Should you buy a pedal steel guitar
- Thread starter rob aylestone
- Start date
TalismanRich
Well-known member
Obviously you have heard of Robert Randolph, or the Slide Brothers: Chuck Campbell and his brother Darrick, and Calvin Cooke.
Folkcafe
Active member
There is something very compelling about pedal steel from an expressive nature of the instrument but as has been pointed out throughout this thread, wildly difficult learning curve.
I've been shopping and one item on my list is a lap steel. In looking for reviews on the Recording King with a P-90, came across this Certano Bender mod which seems much more approachable but adds that expressiveness.
Certano Bender installed on a Recording King
I've been shopping and one item on my list is a lap steel. In looking for reviews on the Recording King with a P-90, came across this Certano Bender mod which seems much more approachable but adds that expressiveness.
Certano Bender installed on a Recording King
rob aylestone
Moderator
Have they dumped the pedal steels en masse? Can’t be country without them? Can it?
dogooder
Well-known member
I don't listen to much modern country but I am now living in the south and can't escape it at times. You hardly ever hear a pedal steel guitar. I saw Robert Randolph once, I had to leave about halfway through, it was to fucking loud. He seemed like a one trick pony? I saw Floyd in Carnegie Hall and they used one for some wild stuff. I went to a Steel Players Association Expo in Norfolk Ct. about ten years ago, there were some kick ass players there. I met Stu Shuman there who it turned out lived not far away and we would stay in touch and get together now and then. He passed recently. I got to speak with "Tiny Olsen" when I did sound for Commander Cody for quite awhile. He flipped his guitar over and explained what was going on and gave me a quick run down on how a standard set up was set up and was played. Then somehow we got on the subject of trains and went on about that for awhile. I have made parts for guys who sent me parts to copy like pedals and bell cranks etc
dogooder
Well-known member
I picked up that Deckley for a grand. Deal of the year.
dogooder
Well-known member
All depends on who is playing it?
dogooder
Well-known member
I would like to find a real singer to sing it.
What song do you want a singer for?
dogooder
Well-known member
the one I posted that I wrote in this thread earlier
Last edited:
dogooder
Well-known member
I wrote it, maybe that is why you didn't recognize it.
rob aylestone
Moderator
I got mostly positive comments on the video, but the real experts to me to task. Oddly, a few told me inventing my own copedent was just stupid. It would have been but i googled a lot and found that this model i have, a fender 400, has less strings than the modern ones, and the ‘great players’ used the one i picked. Essentially, copedants are charts of what notes the strings get tuned to, and what each pedal and knee lever does when engaged, which might raise or lower a string from what it is open. So three strings might be C, E and G, and pressing pedal one raises the E and G to F and A changing a C chord to F. Another player might map those two moving strings to separate pedals, so stamping on both makes the F, but just one gives a sus4 C chord. This is why the one pedal player in my region i found couldn't really help me, he had a ten string one, with his string layout and pedals totally different. I got some general tips but that was all.
If you google my one you'll see huge numbers of suggested settings for a fender 400 C6 copedent. You try and see if you get it? I cannot even find the one i used now! It means i cant play others, they cant play mine!
If you google my one you'll see huge numbers of suggested settings for a fender 400 C6 copedent. You try and see if you get it? I cannot even find the one i used now! It means i cant play others, they cant play mine!
rob aylestone
Moderator
I've come to the conclusion I started with my 8 string, tuned to one of the internet variants of common tunings - in E9, and hunting around, including in the manual - the one I picked is not common. So I have learned one not as popular - so I now have the choice (if I want to get better) of unlearning it and picking a totally new one. I invented a few alternate changes that made it work for me - but I've accidentally created a monster! I have E F Sharp G Sharp on the lowest strings.
Old Music Guy
New member
I've has 2 steels: a Sho Bud D10, and an MSA S10. It's like the old adage that the 2 best days in a boat owners life are, the day they bought it and the day they sold it.
My experience with my 2 steels is amazing, I loved them both to death. As a keyboard player with some music theory chops, I took to it like a pig to mud. I can't imagine a 6 string player adapting to a steel with out wanting to through that steels on a burn pile.
Same for lap steel (though I have contemplated getting one).
IMHO, if you want to take up the steel, "Abandon all hope ye who enter here".
I would be more than willing to share my history with the steel. But, before you enter, you would be wise to consider the following:
1. You would be best served if you have a PhD in mechanical engineering;
2. You have unlimited resources;
3. You must be willing to wake up and go to your studio at 4 pm to work out an idea;
4. You must be willing to go back to bed at 6 am thinking that you are a useless piece of protoplasm. Worthless. Devoid of any talent. Not worth the elements you are made of.
5. You must be willing to listen to Paul Franklin at breakfast and say, "I can do that!". And mean it!
6. You must have 3 arms: one to pick, one to slide and one to tune.
7. You must have knees that can bend in ways that knees are not intended/capable of bending.
8. You must be able to abandon any and all things you have ever learned about tuning, anything you may think you know about tuning, and be able to deny principals, theories, and anything else about tuning that you think you may know.
9. "TEMPERD TUNING". That will become your mantra, and your Master. Embrace it, and it will embrace you.
10. There is no such thing as "the best tuner".
11. Above all else, you must be able to accept that when enough is enough, it is enough.
12. If you have any doubts about selling your steel, spend 30 minutes listening to Buddy Emmons.
Lest anyone think that I am discouraging the venture into pedal steel, please keep in mind that this is a satirical post. IMHO, there is not a more beautiful, expressive instrument out there to play. You can amaze your friends just by playing a I IV V, or the intro to "Best of My Love". I would highly recommend it. (Especially to younger players).
This instrument should survive!!!
My experience with my 2 steels is amazing, I loved them both to death. As a keyboard player with some music theory chops, I took to it like a pig to mud. I can't imagine a 6 string player adapting to a steel with out wanting to through that steels on a burn pile.
Same for lap steel (though I have contemplated getting one).
IMHO, if you want to take up the steel, "Abandon all hope ye who enter here".
I would be more than willing to share my history with the steel. But, before you enter, you would be wise to consider the following:
1. You would be best served if you have a PhD in mechanical engineering;
2. You have unlimited resources;
3. You must be willing to wake up and go to your studio at 4 pm to work out an idea;
4. You must be willing to go back to bed at 6 am thinking that you are a useless piece of protoplasm. Worthless. Devoid of any talent. Not worth the elements you are made of.
5. You must be willing to listen to Paul Franklin at breakfast and say, "I can do that!". And mean it!
6. You must have 3 arms: one to pick, one to slide and one to tune.
7. You must have knees that can bend in ways that knees are not intended/capable of bending.
8. You must be able to abandon any and all things you have ever learned about tuning, anything you may think you know about tuning, and be able to deny principals, theories, and anything else about tuning that you think you may know.
9. "TEMPERD TUNING". That will become your mantra, and your Master. Embrace it, and it will embrace you.
10. There is no such thing as "the best tuner".
11. Above all else, you must be able to accept that when enough is enough, it is enough.
12. If you have any doubts about selling your steel, spend 30 minutes listening to Buddy Emmons.
Lest anyone think that I am discouraging the venture into pedal steel, please keep in mind that this is a satirical post. IMHO, there is not a more beautiful, expressive instrument out there to play. You can amaze your friends just by playing a I IV V, or the intro to "Best of My Love". I would highly recommend it. (Especially to younger players).
This instrument should survive!!!
