Steel Guitar Promoting

Lyle Bradford · From: Gilbert WV USA (deceased)

Can we really expect the steel to survive when there are only a handfull of people playing one that does all the work. Take a lead guitar for instance there are a lot of them in the pro ranks. Different styles but all are pushing a common goal. If we don't branch out with steel in other venues of music can we really expect our beloved instrument to survive in the years to come.

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Has the Sitar survived?

Wayne Baker · From: Altus Oklahoma

Robert Randolph, Carter Starter, and GFI will be the thing that carries steel guitar into the future. You can't hardly expect some parent to go out and spend at least $2,500 on something little Johnny won't want to do after six months. I have the best money can buy, and my son won't come within' ten feet of the thing. (He does like Robert Randolph though) I got it in my blood early, and had to scrimp and work my "kee-hones" off to get the used Emmons S10 p/p back in 84' when I was just starting highschool.

Wayne Baker

Lyle Bradford · From: Gilbert WV USA (deceased)

I think the Carter Starter in MF is defintely a life line to the next generation.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I just wish they wouldn't put it on the b@j!0 page.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Hey Wayne! That's the difference, I believe.
You had to scrimp; I had to also; and Jerry Byrd likewise had to save pennies to pursue his dream of playing the steel guitar.
It's not the quality or cost of the steel that's going to make it fly..... it's that burning desire each of us encountered in our younger lives. We kept it burning, requiring lots of energy and personal sacrifice. Having it given to you........does not make one successful at anything.
I believe the steel guitar is going to survive this quiet time in spite of all of the negatives that have impacted its role.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

It will survive,but lets face it.. its not "sexy". Look at the way its used in most modern music. A little fill or phrase for a second or two here and there while the singer/fashion model smiles for the camera with his/her glowing white teeth and perfect body. Yes it will survive,, but will anybody out there know? ... or care??? bob

Walter Stettner · From: Vienna, Austria

Look at it from the view of somebody who has heard the Steel Guitar, likes the sound and wants some more information to get started:

It is expensive (even a starter is expensive compared to a cheap starter acoustic guitar), it is heavy, you need additional equipment (amp, bar, volume pedal), it is harder to find a teacher than for other instruments...How many will be discouraged from starting?

Compared to that it is relatively easy to buy a cheap guitar, learn a couple of chords to strum along and, if you don't want to pursue it further, give the guitar to a friend or simply leave it in the garage...

Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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Wayne Baker · From: Altus Oklahoma

Johan Jansen · From: Europe

Just believe in what you do and play your ass off.It's the only way.
JJ

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Click on the pic!

Franklin · Posted 1 Feb 2004 6:14 am

I remember that the cost of pedal steels in the early 60's was over $1000.00. Add 40 years of a shrinking dollar and I would guess steel guitars are quite a bit cheaper today than they ever were.

I don't see a problem. Anyone with true desire to learn the steel can find a used student model or lap steel for a few hundred dollars. That's the price of a Play Station and a few games....Paul

Walter Stettner · From: Vienna, Austria

Paul, you are right!

If somebody has the true desire to learn it, cost won't be a problem!

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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Todd Kapeghian · From: Vestal, New York, USA

I think Lyle made a great point, more steel players have to branch out into other types of music. The steel is so sterotyped that it's pretty much thought of as a "country intrument". Just got back from seeing Mike Stern(Jazz Fusion guitar player)in NYC. I gave him a copy of "Jazz by Jernigan". Talked to alot of (jazz)musicians down there that when I talked about playing steel guitar, told me what a great intrument they thought it was. So other musicians are aware of the intrument and it's potential. I think what Paul did with Dire Straits was great. We just need more players playing different kinds of music so hopefully it will reach more people.
Todd K. / Bethel D-10 9&9

Wayne Baker · From: Altus Oklahoma

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I submitted my thoughts for "PROMOTING" the steel guitar to NEW audiences in the form of a "Steel Guitar CLINIC".......not a jam, in another post somewhere hereabouts.
No one even noticed it or atleast no one even commented on the concept. Oh well.....
THat's why steel guitar is where it is, I believe. Too many pickers wrapped up in what they're doing and how great they are, as opposed to playing to the crowd.

Franklin · Posted 1 Feb 2004 9:05 am

Wayne,

I don't know anyone, who doesn't know someone with access to the internet or doesn't drive to a city every now and then.

Perhaps that is the case with some but most folks know someone who can help send them in the right direction. The local club player is and has always been a good starting point for all wannabe musicians.....Paul

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

I agree with Paul.

"where there is a will, there is a way".

The kids of today do not have the "will" to play a steel guitar; regardless of its cost, availiblity of teachers, etc.

The sound of the steel guitar in their "ears" falls into the same scenario as what my youngest daughter used to say,

"I don't like your kind of music because it sounds like dental music". Referring of course to a whole genre' of music that 10's of millions used to love. Once Elivs did his thing and it spread like a cancer, THIS is what the kids "will" to listen to and play today.

If by chance the steel guitar had become part and parcel of Elvis and the Beatles, etc, every kid on the block would aspire to play a PSG today; and the price of anything would NOT stop them from having it.

Sadly the steel guitar did NOT come along with the Elvis thing, and it is not going to happen in the future unless there is a radical change in music, and I don't see that ever happening.

I cannot possibly see the advantage of making a PSG sound like a distorted telecaster if one can stand up and play a distorted telecaster (with little preparation or training); in order to make it fit into distorted music deaf (yes they have long since lost their hearing) people scream to hear.

"For there is none so deaf as he who can not hear".

At best there is a smidgeon of steel players world wide, and 10's of millions of guitar players. Why?

They don't give them sapsuckers away. And I see bunches and bunches of super hi priced guitars, amps and affects all over them flashin lit stages and music stores; with screamin deaf kids all the time on TV.

Thank my precious Savior I can turn the TV off when they come on, turn my stereo on; and listen to some "dental music" that does not disturb neighbors a mile away

carl

Reece Anderson · From: Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.

Well stated Paul....the glass is always half full for many of us.

Ed Naylor · From: portsmouth.ohio usa, R.I.P.

There has been many versions of this question in the past. As I have stated the General Public has very limited knowledge about ANY kinds of Steel or Lap guitars. Try this next week- Every time you go thru a checkout line ask the clerk " Do you know what a Steel Guitar is"? I guarantee there will be very few that has any idea about Steels.Try it. Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works

Franklin · Posted 1 Feb 2004 12:19 pm

When folks are impressed by a sound, they will find out what instrument is creating that sound. And if that sound and the desire to recreate it gets in the listeners blood they'll probably take a shot at learning to play.

Has the knowledge of what a banjo is, helped it gain popularity?

Paul

[This message was edited by Franklin on 01 February 2004 at 01:09 PM.]

[This message was edited by Franklin on 01 February 2004 at 01:12 PM.]

[This message was edited by Franklin on 01 February 2004 at 01:59 PM.]

[This message was edited by Franklin on 01 February 2004 at 02:02 PM.]

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Mr.Naylor......I have a full color photo of a quad Bigsby on the front of a white sweatshirt; and a family photo of Ricks on the backside of the same shirt. I'm confident a lot of people look but few actually ask. The difference is, those that do ask, seem really intrigued and want more information almost at once.
If one is really interested in spreading the word to non-players, this is a good attention getter. It beats the car dealers ploy of hanging brightly colored balloons on all of the cars on their sales lot.
Several forumites have offered me big bucks for the daveno furniture on which the Ricks are resting for the photo.

Chuck McGill · From: An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.

Imagine you were going to learn the pedal
steel with no prior experience. First you
have a limited number of close people who
know anything at all about the instrument.
But granted you have the desire to proceed.
YOu find out that there are at least a dozen
different set-ups and tunings to choose from.
Still not discouraged you pick one only to find out the guy who recommended it really
liked it for his favorite lick.(that he uses
every other measure). So you re-group and choose a more popular set-up only to find out
that your favorite Paul Franklin lick on your
favorite Alan Jackson song ain't there. All this time your fighting with the mechanics of
a worn out changer and whollerd out pedal rod
connectors. Not to mention the color is all
wrong. Hopefully someone you come in contact
with says these wonderful words "The Steel Guitar Forum". Maybe now you start to play
with the ever flowing fountain of knowledge
on the subject of plectral pedaling.I really do understand why it's difficult to get started.

Whew. Sorry about the rant.

[This message was edited by Chuck McGill on 01 February 2004 at 03:08 PM.]

Ed Naylor · From: portsmouth.ohio usa, R.I.P.

Ray Montee- I have T-Shirts etc I wear at shows that one has a little Puppy I rescued playing a mini steel.And it says DOGONNIT I LOVE STEEL GUITARL. Another shirt has a Dog I rescued on the BARKER string label. The back is a rescued cat in the PURLINE string label. I get lots of comments that are positive. When I go to a school I wear these and the Kids love it.I am currently making mouse pads with the same pics that are gaining popularity. Ed

Henry Nagle · From: Santa Rosa, California

I've been very aware of the sound of the pedal steel guitar as long as I can remember but I never seriously considered buying one until my friend called and asked if I 'd like to buy one of his. Now I play obsessively (much to the detriment of my six string guitar skills). If I had seen pedal steels in music stores over the years I feel confident that I would have started years ago. I've been playing guitar and frequenting local music stores for 14 years and I've only seen one pedal steel guitar for sale in that time. A dusty carter starter that was totally out of tune. No one at the store knew how to tune it and I don't think they even stock a proper bar there. I'd be pretty reluctant to drop $600 dollars on an instrument that I can't even ascertain will work or sound good.
I don't know exactly why there aren't more pedal steels (in tune) in music stores but I feel quite confident that there would be a lot more players if the guitars were more common.
Honestly though, I think some people overlook the value of playing an uncommon instrument. I'm a much better guitarist than steeler but I get called to play steel a lot more often. If I learned to play banjo too, maybe I could make a living.

Lyle Bradford · From: Gilbert WV USA (deceased)

Paul I agree with you but you are one of the few who takes a steel to another level in which a younger more energetic audience listens to you. Not ones who are stuck on a certain country sound. But hear more what other levels the steel can be taken too. There are more that can of course but I would be safe in saying you are probably heard more than the most. Music changes and for an instrument to survive it has to have players that can adpat to what is selling at the given time.

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