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Topic: Disabled Steeler needs advice |
Eric Eder
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 31 Oct 2018 5:38 pm |
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I just got my dream Williams 700 6x5 a year and some ago, had to get surgery on my left foot that made it painful to push on my left big toe , Second surgery made it worse . Cant do E9 double pedal moves any more ,
Was looking sell my Williams and switch to c6 or a universal in 6 tuning to take out left foot movements , Any advice would be appreciated , Have tried all kinds of shoes and pedal setups,  |
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Bob Moore
From:
N. Rose, New York
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Posted 31 Oct 2018 5:50 pm
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| Something to consider would be a lap steel. Much music can be made on one. They can be gotten reasonable until your foot healed. Bob Moore |
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Eric Eder
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 31 Oct 2018 6:04 pm
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Thanks Bob I play 8 string lap and dobro. Never dabbled in c6 pedal but always loved it . Don't know much about it but the left foot rolls don't seem to come into play as much am I wrong . To doc says the foot will never get better. Just looking for options.
Many thanks |
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Daniel McKee
From:
Corinth Mississippi
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Posted 31 Oct 2018 7:56 pm
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| You might consider trying a lap steel with palm pedals. I actually like the idea of them and I've seen some Fouke lap steels with them here lately and they sounded good. Depending on your tuning there may be quite a few bar slants you could try to get pedal sounds. I get quite a few good slants out of a 6 string CEGACE (C6th) tuning. |
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Bob Cox
From:
Buckeye State
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Posted 31 Oct 2018 8:02 pm Foot
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| You could move the pedals over to the right side and use vol on left. This can be done easily by any steel repairman. |
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Dan Kelly
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 1 Nov 2018 6:24 am
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What about the addition of an arm lever or two. Here is a link:
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=217120&sid=317751ea5e7bea2982837a51e0c6c791
It might take a little relearning, but it seems like an option.
Be sure to roll down in the thread and check out Mike Perlowin's post (with picture) about the GFI PSG that shows 4 wrist or arm levers. Here is his quote.
"And Gene field built a multiple wrist lever system with 4 of them for Kurt Kowalski, (whose feet are paralyzed.)
Looks like this not "un-plowed ground."
_________________
blah, blah, blah.
Hey You Kids! Get Off My Lawn!
blah, blah, blah. |
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ajm
From:
Los Angeles
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Posted 1 Nov 2018 8:07 am
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Taking another angle on this........
"The doc says it will never get better."
You already know where this is going.......
I'm going through a couple of things playing related right now.
My physicians over the years have basically said that there's nothing I can do.
I started asking around, and guess what?
I've been going to a sports and orthopedic practice, and things have gotten better.
I don't want this to turn into a doctor/medical system gripe session, but we all know that it could.
Anyway, back to your predicament.........
I'd hunt around and get a second opinion.
You didn't say what kind of doctor you've been using.
You also didn't say your age.
You also didn't say what technically the problem is.
Not that any of us are doctors, but we may be familiar with your condition.
While you're pursuing the medical route, in parallel with that........
Until all of your medical options are exhausted, I wouldn't stop playing just yet.
You can hold the E to Eb lever in and work on your pseudo 6th tuning licks.
You can play without pedals. In the process this will keep your hands limber as well as expand your knowledge of the fretboard.
Someone mentioned lap steel. Think of your Williams as a lap steel on nuclear steroids. After all, lappers and 6 string slide players don't have any pedals.
If you keep going, doing what you're able to at present, and a medical solution does pop up, think of how much farther ahead you'll be. |
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Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2018 11:15 am
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I've never played a Williams so I'm not familiar how stiff the A and B pedals are. That said...and this is an "off-the-wall" theory...if you disengage your lower C# on pedal A, and your lower or upper G# on pedal B, you may reduce the stiffness/resistance of the A,B pedals.
Maybe enough to ease the discomfort on your left foot...crazy thought, but... |
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Fred Justice
From:
Mesa, Arizona
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Posted 1 Nov 2018 3:17 pm
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Eric, I'm in the process of building a D-10 for a fella that has a bad left foot.
I'm putting all the pedals on the right.
Just starting backwards with A,B,& C on the right then the C6 pedals coming on to the left as well.
At least he'll still be able to play pedal steel. 
I could do the same for you, if push comes to shove.
_________________
Email: azpedalman@gmail.com
Phone: 480-235-8797 |
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ajm
From:
Los Angeles
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Posted 2 Nov 2018 9:51 am
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Tom Campbell's post brings up another possible solution: Call Williams.
Tell them your issue and that your need pedal action as light as a feather. |
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manny escobar
From:
portsmouth,r.i. usa
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Posted 3 Nov 2018 5:48 am
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| There was a pedal steel player Ron Comtois (I think?). He was from Cape Cod, MA. Ron passed away a few years ago. His right foot had been disabled making it impossible to use the volume pedal. His steel had his volume control rigged to a knee lever. |
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Dean Rimmer
From:
texas
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Posted 3 Nov 2018 11:01 am advice
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| i have a bad wheel......left leg n foot ......i switched my pedals to the other side....n have done it for a few other people.....this was about 50 yrs ago......works just fine..... |
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Abe Levy
From:
California, USA
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Posted 5 Nov 2018 10:43 pm
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Perhaps putting the A and B pedals on knee levers could work? You wouldn’t have the quick action of a pedal, but could probably make it work for ballads etc. Might be worth a try before giving up? Probably pretty easy to do on a Williams...
_________________
Mostly Pre-1970 guitars. |
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