The Steel Guitar Forum

Here are some terrific clips from the 2009 NAMM show.
Gary is playing one of his Lap King Rodeos at the Eminence booth with Tomo Fujita.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJMIEk-LvMk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr2tE-beyK8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh81pl1toIU

Man, that guy is real good! I love the steel he's playing - anyone know what kind of pickups are in that beauty?

Well Steve I suurrreee do!
The steel he's playing is a Lap King "Rodeo"
It's a custom wound Jason Lollar single coil. I used to use Duncan Phat Cats which are very good but I had a couple things I wanted tweaked.
I told Mr. Lollar what I was looking for and as usual he nailed it. Now he winds them up for me special.

Never saw anyone play a lap steel like that! The guy really knows how to wail on that Rodeo. Must be hard to get harmonics in that position. Wish mine sounded like that. Actually mine sounds fantastic, I just can't play like that. I compared the sound of mine with a friends Stringmaster and my Supro and the Rodeo just blows them away. Not to mention how much nicer the Rodeo looks than all the others. Bob

Jason, I'm assuming you discussed the option with Gary for having your stand up support arm installed, as you have done for Jerry Douglas with the Bel Air model.

So Gary had no interest in the thing? It seems really awkward to play the guitar that way.

well it might seem awkward to play steel like that but heck, he sure knows how to smoke that thang !

Well thanks Robert!
I'm so glad you're so happy with your Rodeo! All the steels you mentioned are all such different animals I'm flattered to be in the same sentence.

Mark, I sure did have a conversation with Gary about the stand up arm but nope.....that's how he likes it. That man can tear it up for sure!!

I guess that very attractive steel guitar wasn't meant to play "HAWAIIAN STYLE"
Music.


ROGER

Jason how about elaborating on the subject of your "stand up support arm" for the uninitiated. I'm assuming it's a stand that holds the lap steel in a certain ready position for players that don't just play non-pedal steel...not unlike Jr. Brown's...is that what it is? Loved the sound of the guitar too BTW.

Terry,
The support arm is just a padded rest that bolts to the bottom of the guitar and holds it in a horizontal position.

or use something like this......

HowardR wrote:or use something like this......

what's that and where did you find it?!

This is a "Sure Grip".......once made by Smith Melobar in years past......if you're not slanting, this is pretty cool......

I've been looking for something like that for my messed up hands forever! Figures it'd be out of 'print'.
looks cool.

Great videos, good stuff

AJ Azure wrote:I've been looking for something like that for my messed up hands forever! Figures it'd be out of 'print'.
looks cool.

they're just two pcs of shaped plexi screwed into the sides of the bar......I wonder if Melobar has any left overs?......


back to topic.....Gary Morse is a great & innovative steeler as well as killer 7 string dobro....some slide guitarists such as Dave Hole (Australia)play over the top also....

That's some fine playing and a really good sounding guitar. I would like to hear from Gary Morse regarding his effect pedal setup and what type of bar he's using in that position. (I'd guess it's a Stevens-style grooved bar, easier to hold in a vertical position.)

Jason...thanks for posting the pics of the support arm. I was obviously out on planet nine with the way I was envisioning it. Good idea...Don't take this the wrong way but maybe a fellow like Gary might be more interested in the support arm if it was hinged to allow the playing angle to be adjusted. He plays his guitar flat to his body but I'd bet he would appreciate at least some adjustable angle. Especially playing over the neck like he does. If you like this idea and it takes off...address the royalty cheques to Planet Nine in care of....