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Topic: Used steel guitar |
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 1 Dec 2005 8:07 pm |
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Occasionally someone will post, asking the question "Which is the best guitar for a beginner?"
I've always felt that getting the best you possibly can, even if you have to hock something to get what you want and what is right for you, is the ONLY WAY TO GO.
On "About Ray"'s page of the jerrybyrdfanclub is a beautiful little tune played by Howard White on Hickory Label and MY NEWEST STEEL GUITAR ACQUISITION.
I think it sounds pretty; it's great to play and definitely user friendly; and has truly GREAT TONE. It's a 1952-Trot-Mor, 7-string lap steel, one piece all aluminum guitar. Jerry Byrd had the unit just ahead of this one, off the assembly line.
Howard did a beautiful job on this record one I have enjoyed and played for years. How do you like it? |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 1 Dec 2005 10:58 pm
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| Ray, your are 100% right,A new player should get a good guitar to learn on.An old worn out student model that the Big E could not keep in tune is not the way to go.I've seen a lot of kids over the years that wanted to play guitar,what do their parents do?Buy them a 15 dollar with strings a half inch off the fret board[Chet Atkins would not have been able to play it]and wonder why their kid gives up.The same applys to steel,If it wont tune and stay in tune it's worthless. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 2 Dec 2005 10:01 am
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Charles....I agree Many parents lacked any sort of musical appreciation training. They can't tell if they're listening to a flute or a steel guitar; a bass drum or electric bass. Then with all good intensions, they try to guide their child into a pursuit of music. Moved not by a desire to achieve perfection they follow the crowd like many of the young rock and rollers once did. The lure of learning g'tar in one's own garage and subsequently rising to the heights of the Beetles is a big star producing dream.
I remember countless young kids whose dad bought them the BIGGEST, HEAVIEST most complex accordian money could buy and provided expensive lessons and everything.
Yet, when you hear "guitar music" mentioned it is frequently associated with hock-shops and minimal costing instruments.
In contrast, steel guitar in particular, you frequently see older adult males that buy the biggest, most complex and expensive pedal steel guitars an individual might want and then attempt to scrimp on lessons.
Are too many wanna-be steel guitarist cheap, thrifty or just lazy? I guess we olde timers simply went for the gold; good equipment and studies that have lasted for decades. You figure it. |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 2 Dec 2005 10:20 am
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| Quote: |
| In contrast, steel guitar in particular, you frequently see older adult males that buy the biggest, most complex and expensive pedal steel guitars an individual might want and then attempt to scrimp on lessons. |
Day 1: What the heck have I gotten myself into here? Wow, this thing is tough. Let's see, pedal A, left knee left, strings 3, 4 & 5, man this is for rubber people. My ankle hurts.
Day 30: Lessons? Who needs lessons! I'll figure this thing out. Hmmm... E is open, that must mean A is on the 5th, no the 3rd, no the 5th fret.
Man, Buddy Emmons sounds great!
Day 60: Boy, that C pedal, what the heck is that for? I sound like a PA system at the race track. Why can't I sound like Jimmy Day?
Day 180: Do you suppose anyone has ever found a use for strings 1 & 2 let alone 7 & 9. I mean, why'd they bother with those anyway?
Day 360: I wonder what kinda videotapes are available? Do you suppose there are any lessons that will get me up to speed quicker that this.
10 years later: Someday I gotta take the time to study all of these lessons I've spent the last years acquiring. Osmosis ain't workin'. At least I have the keys in my hands. That Jeff Newman really knew how to teach.
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Any similarity to this episode and real life is, well, coincidental?[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 02 December 2005 at 10:30 AM.] |
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Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 2 Dec 2005 10:58 am
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Howdy Ray
interesting insight as to why !
Your comment -- " Are too many wanna-be steel
guitarist cheap, thrifty or just lazy? "
I don't know about the young aspiring musician
that want's to be out front of the crowd , but I
may fit your description to some extent .
I started out with an old Washborn Guitar
with the lift kit - then a Rick - and traded it
for a Fender String master D 8 - I still have &
play at gigs . When I went pedal I bought a
Fender Student s-10 , it did the job . I have sense
expanded the Student model to a 3 + 4 , I added
a number of mods to it and still have it . The
pick up is a little lacking , although with the
Fender Steel King amp it has the flavor of a Fender
800 . I used it for about 10 years with
the " Rocky Mountain Express " in Idaho .
Now that we are all old ! I have a Sierra keyless
D-10 8 & 5 . I'm now pick'n with The " North West
Country Boys " and I still play the String Master !
if ever I go Pedal again I think I would use the
Modified Student ! It weighs less than the
String master . I'm not knocking Sierra ! its
a grate Steel ! just to heavy for me anymore .
As for being Cheep ! I have managed to keep
all my money tied up in debts ! and my main
ambition in music was fun ! not trying to
make it a vocation .
We'll be at the Paulsbo
Eagles on the 17th Ray , If your in the neighborhood
stop by & bring you Rick , Or use mine !
Bob
-- PS Maybe you shouldn't ! you'll make me
look (sound ) bad |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 2 Dec 2005 2:02 pm
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For the aspiring rookie country steeler who has no idea what to buy or how to start, my advice is a Carter Starter. I don't think there's any better value at the price, and support is great as well. Much safer than buying used, especially for someone who has no idea what they are doing.
Sure, there are better guitars. But for a beginner I think this is the best "bang for the buck". |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 2 Dec 2005 3:34 pm
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THANKS for the invite Bob. The other comments are also most welcome.
I'd never discourage anyone from wanting to play steel guitar nor would I really criticize their choice of equipment......but it is an interesting profile that's fairly accurate, I do believe.
Steel guitar is really a long-term study not an over-night whiz-bang success. No matter where one is at, improvement is assured as long they stick to it. Far too many drop-outs however. |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 3 Dec 2005 8:24 am
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Ray, in 1971, our advisor to my freshman engineering class told us, at orientation, that at graduation in 1975, only one out of every three of us engineering students would still be there. We were astounded and shocked.
It turned out he was right. |
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