Quaking The Steel Player's Aptitude

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 26 Nov 2006 5:00 am

Newton might be in his glory if he lived today, and became a steel guitarist. The acceleration of a steel bar dropping to the floor, would no doubt entice him more, than an apple falling from a tree. Appropriate deductions could be arrived at, which call attention to the picks dropping on the strings. The study of physics would naturally include the string's maximum tone at a given pitch. We all hear differently, which compounds the problem of attempting to reach agreement. [This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 26 November 2006 at 05:02 AM.]

Bob Farlow · Post by **Bob Farlow** » 26 Nov 2006 5:26 am

I could not agree more ......(or less).

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 26 Nov 2006 6:16 am

I don't agree at all, but I do somewhat...

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 26 Nov 2006 8:30 am

I'm obliged to note that depending on the subject matter, favorable interpretations are elusive, and contain minimal input. The real crunch ensues when a point is driven home with assurances of validity. Things that attract the most attention, seem to have nothing to do with musical culture.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Nov 2006 8:50 am

Things that attract the most attention, seem to have nothing to do with musical culture.

I absolutely agree with that statement!

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Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 26 Nov 2006 9:24 am

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 26 Nov 2006 10:51 am

Doug, strange but true, my point exactly. Who would attempt to disprove the premise?

Eddie Cunningham · Post by **Eddie Cunningham** » 26 Nov 2006 10:53 am

I agree withs Dougs opinion 106 % !! I like the way he states things !! Gawd , I wish I wuz 55 years younger ! the Ole Geezer !!

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Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 26 Nov 2006 11:37 am

Eddie, I remember chatting with you outside at one of Frankie's Steel Shows. Tom Cassella made his presence felt that day, with a great performance. His rendition of "I'm Not Lisa" at the 12th fret sticks in my memory. Your performance on the nonpedal steel guitar was met with much applause. I've always wished to hear more of your great musical selections.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 26 Nov 2006 11:48 am

Though Doug's example lacks somewhat in sartorial elegance, it does bring to light a couple outstanding points!

Mother Nature, however, has the last "sartorial laugh"...wherein 38 D's, in time, become 42 longs.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 26 Nov 2006 12:37 pm

Donny, as you know, the saying goes, that a person is judged by the clothes they wear. The pert lady is a fine example of a 360 degree turnabout of the way we view things.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Nov 2006 12:55 pm

Bill, I'm sorry to get off-topic with the titillating picture. Now back to the matters at hand... the physics of picks on the strings, or something like that?

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Eddie Cunningham · Post by **Eddie Cunningham** » 26 Nov 2006 1:04 pm

Yes Bill , we've met and talked several times at Frankies Steel shows. Tommy Cass was always a great steel perfectionist as also you were !! I never really feel comfortable on pedals and stick with the old non-pedal Hawaiian or "Byrd" type music!! I do enjoy your epistles on music, attitude and what ever else crosses your erudite mind !! The Ole Geezer

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Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 26 Nov 2006 3:08 pm

Doug, what concerns me most of late, is how well we actually hear highs and lows of string melodies. There appears to be a discrepancy in connection with this particular issue. I would be interested in pursuing with those who may regard hearing to be involved in judicious calls, that require further study.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Nov 2006 3:24 pm

I know I've lost some "high-end" hearing in my right ear, although it has not affected my playing, as far as I know. 4000 gigs sitting in front of a 200 watt amp with drummers crashing cymbals in my ear. It's a wonder I can hear at all.

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Colby Tipton · Post by **Colby Tipton** » 26 Nov 2006 3:43 pm

In relation to how fast the sound gets from the strings to the pickup, when the strings are picked. If the speed of sound is approx. 1,129.5202 ft./s at 70 degrees f, that computes to 13,554.242 in./s and a pickup is set 3/16" from the strings. Why do we not have a sonic boom when we pick a string?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 26 Nov 2006 4:01 pm

Colby, your pickups don't register sound. Rather, the strings produce a variation in the magnetic flux lines around the pickup, thereby inducing a small current which the amplifier enhances and sends to the speaker. That's where the "sound" comes from.

As to your question, however, vibrating strings don't move fast enough to exceed the speed of sound, so there's no pressure wave ("sonic boom") created. The tail of a whip does, however, when properly manipulated, and the resultant "crack" we hear is a small-scale "sonic boom".[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 26 November 2006 at 04:02 PM.]

Colby Tipton · Post by **Colby Tipton** » 26 Nov 2006 4:20 pm

Donny,
I knew that and if you don't crack the whip correctly you will pop yourself in the back of your ear the way I did when I was a kid.
That was a small sonic boom that hurt.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 26 Nov 2006 5:25 pm

Doug,

this is a steel guitar forum and therefore that picture has no business here.....however,if there was more pictures like this one I would be checking this place more often

Db

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"Promat"
~when tone matters~ www.promatsteelguitars.com

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 26 Nov 2006 5:41 pm

(I got tired of scrolling back up...)

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 26 Nov 2006 5:50 pm

umm ahh, what was the topic under discusion?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Nov 2006 5:56 pm

Thanks Jim!

Topic? What topic?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 26 Nov 2006 6:55 pm

I think we were talking about 'quaking'... uh-huh, yeah, that's it...

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Nov 2006 7:48 pm

Quaking is the worst!

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 27 Nov 2006 3:57 am

Jim C., thanks for embracing one of life's greatest pleasures. You might be the perfect person to lead us not into temptation, but rather shed some light on the more serious matter of gradual hearing loss. It's reasonable to assume that a dedicated player can sense the disparities long before he/she is called upon to share in the culpabilities of misjudgments. We depend upon on our sense of hearing to arrive at making decisions in a wide array of choices. Tinnitus alone, seems to compete with the high musical notes, while a waning hearing loss creeps upon us like a stealthy jungle cat. The key to this discussion is differences in hearing abilities. The delicate nature of hearing is assaulted by indiscreet volumes of thundering musical accompaniment on stage. These acts contribute largely to deficits in making sound judgments in matters that depend wholly on what we hear.
Neither can we dismiss the "tin" ear person who relishes throwing in his 2 cents worth.