Upright PSG?

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 26 Oct 2004 9:53 am

I'll probably catch some flak for this, but I really would like to use my PSG onstage, and standing up is the only way it's going to work, so....
Does anyone see any problem with long legs, and extended pull rods to make the guitar playable standing up? I realize that the stock levers will be out of the question, but I think I can get all the pulls I'll need with pedals.
Sorry if this is a stupid idea, but that PSG has bitten me bad.
(I mainly play lead electric guitar and sing)
-andy-

Greg Vincent · Post by **Greg Vincent** » 26 Oct 2004 10:16 am

Steve Howe's weird approach to this idea in the 70's with YES.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 26 Oct 2004 10:17 am

...Bob White had no problem with pedals when playing while standing (and fronting)!

www.genejones.com

P.S. But, he used no knee levers! [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 27 October 2004 at 07:00 AM.]

Bob Tuttle · Post by **Bob Tuttle** » 26 Oct 2004 10:18 am

That will work, but just don't try to use your pedals and the volume pedal at the same time.

Seriously, I have thought about that. I would want a volume control on the top of the guitar. Another consideration is the angle that the legs screw into the guitar. The higher you raise the guitar, the farther the legs will spread out at the bottom. This might put the pedals too far away to use them comfortably. (or maybe not).

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 26 Oct 2004 1:55 pm

If you want very limited use of pedals (and no knee levers) you could do it standing up. Lots of no-peddlers stood up. But if you want optimum control of the volume pedal and the full complement of kness and pedals, you have to sit down. Here's why. You can't get optimum use of the volume pedal with your weight on that foot. So that means your weight has to be on the other foot. But you can't pick up that other foot from the AB pedals and put it on the BC pedals or any of the C6 pedals unless your weight is resting on your butt on a seat.

So,weight on butt, knees and feet free.

Weight on one foot, one foot and knee not free.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 26 Oct 2004 2:30 pm

Sierra once made a stand-up steel that had two "hip levers". I played it, and it worked really well. It had 8 strings, and was tuned to E7th or something like that.

ed packard · Post by **ed packard** » 26 Oct 2004 3:39 pm

That was the Sierra "ROCK SLIDE". It was aimed at the "jump, scream, and sweat" rock show market. The top could tilt forward so that the audience could see what was being played.

One was sold to a player in a Canadian rock group. Sierra had no one to demo it in the right market, so bye bye instrument type.

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 26 Oct 2004 4:22 pm

I've got a Rockslide; however, it was converted from stand-up use with hip levers, to sit-down use with foot pedals.

Steve Knight · Post by **Steve Knight** » 26 Oct 2004 4:24 pm

Hello,

I'm sure a builder could make you a custom psg that would be better suited to playing while standing. GFI made at leaset one psg that would give you most of the E9 pulls with levers you operate with your right wrist:
http://www.gfimusicalproducts.com/Images/Custom%20Steels/Ron%20Stroud%20at%20Steel.jpg

If that link above doesn't work, then check out the "custom steels" link on their website at www.gfimusicalproducts.com.

Maybe any builder could do that for you.

Good luck,

SK

Sam White R.I.P. · Post by **Sam White R.I.P.** » 26 Oct 2004 5:08 pm

Yes I seen Claude Bruneell from Florida playing a Stand up Steel Guitar with no pedals or Levers just a volume pedal. He played at Larry Selfs steel show back in 1997 in New Smyna Florida and one of the legs sarted to slip back in and the Steel was hanging over the edge of the stage and he keep right on playing and done a Excellant job.
Sam White

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 26 Oct 2004 9:52 pm

How about this one?
http://www.lonestarsteelguitar.com/pages/5/index.htm

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 27 Oct 2004 1:51 am

Andy.

Why not give Wayne Link a call and order a lap pedal steel?
It comes with a pedal block and has cable adjustment.This could be played standing up but when you do this the kneelvers won't work.so you will have to ask Wayne to make horizontal kneelever adjustments.

Ron

Nikaro SD10 4x6

Bengt Erlandsen · Post by **Bengt Erlandsen** » 27 Oct 2004 2:23 am

Looking at the pic of Steve Howe and thinkin... There is no need for extension rods/legs.
Why not have the PSG standing on a Box/Fligthcase to lift it to proper height and then the left foot can get access to at least 3 pedals and LKL LKV & LKR ?
Using a volume pedal at the same time would probably be difficult.

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 27 Oct 2004 5:30 am

Thanks for all the replies and ideas!
Nice to know that I'm not the only goofball with this idea.
Now I know exactly what I need to build.
I'm currently using a T8 Fender, or a S8 Supro (small stages) for switching back and forth. They worked well, but now that I have pedals, I'm hooked on all the slick tricks that can be done, especially on the C6 neck.
The biggest obstacle will be getting used to pedaling with my G&L Comanche hanging in front of me. Making the front end (pedal bar) slightly lower than the rear should do the trick.
Thanks again!
-andy-

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 27 Oct 2004 7:16 am

I watched Bob White play steel many times when he was with Hank Thompson.I saw hin when he played in Vernon,Tx.in the late 50s as i recall.The one time i remember Hank had just released Tears Are only rain to make Love Grow.Bob showed me how he did that great ending.I was just getting into pedals.Bob used the pedals mostly for chords as i remember and he stood on his volume pedal and mashed pedals.I was going to ask him if Bigsby made that volume pedal for him with an extra strong axel to support his weight but some how forgot to.Maybe some one on the forum would know,and maybe Reece Anderson as he knew most of the steel players and has a better memory than me.In fact any one has one better than me.Tracy [This message was edited by Tracy Sheehan on 27 October 2004 at 08:22 AM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 27 Oct 2004 7:36 am

I watched Bob play many nights at his restaurant "The Someplace Club", back in the 1960's, and his pedals on that experimental Bigsby guitar were all on the floor,(no knee levers)...and only for chords, no licks!

I remember it well, because when some of my friends and fans asked Bob if I could "set in", he replied: "No...I don't know Gene, and if he plays "bad" the customers might think it was me"!

In retrospect, that was a good decision by Bob....because I played "bad" a lot in those days...especially in after hours clubs after my regular job was over!

www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 27 October 2004 at 08:38 AM.]

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Oct 2004 5:07 pm

If I'm not mistaken, the first Sho~Bud made was the one Don Warden played. (He was Porter Wagoner's steelman and harmony singer for many years.) He played it standing up, with legs and rods extended about a foot. He used no volume pedal, but it goes to show it can be done!

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 27 Oct 2004 6:18 pm

Don Warden, yes.

All you need is longer legs and pedal rods.

Drew

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 27 Oct 2004 6:30 pm

Donny,
I think you're right, and if memory serves me correctly (and it may not) only had one pedal. It was in the Roy Acuff exibit at Opryland.Also heard that Acuff backed Shot $$ to get started.

Bill

Carlos Polidura · Post by **Carlos Polidura** » 28 Oct 2004 4:31 am

steve,
that reminds me of one PSG called
"THE CAMINO" made by MSA. it was a standard pedal steel guitar and it also had what they called wrist levers.
very impresive.
good luck steve,
carlos

Paul Osbty · Post by **Paul Osbty** » 1 Nov 2004 2:01 am

I do play standing up. I inserted 20 inches of threaded rod inside each leg and have about 12 inches of extension. I found a 12" footstool for $15 that slides under the pedals. For volume, I can stand on the volume pedal while I work it. It works for me, anyway. Yea, the knees aren't too useful, but give me time.

I also clamped my Fender 6string Stringmaster to the steel's legs using threaded rod.

I'll be the first to admit I'm not a typical player. I'm also not very advanced, but I'm filling my bands needs for the time being.

[This message was edited by Paul Osbty on 01 November 2004 at 02:02 AM.]

Carlos Polidura · Post by **Carlos Polidura** » 1 Nov 2004 5:06 am

"there are no barriers" for those who want to achive something...what ever it is... although some are quite difficult.
let us show the world what a pedal steel guitar can do, and show what we can do with a pedal steel guitar.
thanks
carlos

Paul Osbty · Post by **Paul Osbty** » 1 Nov 2004 10:45 am

Thanks, Carlos. I hope that was directed at me (and the rest of us). I agree with your sentiment.

I shouldn also say that I can use the LKL and the LKR pedals!

The setup does bring more people to the stage during and between sets. Questions can turn into band followers.

Carlos Polidura · Post by **Carlos Polidura** » 1 Nov 2004 12:24 pm

paul,
that was'nt necessarily directed to you, but you are a great example.
"i was speaking in general".
thanks
carlos

Paul Osbty · Post by **Paul Osbty** » 1 Nov 2004 2:24 pm

I figured as much, Carlos. I think the more types of music Steels are involved in, the better for all of us.[This message was edited by Paul Osbty on 01 November 2004 at 02:27 PM.]