The Steel Guitar Forum

For the discriminating steel guitar player that wants to absorb as much new knowledge as possible, I'd highly recommend you give a listen to the latest tune on the JERRYBYRD-FANCLUB com site.

JERRY BYRD provides you with an excellent example of how to properly use the foot volume pedal on (the late) Goldie Hills' version of "LIVING ALONE". It's an old Decca record from about the early 1960's +/-.

This tune can be found on JERRY's MUSIC page. You'll find the controller at the very bottom of the page.

Let me know what you think about this example and if it provided you with any new info'.

It's a good example of Jerry's dexterity, (or in this case pedetirity ?)
The foot volume control is a weak area for me. When I use it, and lift both feet off the ground, I have a tendency to fall off my stool.
Jerry played standing up, which makes his one-leg balancing act even more impressive.

I've often thought of putting a volume control on a knee lever. Alvino Rey made good use of the hand volume control on top of his steel.

I can't get enough of Jerry Byrd and this is one tune I don't have. I heard somewhere that he had his pedal wired so that the volume increased as he rocked the pedal back. Do you know if that's true?

Tom:

That is true. I was only around him once (1985) and specifically recall him saying that he did it that way because he had finer control over the motion of his foot when moving it that way rather than in the traditional direction.

JERRY sustained a serious knee injury decades ago.

I've often wondered if his using the volume pedal with his LEFT FOOT, had anything to do with that old autoaccident/injury.

Anyone got the straight scoop on that?

Well he had sharp kidney stones in his bladder for years before they were correctly diagnosed and removed, during which time he found discomfort in sitting down. Maybe that had some impact on his playing.

So JERRY BYRD had kidney stones also.....?

Well, here I am, following way behind him in his footsteps. I got the Volu-Tone amp, the Rickenbacher, Trot-Mor and JB Mdl. Excel Steel Guitars plus the Sho-Bud FryPan.......and now,
the kidney stones.

And.........I still don't sound ANYTHING like that talented man. Amazing!

By the way, how did YOU learn about Jerry's stones?

Ray Montee wrote:So JERRY BYRD had kidney stones also.....?
...By the way, how did YOU learn about Jerry's stones?

He discusses it in his autobiography, "It was a Trip on Wings of Music." I've read that book many times. It's one of my favorite books to take on transatlantic trips to while away those ten-hour ordeals strapped into a seat.

I couldn't wait to read it but found so much factual material missing............I soon lost interest. There was more material in the olde Steel Guitar Echoes newsletters than in the book.

Beautiful tune there Ray, thanks for sharin with us.

Ray:

Jerry Byrd is always an inspiration to all of us. However, Ray, how do "You" as an accomplished player over many years, recommend the using of the Volume Control Pedal ? (long tapir, short tapir, setting the point when the pedal engages, etc).

Respectfully, Billy T.

I use a stock, out of the box, Goodrich pedal.
It works like a standard pedal; nothing has been reversed.

Nothing fancy........but it works for me.

I also use an Emmons and Bigsby pedals with respective guitars, of course.

I've pondered the idea of putting a spring in a volume control so that it would work like a car accelerator and return to zero when you took your foot off.

Alan:

My first foot Volume Control purchased used from Leodie Jackson in about1945 was just like you described. It was like an accelarator with a good sized spring underneath with a gear attached to the Pot. This was not a enclosed pedal. Somewehere on the Forum the other day I saw a picture posted from an old catelog showing this pedal. Can't remember the make ! Not too long later I purchased a Rocco pedal with gears for Volume and Gears for sideways Tone Control. It was made from pot metal and very heavy. I kept this until Bigsby started making his pedals.

Ray, I'm really surprised you didn't enjoy the book. It is full of anecdotes and it's a good, light read.

My Goodrich VP has had a bad pot since about 3 months after I ought it over 3 years ago. It's unusale and I'm too lazy to replace the pot. I dug out my old Ernie Ball VP (about 15 years old) which I hadn't used in about 6 or 7 years and it worked great, so that's what I'm using for now, but only on gigs; I never use it at home.