The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi Everybody,

I wanted to see if you had any thoughts on how Lloyd Maines achieved his tone on this album. Here's a clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLXMar1UVH0

Go to 1:19

If I had to guess it's seems like he's going through the board instead of an amp with a little bit of compression. Anybody, know for sure or know what Lloyd was doing back then?

Thanks! Jeff

Jeff, I hear touches of delay, reverb and chorus, excellent EQing for the song mix. I love a bit of chorus, not everyone does. Hope all's going well with your excellent online video lessons!

I'm asking him right now...I'll let ya know what he says.
Ricky

This just in from LLoyd Maines:

Wow, this brings back good memories. I produced this record, Bloomed, about 35 years ago. Richard Buckner was and is a massive artist.
This was his first record. He came to Lubbock and recorded vocal and guitar, and then he flew back to San Fransisco and I finished it. He didn't want Bass or Drums on it, so I played every on it except fiddle, accordion and harmonica. It turned out to be an epic record all over the world. I think people like the sparseness of it.
I was playing a Super Pro with stock pickups through a Peavey Session 400. I think no delay, mixed with a big plate reverb that the studio had.
That's it.
Lloyd

I like that album a lot. Subsequent recordings had Eric Heywood. "Since" is a fantastic album.

Thanks John for the compliment!

Also Mike, I like a lot Heywood's stuff on Buckner's subsequent albums. Since was rad. But, I guess I liked Bloomed the best because it still kept a country vibe, and the songs were still kind of narrative based with like an arc. Where sd the next Buckner albums got pretty dark and the songs were hard to see as straight ahead songs anymore. Anyway, what's your favorite Heywood record?

I love this album. Thanks for reminding me about it, it's been a while since I've played it

Jeff Rady wrote: Anyway, what's your favorite Heywood record?

Richard Buckner Live At Shubas Tavern. Just Richard and Eric duo. It was a promo. Hard to find.

I'm a big fan of Heywood's playing on the earlier Joe Henry stuff!

Thanks Jeff for the link and the others for the comments on this!

Craig Stock wrote:I'm a big fan of Heywood's playing on the earlier Joe Henry stuff!

Me, too, Craig. Trampoline is great. I love Joe! Fuse and Scar are essential records to me.

Gauzy Dress in the Sun is the perfect stripped-down pairing of vocal, guitar, and pedal steel. Absolutely magnificent. That whole album is excellent, but that is the standout cut to me.

Bucker's records with Eric Heywood are also excellent. I first saw Eric with Joe Henry, I think around 1993, plus or minus, in a small restaurant/bar in State College PA, opening for Uncle Tupelo. I thought it was a Sho Bud, but apparently was a Williams, through a Vox AC-50. Pretty unusual at the time for pedal steel. I wasn't playing steel at that point, but it made an impression on me. And I drag out my old AC-50 every once in a while when the situation calls for that kind of sound. But I'm gonna have to wait until Monday's hernia surgery heals before I do that again, LOL.

I remember seeing the AC/50 for the first time on Austin City Limits, and thinking, "What the heck?", this is awesome! It kind of rocks, but not exactly! Than I tried to copy it for 5 years.

I think that I live close to Richard Buckner?

Yes, That's the same guy who lives close by... good guy for sure.

Stu Schulman wrote:Yes, That's the same guy who lives close by... good guy for sure.

I sent his management an email back around 2002, saying that I wanted to play pedal steel for him and would do a few gigs for free.

Never heard back. Lol.

In fact a couple of years ago Richard came with me too the P.S.G.A show in Norwalk Connecticut.
Small world.

Stu,

Can you ask Richard for a couple of copies of Live at Shuba's for Mike and I? He's a cool dude, have you ever checked out his short stories? Pretty weird and funny.

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff,When Richard gets back to me I will definitely ask him for records to send to you,and Mike.

Stills waiting to hear back from Richard, now I'm starting to worry?

That's very cool. Thanks Stu!

Looks like he's playing near Boston coming up....

@Stu Ask Richard why Steve Earle has a problem with him!

I just received an email from Richard Buckner, He's been having email trouble so We're back on track,Jeff he said that he will check in his attic for copies of Live at Shuba's,His Boston gig was cancelled due to some vax thing but as soon as something shakes I'll be in touch.

Wow! That's some follow through! Thanks so much for checking!