Is there a trick to playing in cowboy boots???

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 6 Feb 2006 12:47 pm

I also play exclusively in boots. My preference is an E or double E width, narrow pointed toe, squared off point on the leather sole, 1/1/2"
to 1 5/8" walking leather heel, and 13" shank. I have a brand new pair are on the way from BootBay: Justin, model #1434, black Corona leather, as described above. I have a picture of them on www.wiztunes.com on the home page.

------------------
Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 22 March 2006 at 08:21 PM.]

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 6 Feb 2006 2:00 pm

Black boots give the best tone.

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 6 Feb 2006 2:00 pm

I've played in boots for years, they're the most comfortable for me. All have pointed toes and undershot heels 1&7/8" to 2" high. ( I'm a short guy,5'-7" tall, so I like tall heels ) I've never had a problem, but, I do recommend a boot with a soft, flexible shaft. A boot made of mulehide or a manmade material will not flex enough to rock on and off the pedals correctly. If you're playing country and using the A,B,C pedals alot, you can more or less plant your heel and pivot your soul back and forth. The undershot heel is great for that. It has a perfect pivot point. Some people can't stand them, but, I love'em.

Gordon Borland · Post by **Gordon Borland** » 6 Feb 2006 7:16 pm

Make sure you own them.

------------------
Gordon Borland
MSA D10,FENDER STEEL KING,

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 6 Feb 2006 11:12 pm

Chris, they are some fancy uppers .. but isn't the melody on them the theme from Broke Back Mountain?

But seriously, learn to play with any kind of shoes. I have always worn boots, either Ropers, Tall Tops, or regular western style. I don't even own a pair of regular shoes. I will practice in whatever is by the back door, I even played a gig this past summer in flip flops.[This message was edited by Bo Borland on 06 February 2006 at 11:17 PM.][This message was edited by Bo Borland on 06 February 2006 at 11:18 PM.]

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 7 Feb 2006 3:38 am

be sure and clean the manure off and boots work fine.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 7 Feb 2006 4:14 am

Q. With all the steel players wearing western boots...How do you tell the real cowboys from the pedal steel players?
A. The real cowboys have manure on the outside of their boots.

Mark Metdker · Post by **Mark Metdker** » 7 Feb 2006 6:06 am

I wear boots alot anyway. I think if you are accustomed to wearing them, then it's not a big transition to wearing them while playing steel. Start wearing boots more when NOT playing steel and it may feel more natural. Also, try a softer leather for your steel boots.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 7 Feb 2006 8:13 am

My secret to playing in cowboy boots is....

Take them off and play barefoot!

Jim Ives · Post by **Jim Ives** » 7 Feb 2006 9:00 am

Moccasins like Sperry Topsiders for me. That way I can feel the pedals, and there is no protruding toe to get in the way like with cowboy boots.
They look dorky, but that is compensated for by the fact that you are a steel player, therefore you are cool.
-Jim

Bob Knetzger · Post by **Bob Knetzger** » 7 Feb 2006 10:04 am

When I played a vintage Fender steel, cowboy boots were perfect for stomping on that stiff pedal action...but when I got a new Carter I wanted to play it wearing something more sensitive and accurate to match the smooth and perfectly timed pedal pulls.

I found a pair of "shoe boots" that I think are a great compromise between shoes and boots, between comfort, style and performance.

Has a medium heel: higher than a shoe but lower than a cowboy boot. Just right.

A rounded toe, not too pointy or too long.

A thin leather sole. Sensitive like mocasins, much more flexible than cowboy boot soles. Good feel on the pedals--they glide smoothly but don't slip off. No big rim of stitching around the sole to hang up on a pedal.

Low top (just over the ankle) with a side zipper, Excellent ankle twistabilty for any pedal move. Easy on, easy off at the end of the night, too.

Shiny black leather (for good tone

).

Okay, it's missing the cool stitched toe "bug" you get on a real pair of cowboy boots, but under your pant's cuff, and with the medium heel they fit right in with a western band look. Perfect "stealth" boots. Heck, you could wear these to any kind of gig from a concert to a bar to a church gig and fit right in.

They aren't the shoe boots made by cowboy boot companies (I've have a pair of those, too. Don't work as well). Some might call these "Cuban heels." These were made by David Taylor and I got them at Sears a few years ago. Come to think of it, they work so well for me I better go get a spare pair if they still have them!

[This message was edited by Bob Knetzger on 07 February 2006 at 10:05 AM.][This message was edited by Bob Knetzger on 07 February 2006 at 10:08 AM.]

Ken Yates · Post by **Ken Yates** » 7 Feb 2006 11:27 am

Go to JCPENNY.COM and look at the Durango dressboots. its a nice boot to play in and has the western boot look. With a side zipper on the inside, makes for easy on/off and you could unzip and let yor ankle move freely. I love mine so far.

------------------
Derby SD 10,,,Nashville 112,,,Nashville 400,,,Hilton,,,RV-3

[This message was edited by Ken Yates on 07 February 2006 at 11:28 AM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 7 Feb 2006 12:34 pm

Low top (just over the ankle) with a side zipper, Excellent ankle twistabilty for any pedal move. Easy on, easy off at the end of the night, too.

The "side zipper" feature sounds like those known in another time and place as "hootch boots", where the culture was to remove shoes before going inside a dwelling. I've owned some of those.

------------------
<img width=100 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/Scan10345.jpg>
WEBSITE

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 08 February 2006 at 05:16 AM.]

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 7 Feb 2006 4:10 pm

I believe it is much easier to play in boots if your foot is small. I wear a 13 boot and the pedal feel is really different.
The long narrow toes makes rocking difficult for me.I do better on my old p/p then on the newer narrow pedals on the Legrande lll.

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 7 Feb 2006 4:29 pm

Right now I'm playing in a pair of Justin Ropers, but for me any of the Roper style boots work as long as they are soft leather, and have a thin sole.

At 6'-1" tall I do use a low profle Goodrich pedal along with those Ropers.

As far as tricks or secrets to playing in boots? I think it's all in what you're used to.

Larry

------------------
Emmons S/D-10, 3/5, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

[This message was edited by Larry Strawn on 07 February 2006 at 04:31 PM.]

Dave Horch · Post by **Dave Horch** » 9 Feb 2006 2:19 am

Wear sneakers. Eff that boot stuff!

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 10 Feb 2006 3:08 pm

I play in cowboy boots every where but at home. The best pair of boots to play in is a pair that is broken in good. I have a pair that's about 15yrs old so their good an flexible. Santa brought me a brand new pair of Justin Lizard, peanut brittle color.
Their very purty but not as easy to play in as my old ones.

Terry

------------------
Mullen D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 10 Feb 2006 3:43 pm

Moccasins, Chucks, Vans, Uggs...they all make far more sense to me than boots. I don't own a pair of boots, but I couldn't even imagine trying to play in them.

Jordan Shapiro · Post by **Jordan Shapiro** » 10 Feb 2006 6:46 pm

Yeah, my preference is boots, but due to a rather unpleasant motorcycle wreck my left ankle doesn't bend as far or easily as it should.

I usually play in my wrangler square toed boots,(the model with the eagle stitched on them). I seem to play the best in my tennis shoes, but my foot gets tired fast, as it is used to being at the angle the bootheel sets it at. My compromise is the ankle boots. The best of both worlds, although i do like them to be well worn on the bottom, like I prefer my women.

I must respectfully state that if I were to show up to play in moccasins, the guys would probably hand me some feathers, a tomahawk and show me where to exit the venue where nobody could see me. Ha!

Sorry, I know there are folks in my city here that wear them, but I just can't hold back sometimes. All in fun here!!

I think RR was wearing moccasins on the grammys, and have it from a pretty solid source that Jerry was wearing moccasins when he recorded Teach Your Children.

Jordan

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 10 Feb 2006 9:47 pm

I've always played wearing boots up until about 15-yrs. ago. For many years my most recent boots were a pair of Black Patent~Leather, 12” or 14” Square~Top, with needle~point toe and 2” undershot heel. But, in approx. ’82 I switch to Hanover real leather zippered Shoe~Boots w/cowboy~type heel. I bough (1)-pair in Black and (1)-pair in Burgundy. But, when I noticed that everyone around here had started wearing regular shoes or jogging~type shoes, I switched to Red Wing Oxfords. I still think the cowboy~style heel and a thin leather sole is the most comfortable way to go! Believe it or not, I still have those great Hanover Shoe~Boots, but; I tried them on the other day and my ankles are a little too swollen for the best fit, at the present time. And besides that, I would need another evtra 1” in guitar height to use them. But, I think a shoe with a wider heel makes it much harder to rock the foot (ankle) on the pedals! So, regardless of what I wear, I would prefer the Cowboy~Boot! It also makes playing a little easier if all the pedals are Raised slightly when wearing the higher heel!

------------------
“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 14 Feb 2006 9:19 am

I rotate wearing a pair of Lucchese, an Ariai Roper, and a pair of Rios of Mercedes. I have owned all of these boots for a number of years and their initial cost ranged from about $700 for the Lucchese to about $100 for the ropers.

The Lucchese is by far the most comfortable and I regularly wear them everyday. I'm not very fond of the Ariai Ropers as they are a little stiff (I learned later that they are made in China). My favorite boots for bandstand wear are the Rios because they are so soft and pliable. (see photo below)

<img width=500 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/Erin&Kelly%20Halloween.jpg>

------------------
<img width=100 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/Scan10345.jpg>
WEBSITE

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 14 Feb 2006 1:29 pm

Yep, Gene, Lucchese boots feel like bedroom shoes. I've got 2 pair, and I don't think I could wear anybody else's boot! And they flex at the ankle just right!

Jake L · Post by **Jake L** » 14 Feb 2006 8:50 pm

Like some of y'all, I wear boots all the time. I have several pairs that I use for playing, including the Double H boots that I use working with my horses, which have a taller heel than the roper style. I have found that the heel doesn't affect my meager attempts at playing as much as the toes do. I personally like to use a rounded toe such as a roper style. I have also found that playing in Chuckas is comfortable, but the toe is a little too big for me to switch pedals cleanly.