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Topic: Can’t play in cowboy boots |
Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 18 Dec 2019 6:31 pm |
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It's the old guys that want to see western boots on stage. The younger crowd doesn't seem to care about that at all. Times change.
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It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. |
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Lynn Fargo
From:
Fort Edward, NY
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Posted 18 Dec 2019 7:15 pm
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For some reason I need a bit of a heel to work the pedals. For me it seems it's easier to pivot from pedal to pedal. That is, if I've taken the time to oil, beat up and break in the ankle area of a regular boot. Currently my favorite shoes are an ankle boot (kind of like a Beatle boot) and a pair of sandals with a thick sole and higher heel. For boots I like a snip toe, and since I have a small foot, I have no problem with getting caught up in the pedal rods. I'm amazed at people who can play in sneakers or flat shoes! They kill my ankles!
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Sho-Bud Pro II Custom, GFI Ultra SD-10, Fender Pro Amp, Fender Mustang II Amp, Morrell 8-string lap, Epiphone 6-string lap, Galveston reso, etc. |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 18 Dec 2019 10:01 pm
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| Lynn Fargo wrote: |
For some reason I need a bit of a heel to work the pedals. For me it seems it's easier to pivot from pedal to pedal.
I'm amazed at people who can play in sneakers or flat shoes! They kill my ankles! |
Same here, including the volume pedal. Flat dress shoes and tennis shoes = Ankle death. |
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George Crickmore
From:
Myrtle Beach South Carolina, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 1:48 am
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| Pete Burak wrote: |
Skate Board Shops usually have cool looking stage shoes, and they are all about being able to feel the board (pedals in our case).
Vans are popular.
One local player styles the pedals with Converse high tops. |
Pete is right on with this. I have been wearing Vans to play for years. Nothing better in my opinion.
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Excel S-10,2 Williams 700 Universals,Jackson Blackjack Custom,, Goodrich LDR2 & Hilton Vol pedals,Monster 3500pro power conditioner, Morgan SW100 amp & Cab |
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Mack Quinney
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 6:43 am
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Thanks all for the replies. I haven’t tried boots with the higher heels. I’ll give that a try. I wear boots daily, so I would really like to get comfortable playing in them.
Thanks again for the ideas!
Mack
_________________
76 Emmons Push Pull, Williams 600, ShoBud Pro I, MSA Classic, Remington SteelMaster dbl 8, MSA Super Slide dbl 8, Gold Tone 6, And other instruments and equipment I can't afford. |
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Brad Easley
From:
Arkansas, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 6:47 am
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Until recently, I gigged in what I consider casual attire, my daily jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers. But I decided to change that and "look the part", as it were. I have a new pair of cowboy boots specifically for gigging. Played one gig in them without practice, and that was a mistake. Guess I need to be diligent about wearing them when I practice if I'm going to gig in them.
Now, I know there are more comfortable options that make it easier to "feel" the pedals (I have a pair of sneakers I bought specifically because of this), but... I feel like a big part of being an entertainer is the aesthetic element. Just like people taste with their eyes first, people hear with their eyes first too (maybe not musicians, but the average music fan). If I go to see a country band (and I mean Country, not mainstream country pop) and they're in shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes, it doesn't exactly set the vibe for a country music show. Look at a band like The Country Side of Harmonica Sam, you know what you're getting before they play one note (granted they're at the extreme end of the spectrum). My opinion is that live music is as much a visual as an aural art form. People want to be entertained, and just playing well isn't enough to keep the average person's attention span for long.
I'd guess the reason you don't see steel players wearing boots at a steel convention is that they know they don't have to since the audience is all steel players who only care about the playing. |
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Brian LeBlanc
From:
Falls Church, Virginia, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 6:56 am Tony Lama's
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1st lesson I took with Buddy Charleton:
"get yourself a pair of Tony Lama's"
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...more then couple years ago $@%!
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'Frenchy' LeBlanc...
ShoBud & Twins |
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Mack Quinney
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 7:09 am
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Brian, I have several pairs of Tony Llamas. Love them. Best boots in my opinion. I have a pair of Aariats that have the higher heel. Gonna give them a try.
_________________
76 Emmons Push Pull, Williams 600, ShoBud Pro I, MSA Classic, Remington SteelMaster dbl 8, MSA Super Slide dbl 8, Gold Tone 6, And other instruments and equipment I can't afford. |
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Don R Brown
From:
Rochester, New York, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 7:53 am
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There's even a song about Tony Lamas!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ5YUKIM1Kc
(Not totally off color, but it IS tinted a bit  )
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Many play better than I do. Nobody has more fun. |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 9:14 am
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It's my understanding, that you need an additional rubber sole glued on after the buy. Because when the leather is worn out it loosens the seam.
I bought some pretty pointed ones a few months ago and without the rubber I costantly slid off the pedals.
An extra Rubber Soul 
What do you do?
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Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 9:54 am
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| Joachim Kettner wrote: |
It's my understanding, that you need an additional rubber sole glued on after the buy. Because when the leather is worn out it loosens the seam.
I bought some pretty pointed ones a few months ago and without the rubber I costantly slid off the pedals.
An extra Rubber Soul
What do you do? |
New leather soles will slip. They need to be scuffed up. I used rubber bands on my pedals until the soles of my boots developed some wear and tear. If the soles are flat, then yes, the stitching will loosen faster than a curved sole, but even at that, it shouldn’t happen for several years of regular wear.
My original Rubber Soul wore out long time ago 🤠|
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 10:10 am
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Good advice Fred! I mean the rubber bands. But even even the scuff up (I learnd a new word) doesn't help from slipping when snow is on the ground, which doesn't happen as much as decades ago, but still sometimes.
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Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 10:10 am
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| I wore cowboy boots all the time for decades,partly because they worked better than anything else for playing steel.Although advancing age makes boots not work very well for standing and walking,they're still comfortable for playing.For times when it's inconvenient to change into boots to play,I have a pair of black Skechers that look like street shoes.I think the bright colors on modern footwear call attention where it shouldn't go..... |
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Dave Meis
From:
Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 10:56 am
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| I can't do the volume pedal without a taller heel.. |
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Bill Cunningham
From:
Atlanta, Ga. USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 12:04 pm
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| Fred Treece wrote: |
| Lynn Fargo wrote: |
For some reason I need a bit of a heel to work the pedals. For me it seems it's easier to pivot from pedal to pedal.
I'm amazed at people who can play in sneakers or flat shoes! They kill my ankles! |
Same here, including the volume pedal. Flat dress shoes and tennis shoes = Ankle death. |
Same here. My volume pedal ankle hurts unless I wear a cowboy heel.
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Bill Cunningham
Atlanta, GA |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 12:34 pm
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I can't even wear cowboy boots, let alone play a pedal steel wearing 'em. Some shoes work okay, and in my salad days I played in stocking feet or even barefoot. These days I prefer good ole Minnetonka Moccasins, from the bowels of nordeast Minneapolis. |
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Bruce Bjork
From:
Southern Coast of Maine
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 1:29 pm
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I teach guitar at my local Vet Center, music therapy for combat vets. One of my students gave me a pair of well worn Tony Lamas, first time I ever wore cowboy boots (I’m from New England). Since I was new to Pedal Steel I started out with them thinking it was the right thing to do, they work just fine and I now wear them every time I play out, banjo, dobro, guitar and pedal steel, I even bought a couple of cowboy shirts which are now part of my playing out attire.
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Banjo, Dobro, Guild D-40, Telecaster, Justice Pro Lite 3x5, BOSS Katana 100, Peavey Nashville 112 in a Tommy Huff cabinet, Spark, FreeLoader, Baby Bloomer, Peterson StroboPlus HD, Stage One VP.
"Use the talents you possess; the woods would be very silent indeed if no birds sang but the best" |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 1:43 pm
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Are cowboy boots part of a costume, or it it a lifestyle? I've worn plenty of costumes in my life, so I'm no purist. I've never been a cowboy so it's definitely not a lifestyle for me. I occasionally wear a cowboy hat at gigs, but even that feels a little silly. Boots that interfere with my ability to play my best are not acceptable.
I agree about the need to raise up the heels so the angle of attack is better on the pedals and VP. I have heel shims inside my race car shoes. My playing shoes are all black so they are not very conspicuous.
_________________
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. |
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Dave Meis
From:
Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 1:59 pm
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| If I have to wear flat bottom shoes, I keep a short piece of 1x3/4 wood in my seat to put under the heel of my VP.. I don't have a problem with the pedals.. just the VP. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 3:05 pm
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My current boots are Lucchese's that I bought on sale at half price earlier this year. Very soft and limber leather. Probably the best cowboy boots I've had for playing steel, and I've been using boots since 1973.
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GFI Ultra Keyless S-10 with pad (Black of course) TB202 amp, Hilton VP, Steelers Choice sidekick seat, SIT Strings
Cakewalk by Bandlab and Studio One V4.6 pro DAWs, MOTU Ultralite MK5 recording interface unit |
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john widgren
From:
Wilton CT
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 4:36 pm Made for walkin..
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Boots have neverbeen aproblem. I do however have a severe allergy to truck stop cowboy drag.
_________________
Steel Guitar Services:
Live performance and recording. Instruments, repairs and lessons. Fresh bait/discount sushi.
(203) 858-8498
widcj@hotmail.com |
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Tim Herman
From:
Alberta, Canada
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