Ever Quit?.. or seriously consider it?/

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 16 Nov 2005 8:41 pm

Lost track of the times i quit.Even quit Reece at MSA back in the 70s to go back on the road.A mistake but i could not adjust to a day job.After i retired from the road due to age i did play week ends a lot.But i have had the most fun just sitting at the steel here in the house playing what i like.I stumble into something new almost every time i sit down to it.
I love and have always loved the C6th but that doesen't sit well with bands or the public.
After all these yeare i have to thank Reece Anderson.After chatting with him he pointed out how much fun the steel could still be (no pun intended) and he was sure right at usual.Tracy

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 16 Nov 2005 9:06 pm

Do I ever consider quitting? How about every time I hear Emmons, or Jernigan, or Franklin, or Morrell, or Anderson, or Beavers, or Hicks, or Wallace, or, or, or... Sure, I think about it all the time...

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 16 Nov 2005 10:13 pm

Jim, I quit letting all the guys you listed above ,including you[I'm a C6th nut and love 4 to the bar]intimidate me years ago,when I relized my limitations and knew I would never play on the level of the great players,If all of us could play as well as say the Big E.Then he would'nt be anything special,I'm just a mediocre picker,but people pay me to play[I would do it for free,but keep that a secret]I know none of my heros have any more fun playing a gig than I do,They just make money than I do.After a gig if someone pays me a complement,and says they enjoyed my playing to me thats better than the money I made that night.Music should be fun,not a competition!!

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 16 Nov 2005 11:14 pm

I've been playing keys since 1965, and steel since 1971. I did double duty all thru the '70's, sometimes leaving the keys behind & just playing the steel for a year or so at a time. Around the mid-80's I put the steel away and just did keys until about 5 years ago, when a producer I work with alot convinced me - kicking & screaming at first - to dig my steel out & do some sessions for him.

Well, since then I've bought a couple of new steels and I'm back into the steel world with gusto, and I find that even with the time off, I play better now than when I used to do it all the time. I suppose maybe that means I've matured as a musician.

If only there was as much work for a steel player now as there was back then....

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 16 Nov 2005 11:39 pm

Yep. I was doing high-rise construction and playing Dobro and pedal steel on weekends in Nashville dives. People were beginning to ask me to go on the road (nobody anyone's heard of). I knew some musicians. They all enjoyed the road while they were young, but they all eventually quit and started from scratch in some other line of work. I was in my mid-20s, and I decided I wanted something more than being an entertainer in bars in strange towns. So I went back to school. I still played on weekends for a year or two. But when I started into graduate school in California, they worked me so hard, I gave up playing music altogether, except for sitting around by myself and noodling on a 6-string acoustic.

After 20 years - graduate school, starting a career in research biology, getting married and having four kids - it was time for the big d-i-v-o-r-c-e. Suddenly I was alone half the time. I was working pretty much 9 to 5. For the first time in about 20 years I had free time after work and on weekends. So I looked around and decided I could either work on my house and yard, or I could start playing music again. I drug the old Maverick out from under the bed, put a new set of strings on it, bought a Korean-made reso and a used sax, and started playing again in jams and at open mikes. I discovered the Steel Guitar Forum, and bought a few pedal steels and amps. Now I play a couple times a month in one of three or four bands. And that's about right for now.

I wish I hadn't quit playing entirely all those years. I would be a lot better now, if I had kept it up. But I made my choices. Now I'm back playing, but I don't think I'll be quitting my day job before retirement.

[Edited to clear up the misunderstanding that graduate school took 20 years. It took 5 1/2. It only seemed like 20 years.

][This message was edited by David Doggett on 17 November 2005 at 10:18 PM.]

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 16 Nov 2005 11:45 pm

After 20 years of graduate school

Man! I could barely wait to get out of high school...

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2005 at 12:43 AM.]

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 17 Nov 2005 2:38 am

I only take my fingerpicks off to make a sandwich. I can even type with them on.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 17 Nov 2005 3:10 am

Well, I've only been playing pedal steel 6 years. Although I've never even thought of quitting, a recent stint doing a bunch of grad courses in computer science slowed me down a lot.

But I have played guitar since the 60s, and put music in general down for quite a while. I had the usual reasons - corporate work, a long grad school period, and so on. My guitars were packed away between 82 and 85, and I didn't play much between 74 and 86. There was a period of remorse during the 90s, when I dropped my scientific/engineering career and played music full-time. But ultimately, I prefer a more balanced existence, with science and music mixed.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 17 Nov 2005 5:33 am

I quit to go out of town last weekend.
When I got back the first thing I did was hit the Starter.
Now I see what you guys mean.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 17 Nov 2005 1:34 pm

Dave M.: I think the steel is a nice balance of music, science, art, frustration, perserverance, and fun. What more could a person want?

[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 17 November 2005 at 01:36 PM.]

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 17 Nov 2005 3:27 pm

I think the steel is a nice balance of music, science, art, frustration, perserverance, and fun. What more could a person want?

I'm sure that's one of the things that attracts me to steel guitar - it is the ultimate "gadgeteer's" instrument, but still a thing of beauty. But I am also a scientist/engineer, and nothing will change that. That "other" thing I want is to be able to make a good living while doing the things I like. And make no mistake, I like science and engineering a lot.

I've done both science and music for a living, and, for me, science makes more sense. I strongly prefer to work on things I'm genuinely interested in, regardless of what current tastes and trends are. I think there's much more room for that in the scientific world. The first priority of the "music business" is entertainment, not music. I'm all for entertainment, but when it comes to music, Job 1, for me, is music. I don't see any point in beating my head against the wall. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 17 Nov 2005 4:41 pm

Hey Bob Carlucci....we just talked on the phone a while back. So as you know, i can relate to this post. Yes, i did play that Friday night gig, we were talking about. Everything you told me..was 100% the truth. I am so very glad, i have friends like you, to knock me along side the head sometimes. I owe you one dear friend. As you told me. No problem is too big, or too small, that there is not a solution. I put the steel away for a few months. Got it back out again now. And it's all coming back to me...lol Now..if i could only play like Bob Carlucci...i would be a happy man....and just think..this guy makes an incredible pasta sauce..my daughter and i made homemade spaghetti...with that incredible Carlucci secret recipe spaghetti sauce..i ate so much i hurt myself...did anyone ever hear themselfs gain weight? i did!

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 17 Nov 2005 7:39 pm

I thought about quiting after last Sat.night I was the only one in the band who did thier homework and learned the songs,I was hoping that nobody I knew would show up and rat me out.This weekend I will get even until my head explodes.Now that Herb Steiner guy,He's smart.

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 17 Nov 2005 9:27 pm

Quit??? Geez. first I'd have to go through all the trouble of starting!

Jon Zimmerman · Post by **Jon Zimmerman** » 17 Nov 2005 9:30 pm

Great posts, another Carlucci Casserole! My life mirrors so many of these saga's, it's scary. Still, the itch always needs scratchin'...finger picks work good on that,too, for sure.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 17 Nov 2005 11:48 pm

Like George has stated, sometimes guys get down and lose interest, or feel other things have become more important in thier daily lives, and gigging just loses its appeal for a short while.. I sure can relate to that...

However, I have talked to SO many guys,[ our friend Fred Shannon just this morning] about this.. that have stopped playing for dozens of years at a time, and then have found renewed interest later on in life... I guess I have a harder time with that scenario... Just could not imagine the steel put under the bed for decades, but hey a LOT of us have done it, whether I can relate or not, it hasn't hurt the playing on these guys either!. As always, to each his own, but if there is a steel around here, its gonna get molested on occassion!bob[This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 17 November 2005 at 11:50 PM.]

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 17 Nov 2005 11:56 pm

Yeah! That was probably the biggest lie I ever told anyone, and it was back in ’78 when Jean Shepard called for a week~end gig! I'm still kicking myself for it and still paying the price!

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“Big John” Bechtel
Soon to be: New Burgundy D–10 Derby (w/6 &

’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence
web site

Ernie Pollock · Post by **Ernie Pollock** » 18 Nov 2005 4:59 am

Yeah, I quit about 6 months after starting to play steel, a bartender [from another club I used to play at on guitar] came in where I was playing and told me, "Ernie, you better stick to guitar cause you sure can't play steel", boy that hurt!! But it was probably true at the time. I stuck her [the steel] under the bed for about 4 months, then just could not stand it anymore, brought her out & have never quit since, I think that was around 1975. Just kept working on getting better at it.

Ernie

http://www.hereintown.net/~shobud75/stock.htm

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Dale Bessant · Post by **Dale Bessant** » 18 Nov 2005 6:52 am

Hey Bob I quit playing ( professionally and for the most part, for myself) about a year ago, I've gained over 100 pounds..DONT DO IT !!!!!.......

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 18 Nov 2005 9:27 am

Continueing to play steel as a diet aid.... ooh oooh I like that.
Now I have two down here. Maybe I'll lose another 18 kilos!

L. A. Wunder · Post by **L. A. Wunder** » 18 Nov 2005 10:25 am

I started playing steel when I was in high school, but burned-out in college. I quit playing for about 15 years, and took up the flute. Suddenly, about two years ago, I started having steel guitar dreams. I couldn't understand it, because I'd totally lost interest in the instrument, but the dreams kept comming back. I'd see a band set-up on stage, the show ready to start, and there was the steel sitting empty, waiting for a player. I was at the bottom of the steps, and I knew that player was supposed to be me. I finally gave in, packed away my flute, and unpacked my steel. Now I'm working on relearning the things I used to know, and some new ones I never got around to. I hope it sticks this time around.

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 18 Nov 2005 10:38 am

I just put my steel playing on hold for the past two months to improve my mandolin and flatpick bluegrass chops and write/record some bluegrass songs. I even put some new strings on my Strat and explored some new country licks.

I never quit music. I do go from one instrument to another though and my progress on steel suffers for it.

Terry

Mark Lind-Hanson · Post by **Mark Lind-Hanson** » 18 Nov 2005 11:37 am

I have no intention of ever giving up music.
Like they say in baseball, "I live for this"
>?< And who ever WOULD give it up was probably never meant for the calling to begin with.Its not a living it's a LIFE and you either approach it that way or you don't have much to say, I think. I only stopped gigging in order to learn the pedal steel. now that I am at a place where I am comfortable enoug to take it out there, I actually just crossed the first personal river last week when I went out & played in a band situation for the first time, with it. Well, they all liked me- so if they DIDN'T I was prepared to go back & spend a few more months on it before going out. But I found myself more up against THEIR limitations, as younger players, than my OWN. I could still notice where MINE ARE, but, fortunately, there were few compared to what I thought were THEIRs, and besides, they did sound good enough themselves that, I didn't feel I was dealing with complete dilletantes. Iam actually going to try & collect about 3-4 different groups of players to work with every other week or so & see what comes out. Hopefully they will drag my carcass off the stage after some ferociously wonderful musical statement which has caused me to bust my guts- wouldn't want to go any other way than doing what I love to do most...

David Coplin · Post by **David Coplin** » 18 Nov 2005 12:56 pm

Boy, can I relate to many of the posts on this topic. I played a double & triple neck Fender ( non pedal )during my stint in the Air Force. Played all over the Northwest after getting out of the service. By this time The Fender 1000 had come out. Like Jim Phelps, when my first son was born I decided to get a "real job" . worked in a Radio Station and played on weekends. I quit playing the steel and sold my 1000 but continued playing the 6 string standard.
Later went into Television where I spent 22 years. I never forgot how much I enjoyed the steel guitar so after a 30 year break
I started again. The re-learning curve has been a real challange but I think I am gaining ground thanks to the steel guitar forum and all of the information on the internet. I now have a Fender 1000 with the sho-bud type bridges and a Sho-Bud "The Professional". The biggest hurtle for me has been learning to use knee levers which were just starting to get popular when I quit playing. I want to thank Bobby Lee and all the folks that have put this wonderful forum together.

David Coplin

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 18 Nov 2005 2:56 pm

I've always been afraid of working on power tools (with blades) or large electric motors and such for fear of losing a finger or two.

I've seen guys with missing parts who still play - like a mandolin player with no right hand, a banjo player with only 2 left-hand fingers, etc. I just wouldn't want to start over like that.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com