Danny Sneed

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 1 Oct 2012 9:53 am

I did a gig in Cave Creek, AZ Saturday night and walked across the parking lot to The Buffalo Chip and snapped this pic of my buddy Danny Sneed.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 1 Oct 2012 10:04 am

I too, visited Danny a couple of years back while in Arizona, and at that same location. He's a mighty fine steel player, a joy to listen to and he plays an EMMONS.

Why, I even remember Danny when he was jes' a little tike..........how 'bout that?

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 1 Oct 2012 10:12 am

That particular "Emmons" looks very much like the Fessenden he was playing at the same venue when I saw him!

Great guy, fabulous player, and everything I know about volume pedal technique I learned from watching him.

KP

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 1 Oct 2012 10:15 am

Ken.....you're entirely right!

What a glaring error on my part. Thanks for correcting my mistake.

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 1 Oct 2012 10:18 am

Not to worry, boss. I suspect Danny could play a 2 X 12 strung with barbed wire and make it sound musical!

KP

Russ Wever · Post by **Russ Wever** » 1 Oct 2012 2:09 pm

Rather than an E9th, Danny plays a G6th, which is like if you tuned your
E9th a whole tone down and then had the pedals working 'upside down'.

In other words, imagine if you had your front neck tuned already to
an open 'A', and then mashed your 'A & B' pedals to lower strings
3,5,6 & 10 to get an 'E' . . . and then tuned the whole thing
down a whole-step.

You'd likely never realize this by hearing Danny play: He gets all
the trad stuff, all the current stuff and goes beyond that with a
lot from his own imagination.

If you haven't yet heard Danny,
do yourself a favor and ~>click

~Russ

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 1 Oct 2012 2:33 pm

As I recall his back neck is much like Curly's version of C6, with a low A and D on the bottom, no low C, and the top string is a high E. I've been wrong before though.

I saw Danny at his Cave Creek gig back in July, and his playing made it almost seem cool outside.

J R Rose · Post by **J R Rose** » 1 Oct 2012 2:44 pm

I have watched and listen and danced to Danny's music many, many hours. His leader ( I can't think of his name) and Danny have been at the Chip for many years. If you want to hear real country music that you can two step to and waltz to the Chip still has it going on. And Danny is just as nice and quite a gentlman as you will ever shake hands with. J.R.

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 1 Oct 2012 3:35 pm

Great clip Russ. It nicely demonstrates the volume pedal technique I was talking about, if you watch closely!

KP

Jim Curtain · Post by **Jim Curtain** » 1 Oct 2012 3:41 pm

I think I need to go see him, and get a lesson....

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 1 Oct 2012 3:51 pm

Although we have never met, I consider Danny a personal friend. I asked him once to email me his copedent and he sent me a regular letter instead. He said if I felt like riding horses, just let him know when I was coming. Danny is a special person, you don't find too many of his kind these days.

Someone mentioned volume pedal technique, well, he can play without a VP altogether. I watched one of his youtube and I sat there thinking what a great VP technique..then at the end of the song I noticed...he wasn't using a VP at all!

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 1 Oct 2012 5:51 pm

In the clip Russ posted, his foot is never on the pedal.

KP

Joe Naylor · Post by **Joe Naylor** » 1 Oct 2012 7:31 pm

Pat James Band is the name

He also plays and watch a football gome on TV - he simply plays and does not pay attention or miss a lick

steel players think about this Mike Smith at one club and walk across the parking lot (the 2 clubs share) and see Danny not bad for all in the same night

I know a guy that lives so close he can hear the music from his patio of both clubs.

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com

Ned McIntosh · Post by **Ned McIntosh** » 1 Oct 2012 7:41 pm

I only know Danny via his YouTube postings, but I am transfixed by his playing. When people tell me the steel-guitar cannot ever be a a solo instrument I suggest they watch him on YouTube, and then tell me that isn't a solo instrument being played by a virtuoso.

I think Danny's playing is quite extraordinary, and a reminder that we sometimes need to step back and re-think how we view our instrument and how it fits in the musical setting we usually associate with it.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 2 Oct 2012 2:41 am

Danny is one of my Favorite players, I've known him a long time..if he isn't playing steel he's riding, and he rides as well as he plays....We look forward to Jan and Az show, and spending time with him..

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 2 Oct 2012 4:42 am

David, that last pic shows how Danny loves his horses.
A person who loves his animals is also nice to people.

Ned wrote:
I think Danny's playing is quite extraordinary, and a reminder that we sometimes need to step back and re-think how we view our instrument and how it fits in the musical setting we usually associate with it.

Right on the money, Ned. Keen observation indeed.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 2 Oct 2012 5:58 am

Brent,
Yu hit it right on then head...he is ...

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 2 Oct 2012 6:48 am

Danny is a treasure. Have had many nice talks with him on the phone.

Jerry Fessenden · Post by **Jerry Fessenden** » 2 Oct 2012 5:41 pm

Did anyone notice how he is impersonating Jernigan's famous "two necks" on the same song? Sure makes that ol' "Emmons" sound unusual... ah , ah , oh well.

Danny Sneed · Post by **Danny Sneed** » 2 Oct 2012 7:34 pm

Hi, I like Mike's camera, took off about twenty years..speaking of Mike Smith...yesterday I was looking at a video of Mike and it is so Great...truly one of my all time faverite steel player. Sorry I don't no how to make copys,I'll keep it just for me....Thanks to all of you out there in steel guitar land.

Mark Frederick · Post by **Mark Frederick** » 2 Oct 2012 9:24 pm

Any steel guitar aficionado who gets to the PHX area should do him/her self a favor and go see Danny. Absolutely one of the finest steel players in the country and the nicest guy you would ever want to meet. A real gent.

Danny ... just the usual box of cigars and a bottle of fine cabernet. No hurry.

Mark

Jerry Fessenden · Post by **Jerry Fessenden** » 3 Oct 2012 2:56 am

looky here .

Danny Sneed · Post by **Danny Sneed** » 3 Oct 2012 8:46 pm

Hello Jerry, if that's my new guitar wrap it in some cardboard and send it to me!

There are some nice steel guitars being built, but the main reason I like my Fessenden is because of the changer. Jerry uses a harder aluminum for the changer fingers and I get thousands of miles more from his changer. Also plays great and sounds great!
Thanks to all.

Peewee Charles · Post by **Peewee Charles** » 4 Oct 2012 1:47 pm

No Danny..... wrap it in some cardboard and send it to me! I just got a single neck from Jerry I used on the CCMA TV Awards show in Sep.& love the guitar....& what a great guy!!! Feel like I've known Jerry forever...Danny, you blow me away with your playing....I've watched some of the clips & absolutely amazing creativity. I toured & recorded with Gordon Lightfoot for 16 years......Thinkin of having Jerry build me a D 10 I like his guitars so much..All the best & safe ridin...I work with George Canyon, runnerup on Nashville Star a few years ago ... www.georgecanyon.com He has a ranch outside of Calgary & the whole family is in to riding big time....Ed www.myspace.com/peeweecharles

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 7 Dec 2012 1:09 pm

Danny, what a nice surprise hearing from you today!

You weren't kidding, that is a NEW Fessy.
Could your fans convince you to video the guitar for us on Youtube?

Merry Christmas!

Drew

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Danny Sneed

Danny Sneed

Ah yes..........Danny Sneed

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Danny Sneed

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Danny Sneed