Lap steel players... please help.

[mexicanyella]

Not sure if this will work...

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It's suppposed to be an old Peavey Pacer solid-state 1 x 12 combo some steel guitar forum guy rehoused in a fiinger-jointed pine cabinet with two neo-magnet 8s.

You probably get some Fat Possum Records artist points for using a steak knife, but my backup slide--for when I (often) can't remember where I put the Shubb-Pearse--is a piston pin from an International-Harvester 345 cubic inch V8. It has substantial mass and the hollow ends help me hold onto it...but I miss the bullet nose sometimes when I use it.

 

[Don DJ]

I've been learning dobro for the last year, and I use a Shubb GS-1 steel. It fits very comfortably in my hand, and it's very easy to lift off the strings for pull-offs and hammer-ons. I have big hands, too, and I find it to be perfect. I use ProPik finger picks with angled blades that are made specifically for dobro. They make them in brass and nickel-silver IIRC. I've been using the brass ones, and I got the ones with double bands. They still fall off now and then, but they're the best finger picks I've ever used. I've been using Dunlop Ultex thumb picks, and I'm quite happy with them. They have a nice snap. I got the large size, which was very tight at first, but it doesn't seem quite as tight now. I tried heating one up with steam and stretching it out like I've done with other plastic thumb picks before, and it wouldn't bend, it just broke. I think they stretch out very gradually with use, since it doesn't feel like it's cutting off the circulation in my thumb any more. I think all of this would work just as well for lap steel, as the playing position is about the same.

Beautifully crafted instrument, by the way, it looks like a machinist made the hardware. The way he set up the bridge makes me wonder about intonation. Guitar/bass saddles are staggered to compensate for stretching the string when fretting, but lap steel strings don't get stretched like that. The bridge on a dobro is just straight, and intonation is fine. Still, it's a fine looking axe.

I've been going to a couple of different jams, and I've been forced to learn, since they keep making me take breaks. It's like learning to swim by getting thrown into the deep end of the pool. I've learned a lot and made some really good friends. I'd recommend it to anybody.

 

[two fingers]

I've been learning dobro for the last year, and I use a Shubb GS-1 steel. It fits very comfortably in my hand, and it's very easy to lift off the strings for pull-offs and hammer-ons. I have big hands, too, and I find it to be perfect. I use ProPik finger picks with angled blades that are made specifically for dobro. They make them in brass and nickel-silver IIRC. I've been using the brass ones, and I got the ones with double bands. They still fall off now and then, but they're the best finger picks I've ever used. I've been using Dunlop Ultex thumb picks, and I'm quite happy with them. They have a nice snap. I got the large size, which was very tight at first, but it doesn't seem quite as tight now. I tried heating one up with steam and stretching it out like I've done with other plastic thumb picks before, and it wouldn't bend, it just broke. I think they stretch out very gradually with use, since it doesn't feel like it's cutting off the circulation in my thumb any more. I think all of this would work just as well for lap steel, as the playing position is about the same.

Beautifully crafted instrument, by the way, it looks like a machinist made the hardware. The way he set up the bridge makes me wonder about intonation. Guitar/bass saddles are staggered to compensate for stretching the string when fretting, but lap steel strings don't get stretched like that. The bridge on a dobro is just straight, and intonation is fine. Still, it's a fine looking axe.

I've been going to a couple of different jams, and I've been forced to learn, since they keep making me take breaks. It's like learning to swim by getting thrown into the deep end of the pool. I've learned a lot and made some really good friends. I'd recommend it to anybody.

All good to know. Thanks!

 

[AndyPanda]

Dave Lindley played slide on a couple of Shawn Colvin's songs on "Fat City" check out this slide solo - it raises the hair on my arms every time and I've been listening to it for over 20 years - still gets me every time. (I think it might be someone else on the pedal steel behind but it's Dave on the lead in front)

 

[two fingers]

Dave Lindley played slide on a couple of Shawn Colvin's songs on "Fat City" check out this slide solo - it raises the hair on my arms every time and I've been listening to it for over 20 years - still gets me every time. (I think it might be someone else on the pedal steel behind but it's Dave on the lead in front)

Man that tone is insane. It's like he's playing slide on 20 foot long piano strings.

 

[AndyPanda]

A couple of videos with closeup of the hands and technique:

 

[mexicanyella]

Humble steel submission: here's a link to a recording some friends and I did about fifteen years ago:

Sewanee by Ben Niven

I "sang" and played the acoustic guitar (old Silvertone archtop) and steel. The bass player in my band at the time was trying out his new upright bass, and a former bandmate played the harmonica.

I recorded the steel direct here, with a DOD FX82 bass compressor pedal into a TL Audio tube mic preamp, then direct to protools. I was not too happy with this tone but it was a quick-and-dirty session. I wanted it brighter but this was the best I could do, having left my amp at home that day...but I think you can hear that I'm going for a pedal-steel accompaniment vibe, not a distorted rock-inspired solo voice...and you can hear some of what I described above, the moving double-stops "implying" minor chords against the other instruments. To play a full minor triad in Dobro tuning you have to slant the bar and pull a string behind the bar, which I could not do consistently at that point. So I just slanted across two strings to play two notes of a minor triad at a time. Some of the time I'm doubling the acoustic guitar riff; some of the time I'm sliding double-stops around. There's a steel "solo" from about 2:48-3:16.

It's pretty loose and sloppy, and I am not much of a singer, but I think it illustrates how learning even simple steel parts can be a pretty fun addition to a mix.

Here's a guy who does some nice-sounding distorted lap steel...Greg Leisz, "Santo's Dream":



And the Red Ryder song "Lunatic Fringe" has some distorted steel in it that I like, too.

 

[two fingers]

Humble steel submission: here's a link to a recording some friends and I did about fifteen years ago:

Sewanee by Ben Niven

I "sang" and played the acoustic guitar (old Silvertone archtop) and steel. The bass player in my band at the time was trying out his new upright bass, and a former bandmate played the harmonica.

I recorded the steel direct here, with a DOD FX82 bass compressor pedal into a TL Audio tube mic preamp, then direct to protools. I was not too happy with this tone but it was a quick-and-dirty session. I wanted it brighter but this was the best I could do, having left my amp at home that day...but I think you can hear that I'm going for a pedal-steel accompaniment vibe, not a distorted rock-inspired solo voice...and you can hear some of what I described above, the moving double-stops "implying" minor chords against the other instruments. To play a full minor triad in Dobro tuning you have to slant the bar and pull a string behind the bar, which I could not do consistently at that point. So I just slanted across two strings to play two notes of a minor triad at a time. Some of the time I'm doubling the acoustic guitar riff; some of the time I'm sliding double-stops around. There's a steel "solo" from about 2:48-3:16.

It's pretty loose and sloppy, and I am not much of a singer, but I think it illustrates how learning even simple steel parts can be a pretty fun addition to a mix.

I actually dig the tone on that recording. It fit the mellow vibe of the song.

Thanks for sharing it and giving a guy with 5 big thumbs on each hand some hope.

 

[catcauphonic]

Wow what a nice gift! Congrats

I have a really good bud who's a pretty fine and knowledgeable fellow with his. I'll read this thread later, and check with him on any questions you might have about em.

Fun

 

[two fingers]

Wow what a nice gift! Congrats

I have a really good bud who's a pretty fine and knowledgeable fellow with his. I'll read this thread later, and check with him on any questions you might have about em.

Fun

Cool Thanks! I have gotten some good advice so far. But I'm keeping a totally open mind because I have no idea what I'm doing with it. I made some noise last night on it (using the metal handle of a steak knife.... looking back probably not the safest idea....). But it was ugly at best.

I think it'll be fun to learn.

 

[mexicanyella]

Nice gift @two fingers...

Here's my old Gibson BR-9 lap steel, something I truly have no earthly bizniss with:

View attachment 2855913



FWIW, here's a link to the only thing I ever recorded with that lap steel... it was on a twenty-year anthology project of the band I used to play with back in the day. (also played bass on that, and all the other tracks...)



I prefer this profiled slide with a rounded end and a pointed end. (as pictured with my old Regal Model 19)

View attachment 2855910

...but don't use me as an example - for some reason, I always preferred to use a flat pick rather than fingerpicks.

Wow, beautiful instrument, and nice tune! I really like the mix and arrangement, and how the lap steel fits into it...and the vocals are great!

 

[48thStreetCustom]

I like the Pearse with the curved tip.

 

[two fingers]

Humble steel submission: here's a link to a recording some friends and I did about fifteen years ago:

Sewanee by Ben Niven

I "sang" and played the acoustic guitar (old Silvertone archtop) and steel. The bass player in my band at the time was trying out his new upright bass, and a former bandmate played the harmonica.

I recorded the steel direct here, with a DOD FX82 bass compressor pedal into a TL Audio tube mic preamp, then direct to protools. I was not too happy with this tone but it was a quick-and-dirty session. I wanted it brighter but this was the best I could do, having left my amp at home that day...but I think you can hear that I'm going for a pedal-steel accompaniment vibe, not a distorted rock-inspired solo voice...and you can hear some of what I described above, the moving double-stops "implying" minor chords against the other instruments. To play a full minor triad in Dobro tuning you have to slant the bar and pull a string behind the bar, which I could not do consistently at that point. So I just slanted across two strings to play two notes of a minor triad at a time. Some of the time I'm doubling the acoustic guitar riff; some of the time I'm sliding double-stops around. There's a steel "solo" from about 2:48-3:16.

It's pretty loose and sloppy, and I am not much of a singer, but I think it illustrates how learning even simple steel parts can be a pretty fun addition to a mix.

Here's a guy who does some nice-sounding distorted lap steel...Greg Leisz, "Santo's Dream":



And the Red Ryder song "Lunatic Fringe" has some distorted steel in it that I like, too.

Finally checking out that YouTube link. Thanks for sharing it. Good stuff!

 

[BAG]

I was actually into lap slide for a short while before picking up bass. I found the DADDAD tuning to be a really easy way to get started. Counting Crows "Mercury" is a really, really easy I,IV,V song to pick up.

I found the Alaska pick style to be the closest thing to playing with fingernails.

 

[two fingers]

I was actually into lap slide for a short while before picking up bass. I found the DADDAD tuning to be a really easy way to get started. Counting Crows "Mercury" is a really, really easy I,IV,V song to pick up.

I found the Alaska pick style to be the closest thing to playing with fingernails.

I just ordered a few in both brass and plastic. Seems like a neat design. Thanks for the tip.

 

[BAG]

One advantage of the plastic is that you can use nail clippers and nail file to make the exactly the length you want.

 

[Rich Fiscus]

I don't play steel, but we added an amazing lap steel (and Dobro/pedal steel/guitar/banjo) player to our band a few months ago. Larry came in to play pedal and lap steel for a country singer we were backing up over the summer. He's playing Dobro in this video from a few years ago. He played bluegrass and country exclusively for about 15 years before joining us.



I'm certainly no expert, but I have become something of a connoisseur of steel guitar. The one piece of advice I do feel sure about is try to find an old time steel player to take at least a few lessons from - ideally somebody who also plays pedal steel. Those guys can teach you the nuances of creating the unique harmonics a steel can produce, which most guitarists who pick up lap steel as a secondary instrument seem to struggle with.

It seems like there's some point in every gig or rehearsal Larry makes some cool sound I've never heard before. Sometimes it even surprises him, and he's been playing since he was 12.

On the subject of picks, be prepared to spend some time fine tuning the fit on your fingers and curvature of the pick. It takes a good week for Larry to get a new pick adjusted perfectly.

Currently he plays a rare Melobar Skreemr SK6 hanging lap steel. It's like the flying V David Lindley is playing in this clip, but with a different pickup.



Another lap steel player Larry turned me on to is Randy Kohrs. It turns out, besides being an old friend of Larry's, he also grew up with my wife.

 

[two fingers]

I don't play steel, but we added an amazing lap steel (and Dobro/pedal steel/guitar/banjo) player to our band a few months ago. Larry came in to play pedal and lap steel for a country singer we were backing up over the summer. He's playing Dobro in this video from a few years ago. He played bluegrass and country exclusively for about 15 years before joining us.



I'm certainly no expert, but I have become something of a connoisseur of steel guitar. The one piece of advice I do feel sure about is try to find an old time steel player to take at least a few lessons from - ideally somebody who also plays pedal steel. Those guys can teach you the nuances of creating the unique harmonics a steel can produce, which most guitarists who pick up lap steel as a secondary instrument seem to struggle with.

It seems like there's some point in every gig or rehearsal Larry makes some cool sound I've never heard before. Sometimes it even surprises him, and he's been playing since he was 12.

On the subject of picks, be prepared to spend some time fine tuning the fit on your fingers and curvature of the pick. It takes a good week for Larry to get a new pick adjusted perfectly.

Currently he plays a rare Melobar Skreemr SK6 hanging lap steel. It's like the flying V David Lindley is playing in this clip, but with a different pickup.



Another lap steel player Larry turned me on to is Randy Kohrs. It turns out, besides being an old friend of Larry's, he also grew up with my wife.

Thanks! Everyone on that stage with Kohrs was a killer player. And he tore it up.

Yeah I have already ordered quite a few kinds of picks to explore what works for me. It'll be a journey for sure.

 

[two fingers]

Hey I have a line on a Fender Super Twin Reverb amp. A lot of guitar players don't lime it unless they play cleanish country.

The sucker has SIX 6L6 power tubes for something like 160-180 watts! But a lot of reviews online show that most players yank 2 or 4 power tubes so it gets more reasonable.

And pretty much everyone says the clean tone is fantastic and it takes pedals well. So I could play clean a lot and stomp on some dirt if need be.

Any thoughts?

 

[mexicanyella]

Gym membership! Ear plugs!