The Steel Guitar Forum

No matter how we improve them mechanically, we're still forced to sit down behind a rectangular box and push pedals while looking down at our hands.
No wonder we're considered boring!
The steel player is always pushed to the back of the stage on tv performances because he's nothing exciting to look at.
Can't someone come up with, say a guitar shaped pedal steel, or an x shaped support instead of four legs...or something a little more cool looking?
We could use a better image.

Tony
If there is a cooler looking instrument than a steel guitar, I haven't seen it. Far better than a keyboard on an X stand.

In my musical life I have had a number of women who have said "that instrument is so sexy". They definitely weren't referring to the player!!

Tony,
I thought you were on vacation in Florida and drinking Pina Colladas (sp). How many did you have?

Nice to see you on the Forum.

Chuck

Tony,
Have you ever seen a "Brad's rack"?


http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=

Tony, at the Southwestern steel show in Phoenix last month, we saw a prototype of a stand-up pedal steel tht Jerry Fessenden and Jim Palenscar have been working on together*. Now this could be the answer to your prayers.

*I assume it wasn't supposed to be a secret since they had it out in the open and anybody who showed up in the exhibit room at the right time got to see it.

What could possibly be cooler that 10 strings on a black box?

dude.

20 strings on a black box, dude.

I think you hit you head on something. The steel guitars are fabulous, Best looking instruments made.

??? Pedal steels are the coolest looking instrument just the way they are.

12 strings on a red keyboard looking thingy.

Walter Killam wrote:What could possibly be cooler that 10 strings on a black box? dude.

um... two groupies on each arm?

PSG=cool
Groupies=well that depends on the groupies!

I would not want the hippie term "COOL" to be associated with steel guitars, I saw a blue Super-Pro for sale on forum a few days ago that sold in a New York minute, It was absolutely gorgeous but not COOL, Look up the meaning of gorgeous, That describes a steel perfectly! au

This is how keyboard players ended up with the "key-tar." So be careful what you ask for...

Tony Palmer wrote: Can't someone come up with, say a guitar shaped pedal steel, or an x shaped support instead of four legs...or something a little more cool looking?
We could use a better image.

Our image comes mostly from what we play and how we play it.

What we really need, IMHO, is a good many better and more imaginative players. The fanciest steel you could imagine with a player whining away at "Release Me" just ain't gonna excite the masses. It's really not only the instrument shape and the players that are boring, but also their music.

Vanilla ice cream in a Tiffany bowl lit up by lasers is still just vanilla ice cream.

Are you kidding? Pedal steels are w-a-y cool looking.

It's what's in the driver's seat that is hurting. But hey, Buddy was cool, with that goatee and dressed to the nines. The guy on Marty Stuart's show is also pretty hip. Chris Ivey is a heart throb!

Get a FENDER !

Here are some of the "cool" things you can do with a steel guitar that you cant do with any other instrument out there (except a piano but they dont count)

1. we get to sit down and play instead of standing up.
2. if you ever play at a dinner, you always have a place to set your plate.
3. if your ever playing a show and your very tired, during a break you can lay your head down and take a ciesta.
4. if a tornado ever comes while your at a show, you have something to take cover under.
5. if your kids ever want to make a "fort" you can throw a blanket over the steel and make a tent. (trust me, I had to do it with my niece.
6. if you ever get mad at someone, throw your bar at them, (not that i've ever done that)

Im pretty sure there are more "cool" things you can do with a steel guitar that you cant do with any other instrument but I will have to figure out what they are.

Titanium tubing, 12-strings with an 8-string bass. It weighs 28# and it's machined for 5 pedals and 4 knees.

Stretch a sheet across the legs and project a movie on it.

OK, Chas. You win. No contest.

I'd like to see a polyester high gloss finish on a steel. Like that on a high end grand piano. Reflective, very cool.

How exciting do you want to be?




Rusty Young has always been one of the most dynamic players I've ever seen. One of the reasons I started this madness!

I do a lite show when I'm playing, complete with mirror ball and strobe. That way nobody gives a crap that I can't play. With this said, I hear the same thing about tele's (thier just a slab of word)so why does everyone play one. Cause they sound good.

Why mess with something that's cool,
IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!