The Steel Guitar Forum

I dont want to make anyone feel too old, but do you remember what it was like before pedals was put on the steel guitar? And how many of you played the steel guitar before pedals was "invented"?

Dog-gone Austin, i started playing steel guitar in 1946 and when slowly came out put 2 pedal,s on a triple neck stringmaster.Had to have plyer,s screw-driver to hook it up but it worked. Still play 2 night,s a week==Jim Harper

Not me, I wasn't born yet when Jim started playing. However, the first steel guitar player I ever saw was a gent who played a six string lap steel in my dad's country and square dance band.
Larry J.

Yep, in my teens (mid 50's) played with a band in Dallas with a double neck blond Fender Stringmaster and a Fender Delux Amp. I didn't have a drivers license yet and my mother always drove me to the bandleaders house. As I recall, we played the Elk Lodges. The nice thing about it was setting up and taking down. Much simpler with the non-pedal and a lot lighter in weight. Yes, they were fun days.

Larry, yes;sir i remember the break-down,s my dad played on fiddle and i had to play them on my 6 string Harmony.Boil them cabbage down--Waggoner--Rubber Dollie,, i could go on and on. Lot of fun==Jim Harper

Here's an early one, at 15 years of age with the Hoyle Nix band out of Big Spring, Texas. Not the first one I started with however, It was a 6 string Rick that was forced on me.

Phred

Yes, I can remember the good ole days! Sure can....

Let's see now, that was way back...........prior to 1980, I believe it was.

I was around then. I started taking lessons at Harlin Bros. Hawaiian guitar studio in Indianapolis in 1948. They used the old Oahu method.
My first guitar was an acoustic hawaiian lap steel guitar. Then I had and electric lap steel, I don't remember the brand. Then I went on to a Multi-Kord which was the first patented pedal steel guitar and was invented by Jay Harlin. I still play one.

Compared to modern Country pedal steels being made today they are pretty primative as is to be expected. However the principal of their changer mechanism I believe surpasses any being made today for ease and speed of changing the copedances.

I WAS PLAYING A 6 STRING OAHU
ON Saturday nights and making more than my day job.
In 1949 played with sammy Barnhart on the La. hayride with a D8 National.
Left Jan. 3rd, REd Sovine wanted me to tour with him but I left country Music to play in church for the next many years. Married Nan 6 months later, she was a bigger draw than a job in music.

as ever

ernie

i still have this guitar,altough its apart to be redone.