Ever try playing Pedal Steel Standing Up?

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 17 Sep 2009 6:44 am

Liberace didn't have a problem entertaining people while sitting down.
Anyway, W.C., I like your singing, and the band.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 17 Sep 2009 6:45 am

Let me add that I would use a stool to rest on - yes standing on one foot is not easy.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 17 Sep 2009 6:52 am

Barry Blackwood wrote:Liberace didn't have a problem entertaining people while sitting down.

Actually, Robert Randolph is holding the attention of large amphitheater audiences while seated at the steel. Not to detract a bit, though, from what WC wants to do; that's great too.

W. C. Edgar · Post by **W. C. Edgar** » 17 Sep 2009 8:06 am

Hey Robert does a GREAT job but I play places where it's a dance crowd and need to be up. Also, it's different and I like that! I'm in very good shape and have no problem with standing because I switch off to acoustic guitar now and then.Thanks!

Where I save money is that I don't have to pay another steel player to sit there and whine about his unhappy personal life or worry about him getting hammered or whatever. More money for the other players. Not a lot but a little more.

WC

www.wcedgar.com

www.myspace.com/wcedgar

www.universalvisionentertainment.com

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 17 Sep 2009 8:16 am

Maybe those wrist levers that MSA used to put on their guitars would be handy on a stand up pedal steel.

W. C. Edgar · Post by **W. C. Edgar** » 17 Sep 2009 8:31 am

Great idea Dave, sometimes I think I know quite a bit about pedal steel history and I have heard of these but can't place exactly what they look like or how they operate for sure. Also the Hip levers that someone said Sierra had. Is there anyone out there that can post any photos of this? Everybodys friend Jerry Fessenden is building some stand up pedal guitar prototypes but they are only 8 string right now and I don't believe there are any knees. I have to have 10 strings and at least two knees. I think he is on track. Don't get me wrong, if I can afford it I'd love nothing better than having a full time steel player I could afford as well as depend on but right now I don't. When I can, I carry a fiddle player also. My daughter that played fiddle with us in France is in school and can't make all the dates.

So for right now I'd sure take anymore feedback I can get about the other types of levers. Maybe I can get with Jerry or some "custom" builder and get something going.
Thanks, WC

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 17 Sep 2009 9:09 am

There are some pics on the GFI website but those ones are pretty complex. The MSA ones I saw were in an old Steel Guitar world magazine ad for MSA. Those were a little more simple and didn't go through the guitar body. Mike Perlowin might have some on his guitar that he can take a picture of?

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 17 Sep 2009 9:24 am

I've got a spare pedestal seat off my bass boat I could send you...

Joe Naylor · Post by **Joe Naylor** » 17 Sep 2009 2:49 pm

W. C. why oh why did you bring this up - you started steelseat.com

Am I going to have to build a steelseat the height of a bar stool????

There is a guy around AZ that plays a stand up pedal steel - he told me that if Leon could play a 4 neck he could pedal standin' up too.

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 17 Sep 2009 4:28 pm

Have you tried playing upside down?

<center>

Speedy holding the guitar upside down for Buddy</center>

John DeBoalt · Post by **John DeBoalt** » 17 Sep 2009 5:43 pm

Wasn't it Don Warden that played a Sho Bud with two pedals by his right foot on the Porter Wagoner show ? Seems feasible if you could do without the changes afforded by the knee levers. John

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 17 Sep 2009 6:12 pm

Seems that Mike Perlowin had a custom wrist lever on one of his guitars. Mike?

Gordon Borland · Post by **Gordon Borland** » 17 Sep 2009 8:20 pm

I understand why.
I thank you for posting the clip and the information.
I am now a fan of yours because of your playing ability and being able to get it done your way!
I only hope you dress for the stage as opposed to the casual garb on the clip.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Sep 2009 8:47 pm

If I was going to have a steel built to play standing up, I think it would make more sense to have the pedal rack on the inside skirt, not only so they would be easier to reach, but you would be in more of an upright position and could use both feet. You might have to angle the rods in a little to give standing room. Does this make any sense? Probably would be easier to pull off with a cable system.

I thought the video was cool, W.C. Question: do you normally use that much echo?

Harold Dye · Post by **Harold Dye** » 18 Sep 2009 2:04 am

Back in 64 there was a steel player in Denver Colorado that played a Domland Steel Sitting on a tall stool( almost like standing up). It was a double neck with lots of pedals and he did quit well on it. I can't recall his name but he was the first steel player I had seen up close at the time.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 18 Sep 2009 7:08 am

If I have to stand up I want more pay and an extra drink holder.

Andrew Roblin · Post by **Andrew Roblin** » 18 Sep 2009 7:31 am

Way to go, WC!

Sounds good. I like it.

Andrew

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 18 Sep 2009 8:09 am

I doubt it makes a bit of difference whether you sit down or stand up fronting your band, whether its a dance crowd or a sit down/listen crowd. If you don't make eye contact and smile with the audience, and you bury your head looking at your instrument, you lost your audience anyways--standing up OR sitting down. It's about conveying the energy of the music to the audience. Robert Randolph is doing ok sitting down and connecting, in that reguard, huh??

I look at a band like the Eagles fronted by Don Henley on drums---he never thought he had to "stand up" to play his drums or his audience wouldn't connect and listen to his music. But then again, the Eagles might have been more successful if Don stood up behind his drums, right?? You either connect or you don't. JMHO

I guess I wouldn't compromise half my pedals and knee levers so I could stand up. The complete package of your steel guitar is a better impression than half a package and standing up. I might think about a riser before I'd drop half my changes.

W. C. Edgar · Post by **W. C. Edgar** » 18 Sep 2009 8:27 am

Gordon, I shot the video in the basement of my home at a moments notice and thats why I was dressed that way. God knows on a "live" show I don't dress near that well.

Ernie, I was there the night Buddy played that stand up upside down with Speedy holding it. Man I miss the way things used to be at the convention when all the greats were alive.

Mike, as to the amount of delay I used on the video, no, I don't usually use that much. I use more! Ha!

James, I'm just tryin to make some good music and cut down on a player here and there to make a few more bucks. I still think it's different than Robert or the Eagles in the sense that we play music people dance to or should I say where they come strictly to dance as oposed to a concert situation. I'd love to have a full band if I could afford it my friend.

I am getting some good ideas from many of you and I really appreciate it!
WC

www.wcedgar.com
www.myspace.com/wcedgar
www.universalvisionentertainment.com

Bob Knetzger · Post by **Bob Knetzger** » 18 Sep 2009 8:48 am

If you get tired standing on your right foot..try standing on your left foot:

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 18 Sep 2009 8:50 am

WC, call Kyle Bennett at MSA 214-388-0461 he can fix you up with wrist levers.
BD

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 18 Sep 2009 9:01 am

W. C. Edgar wrote:
James, I'd love to have a full band if I could afford it my friend.

Awe just keep writin' those checks, WC, we all know how loaded you rising stars all are!!

Seriously, my hats off to you for going after your dreams and promoting real country music--the "you 'de man" factor is real high, my friend.

one thing I was thinking(DANGER!!

)is if I was to feel I needed to be a little "taller", if you KNEW somebody who could build you a steel seat

, make a back-less barstool height seat and raise your guitar partway, so you could still do your volume pedal justice, and still use your knees and floor pedals. Stand up when you do guitar work then. Just an idea.

By the way, the steel seat you built me (just before Brother Thom took the reins)is holding up just fine.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 18 Sep 2009 9:02 am

double post.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 18 Sep 2009 12:12 pm

W C you are sounding good on that Bud. I think you have got the hang of that stand-up thing.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 18 Sep 2009 1:12 pm

What is common to the following performers ?
Jerry Lee Lewis
Fats Domino
Ray Charles
Liberace
Stevie Wonder
Yes, I know they all play piano, but, more to the point, they all sing/sang sitting down, and the audience doesn't care.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Ever try playing Pedal Steel Standing Up?

good job