The Steel Guitar Forum

As of yesterday, I now own a pedal steel. (Note that I didn't say I'm a pedal steel player).
I bought a used Zumsteel ten string 3p/4kl through Blue Note Music in Berkeley, CA, and took it to my regular Thursday night gig with my band Go Van Gogh.
It was an interesting night. I normally play a National Dynamic lap steel tuned to open D. Here I am with four extra strings, all these pedals and knee levers, and a tuning a whole step higher, trying to play songs I know well. Parts of it didn't suck but what amazed me was that the parts that didn't suck sounded pretty darned good.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Boy! That took guts to bandstand it immediately. I don't think many experienced PSG players would gig a new one right out of the box.

Congratulations on your new PEDAL steel. You're going to have a ball with that.

That one, being from Berkeley, might be tilted to the left side a bit. An adjustment to the legs should fix it right up.

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HagFan

It's actually a nice store on Telegraph Avenue just before you get to the loony bin part of the street. The steel was there for a while on consignment...I don't think anybody in the store knew much about it. The guy who helped me was pretty amazed when I went to take it apart; his quote was, "Oh, so THAT's how you do it!"

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Congratulations Brad.

We all knew it was only a matter of time before you took the plunge.

The pedal steel and backgammon have something in common. Easy to get started but a lifetime to figure out.

Congratulations on taking the plunge. It's a wonderful obsession.

Emmons s-10, Dekley S-10, Nashville 400

Congratulations Brad. That's pretty rough taking it out the day you got it. I can sympathize with you. But the next time will be easier.....al



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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

moved from No Peddlers.....

Hey Brad..congrats. You should get some sorta medal or something..

When I play at my gigs I'm still waiting for the parts that don't suck !

tp

Caved in, eh!!!! At least you didn't totally "Suck"! I know a few players for whom that cannot be said (no names -- no way!).
I was a little saddened that you went all the way to E9th: you could have had pedals, etc. with a nice C6th or even a Bb6th, or better still Herb R's pedal A6th which has alot of possibilities.
I hope you enjoy those first two strings!
I really mean it! Congrats, and have fun!

<font size=1>Just Jokin'</font>

Way to Go Brad! I hope you didn't have anything else planned for next few years... Ray's comment about Backgammon is appropo in another way- doubling- as in "I'm gonna need twice as many necks", twice as many knees, twice as much gear to haul, twice as much practice time, twice as many new cds... Have Fun!

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C'mon by and visit!- www.markvanallen.com
My Bands: Sugarland Kate and the Retreads Kecia Garland Band Shane Bridges Band Dell Conner Blues Band

Thanks for the good wishes and advice, everyone. And special thanks to Rick for the portrait of Benedict Arnold!

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Say it isn't so! Sob!

Good luck with your new steel, Brad. You'll make some good sounds with it.

Brad, best of luck with your new guitar. The Zum sounds cool.

I'll be your replacement...for the first time in about 20 years I'll be pedal-less. I got the non-pedal bug about a year ago and can't seem to get enough. My new faux-deluxe is almost ready for the finish coat and I'm excited.

Tom Jordan