The Steel Guitar Forum

As a new member but an old reader of this forum I'm facinated by the discussion on what to call what we are playing. I came to bottleneck (slide guitar here in the UK) 5 years ago after I had managed to remove three fingers in an industrial accident in 1994, left with thumb and first finger it was the only way I could still play 6 string. I came to lap steel after chatting to Bob Brozman about 3 years ago and my wife then bought me an ABM after overhearing our conversation. I have to use a glass slide on my thumb as I cannot physically hold a bar and mute behind the slide/bar/bottleneck (which is what it is, a Dunlop Pyrex). Bearing all this in mind I still can't believe you can have so much fun with a plank of wood, I don't particularly care what it's called, it's FUN! It's just a shame that no-one wants to hear slide or lap steel in Salisbury, UK.

On another tack, I'm sorry to hear about Andy's and Bill's recent accidents, if they would like to talk to someone who has experience of severe hand injury, I'd be more than happy to chat to you, PM or email me if it would help.
Chris

Well Chris, Maybe it's up to you to introduce 'em to slide and lap steel around Salisbury. Here in New Jersey/USA, there aren't that many either, at least compared to other parts of the states. Until I found out about this forum, it was next to impossible to get advice or answers to questions, so I had to figure most things out for myself, and spent alot of time re-inventing the wheel. So, if you ever get over here to the colonies, drop us a line! We'll try to point you in a good direction. There is a Rodeo here in N.Jersey.

Bud,
I didnt know there was a rodeo in N. Jersey. We also have one in S. Jersey in Woodstown every weekend in the summer.
Bill

That's the one I'm talking about. Woodstown. There used to be a place in Trenton called the Red Carpet Lounge. It was a real dump. I played there a few times in the 70's. Faron Young played there among others. And of course, the Whitehorse Bowling Academy, now long gone. >>
http://www.johnny-cash-infocenter.com/c ... 1964-05-29

Chris Wynn wrote:I came to bottleneck (slide guitar here in the UK) 5 years ago after I had managed to remove three fingers in an industrial accident in 1994, then bought me an ABM.

It's just a shame that no-one wants to hear slide or lap steel in Salisbury, UK.

On another tack, I'm sorry to hear about Andy's and Bill's recent accidents.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, Chris. For inspiration, you may look into how Billy Hew Len overcame a similar severity to become a Hall Of Fame steeler.
What is an ABM?
Nice to hear you call slide guitar in it's proper context, words do still mean something!

I must have missed some bad news re Andy and Bill, what exactly happened to these guys?

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, Chris. For inspiration, you may look into how Billy Hew Len overcame a similar severity to become a Hall Of Fame steeler.

As Ron has indicated, the Billy Hew Len story is very inspirational.

http://www.pedalpro.co.uk/folderIndex/f ... Len01.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IrSq1rOoL4

Thanks for your replies chaps, I was aware of Billy Hew Len from Andy Volk's excellent 'Lap Steel Guitar' book, such an insperation that makes my minor problems seem quite trivial in comparison. I've also been corresponding with Tom Doughty and feel humbled by his playing. Point is that I see this as a blessing, so much good has happened to me since the accident that it was obviously meant to be and I certainly don't feel disadvantaged in life, I found slide and steel after all!

The ABM I mentioned in my first post is a 6 string lap steel that came from a German music supplier called Thomann, it's fitted with a Strat sized Shadow humbucker and just screams, goes nice and mellow too as it has a very effective tone control. It's certainly above the 'cheap' Artisans that we get over here for about £70, at £180 it fits into the good semi-pro bracket but makes an exellent starter for me being well built.

I will now hear the crys of derission when I tell you that I don't use finger or thumb picks, just can't get on with them and I prefer the more 'organic' feel of actually touching the string, so, here I am, writing on the Steel Forum, when the only steel that I use are the strings. I'll bet that gets a comment or two.

I am spreading 'the word' here in Wiltshire, but if you play slide or steel here it makes you marginally less popular than a dentist

My comments about Andy andy and Bill were prompted by posts I read here last week, my appologies if I got that completely wrong but I didn't think I had. <http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=223280? & http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=221728.

My offer still stands to anyone who finds themselves digitally challenged, I can only count up to 8 1/2 now but I like 'em and I'm going to keep 'em!

Cheers,

Chris.

Thanks for your replies chaps, I was aware of Billy Hew Len from Andy Volk's excellent 'Lap Steel Guitar' book, such an insperation that makes my minor problems seem quite trivial in comparison. I've also been corrisponding with Tom Doughty and feel humbled by his playing. Point is that I see this as a blessing, so much good has happened to me since the accident that it was obviously meant to be and I certainly don't feel disadvantaged in life, I found slide and steel after all!

The ABM I mentioned in my first post is a 6 string lap steel that came from a German music supplier called Thomann, it's fitted with a Strat sized Shadow humbucker and just screams, goes nice and mellow too as it has a very effective tone control. It's certainly above the 'cheap' Artisans that we get over here for about £70, at £180 it fits into the good semi-pro bracket but makes an exellent starter for me being well built.

I will now hear the crys of derission when I tell you that I don't use finger or thumb picks, just can't get on with them and I prefer the more 'organic' feel of actually touching the string, so, here I am, writing on the Steel Forum, when the only steel that I use are the strings. I'll bet that gets a comment or two.

I am spreading 'the word' here in Wiltshire, but if you play slide or steel here it makes you marginally less popular than a dentist

My comments about Andy andy and Bill were prompted by posts I read here last week, my appologies if I got that completely wrong but I didn't think I had. <http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=223280? & http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=221728.

My offer still stands to anyone who finds themselves digitally challenged, I can only count up to 8 1/2 now but I like 'em and I'm going to keep 'em!

Cheers,

Chris.

Hi Chris,
I have the eight string version of the Harley Benton, does anyone know why some are ABM and others, like mine are EBM? Steve

Stephen Baker wrote:Hi Chris,
I have the eight string version of the Harley Benton, does anyone know why some are ABM and others, like mine are EBM? Steve

Guessing, 6 string = AverageBM, 8 string = ExtraBM

A bit higgledy piggledy but I don’t know how to resize images and I don’t have a teenager to hand

With you there Steve. Either way, they sound and play well; mine has the Harley Benton badge too. I have nothing against HB, I have an HB branded National O copy fitted with a National cone and a Fishman Doughnut pick-up, great acoustic sound for slide but the jury's out on the doughnut, I use a Fishman Pro 2 pre-amp too.
Chris.

I keep mine in the living room as without plugging in it’s loud enough for me to hear but quiet enough that my wife doesn’t throw something at me when she’s trying to watch Corrie.
I remember seeing on a Hank Wangford TV show back in the 80’s a bluegrass fiddle player with four stumps where his fingers used to be. He was a guitarist ‘till he lost them in a mining accident. He figured “fiddle got no frets, I got no fingers”
I’m going to open another thread on the EBM/ABM question, maybe some of the European lads know. Steve

Here's a previous discussion of the Harley Benton EBM lap steel.

Thanks Brad, I’d already looked at that but it didn’t answer the question other than suggest it was a moss prant

Thanks for the kind words. My pins are out and they have me squeezing all kinds of putty & sponges as well as doing a series of excruciating hand exercises. It was a pretty serious injury but I'm pretty lucky as injuries go. I'm pretty sure I can come back 100% or close to it for steel and I'll do my best on standard though right now, the basic chords and scales are a challenging to even finger.

Bill has a much harder row to hoe but I'm sure rooting for him. Chris, I'm glad you found a way to continue to make music. Billy Hew Len's ability and heart helped him overcome the impossible. And let's not forget Django .... all his single note playing was done with 2 fingers. For my money, he's still mostly unmatched.

Andy Volk wrote:.... squeezing all kinds of putty & sponges as well as doing a series of excruciating hand exercises. ....I'm pretty sure I can come back 100% or close to it for steel and I'll do my best on standard though right now, the basic chords and scales are a challenging to even finger.

Bill has a much harder row to hoe but I'm sure rooting for him. And let's not forget Django .... all his single note playing was done with 2 fingers. For my money, he's still mostly unmatched.

Hi Andy,
I can relate to squeezing stuff that you mention, they had me making rock cakes in Rehab. I really feel for Bill too but I can only offer a quote from a famous man. After my accident, my Marshall amp dealer wrote to the company, Jim Marshall himself wrote back to me and his letter reduced me to tears with his concern and understanding; a few weeks later I met Jim at the factory where I found that he too had suffered a hand injury at 19, almost severing his hand across the palm, (he still has the scar). He later became a world famous drum tutor let alone running his amp business. His words to me were,"you can do anything you want if you want to do it hard enough", no sentimentality, just the truth. After that, my stumps were healed in 6 weeks and the hospital is still amazed, I later offered councilling to others with those same words. I don't say it will be easy but you are already playing the finest instrument known to man, slants? Well you could always take my route and wear a slide/bottleneck/whatever on your thumb. Isn't it great that you still have something musical to say!
Thinking of you & Bill.
Chris.
PS your Lap Steel book has become my musical 'bible'.Thanks.

Chris Wynn wrote:...... but I can only offer a quote from a famous man. After my accident, my Marshall amp dealer wrote to the company, Jim Marshall himself wrote back to me and his letter reduced me to tears with his concern and understanding; a few weeks later I met Jim at the factory where I found that he too had suffered a hand injury at 19, almost severing his hand across the palm, (he still has the scar). He later became a world famous drum tutor let alone running his amp business. His words to me were,"you can do anything you want if you want to do it hard enough", no sentimentality, just the truth......

Little did I know when I wrote this this morning that Jim had just passed away, I know his amps aren't that popular for steel but his contibution to popular music is emmense. RIP Jim Marshall.

Chris, what a story - not to mention the ironic coda. Jim Marshall contributed so much to music over the last 40 years. Thanks for your kind words about my book. I tend to look at it and see everything I wish I'd done better but I'm sincerely touched that so many people have told me they've enjoyed it or gotten useful info. I'm gonna pass your comment on the Bill.