The Steel Guitar Forum

I play golf and I play steel guitar. Not real good at either one, but one thing they have in common: new gadgets. In golf its always a better club, a better ball, a great putter and if you buy it, your game will improve immensely. Doesn't happen! In the steel guitar world, it's a new amp, a new volume pedal, a better set of strings, or tone bar. Even a new model guitar. But, my playing is still the same. Consider the old equipment that Buddy used and he sounded amazing. Jimmy Day uses antique equipment by our standards and listen to his play. I think I made my point. It's you more than the stuff.

To a degree Jim I agree but have had to think lately that stuff is a real thing too. I have had quite a few guitars over time and I would not now trade these two I have for any of the old ones I've played. They look good to me and play very smoothly and precisely. Now Amps. I have had quite a few amps too. Until I recently bought a Quilter 202, wow just sounds so right to me. Heck maybe its just the fact I'm spending a lot of time practicing in my Music room because of Covid!

I believe good equipment makes it easier to use. As a auto technician I bought top quality tools after my earnings improved and it made a difference. I agree with Terry on my current rigs. But as you know, we are tone junkies and can't resist that special something to enhance our playing edge that extra little bit. That said, I have a house full of gadgets that really were no better than what I already owned.

After it’s all said and done...Ain’t it fun to order something new in anticipation of what it might do to enhance our playing...whatever it is. Approaching 50 years of steel guitar and several other instruments, I’m now able to afford what I want as long as it’s under a million! 😉. When you’re young and raising a family on one income well, it’s not an option. After this past year, it has been another way of escaping to “Our” little corner of the world called Steel Guitar/Music...Now, let me go check my email to see if my new Strymon Flint is going to be here by Friday! 👍

Carl wrote:Now, let me go check my email to see if my new Strymon Flint is going to be here by Friday!

No snake oil there IMO, that's one purchase I made that absolutely improved the sound of my 6-string guitar rig, ... You won't regret it.

Jim,

You and I must lead parallel lives!!. Same with me; golf and steel guitar. Did play tennis for awhile however.

I remember years ago watching Wimbledon and there was a doubles match being shown. Arthur Ashe was in the booth along with Vic Braden (commentator and teacher). Ashe was a big fan of metal rackets and they were just coming to vogue. He made a comment that three out of the four on the court were using them.

Braden's comment was "Doesn't matter; all rackets are built beyond the player's level of ability.

That sure applies to us!!!

Have a great day

Bill,
Trust me, I’ve had both Snake Oil and Col Parker’s Elixer (Andy Griffith Show 😉) and Strymon Gadgets are working for me right this minute anyway...have the El Cap right now and did have the Blue Sky...trying to stay on Jim’s original topic here...Carl
P.S. Mark...Tennis also one of my ways to stay active and have golf clubs for Cow Pasture pool but haven’t allowed myself to get “hooked” ...Pun intended...CW

Carl, What's a Strymon Flint? Maybe I need to check it out?

It's a combination Tremolo and Reverb stomp box.
Erv

Thanks Erv...
Jim I hack on a Fender Duo Sonic guitar and can use the Flint Tremolo with it if/when...will use the Flint Reverb side with a touch of El Cap Delay and I’ll be set for a little while...I hope anyway...ha

I don't blame anybody for doing what they can to make a living. In the current climate, this has become even more challenging.

But, if and when I peruse the 'New Products' section, I'm often reminded of Hans Christian Anderson's story about 'The King's Magic Clothes'. I'm not being superior here - I've fallen for such ploys a time or two myself in the last 60-odd years.

Roger Rettig wrote:I've fallen for such ploys a time or two myself in the last 60-odd years.

Dang, Roger. Are you saying all the past 60 years have all been odd? Not one normal year in there...somewhere?

Since you ask? Not really.

Only 1/2 of those years are odd.
The others are even.
Erv

More Mel Bay and less eBay.

The "Paul Franklin Method" is the best new gadget I have discovered in a long time hehe ... despite 43 years in the seat !!!

Hey Jim - Yes they did sometimes use "old" equipment, but it was good old equipment. Those guys could make a rock sing.