Duke Ching , great Hawaiian steeler from So Cal

Chuck Christensen · Post by **Chuck Christensen** » 8 Oct 2011 6:49 pm

Mike,I have to agree,he just played the HSGA CONVENTION in Joliet, Illinois where I heard him. Chuck

Byron Towle · Post by **Byron Towle** » 11 Oct 2011 9:45 am

I saw Duke Ching Friday at the Joliet convention.
He did a wonderful set with his triple neck Fender
which was tuned E13, C13 and B11. One song made use of all three necks.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 11 Oct 2011 10:02 am

Admittedly, I don't know a lot about Hawaiian music, but I've never heard anybody play it as well as Duke. He can do more without pedals than most of us can with them.

I thought the picture of the triple and quad together was interesting, and I wonder how Duke can lean across the back 6 necks to reach the one in front. But if anybody can make full use of that many necks and tunings, he can.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 12 Oct 2011 1:06 pm

Byron Towie observed that "Duke" made use of all three necks on one song. I played a non-pedal 3-necked Steel for about fifteen years before going to Pedal Steel. I have always advocated that non-pedal Steel Players leave all the necks on and move between necks for the best chords, phrases, and runs within a particular song. Treat your Guitar not as two or three Guitars connected together, but as one Guitar utilizing all necks as needed for broader sounds. Even after going to a D10-12 pedal Steel I would still many times use both necks on the same song.