Pad - no Pad

Rodney Garrison · Post by **Rodney Garrison** » 4 May 2006 3:49 pm

How did the PAD evolve? Were players resting on the C-6 neck and liking it?
What do you think?

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 4 May 2006 4:21 pm

Rodney,

My understanding is that Lloyd Green is the one who originated the pad, when he came up with the idea for the single neck/double body steel guitar.

Lloyd had a Sho~Bud D10, and although he could play C6th, he found himself primarily playing only E9th, especially on sessions. To lighten the weight of the guitar, he had the back neck and all the associated hardware removed by the folks at Sho~Bud. I believe it was David Jackson who put the pad on as a replacement for where the back neck had been.

I'm not sure if Lloyd also preferred the double size frame instead of a single, due to more leg room/playing comfort, and added sustain, but being a large frame person myself, I know I prefer the double over the single for those reasons.

Rodney Garrison · Post by **Rodney Garrison** » 4 May 2006 4:39 pm

Lem, Makes since now that I read it. I've often wondered about it. Jeff Newman told me not to rest on the guitar but to play on top of it. He implied this would help my technique. Be that as it may, I've also learned to play whatever position is comfortable to me. But your input stands to reason. Thank you.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 4 May 2006 6:28 pm

I find that a lot of the time when I'm not playing, rather than put the bar down, I'll just relax my arms and let them flop. All three of my guitars are single neck 12 strings and all are on full double bodies. My Emmons and Sho-Bud are on D-12 frames and my Fessy is on a D-10 width frame.

I rarely touch the pad while playing but I like the comfort of having it there -- even better than playing a double neck -- never did like those strings digging in when I wore short sleeves. It's just comfortable having something there -- and it's just a matter of personal preference for a single neck player. I've known many who prefer a single width -- Reece, Joe Wright, Julian,several others.

Another reason for me to have the extra widthe on the body is that my setup requires at least one staggered knee lever. My Fessy has three. I did have a single width (or body and 1/4 or so -- very narrow back deck) Fessy that had 8 levers on it but it just didn't feel right to me so I had Jerry build me one with a full pad and I like that much better.

Once again, it's just personal preference.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 13 May 2006 3:00 am

Glenn Womack · Post by **Glenn Womack** » 13 May 2006 4:36 am

I can't speak from much experience, but a good friemd went to a single with a pad because the C6 neck was weaaring out all his long-sleeve shirt sleeves. Cuffs frayed, etc. I guess everyone has some kind of reaason for their preferences.

Glenn

Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 14 May 2006 7:20 pm

Rather than a pad, I think I would like to have a non pedal C6th. Without rods,levers, and pedals, it would still be fairly light. Yes I know it can be done on the E 9th neck,but I don't like the feel. Otherwise, I would just as soon have a true single neck on a single frame for a light guitar.