Spurners Alike

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 2 Dec 2009 2:44 pm

My personal observations reminds me of an absolute disregard for steel guitarists by countless viewers who crowd into special country music shows. There are many reasons that prevents the majority of spurners from avoiding displaying biases, that are indicative of a misinformed public. They immediately abandon that which is far too complicated for consideration. The process of introducing the workings of the pedal steel guitar to those with no knowledge of its full potential, is a special task.

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 2 Dec 2009 9:57 pm

Why bother showing them, if they're not interested?

You have to remember, they are in the mainstream, not you

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 3 Dec 2009 3:06 am

Richard,

A newly introduced system of complicated mechanical devices such as the modern pedal steel guitar, will thwart the nonmusician all through eternity. The joy of surrounding oneself with a lifestyle that includes cognizant musicians, is vital to steady development in one's own backyard. There are times when an introduction to the pedal steel, is all that is needed to awaken a hidden interest. Peer pressure is a powerful force. For certain, music will never be considered peer pressure with questionable results. It's all out in the open, with no harmful side effects. Richard, if mainstreamers are included in party activities, you can be sure that some will insist that there is a great need for their offspring to offset the "boring" country music, by introducing their violins. Have you experienced similar situations?

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 3 Dec 2009 6:53 am

A society of reticent, taciturn, and adamant personages; is it? Thankfully, my music is unaffected by the absentee articulations. An enterprising soul may choose to circle back to get behind the root causation of limited responses from a "well" of knowledgeable writers. Zealotry for the purpose of communicative inquiries, has been known to famish the stroke of a pen. Ornery, or otherwise, so be it..

Ed. for spell check..

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 3 Dec 2009 8:53 am

Wow, Bill, I have no idea just where you've been gigging.
Everywhere I play, whether for traditional country audiences, blues clubs, jam scene festivals, more and more people know what the pedal steel guitar is and does, love to hear it, and want to come up and talk about it. Some years ago there seemed to be less awareness of PSG as an instrument, but I can't get through a gig without interested, supportive folks wanting to talk steel.
I really don't know where you're coming from on this one.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 3 Dec 2009 9:32 am

Mark,

Lest we forget that ignorance is a regional problem, may I remind you that Nashville cannot be compared to Massachusetts where the trends are law offices and medical research. Can you see a surgeon attending a steel guitar concert? I'm quite sure it will never happen on a day to day basis. Opportunities are dependent upon a likeness of interests. I believe peaches are grown in Georgia. Therefore, why would anyone go to the far north to fill their baskets? Success is all about banding together with musicians who hold similar interests. There are opportunities that will secure bookings for a steel guitarist indefinitely.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 3 Dec 2009 11:35 am

Bill, I am wondering where you do your "research". Thing is, ignorance of steel guitar is certainly not a regional problem, if you want to call it a problem at all. People who don't know what pedal steel is or how it sounds is all over the place. It ranges from Pitsfield MA to London Ontario to London England to ..well you name it.

And your alluding to a surgeon attending a steel concert is not only untrue, it is also misleading and not based in fact. Lately I have become acquainted with a man who is a design engineer and machinist who is totally nuts about everything steel guitar.

Whenever people ask me about my interest in making steels, they are genuinely interested when I give them an introduction in what the pedal steel is all about.

So I for one, will take exception to your assertions that ignorance of the steel is regional and that only people in certain occupations would attend a concert.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 3 Dec 2009 2:44 pm

Bent,

I can easily understand the interest shown by machinists in the construction of the steel guitar. I have a friend who is a retired machinist, and he plays steel at home and in band situations. Compared to say, the 6 string Spanish guitar, the steel is lagging far behind in public awareness. Do you suppose that by dressing up the statistics, it would encourage others to discount my statements? Please keep in mind that my experiences performing on dozens of stages here in the Berkshires for many years, has enlightened my outlook.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 3 Dec 2009 6:04 pm

Bill you can't say that interest is tied to profession. Surgeons, as well as machinists can and do take an interest for steel.
How can you be so sure? You just never know what mix of professions you have in the audience. It is just so ludicrous of you to make a blanket statement like that.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 3 Dec 2009 11:02 pm

Bill, several of the bands I play with travel regionally, nationally and internationally. Some of the gigs I'm referring to encompass VT, MA, CT, NJ, DC, NYC, and other Northern locales.

I bought a Mullen I played for years for a song from a Doctor who, despite a deep appreciation for all things steel, just couldn't get a handle on it.

I really don't understand where you're going with this thread.

Bill Myrick · Post by **Bill Myrick** » 4 Dec 2009 4:10 am

Man, I gota get a new dictionary---lots of those words arn't even in mine ----

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 4 Dec 2009 4:24 am

Bent,

Treading lightly over unfamiliar territory can become a way of life for builders of high-rise office buildings. Early pioneers were attuned to slippery surfaces where fancy footwork became necessary to survive. For those who read the daily news, ascertaining the unsafe conditions that exists in many cities is a reminder to use caution at every turn. Social disfunction is not a laughing matter, when it blankets a wide area of discontent. The steel guitar happens to be a very desirable means of introducing a wide range of harmonies not found in the "mainstream" of radio stations. Compared to guitars, the steel is still in the infancy stages of becoming widely known. It doesn't help when party goers get a little tipsy and croaky about the band. Good levelheaded knowledgeable patrons are more to my liking. They always restore my faith in the good side of life.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 4 Dec 2009 2:19 pm

Mark Van Allen,

I've decided to steer off the negative highway of complaints. Whatever suits you will be fine with me. I'll follow the example set by you by looking on the brighter side of life. Thanks for your responses. You are a credit to fellow musicians who work with you.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 4 Dec 2009 2:39 pm

Whatever you say Bill

Bill Hankey wrote:Bent,

Treading lightly over unfamiliar territory can become a way of life for builders of high-rise office buildings. Early pioneers were attuned to slippery surfaces where fancy footwork became necessary to survive. For those who read the daily news, ascertaining the unsafe conditions that exists in many cities is a reminder to use caution at every turn. Social disfunction is not a laughing matter, when it blankets a wide area of discontent. The steel guitar happens to be a very desirable means of introducing a wide range of harmonies not found in the "mainstream" of radio stations. Compared to guitars, the steel is still in the infancy stages of becoming widely known. It doesn't help when party goers get a little tipsy and croaky about the band. Good levelheaded knowledgeable patrons are more to my liking. They always restore my faith in the good side of life.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 5 Dec 2009 3:13 am

Experimentation with a homemade steel is a good method of becoming acquainted with new ideas and techniques for acquiring different ranges of pitches and melodies. The "Upright" fretboard became the first improvisation of better visibility, as far as I know. If others existed prior to mine, I'm not aware of their existence. The accounts of the exciting discovery of something original, can be traced back a number of years. Another experimentation that has proven to be resourceful, is the "Lucky 7" 3rd string attachment of the 9th tuning. Apparently better quality treble strings have been made available, and I suspect that many improvements have been made within the changers that have stilled complaints of excessive string breakages. Whatever the existing conditions are presently, my 3rd string remains intact.

"Short pedals" mounted inward from the standard ABC pedals, and slightly above those pedals works incredibly well. In other words, it would be possible to reach the short pedals while actuating the usual arrangement of floor pedals. Simplification won out as I progressed with addable pedal arrangements. I've settled for just A and B pedals with the (C) change at the RKL. The LKL and LKR combined with a 9th chromatic tuning allows for facilitating virtually all of the major chord changes. Of course the all-around usefulness of the RKR can't be overstated. The seventh tones are very much in demand, easily attainable at 1st and 2nd stings, as well as others. I can't see becoming "locked" out of the multiples of chord changes with my simplistic setup. Becoming reminiscent is a common practice as one ages.

Tom Quinn · Post by **Tom Quinn** » 8 Dec 2009 6:05 am

Wow! This stuff is still going on! Shrdlu!!!

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 8 Dec 2009 7:12 am

Bill, as a hobby builder I can certainly appreciate innovative ideas.
Your "Lucky 7 third string attachment" Would you care to share this idea in detail with us?

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 8 Dec 2009 7:42 am

Bent,

Please do a search in the earlier threads under "Steel Guitar". You will find an extensive thread there entitled "Lucky 7". The device is clearly pictured in the "HUF" photos presented to the forum in the same column. The enjoyments derived from overcoming visual and mechanical problems are innumerable. Thanks for reviving a very successful experience by chance experimentations.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 8 Dec 2009 8:47 am

Bill, Thanks. Will do.

John Wall · Post by **John Wall** » 8 Dec 2009 2:09 pm

Bill Hankey
Lest we forget that ignorance is a regional problem, may I remind you that Nashville cannot be compared to Massachusetts where the trends are law offices and medical research.

Six or eight weeks ago I was in Nashville at the Opry Mills Mall. There was a place selling T shirts close to the Rain Forrest Restaurant. While I was hanging around there waiting on the women folk, I asked the girl behind the counter if she had any Sho~Bud T shirts. I was sure she didn't but I was just making conversation. She didn't know what a pedal steel guitar was; what Sho~Bud was and that many were built in downtown Nashville; who Buddy Emmons was or anything. And she was working within 200 yards of the Grand Ole Opry House.

Ignorance of the pedal steel guitar is everywhere. As for comparing Nashville and Massachusetts; Nashville is one of the major medical research centers in the country. Every heard of Vanderbilt Medical Center??? I'm a born and bread Tennessee resident and my state has a lot going for it! Nashville's not just Guitar Town...

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 8 Dec 2009 2:59 pm

John, great point! I believe you to be accurate.

I have a book called "Country Music, White Man's Blues"
I believe the publishing year is 1968.
Even then, with country being so popular in those days, it was said that the average guy in the street didn't know that Nashville was the country music mecca of the world. He knew who Johnny Cash was, but that was the extent of it.
At that time, Nashville was known for it's publishing business. No, not music, but bible publishing!

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 8 Dec 2009 3:46 pm

John,

At last, someone from Tennessee who is willing to open a "conversation" by providing a few interesting situations, pointing to how misinformation can lead to a picture of knowledgeable country music fans throughout the state. When I was given the opportunity to interview Chet Atkins, I went directly to the man who proved to me to be without doubt, the most knowledgeable man in country music, from the state of Tennessee. As you have stated, ignorance is a dreadful situation to cope with, when it rears its ugly head.

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 8 Dec 2009 4:34 pm

What's a Steel Guitar?

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 8 Dec 2009 5:30 pm

Bo Legg,

It's an instrument of extreme pleasure, that is fortified with 5 lifetimes worth of undiscovered licks and melodies. There is no need to doubt its full potential. The endless options in their entirety, for creating music, will never be truly realized.

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 8 Dec 2009 9:27 pm

It's a crying shame, when one goes to Nashville and they don't even know what a steel guitar is. Just goes to prove that times are changing. Granted there is a revolution of getting the steel guitar out there. Or Your in Houston, Texas like I was several years ago. I called one of the local radio stations to request a song, and the radio announcer told me, the artist was too Country. Bill is not showing ignorance, by no means. He is stating a fact about the ignorance made by some people, that he has observed, during his playing.