How many Steelers are 6ft.5" or taller?

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 28 Dec 2004 7:44 am

Well Chris Brooks is pretty tall.
I had to practically jump up to reach his levers on the Ext E9

But if your 6'5", then you likely win the tallest steeler award,
a lifetime supply of forehead crash pads.
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 28 December 2004 at 01:40 PM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 28 Dec 2004 7:48 am

*[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 28 December 2004 at 01:39 PM.]

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 28 Dec 2004 8:49 am

My pal in Sacramento Billy Wilson looks down at pipsqueaks only making it to 6'5".

There's a photo somewheres in California of Billy and me (5'5") together, no doubt to the great amusement of whoever owns it!

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 28 December 2004 at 08:51 AM.]

John Parker · Post by **John Parker** » 28 Dec 2004 10:46 am

Myron,

I'm only 6'3". Had to have 1" extenders put on the front legs and pedal rods and still have to have the rear legs longer than the front legs to comfortably fit under my steel.
Doesn't give me any bigger sound though.

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John Parker
Zumsteel SD10 3x5
Peavey Session 400

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 28 Dec 2004 11:27 am

I think Weldon Myrick's around 6'5 or 6'6" tall. I'm 6'4 and have experienced the same as you on different guitars. Most of 'em I can't get my legs under. What's really bad is if you use a verticle knee lever then you have to raise up the guitar even further. Some guitar companies sell rod extenders I believe and from some you can order them with longer rods. I bought my psuedo Emmons (BMI) used and it was already up in the air so that was cool...JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Jim Hankins · Post by **Jim Hankins** » 28 Dec 2004 1:37 pm

Thats tall. I am 6`3, and blessed with short legs so I can fit under my Carter by slightly extending the back legs. I do have to put my volume pedal all the way outside to the right of the steel though. Jim

Sam White · Post by **Sam White** » 28 Dec 2004 1:45 pm

We have a Great Steel player in the Rhode Island Steel Guitar Assoc. that is about 6' 7" tall and his steel is about 4 to 6 inches taller than standard and that is the truth. His Name is Kerry Anderson.If any of the Steel Players that know Kerry tell me if I'm wrong.
Sam White

Mike Headrick · Post by **Mike Headrick** » 28 Dec 2004 1:56 pm

Jim,

I thought I was a freak until I read your reply. I play with my pedal outside the legs of the guitar, also. I'm 6'1", but have stork legs. I used to have to play standing using a neck strap and then jump up to reach the pedals.

Myron, isn't it great that no matter what our specifications for a personalized steel, there are master craftsmen who can make it all work?

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 28 Dec 2004 2:53 pm

I'm 6'5 on a good day, I've got 2" lift on my push-pull, so I can use a regular profile volume pedal.

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 28 Dec 2004 3:44 pm

As a 6 foot pipsqueak, I look up to you guys.

Ron Bryson · Post by **Ron Bryson** » 28 Dec 2004 7:22 pm

6'-4"
I play a D-10 Fessy at "normal" height.

Rob Parker · Post by **Rob Parker** » 28 Dec 2004 9:17 pm

At 6" 5 1/2", I extended the pedal rods, and the front legs ..Don't help my picking, but at least I can get under the ax....spacers are available for the legs,or make your own...Rod extenders are made for the pedal rods, or just buy or trade for a set of longer rods..Go to a welding supply house and you can buy some rods ,cut and bend them to the correct length and then thread them....works great....

RP...'come on in'

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 29 Dec 2004 6:56 am

Jim Smith is 6'3 or bigger and I remember sitting down at his steel (just sitting) and having to reach up looking like an old kilroy cartoon. I believe Wally Murphy is about 6'4".

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 29 Dec 2004 10:10 am

Going the other way, I can set behind Kenny Dail's steel and my knees are at the same height as the rear apron top on his P/P Emmons. Kenny had to have his rods shortened.....JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 2 Jan 2005 12:49 pm

I'm 6' 4-1/2", and need to put 2" extender kits on most steels I've owned. I only recently discovered them, thanks Bobbe Seymour, http://www.steelguitar.net/, look under "Liftkits". It sure helps, my legs are long. The only steel that I could ever play properly without the extenders is my Sierra S-10, on which the levers pivot in and out. I can sit further back and angle the levers way towards me, that way the knees never need to go under the steel. My arms are long enough to still get to the strings on an S-10 that way. The folks at Sierra really thought their design through. I was going to get extra long rods made for my other steels, but I think this is a better and cheaper solution. The front leg spacers are as essential as the extended rods. If you sell the steel, just take the liftkit off, put it back on your new steel.

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MSA Classic D-10 8+4, Sierra S-10 3+4, BMI S-10 3+4 plus assorted six-stringers;
Peavey LTD 400, Line6 Pod 2.0 + Ampeg BA 112, '64 Fender Deluxe Reverb, '69 Dual Showman Reverb + EVM Cabinet

Bill Bosler · Post by **Bill Bosler** » 2 Jan 2005 3:07 pm

6'-6". Pedal steels don't fit right, shirt sleeves aren't long enough and 13 EEEs are hard to find.

BobG · Post by **BobG** » 2 Jan 2005 3:18 pm

I had a dream I was over 6 feet tall once..
Does that count ?

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Bob Grado, Williams D10 (lefty), Peavey 1000,
Profex ll.

Mark Butcher · Post by **Mark Butcher** » 2 Jan 2005 3:32 pm

I'm only a tiddly five eight but a previous owner of my Sho Bud fitted three inch extenders. I leave them on the front legs so I don't need to slide out the inner leg. Be nice to look down on everybody but it must be hell on a plane!

Scott Henderson · Post by **Scott Henderson** » 4 Jan 2005 7:27 am

it never fails you go to see a band and they ask you to set in...(sigh) you're 6'4" and the steeler on the bandstand is 5'7" just don't happen unless its a lap
oh well guess God made us all diffeent so the steel market could flurish hehehehehe

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

Joe W. Gilbert · Post by **Joe W. Gilbert** » 4 Jan 2005 2:47 pm

I am 6' 6" if you measure horizontal, so that leaves out the lap steel.
Joe W

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 4 Jan 2005 4:22 pm

I too am 6'4". My D-10 guitars are all 2" taller than standard and the eight knee levers are custom placed. In order to sit at the proper height my seats are 1.5" taller than standard as well. Shoe size... 14E.

Scott, you are correct. It's always a nightmare sitting behind most folks, standard height guitars. But doing so landed me a decent road-gig some 30 yrs. ago. But I won't do it anymore.

Chris "Tiny" Olson

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 4 Jan 2005 5:04 pm

I am 6'03" and most of my guitars are set up 2" over standard-alot has to do with if your legs are long from your knee to your hip or your knee to your foot-if your legs are long from the knee to the foot (like me) you will have to "jack up" the guitar-I have a picture of me standing next to Weldon and he may be an inch taller than I but I noticed that his Emmons has the 1" over standard hex ends on his pedal rods-When we built the "P.A. Re-Issue" (Bigsby) for Billy Wilson (that Herbster now owns) I believe we made it a whopping 4" over standard height

Like Tiny O my seat (Steeler's Choice) is 1&1/2" over standard-for years I played above standard height steels while sitting a standard height seat-So my arms were slightly reaching up-now with the seat also raised my arms are comfortably more parallel to the guitar and what a difference it makes

[This message was edited by PAUL WARNIK on 04 January 2005 at 05:18 PM.]