What Is That Thing

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 25 Oct 2006 8:58 am

A few years back, while playing The Steel at gigs. I was surprised when people from the audience started caming to me, asking, What is that thing, I found it hard to describe, some would ask, is it easy learning to play, Could I maybe learn to play it, e.t.c

My thoughts were confusing, as I knew they had been hearing the Steel, if they listened to a Radio,
Somehow we got pushed into the unknown as far as Radio, and Recording , was concerned.

Herbie

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Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 25 Oct 2006 10:45 am

Most listeners, I have found, hear the instrument's sound, but don't give a thought to what is making "that" sound.

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 26 Oct 2006 7:29 am

Could it be,? The DJ's quit announcing the musician's, names, credits, and the instruments being played ? Also the automated Radio Programs,Local Stations subscribe to,!! like seven in a row, with cues for the local stations to insert local advertising, !! Just a Guess,,,I DON'T KNOW
Also, the new generation of DJ's, And Program Directors, may/do, influence what is, and is not included

Herbie

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Phillip Lee Thompson · Post by **Phillip Lee Thompson** » 30 Oct 2006 3:42 pm

Hey Herbie,
You are not alone in this area of " NAME THAT INSTURMENT ". Over the last 50 years (at least) I have had untold numbers of people come to me at a gig and say " WOW,so thats what makes those beautiful sounds ".
(please believe me,I am NOT bragging on my playing,but the Steel carried the day again for me.
A good friend of mine,and an excellent Steel player of many years,Warren Davis of Prescott Arizona,was ask one day by a friend -- Warren,how long would it take me to learn how to play the Pedal Steel -- to which Warren asked the man " how old are you ?? " The reply was " I'm 45 " ,-- to which Warren replied

you don't have enough years left to learn !!!!!
Take care,and you will be asked many more times about your Pedal Steel. Phillip.[This message was edited by Phillip Lee Thompson on 30 October 2006 at 03:55 PM.]

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 31 Oct 2006 9:55 am

Phil, we still feature Kids on our weekly live un-rehearsed Radio Show, I loaded some Clipped songs from our archived shows, of Kids. We still seem to have many Kids that go for the old Country,and Rock songs,Which are new songs to these Kids. Yes I am playing Steel, and Fiddle,the old fashioned way, with the band backing up these kids, ( Free streaming, and downloads to any and all) who like The Old Family Style Radio Shows.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=220955

I think you will enjoy these Kids,

Herbie

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Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 31 Oct 2006 10:21 am

....and the next most asked question that I hear when they see the wrinkles in my face is: "How long have you been playing that thing?"

My answer is always, "all of my life", which leaves them to quess how long that has been.

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<img width=100 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/index.1.jpg>www.genejones.com

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 31 Oct 2006 12:22 pm

The first clue that I was slipping, was when I had to put wheels on my amp, and ask someone to carry my Steel, and lift both Amp and Steel up on stage.

Herbie

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Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 2 Nov 2006 11:43 am

Just tell them it is a multi string pitch bending processor.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 2 Nov 2006 12:22 pm

It's a SLIDE PEDAL SITDOWN GUITAR.

We were playing Gilley's in Dallas two weeks ago, and the opening act... the house band there... had a steel player. When it was time for his solo on "Milk Cow," the frontman yelled, "tear it up on THAT SITDOWN GITTAR!"

LOL!

Back in the dressing room, it totally cracked us up! Our drummer said "that's it! That's what we'll call it from now on! Herb, you play a mean SLIDE PEDAL SITDOWN guitar!"

Sounded good to me, so that's what I'm telling folks I play.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 02 November 2006 at 12:23 PM.]

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 2 Nov 2006 1:50 pm

Everyone that ask me what do you call that thing i reply - ,DAVE

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 2 Nov 2006 3:45 pm

Some names I have called it, I won't list here, b0b would clobber me,
hey I like that " Sit Down Guitar "
Ever forget your sit down seat ?
and have to sit in one of those , Fold Up metal Chairs,that are found in most ever Joint, and hunt for some kind of pad to make it high enough,?

Herbie

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Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · Post by **Dr. Hugh Jeffreys** » 2 Nov 2006 3:51 pm

ONe answer is probably that nothing is on (anywhere) but VOCAL music. What the heck happened to instrumentals? .....j.....

Eric McEuen · Post by **Eric McEuen** » 2 Nov 2006 4:43 pm

Good one, John. LOL.

I'm a guitarist who dabbles in steel (not very well yet), and I usually play in coffeehouses or church. When I bring out a steel and people don't know what it is, their first guess is usually "dulcimer."

Dr. Hugh, you have a good point. It also bothers me that a generation of listeners thinks instrumental music is somehow arcane. (I'm a youngster, but I disagree.) I've even heard comments like "I'm not a musician, so I can't understand instrumentals." I thought the point was music that sets a mood, or paints a picture?

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 2 Nov 2006 7:16 pm

I think it funny if you go to a music store and test drive an amp, bring your steel in, there is always someone there with an empty look on there face!

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 2 Nov 2006 10:45 pm

A.J. You made a point there
Instrumentals do set the mood, I remember a time when many Instrumentals were the choice
at the dance halls, and Ball rooms.

Also If you go to a Music Store to test drive an Amp, for a Steel, You best take your steel along.
I find not many Music Stores
have Steel Guitars on display these days.

Herbie

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John Parker · Post by **John Parker** » 2 Nov 2006 11:03 pm

A couple of years ago I stopped in the Guitar Center store in OKC and they had an old Emmons D10 on the floor. It was marked at $1800.00 but was in pretty bad shape, needed alot of work. Just for fun I asked the salesman if he would tune it and give me a demo. The lost look on his face was priceless!! Not a single person in the store could even tune it, much less play it. As much work that would be needed on it I offered them $750.00 for it. They wouldn't budge one bit on the price. I asked them how long they had it and was told that it had been taken on trade about seven years previously. I told them that if they weren't willing to come down on the price that they would probably have it for another seven years but they didn't care one bit. Not a very good way to do business IMHO.

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John Parker
Zumsteel SD10 3x5
Peavey Session 400
Fender Steel King

[This message was edited by John Parker on 02 November 2006 at 11:04 PM.][This message was edited by John Parker on 02 November 2006 at 11:05 PM.]

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 3 Nov 2006 4:55 am

John I went to the local Guitar Center, they have an old sho-bud maverick there I don't know if they still have it but this young girl was looking at it and the sales person was telling her that this is what they play "down in nashville" I told her not to buy that (which she didn't) and to go down to billy coopers, Also john a music store in Ky had a D10 Zum in there store, very,very out of tune! can't they at least tune the strings? you can find it on the web

RMckee · Post by **RMckee** » 3 Nov 2006 7:16 am

Herbie,

Tell Bill he is a little to high in the mix and that he needs to turn down just a little bit....

Randy

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 3 Nov 2006 10:21 am

That's what we'll call it from now on! Herb, you play a mean SLIDE PEDAL SITDOWN guitar!"

What happened to "table top string thingy"?

Mat Rhodes · Post by **Mat Rhodes** » 3 Nov 2006 10:46 am

Pedal KneeBoard

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 3 Nov 2006 10:53 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>....and the next most asked question that I hear when they see the wrinkles in my face is: "How long have you been playing that thing?"
My answer is always, "all of my life", which leaves them to quess how long that has been.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gene, when people ask me "How long have you been playing that?" I usually say "Oh about an hour now"

Phillip Lee Thompson · Post by **Phillip Lee Thompson** » 3 Nov 2006 3:00 pm

Herbie, I FINALLY got my computer to bring up your"Front Porch Kids Pickin",and that was pure old fashioned FUN. "Making Believe"with Heather Leigh,and "Your Cheaten Heart by 8 YEAR OLD Rachel Lynn were some of my Favorites. And BTW Herbie,I really enjoyed your style of intro and back up on the steel -- reminded me a bit of old James Clayton Day -soft and sweet. Thanks for sharing!! P.S. My Wife Patty always said the Pedal Steel was a perfect form of BIRTH CONTROL !! Wonder what she meant by that

Phillip.

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 3 Nov 2006 3:18 pm

Randy, surprised to find you on the Forum
I think Sid, was on the mixing board.
I heard you have a, Sit down job In Oklahoma ? Still pickin the Steel, and Banjo,

Herbie

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Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 3 Nov 2006 3:36 pm

Phillip , Thanks on behalf of the Kids,
for the compliments,
As for the old style Steel back up. that is the easy part, except getting to sit down at the gigs. ( Sit Down Guitar )
My wife claimed ,The Steel was grounds for divorce,

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=220955

Herbie

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RMckee · Post by **RMckee** » 3 Nov 2006 8:42 pm

Herbie,

Just kidding about Bill. I talk to him about once a month. I don't play any longer other than a bit at church. Don't have a steel guitar either.

Randy