The Steel Guitar Forum

Dose loyd green use a pad like some of u do? Do u know what copeadent loyd uses on his pad. Notice in the picture his Sho Bud has a 3/4 inch step down.
[img]https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix ... 9089_1.jpg[/

As far as I know, yes.





And a much earlier pic:

Sho Bud sd10 perfect candidate for a nice thin pad some sd10s with level decks or very little step down not so good maybe a small short pad for picking hand.

Lloyd does use a pad, has been doing so for going on 45 years - I believe it's been since 1973!

Yes I know when he’s resting . Works well for your picking hand.

Sd10 with pad probably the most popular pedal steel design today. Didn't loyd come up with this Idea when they removed the back neck of his Sho Bud.

what the pad does; is it helps keep the arms(forearms) in a ergonomically correct position; so there is no tension on bent wrists...which will cut off proper circulation to the finger(blood and nerve wise).
So just the single-10 on a single body is where it becomes easy to drop the elbows down...and will hender the player eventually(I can think of 5 probs).
I learned all this(not from music..ha);but I was an Elite Gymnastics Coach; all through the 80's with a physical therapy certificate...yeeehaaa.
Ricky

I've never cared for the SD10 models, primarily due to weight and just didn't like the look. However, Green was genius in his concept because like you're saying, it forces you to be at a proper position and distance from the neck. There's also some distance between you and the pedals. I'm on a GFI Expo single neck, and its tough to sidle up to it and get in a good position to play accurately. I find myself readjusting myself as I play.

So how do the really good C6th players get by with out a pad? I guess you could add a pad two a double 10. Some of the best C6 players look very comfortable playing C6th

I'm not sure how the C6 players can look so comfortable, but there's something about how a doubleneck is set up that just seems to aide in ergonomics.

Curly Chalker solved the C6th problem by putting that neck up front.
Erv

It's simple; the really good C6 players know the right position to stay in(Pad or not)...that is why they are really good C6 players...ha....
The pad HELPS learn and keep that position; but if you don't have one, what ever neck or steel you are playing; PROPER position and technique is very important to learn and progress.
Ricky

Ricky is correct.
That is why a well designed steel seat is important.
That way, every time you sit down you are assuming the same position.
Erv

Johnie King wrote:Sho Bud sd10 perfect candidate for a nice thin pad some sd10s with level decks or very little step down not so good maybe a small short pad for picking hand.

This is a good point, IMHO. Lloyd's LDG and all Sho-Bud double-necks except the Super Pro have a 3/4-inch step down. The Super Pro and double-width bodies of all other makes, as far as I know, have a 1/4-inch step down.

That does make a significant difference in arm position, if you rest the arm(s) on the pad, or back neck. I find the 3/4-inch step down puts my right hand and wrist in a better playing position naturally. (Lloyd has said he rests his right arm on the pad while playing, but not the left. It makes sense not to drag the left arm on the pad when moving the bar.)

But regardless of step-down height, one reason I've never warmed to the C6th tuning is the positioning. I'm used to how far the arms are extended to play the front neck of a double-wide; I feel sort of cramped playing the back neck, but if I pushed back from the guitar I coudn't hit the knee levers and pedal angle would be wrong.

Well said Brint

Rick I’m just suggesting some might try a small pad too study picking hand An leave the rest of the deck without pad. Similar too the picture. The pad on this steel is detachable for packing in case.

OK I understand now; thanks for the pic and both explanations....cool idea man.
Ricky

Here u go Rick may looks odd but works very well for those who dislikes a pad. Brint has explained it much better than me in his post above .

Hey Johnie, how many times do you plan on changing the title of this topic?

I’m done Mark thanks. Here’s a bad pad set up notice the pad is as high as the strings. Needs taking off makes my bar hand hurt just looking at it. Luckley it’s Velcro holding it on an there’s no screw holes in deck.