Bobbe's News letter

James Sission · From: Sugar Land,Texas USA

Wow, Bobbe just put out a newsletter about the future of steel guitar. I was thinking about that today. I was asked to play lead guitar for a group of young guys who are really good and making a mark in 'Texas Country" or "Americana" or whatever it is they call it today. I was flattered and played the gig simply because I was honored to have been asked to do it. What came to mind was, they came over to my music room for a practice session with me before the gig this weekend. After we practiced, the drummer walks over to my GFI and stares at it in amazement. So I said, "is that a good looking axe or what?" His response was: "what is it?"...I am telling you, these guys are booking some BIG shows and are really hot musicians, and they dont know what a steel guitar is....I wonder, like Bobbe, what the future holds in store for pedal steel. I just started playing a few weeks ago myself, but I am also 45. I dont see any young steel players around it, and its almost scary to think a 20 year old drummer in a country band is not familiar with a steel guitar....Wow... I guess Pat Green and Cory Morrow have more influence than I thought over these young musicians...James

[This message was edited by James Sission on 01 August 2005 at 03:23 PM.]

[This message was edited by James Sission on 01 August 2005 at 04:13 PM.]

Jack Therrell · From: Conroe, Texas, USA

Yeah James, I have had a similiar experience.I was very surprised that the question was asked. Also disappointed. Bobbe seems to think the steel has a good future.He of course knows more about the steel and the steel business than I do. Frankly, from my perspective, I don't see the steel of the future as being very important. Oh there will always be a few like us who are captivated by the sound, but the instrument has so many limitations. but I think the greatest limitation of all is that not enough young people are interested in playing an instrument that is difficult to learn and then find you are doing something that most others have no interest in.

Nic du Toit · From: Milnerton, Cape, South Africa

Good thing you guys do not live in South Africa. This instrument is just about totally unknown in the whole country.
You actually do mention some of the very reasons why guys like us should keep on plucking away.

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Nic du Toit
1970 Rosewood P/P Emmons D10 Fatback 8x4
1980 Basket Weave P/P Emmons SD10 3x5
Peavey Session 500 unmodfied
My CD "Nightmare on Emmons Steel"
Click here to E-mail us.

James Sission · From: Sugar Land,Texas USA

Well, I certainly would think Bobbe knows who is buying steel guitars, but around here, most of the bands getting the good bookings are the Pat Green copycats with loud distorted guitars. Funny thing is, I have interviewed to play with 4 or 5 bands since the band I am in is not going to be playing locally anymore (He is moving it to Austin). I have spoke to 4 or 5 singers looking for guitar players, all of which have said,” man, if you can play steel, your phone should be ringing all the time." The steel players I know tell me the opposite, they say there isn’t enough work to go around. All I know is, I am going learn the steel if it kills me, because as long as I am alive and able to play, there is going to be some steel guitar in my music room. Nic, I am surprised that steel is so uncommon there. Your an awesome player, I assumed that being such a good player was an indicator of high levels of competition for work, but I guess its all dedication to the music on your part. You’re an excellent picker. I can say this, I wish just once I could walk into on of the "big time" venues here in Houston Texas and see a 20 something year old steel player. I certainly would feel better about the steel and its future here in the Texas music scene.....James

[This message was edited by James Sission on 02 August 2005 at 12:18 PM.]

George Redmon · From: Muskegon & Detroit Michigan.

we sure need more females playing steel as well...just a handful on the forum, and playing out...come'on ladies..start spreading the word to your daughters, and their friends..i have talked my daughter into trying the steel guitar..maybe some of her friends will catch on to....

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Whitney Single 12 8FL & 5 KN,keyless, dual changers Extended C6th, Webb Amp, Line6 PodXT, Goodrich Curly Chalker Volume Pedal, Match Bro, BJS Bar..I was keyless....when keyless wasn't cool....

Klaus Caprani · From: Copenhagen, Denmark

I often wondered why not more women has taken up playing this instrument.

It's not physically very demanding, and involves a lot of multitasking which girls, for some biological reason, are said to be way better at than guys.

It shouldn't be that hard to find a guy to carry the case around

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Klaus Caprani

MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

I suppose different areas of the country and different "musical circles" are exposed to varying influences- but I have found things to be just the opposite around here. Although I occasionally run into someone who doesn't recognize steel guitar, most of the kids in the music scene here are not only aware of it, they love it! Many of them wish they could play, and add me to shows/CDs when they can afford another member. The number of younger students I have has been picking up as well.
Think about it- if they didn't know about steel before, it's your time to be the ambassador! I generally find that young guitar players are absolutely fascinated when I show them that the basic no-pedals/ pedals-down positions are the same as for their two main barre chords... next thing I know I've got another student...

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

[This message was edited by Mark van Allen on 04 August 2005 at 01:51 AM.]

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

I'm sure the "premature death announcement" has been issued for the likes of the Tuba, xylophone, zither, and mouth harp, but they seem to be hangin' in there, and you don't see much of them on CMT either.

[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 03 August 2005 at 10:11 AM.]

James Sission · From: Sugar Land,Texas USA

Mark, I think your very much on target with the comment about demographics. Here in Texas, the young players have adopted the "Texas Country" attitude that basically shoves the middle finger at Nashville. I am quick to point out to them that the "founder" of this attitude (in recent times, not in the 60's or 70's) is selling himself to Nashville as we speak. All these guys want to pattern themselves after Pat Green, who basically is a sell out in my opinion, and try to avoid “the Nashville sound”. Funny how quickly he fell into the groove when it meant money in his pocket. He strongly advocated the "anti-Nashville" attitude for a pretty long time around. He had many followers of that attitude as well. I hear tons of bands around here that have that “Americana” sound to them. Kind of like Cory Morrow, a 3 minute song with no lead break at all. Last year I was playing at the World Championship BBQ cook-off here in Houston. I was in one of the 400 or so booths that have live bands playing (private parties). I walked around to probably 50 or 60 other booths to listen to the bands while we were on our breaks. Of those, I would say 60 per cent had a DJ or Karaoke machine instead of live music. Of the 20 or so live bands that were playing, mine was the only one with a steel player and only about 3 or 4 had fiddles playing in them. I still recall the times of “urban cowboy” days around this part of Texas when every band had a steel and fiddle and lead picker….James

[This message was edited by James Sission on 03 August 2005 at 02:04 PM.]

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Actually, I believe Cory is pretty good at letting his pickers play. If you can find it, get his live cd. It even comes with a DVD, so you can watch them play. But, you are correct. For the most part, the Texas Music that is being produced doesn't feature too much instrumental work, other than lots of distorted guitar.

Lee, from South Texas

Barry Blackwood · Posted 3 Aug 2005 4:31 pm

quote from Jack Therrell:
"Frankly, from my perspective, I don't see the steel of the future as being very important. Oh there will always be a few like us who are captivated by the sound, but the instrument has so many limitations. but I think the greatest limitation of all is that not enough young people are interested in playing an instrument that is difficult to learn and then find you are doing something that most others have no interest in."

At 62, I'm 'bout ready to hang it up for those very reasons. Tried hard but ultimately failed. Realized too late that nobody seemed to care, no matter how good a player you were, so what's the point?

James Sission · From: Sugar Land,Texas USA

Play it to make YOU happy, not someone else. I laugh when I see all these posts about tuning and cabinet drop and yadda yadda yadda....Geezz...Like Joe Wright said, its just a guitar, play the thing and enjoy it, if you make some money on the side, great. All the issues about "playing in tune" and "intonation" are really things for guitar players to jabber with other pickers about, basically, if you want to play bars and have a fun time, if you can play 1/2 ass, most likely no one will even notice if you missed a note or if you rocked the bar to mask missing the exact point on the fret board where you should have been....Just play for yourself and appreciate yourself, don’t worry about being appreciated by anyone except yourself....Keep on picking man and just enjoy the ride…..James

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I'm not going to disagree with anybody else's opinions or comments but I would like to throw my opinion into this topic. I believe steel guitar has a bright future ahead and many, many more things to come. I don't know what the future of PSG will bring but I tend to look at the stages of the past that included PSG. From the early beginnings of non-pedal players to the early pedal players of the 50's when the PSG started to take off. The rich tradition of PSG that Sho-Bud displayed with so many players playing there guitars and of course the Emmons guitars that came out in 64'(?) and with that add MSA and Fender and everything they added to PSG. I believe this started a tradition of steel players that will always be around. With this tradition I think PSG has been and will be passed on to the next generation. Matter of fact, I'm a second generation player. Take the number of steel guitar shows are being held annually that are promoting PSG and add the Steel Guitar Forum members to this and you'll probably have a good size following. Also PSG is like an addiction for a lot of people. Once they start learning they can't stop. I use the word unlimited when I describe PSG because there's no limit to what a person(s) can play on it. There's no limit as to what kind of music can be played on it. No limit can be placed on it because we as steel players have only just scratched the surface of what will be done on the PSG. PSG is relatively still new as compared to other instruments that have been around for hundreds of years. Thank goodness our steel guitar players of the past and present (can't name all of them w/o forgetting somebody) have layed a solid foundation for us to work off of so that we can continue to maintain and promote the greatest instrument on earth. PEDAL STEEL GUITARS. (Thanks and remember, this is only my opinion which usually doesn't amount to anything anyway).

James Sission · From: Sugar Land,Texas USA

Billy, I hope your right to be honest. I am learning steel because I miss it in the local bands and I think I can do my part to bring it back around here if I learn to play it well enough to a few songs with the band. I am sure demographics have great deal to do with it. It may just be a fad right now to play "Texas Country" and as its popularity decreases, and it will, I hope the steel comes back around in my area. I love to hear a pedal steel; I think they make the band complete. In fact, I am going out tonight to see Russ Rickman simply because I want to hear him play steel in a band. I drive all the way across the city of Houston to hear a band with a steel.....James

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Aren't Bobbe's newsletters just great? Always thought provoking, informative and interesting. We'll forgive him the occasional sales pitch as the content of his newsletters are relevant to all of us here. Keep 'em coming Bobbe - don't dry up yet please.

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

I can't help but think,what when we old timers are gone.there won't always be Bobbe and people promoting steels.then people most won;t even know what a steel is.Most the steelers i talk with are in 50sand up.
Sad but true. mabe one steel co. can build all, and not be booked to much either.
young people use to want to take steel guitar lessons,now they say wow thats cool and walk on out. farris

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

There is absolutely no limitations on the steel guitar[or any instrument]the same 12 notes of the chromatic scale is on all of them.The limitation is in the player. Barry sixtytwo is way to young to give up. I'm sixtysix and that has never crossed my mind.Just play for your self and do'nt worry about pleasing anyone else.I'm living prove you don't have to be a great picker to survive.I'm what you would call a half,assed picker,but I fool a lot of people.I will play in five or six states in the next few weeks.I'm always surprised at the compliments I get on my playing. I have people tell me ,I dont know what that thing is,but it sure sounds pretty.I've had it called a lap steel,slide guitar,steel pedal,and a keyboard,sometimes I tell them it's an electric table.It does'nt matter what they call it as long as they like it. I really think the steel guitar is an instrument a mediocre player can make sound good,if he or she concentrates on PLAYING IN TUNE!!! Most of us will never be able to play like Buddy,Bobbe,or Curly,so what,play the best you can and relish every second of it. So Barry dont give up,dont let anyone or anything discourage you.If you enjoy playing that guitar,then dont QUIT !!!!

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

As I've said many times before, I think most of the limitations are between the steel and the seat.

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

That's a good way to put it, Donny, and I'm gonna remember it every day.

With the thousands of years of experience on this forum, I, a fool, am trying to go about it as naively as possible. I've heard too many that are taking new adventures in steel to want to be left behind.
Yes, the roots are in country, but the future is in ?

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Hello Mike Perlowin,and Donnie Hinson.I agree with one hundred percent the steel guitar,or any instrument has no limitations,only the person playing it.In my post above to Barry I was by no means chastising him,I think he may be a little disgusted and discouraged.We don't want him to give up playing that steelguitar,now do we? that would be BAD!I have'nt heard a song played on the steel I did'nt like.I listen to Fird Bird Suite,Mooney's chicking picking,Joe Goldmark's Freeride, Doug's jazz, and Robert Randolph.I've seen a few negative comments about Robert here on the forum,I really hope they werent racial based ,I know Bob would not stand for that.If you dont like what he is doing that's fine,but remember he learned from the great black gospel steel players that were playing long before our contemporary heros were born. I support anyone that helps to get the [WORD]out about our instrument.In my travels I have had everybody from country pickers to punk rockers approach me and ask[Have you heard that Randolph guy? PS.Barry DONT'T GIVE UP.

Mark Metdker · From: North Central Texas, USA

Hey James. Our band is smack dab in the middle of the Texas music scene also. And I will agree that most of the people in Texas that do not know what a steel guitar is are Young folks and rock folks. And, it depends on where you are playing. Take Fort Worth for instance. If you are playing country venue in cowtown, you will see a LOT of steel guitar players. it is just expected. lots of traditional country. I can get a lot of gigs playing with cover bands over there.

We play a mixture of country and rock tunes, mostly originals and we intentionally keep the steel guitar prominent on stage. One of the main reasons is, not many Texas music artists and Americana artists are using them. When these audiences are subjected to it, they really like it.

I am 48 years old and unfortuntely, one of the younger players around. We need more young guys coming up.

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Zum U-12 w/True Tone pickup thru a Nashville 112

Strats thru a VHT Super 30

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Mark Eaton · Posted 11 Aug 2005 2:23 pm

I'm not worried about the future of the steel guitar. I hear folks say "there's not enough gigs to go around." I believe that applies to standard guitar, keyboards, drums, whatever. There are an awful lot of good players on different instruments and to get good gigs it's like being a salmon swimming upstream with lots of other salmon. I think that's where the problem lies.

Look at other members of the steel guitar family. Non-pedal and lap steel are experiencing a renaissance period in popularity. The dobro has never been more popular than it is these days, and some incredible instruments are being built by talented and imaginative luthiers.

I believe pedal steel is continually evolving and is going to be around in good hands long after we are gone.

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Mark

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