30 years later. Only mounted sideways instead of on top. Too bad they didn't continue with an improved model. I played it and a D10 with 9 pedals or 5 pedals and 4 knees to work both necks with a crossover. E9-and C6. It could play anything on that that can be played on a new 2007 guitar today.
Fender was selling so many guitars and amps that they gave up pedal steel building. Gene Fields now with a fine guitar the GFI that he builds can tell that Fender story about the PS 210....al.
_________________
Michigan (MSGC)Christmas Dinner and Jam on my 80th Birthday.
My Email.. almarcus@cmedic.net
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus |
|
|
|
