Anyone play the Fender 1000?

[Peter Darling]

Hello Folks, I am new into pedal steel and would like to know please if anyone plays a Fender 1000. I have a 1964 model with the E9th tuning with 1 Knee lever to lower the E's and 3 pedals. The other neck is in C6th with 6 pedals. Is it vital to have the two chromatic strings in E9th? At the moment I hav'nt but the my Fender can be retuned to a multiple of copedants. I guess what I want is to hear some samples of music played on this machine so I can be aware of its capabilities. I am 60 and will be happy to learn how to accompany country songs with a smattering of fills and turn arounds. That sort of thing. I will be very grateful for any help. Please don't tell me I should have bought an E9th with 10 strings. My wife will divorce me as I pestered her to agree to the Fender. Peter Darling. Live in the UK. [/b][/b]

[Brad Bechtel]

Peter,

There are some good tips and information available on the Fender Pedal Steel Guitar Fans Page.

I'm sure a search of this forum will turn up many different discussions on these fine steel guitars. They have a sound like no other, in my opinion.

Here are some discussions to get you started:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=194312
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=194365
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=184869
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=181996
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=177557

Have fun!

[Michael Maddex]

Brad gave you some good tips there. There is also a forum for Fender steel players:

http://z8.invisionfree.com/Fender_Steel_Forum/index.php

HTH. Enjoy.

[Cliff Kane]

Check out our host, Bobby Lee's, tuning page:
http://b0b.com/tunings/blee.htm#Hawaiian

He has a link to a sweet tune he recorded using both necks on a Fender 1000. As you know, it's easy to change the cables around to try different tunings and pulls. These are obviously limited compared to a modern loaded steel, but so what, they are great guitars and cooler than a modern guitar in some ways. Nothing else really sounds like them. There is a lot of great music and fun to be had with them. So many great recordings have been made by the masters of steel guitar playing Fender cable guitars.

[basilh]

I've been known to play one..
Hawaiian Style
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6qJovIz9aw

Great American Songbook style
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HTJXZOZskA

Country Style
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWuwl8Egum8

Peter, I see you are UK .. I'm Tamworth Staffordshire and I do lessons/guidance in person or on Skype..
Skype name basil-henriques
'tel 0182-770-4110 or 0781-687-2166 or 07800-646-645

[Kevin Hatton]

Great job Basil. Very nice.

[Peter Darling]

Thanks Brad for your tips. I have read about you and I have a lap steel too. I made it from Martin Koch's book on how to make a lap steel guitar. Mind you I had a few advantages in that I have made a few violins a nd a classical guitar some years ago. This Steel guitar thing is Scarey. I have played the violin before and am used to making my own notes but with the steel guitar there is no logic and it is very intimidating...But I'll crack it some when!!! Hope I,ve answered this in the right way. Many Many thanks...Peter

Peter,

There are some good tips and information available on the Fender Pedal Steel Guitar Fans Page.

I'm sure a search of this forum will turn up many different discussions on these fine steel guitars. They have a sound like no other, in my opinion.

Here are some discussions to get you started:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=194312
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=194365
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=184869
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=181996
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=177557

Have fun!

[basilh]

Whereabouts in the UK are you Peter, just so that I know..
I have a couple of students that also play Fender pedal guitars. Joerg Schubert from the "Americana" band "The Free Bears"
http://www.freebears.net/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO3ILdSFEgY

More of Joerg here:-
http://www.youtube.com/user/jschubert2

http://www.myspace.com/video/freebears/ ... /106569433

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOOvC7MyA_8

[basilh]

Peter you asked "Anyone play the Fender 1000?"

Hello Folks, I guess what I want is to hear some samples of music played on this machine so I can be aware of its capabilities. I am 60 and will be happy to learn how to accompany country songs with a smattering of fills and turn arounds. That sort of thing. I will be very grateful for any help. Peter Darling. Live in the UK.

Good, methinks we/I've fulfilled the initial request.
What else Peter ?

[Peter Darling]

Hi Basil, Thanks very much for your help and the offer of some tuition. I like the Hawaiian style of playing and enjoyed listening to your samples. I'll have to read up on how to do Skype. Will I be able to record any of the lessons so I can go back to it and how much do you charge please? This computer age is mind boggling. How exciting!...I'll get back to you.Kind Regards Peter.

[Peter Darling]

Hi Basil its Peter again. Sorry I forgot to add that I live in Andover, Hampshire.

[basilh]

Hi Peter, what I do Is video the lesson as well.. edit it and send it as a DVD, so the pupil has a constant reference to the development.
It is quite a successful procedure but I only have a few pupils because of time constraints, nevertheless I would take you on primarily because you're "Virgin" territory and you have a Fender 1000 which is what I'm a specialist with.

I'll E-Mail you, or if you 'phone me I'll call you straight back (Minimising the cost to you)
the numbers are in my prior post in this thread.
Any time any day.

The way I did this is similar to what I do but I include the two way dialogue in the recording..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ceno6hM1IA
This example is NOT meant as instruction per se, but just pointing out general mistakes commonly made with this tune.
My student/friend from Germany Joerg Schubert with his pristine Mk2 Lake Placid Blue Fender 1000 (Original Factory finish) He was over last month for his annual "hands on" refresher..

The wife had my Fender 1000 downstairs practising and I was using HER Fender 400..(She's the Boss)

Joerg:- "Hawaiian" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54bIHm7XOxE
Again:- "Steel Guitar Rag" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO3ILdSFEgY

[Tim Whitlock]

My main guitar is a 1958 Fender 1000. The guitar was not designed for E9 and I have tuned down to D9 due to string breakage. I use a standard set of E9 strings. I string my guitar with strings 1 and 3 - 9. No knee levers - I lower the Es (Ds for me) with my right foot on pedal #8. My other neck is tuned to C6.

[Richard Sinkler]

That blue Fender is GEORGEOUS

[Peter Darling]

Thank you for your input Tim. I have now met up with Basil Henriques who is going to take me on for tuition. ( God help Basil)...His copedants have been sent to me now and I will restring my steel so its the same as his. He plays vastly differantly to the country tunings using most of the pedals to arrive at different keys much in the way the fender 1000 was designed to be played. I cannot disclose anymore as I will be treading on Basil's territory to which I have no right. Many thanks though for your help. I cannot believe that in just one week over 600 people have clicked onto my request for help for the Fender1000. Maybe I have started a movement!
Kind regards
Peter

My main guitar is a 1958 Fender 1000. The guitar was not designed for E9 and I have tuned down to D9 due to string breakage. I use a standard set of E9 strings. I string my guitar with strings 1 and 3 - 9. No knee levers - I lower the Es (Ds for me) with my right foot on pedal #8. My other neck is tuned to C6.

[Peter Darling]

You are right Richard, his blue Fender IS absolutely magnificent. Was reading some talk about black steels sound better than other colours. Oh dear!! better not start on that topic.
Kind regards
Peter

That blue Fender is GEORGEOUS