This Really Ticks Me Off.....

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 16 Dec 2002 3:17 pm

Oh, you must mean the "SQUIRREL NUT ZITHERS"!!

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 16 Dec 2002 5:04 pm

Well, there I was on British TV with singer/comedian Freddie Starr (an unfamiliar name here, but fairly high-profile back home) and during rehearsals he'd prefaced my solo with, "....here's Roger, on pedal steel guitar".

Unfortunately, this minor opportunity for some PSG promotion was lost when, on the recording, he said, 'Here's Roger - on Zimmer-caster!"

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 16 Dec 2002 5:38 pm

I did a little "jazz" gig awhile back,& the 25 yr. old bass player came up & said,"Is that what they call a dulcimer?" Right off,I knew I was in trouble!!

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Steve England · Post by **Steve England** » 16 Dec 2002 5:40 pm

Well I have just managed to get the SINGER in the band I play with at the moment to stop introducing me as the "steel Pedal player" or "slide pedal Player". This from a guy who is in his forties and has lived all his life in Texas!!! Jeez where do some people hide themsleves?

Dave Birkett · Post by **Dave Birkett** » 16 Dec 2002 7:17 pm

I think, when the right player comes along, everyone will know what a steel is. Remember that the tenor sax was not only a little known and rarely used instrument, but widely disrespected by musicians as something that comedians made funny honking noises on! That is until Coleman Hawkins came along.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 17 Dec 2002 3:05 am

I can't even spell " Mauve Zither" , or at least I don't think I can..

My sister, who was a pop R+B producer in the 80's still calls my Pedal Steel an Electric Slide and tells me I'm playing it wrong because I use the Pedals too much for that whiney sound . It's the world she comes from and it ain't gonna change anytime soon.

Mauve Zither...it's kinda catchy...

" Oh no Sir..This ain't one of them thar' Pedal Steels Guitars, it's a Mauve Zither, what could you be thinking ? And I accept your apology "

tp[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 17 December 2002 at 03:06 AM.]

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 20 Dec 2002 12:21 pm

like "mauve" or "taupe" when you really don't know what color it is.

You've been talking to my mom, haven't you?

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 20 Dec 2002 12:52 pm

Hank Penney once told someone who asked "what is that instrument?". He said it was an electric steam heated African Zither. Jody.

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 23 Dec 2002 7:21 pm

"Mauve Zither" just CALLS to be used as someone's stagename.

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 23 Dec 2002 10:43 pm

And Terry Wendt told me that pedal steel guitar was Shania's favorite instrument!

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 24 Dec 2002 6:57 am

Jim--True, first impressions may turn someone off about the steel. I have had people hear John Hughey and they have said they can't stand that crying sound as it puts them to sleep. We have to face reality that everyone doesn't like steel guitar and get on with our lives. There are people that love steel guitar so much and they even enjoy MY playing and my playing can turn anyone off

! Joe

John Kavanagh · Post by **John Kavanagh** » 24 Dec 2002 9:07 am

I feel like a geek mentioning this, but it's sort of funny.

A steel guitar IS a zither.

I'm going to start a new post about his because I thinks it's sort of interesting.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 24 Dec 2002 10:16 am

Yes John it is !!!

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 25 Dec 2002 10:01 am

I know many are going to disagree with me, but the reason that the steel guitar is not accepted in many types of music lies in the presentation,___yes. It's the pedal guitar played from a sitting position that is not so acceptable. I play both pedal and nonpedal steel guitar; but they are my hobby.

I know the drummer is also seated; but he provides timing and beat.

If the best of professionals played multi-necks from a standing position and played a nonpedal style, acceptability of the steel guitar would increase,__not to the level of the electric lead guitar; but acceptability would increase.

Rick

[This message was edited by Rick Collins on 25 December 2002 at 02:09 PM.]

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 28 Dec 2002 8:14 pm

I think you got something there, Rick. When I used to play my D8, it was standing up and if I was going to play guitar in the same tune, I strapped the guitar on and leaned over to play the steel. Then when I got my Electra-Harp pedal job, I sat down, and definitley lose that Showmanship somewhat..Happy New Year...al

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Dec 2002 6:28 am

Rick,
Why are we different from pianists/keyboard players, who also sit?

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 29 Dec 2002 8:27 am

Jim, it may still harken back to familiarity versus unfamiliarity. Lots of households have pianos sitting in the living room, family room, or parlor, whether or not family members play them very much. Nowadays inexpensive electronic keyboards are in a lot of kids' bedrooms, too. So piano/synth keyboards are familiar to a very large percentage of the population, and therefore to one degree or another most folks can identify with the person playing keys in a band. But that zither-looking thingy? That's just "weird".

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Dec 2002 4:35 pm

Well, a lot of people do think we're playing a keyboard. Do they like us better then, than when they find out (if they ask us) that it's actually a "steel guitar"?

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 31 Dec 2002 8:36 am

Jim,

Many more electronic keyboards are in the smaller bands than the conventional acoustical piano. I know this is mainly for the portability; but I also see a lot of keyboard players standing as they perform. And rightly so;___watching a four or five piece band perform, I would rather see all members standing.

Rick