Are you really a steelman or kinda?

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 27 Aug 2009 4:25 am

Just wondering how many players out there are real steel pickers and how many are just sort of part time steelmen? Real steelman to me is a player that eats, sleeps and lives pure steel guitar. When he/she is on stage, steel guitar is there instrument. They study no other instrument but PSG and the items they use with it at different times. They study and read articles on everybody from Emmons, Jernigan, Green, Anderson, Rugg, Myrick and so many, many more. Each new run or lick learned is a stepping stone to making a better steelman. On there final day on earth they'll still be known as a STEELMAN. ( This is not intended to stir up arguments or to put anybody down, just a topic for fun and reading.)

Steve Hitsman · Post by **Steve Hitsman** » 27 Aug 2009 5:27 am

As Don Curtis likes to remind me, I'm a steel owner.

Steve Broatch · Post by **Steve Broatch** » 27 Aug 2009 6:28 am

I'm not a 'steelman'.

I can see that sort of dedication would improve my playing no end but I'd hate to give up playing guitar, banjo, dobro, harmonica, mandolin etc.

I'm a sucker for trying new instruments out. I got hold of a cheap fiddle lately to try out. I'm hopeless but it's great fun.

I find if I concentrate on one thing for so long I begin to lose interest and my playing becomes stale. That probably says a lot about my playing.

Luke Morell · Post by **Luke Morell** » 27 Aug 2009 6:34 am

Steve, Don E. has referred to me as the same thing.

Greg Wisecup · Post by **Greg Wisecup** » 27 Aug 2009 6:36 am

Tommy Butler!

Kenny Martin · Post by **Kenny Martin** » 27 Aug 2009 7:01 am

Does any of this qualify me?

Taking my steel fishin!
Taking my steel on vacation!
Taking my steel to family reunions!
Taking my steel out to dinner!
Taking my steel to grandma's!
Taking my steel to work!
Taking my steel to the football game!
Taking my steel to have pictures made!

Last, having my steel sleep between me and my wife!

Dick Sexton · Post by **Dick Sexton** » 27 Aug 2009 7:23 am

I'm not a steelman, but am proud to be a steel guitar hobbyist or enthusiast. I don't kid myself to think I will ever play at the pro level, age has taken care of that for me, but my heart and mind are good. And I'll do my best to support the steel guitar community, those taking up the steel and those that will attain that level of expertise. Go for it...

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 27 Aug 2009 7:25 am

The description sounds more like a guy who is maybe an advanced-beginner, playing steel for the first time in a band setting, to me.
I have often met guys at conventions who are at this stage, and they are soooo into it!
It's great to see!... Not always so great to hear... quite yet.

Jack Therrell · Post by **Jack Therrell** » 27 Aug 2009 7:32 am

I am a steel afficinado. I so like the tone of a steel. By far my favorite instrument when played by the true pros. I keep a steel set up in my study. I don't play it daily but I go to it often enough that my fingers don't get to difficult to use. So no, i am not obsessed with the steel but appreciate those who are.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 27 Aug 2009 7:37 am

nope, not really

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 27 Aug 2009 9:10 am

I went from a hard-working devotee of the steel guitar during my early years.......

but have steadily declined to being little more than a proud and happy Rickenbacher Bakelite wall-hanging 'collector', a possessor of a 'potentially lethal" (it's been said!) Volu-Tone amp, a QUAD BIGSBY, a fatabulous collection of old records on which JERRY BYRD at his greatest is forever preserved and most happy to continue with the sharing of JERRY BYRD..........via the JERRYBYRD-FANCLUB.com/ web site.

I eat and sleep steel guitar music.........always have and always will.

Mark Treepaz · Post by **Mark Treepaz** » 27 Aug 2009 9:20 am

Billy Carr wrote:Just wondering how many players out there are real steel pickers and how many are just sort of part time steelmen? Real steelman to me is a player that eats, sleeps and lives pure steel guitar.

Well, kinda', sorta'...
I do have a very good full time job, family obligations and responsibilities, a home to take care of, and an RV that my wife and I like to travel in as much as possible (during the seemingly short amount of warm weather months up here). HOWEVER, my spare time is devoted to PSG. In fact, I make every attempt to set aside at least an hour or so per day to practice, although that hour quickly seems to turn into two or three hours once I get started.

Billy Carr wrote:When he/she is on stage, steel guitar is there instrument. They study no other instrument but PSG and the items they use with it at different times.

I can't say that. I play a couple of different instruments. In fact, I play Bass in the country band that I'm currently a member of (The band already has a Steel player). HOWEVER, I'd have to say that at least 90% of my musical instrument practice time is devoted to PSG.

Billy Carr wrote:They study and read articles on everybody from Emmons, Jernigan, Green, Anderson, Rugg, Myrick and so many, many more. Each new run or lick learned is a stepping stone to making a better steelman.

I can say YES to this one. I'm always seeking information about PSG. In fact, I'm writing this from my office here at work because I'm frequently checking in on the SGF during the course of the day (as my workload permits, of course.)

When I go home tonight, the wife will be out the entire evening, so it'll be down to the basement for me for an entire evening of PSG practice.

So, you tell me...Am I or ain't I a STEELMAN ?

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 27 Aug 2009 10:53 am

Mark,Not until you have heard me play steel.

Joe

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 27 Aug 2009 11:07 am

I don't let anybody make my definitions for me.

There are many fine steel players who are also fine players of other instruments. This doesn't stop them from being "steel players" - I won't say "steelmen" because it's gender-specific, and there are many fine "steelwomen" out there too. It is possible to get a level of intensity on more than one thing without being a dilettante.

I find it interesting that even though I have played guitar for over 40 years, and played many, many hundreds of guitar gigs over about 20 years around these parts - still, at this point, most musicians around here now consider me a steel player first on the basis of, mostly, the last 5 years. I find this highly ironic, but probably has more to do with the fact that there aren't a lot of steel players here.

Mark Treepaz · Post by **Mark Treepaz** » 27 Aug 2009 11:11 am

Joe Miraglia wrote:Mark,Not until you have heard me play steel. Joe

Joe, I don't now if that's a good thing or a bad thing!

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 27 Aug 2009 11:47 am

dILLettante with a capital ILL.

James Mayer · Post by **James Mayer** » 27 Aug 2009 11:54 am

I'm always picking up new instruments. Steel will probably always be a secondary or tertiary instrument for me. If I could be the "greatest" at anything, I would choose flamenco guitar. However, I love the feeling of playing a steel and find it to be the most intuitive and welcoming instruments that I've tried.

It's the only instrument that I don't practice. Sure, I rehearse, but I don't play drills or worry too much about technique. For that reason, I'll probably never burn out on it and will be a half-steelman for life.

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · Post by **Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)** » 27 Aug 2009 12:10 pm

Although I've never been one to place labels or categorize, this looks like a fun topic. But, I don't really know exactly where it places me.

Pedal steel guitar is the only thing I've ever played (I haven't even played lap steel or Dobro ... nothing but pedal steel).

Mark Treepaz · Post by **Mark Treepaz** » 27 Aug 2009 12:24 pm

Dave Mudgett wrote:I won't say "steelmen" because it's gender-specific, and there are many fine "steelwomen" out there too.

Good point.

Dave Mudgett wrote:It is possible to get a level of intensity on more than one thing without being a dilettante.

I've got to admit, you got me with that word! I had to go look that one up!

Good word!

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 27 Aug 2009 12:38 pm

Please don't titillate the dilettantes....

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 27 Aug 2009 1:18 pm

Real steelman to me is a player that eats, sleeps and lives pure steel guitar.

I think you have to live like that for a few years just to acquire a modicum of proficiency on the instrument. Or any instrument. It helps if you don't have a wife or a job any any responsibilities. But it's like that in any field of endeavor. Successful doctors, real estate moguls, movie stars and inventors do it, too. One of Howard Hughes' wives divorced him because she never saw him; he was too busy designing airplanes to pay any attention to her.

If you don't have that attitude and dedication you will remain merely a dilettante, but you might have a beautiful wife, loving children, an actual job and a home in the country.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Aug 2009 1:55 pm

For awhile, I was what you could call rather obsessed with it. Then, as chance would have it, one of my closest friends (who as not a musician) died, and I had to re-evaluate what was really important. Ever since then, steel's been down around #4 or #5 on my list of priorities.

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 27 Aug 2009 2:18 pm

I am afraid I will never get to the level that I would call me a steelman. I have tried for years but it just ain't there. The only reason I could be called a pro is that I have occasionally been paid.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 27 Aug 2009 2:36 pm

When I was a kid I was a steal man once. Then they made me put the apples back and talk to the priest.

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 27 Aug 2009 2:51 pm

I my mind yes but only in my mind.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Are you really a steelman or kinda?

Are you really a steelman or kinda?

Steelman?

Good Point!

Re: Are you really a steelman or kinda?