The Steel Guitar Forum

I want to be seen. I want a way to be level with a drum riser. Years ago I remember JD Maness using a bar stool for a seat and his steel on a small riser with a cut out at the Palomino Club in N. Hollywood, CA. But that was a house gig. The bigger acts now put the steel on risers (Usually at the back) so they are head height with the other musicians and the drummer( ). Keyboardists can stand now. What about me? I use a Roc n Soc throne which will raise up 8"-10" above normal. My steel legs will extend so I really only need to support my feet for the volume and pedals. Without giving me another heavy large thing to haul around, does any body have any ideas?

I would have thought that pedal steel players were mostly hidden away at the back anyway, and that being short would be no advantage. But, I guess if it's a problem then recruit a group who are all the same height as you, or less, and then no-one will stand out.

Well that's where they all seem to be these days. Maybe I can get a gig with The Munchkins, The Lollypop Guild or Mini KISS. Keyboard players get to stand up. I do when I play the Powerslide. Just tired of folks saying they cant see me, "was that you singing?" etc. Always wondered why Robert Randolph doesn't move up to a higher elevation. He can have folks do it for him.

I'm real little. 5'5", maybe?

I kinda like the stool thing for the lap guitar, if you're not using a volume pedal.

I don't like being so high that I can't get my feet on the ground though. Makes me feel defense-less. I kinda feel that way trapped behind the pedal, though...

That's where the bar comes in handy.

I used to go see Carlos Claveria (Carco Clave) when he played in San Jose. He had a riser that his guitar sat on and he sat on a tall bar stool behind it. He told me (maybe jokingly) that he did it so people in the bar couldn't come up and talk to him during songs (something we all hate, right?). I believe he also said he mounted a speaker in the riser pointing up at the bottom of his guitar, I think he said to improve sustain. Hopefully he might get wind of this post and elaborate.

Steve.. you're not short, just "vertically challenged"!

You can make a Steel riser out of a 4'x4' piece of plywood, laid on top of 4 milk-crates, covered with a black table cloth.

Pete... I know a drummer who tried something similar to that. Another band member moving his amp on stage and into place, hit his amp against the plywood, causing it to shift and knocked some of the cymbals and drums over. I would make sure the plywood didn't hang over the crates. His plywood top was 2 pieces hinged together and some wood stands to go under it. The top hung over about 10" all around. I think he actually bought this from a music store as a complete unit. Needless to say, he stopped using it.

Just so we're clear, I'm 6'. But playing steel puts me in the Mickey Rooney category.

I don't think Little Jimmie Dickens was ever made fun of because of his height, in fact he capitalized on it. Maybe the answer is a matter of location on stage. Get the rest of the group to realise your worth and position you up front.

Alan Brookes wrote:I would have thought that pedal steel players were mostly hidden away at the back anyway, and that being short would be no advantage.

Alan Brookes wrote:Maybe the answer is a matter of location on stage. Get the rest of the group to realise your worth and position you up front.

I'm not sure it has anything to do with my worth, but in most of my steel gigs, the band/singer wants the steel up front.

I usually am downstage and I'm wanted there unless there's a really small or weird shaped stage. Of course, rack, two amps and the cheese slicer and it looks like Rick Wakeman is taking over sometimes. That's why I'm looking into portable ideas that keep the riser footprint to the size of the steel.

Steve, it seems to me that Marian Hall had a long-legged PSG that she could play standing up or sitting on a bar stool. A web search might turn up some pictures or you can see her in Andy Volk's book Lap Steel Guitar. Maybe you could try something like that. HTH.

John Scanlon wrote:

Alan Brookes wrote:I would have thought that pedal steel players were mostly hidden away at the back anyway, and that being short would be no advantage.

Alan Brookes wrote:Maybe the answer is a matter of location on stage. Get the rest of the group to realise your worth and position you up front.

I'm not sure it has anything to do with my worth, but in most of my steel gigs, the band/singer wants the steel up front.

Me too. They don't understand that I just "ugly" up the stage.

Michael great pics of her on the Google Image search. With that set up knee levers are out of the question. I have a friend Joel Ferguson here in Vegas that stands up, tilts the steel forward and wraps his leg around the left leg to play some great non pedal slide. I can't do it because I'm to tall or my arms aren't long enough. He IS usually the shortest guy in his band. I was thinking of extending the legs and allowing the pedal bar to ride up and get something under it to play sitting down but taller. I'm thinking it will have to attach to the guitar and have leveling feet to not go dancing away or wobble if I can manufacture it out of light material. All this talk has me forming pictures in my head. Sure will post it if/when I come up with something. Thanks to all chiming in.

Why don't you just get a lift kit and put it on to make your guitar taller?

I substituted in a band last weekend where the band leader wanted the steel up front and just to the left of the singer at center stage. Lead guitar on the other side.

The steel was always up in the mix and I was told twice to "turn it up." So I did.

They expected a steel break in every song. Actually, they opened with Steel Guitar Rag. It doesn't get much better than that.

Marvin

IMHO, if you sit up straight, play confidently, tastefully, from your heart, anyone out there who's worth talking to will notice you, regardless of how handsome (or pretty) (or obnoxious) (or tall) the lead singer may be.

After spending most. Of my music career standing up for four hous at a time with an 8 pound guitar hanging from my neck.

I kinda like a soft seat to sit on even if no one can see me.

Course at 6 foot 300 pounds I am hard to miss.

Richard Sinkler wrote:Pete... I know a drummer who tried something similar to that. Another band member moving his amp on stage and into place, hit his amp against the plywood, causing it to shift and knocked some of the cymbals and drums over. I would make sure the plywood didn't hang over the crates. His plywood top was 2 pieces hinged together and some wood stands to go under it. The top hung over about 10" all around. I think he actually bought this from a music store as a complete unit. Needless to say, he stopped using it.

The issues you mention would never happen to a Steel player.
It's 4'x4' or smaller based on the footprint of your Steel and Seat. There is no overhang, and of course no cymbals.
A trip to Lowes (plywood cut to size), Target (milk crates), and Fabric Depot (black fabric cut to size), and your Steel platform is ready to gig with.
Do a "Google Images" search for "Podium Riser" if you want to see some other possible options (also check your local Used Office Furniture store), Like these:.

Didn't the drummer from motley crue have his drums and seat secured to a rotating and elevating platform that could even allow him to play upside down...first steel player that does that wins.