Videos of my band

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 24 Jan 2008 6:54 am

So, we did this local cable TV show in December. We had a lot of fun, and while the production values are variable, I think we did an OK job. Thought it would be fun to share, in any case.

You can get to the vids from our myspace page:
www.myspace.com/splinterville

or on YouTube:
http://youtube.com/user/Slide4Days

I'm playing my Melobar 6 string with a Ted Smith "Outrigger" (for stand up playing) and Vintage Vibe blade pickup through a Blues Jr.

Mark White · Post by **Mark White** » 24 Jan 2008 4:11 pm

Thanks for posting Peter, I watched them all, 'Fleur de Lis' is my favorite. T.V. is a rough gig, you did great! What goodies were you using on the pedalboard?

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 24 Jan 2008 5:40 pm

Thanks, Mark! The gig was fun, but we. Cut the entire show live. The host would break in and talk to us every other song. No retakes, not even a real sound check. We just hoped for the best.

I wrote Fleur de Lis a while back, and it took a long time to get the New Orleans feel to it. The guys really made it work.Glad you like it.

I use very few pedals - a JFET clean boost I built myself (the Fetzer Valve *www.runoffgroove.com*) and an MI Audio Blue Boy Deluxe for overdrive. I've been thinking about getting a delay pedal at some point.
Take care,
Peter

Mark White · Post by **Mark White** » 24 Jan 2008 6:27 pm

I didn't realize you wrote it too!
I thought the drummer laid down a nice pocket for it.

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 24 Jan 2008 7:00 pm

That's for sure - Mike (the drummer) always finds the right feel for the song and keeps the groove going. Thanks for the thumbs up.

Roman Sonnleitner · Post by **Roman Sonnleitner** » 26 Jan 2008 4:09 am

Man, that's great stuff - love it!

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 26 Jan 2008 5:18 am

very nice stuff. I enjoyed all of it. I like that vintage looking guitar. it is a Fender but I am not sure what.
you guys are good. terrific show.

Roman Sonnleitner · Post by **Roman Sonnleitner** » 26 Jan 2008 5:40 am

Randy Reeves wrote:I like that vintage looking guitar. it is a Fender but I am not sure what.

Not a Fender - that's a Reverend!

http://www.reverendguitars.com/

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 26 Jan 2008 6:08 am

Thanks, guys - it's a far cry from my bluegrass banjo days (I still play some banjo with this group), and I love the direction we're going.

Good eye, Roman -- that's an old USA made Reverend -- phenolic top, hollow body with a block of mahoghany inside. It sounds great and has an amazing neck on it.

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 26 Jan 2008 6:59 am

Thanks for sharing, Peter, it was fun to watch and I think you all held up well considering the conditions. I've listened to and enjoyed the clips of your songs on myspace before so this was very cool to see.

I never knew there was such a thing as a "Ted Smith Outrigger." If what I'm seeing is correct it's simply a mass of something in the shape of a guitar body that holds your lapsteel and allows it to be played like a dobro? Genious. What's it made of?

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 26 Jan 2008 7:47 am

Thanks, Mark - the conditions weren't ideal, but the show worked out. We felt like we played well, and it ended up being a fun thing to do.

The outrigger is something Ted Smith of Melobar came up with a few years back (check the No Peddlers archive -- there was some discussion about it back then. I called it the outrigger, someone else named it the "lapabout").

Anyway, Ted was making his Melobros at the time and used the mold to make a fiberglass shell in the shape of a Dobro. The shell has styrofaom in it, which is covered by a sheet of fabric (looks like automotive headliner). Then a plastic lid goes on top. The steel is held in place by two big thumbscrews from underneath. I think he only made a handful of them before Melobar shut down. It's starting to show it's age, but it's been doing the job for a few years now. It is a bordeline genious idea -- I'd like to see it taken to a next generation.

Here are some pics:
Top: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3bgzt/laps ... _front.jpg

Back: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3bgzt/laps ... r_back.jpg

Peter

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 26 Jan 2008 11:47 am

OK, so it was custom made for a Melobar. Good concept IMO. Some of the gadgets I've seen for stand-up playing look painful.

Gary Stevenson · Post by **Gary Stevenson** » 26 Jan 2008 12:50 pm

Peter Your style is just what I am looking to do, Do you know if the adapter for the Melobar can be purchased for other lap steels? Duh" just saw the above post!!!!!!!!

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 26 Jan 2008 2:27 pm

The outrigger was designed to work with any lap steel that could fit the shell -- you would compress the styrofoam (inder the fabric) to hold the steel in place while you got the bolts tightened. It's a great concept -- I'd love to see it taken further, because it really is like wearing a Dobro.

after 5 or 6 years now, the fiberglass shell is starting to crack and the top cover doesn't quite fit in a couple of spots, but mine was, I beleive, the second one made, so it was really a prototype.

Peter

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 26 Jan 2008 2:33 pm

Just for fun, I found the original thread where Ted Smith told us about his idea for this thing:
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/001012.html

Peter

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 28 Jan 2008 12:13 pm

Very nice Peter, I watched all the vids and enjoyed them very much

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 28 Jan 2008 4:35 pm

Thansk, Tom -- I appreciate it. Mostly, we amuse ourselves, so it's nice to get feedback from other musicians.