The British Steelies Society

Here's my new Bennett, what a beautiful instrument. The case was damaged when it arrived but fortunately the PS is intact.

It's a Sho Bud copy with a George-L pickup. 3 floor pedals and 5 knee levers, all I can say is that I'm having lotsa fun, but the neighbours are not

I thought the transition from lap to pedal was going to be easier but... arrrrgh!!!!! It's so damn hard to play the thing!!! I get lost with so many strings, playing with fingerpicks is no fun and I spend most of the time looking down to see what pedal I'm pressing, hehe. It's like trying to fix supper with one hand and playing piano with the other.... while you're tap dancing, of course. Dunno if I'll become a good pedal steel player but I'm sure learning some cool Lambada moves.

Thing is, I could spend hours just noodling around with the a+b pedals or playing minor chords with the e (?) lever, what a sound. I hate it but I love it

Take your time with the picks - I've said this many times before - they are a necessary nuisance that you absolutely MUST use every time you practice. It gets easier if you do that, but if you go alternating with picks/without picks you'll never get comfortable and ultimately tone (and confidence) will suffer. There are very few good PSG players not wearing picks and, generally, they made that decision based on years of their own experience. But I bet none of them would advocate starting without picks.
By the way, nothing wrong with getting used to A+B pedals first! Number of strings? Think of it as an 8 string tuning with a couple of useful extras on top. Early practice is picking three strings at a time, the "grips", observing the gaps (strings 10 ^ 8 ^ 6 5 4 3).
Let us know how you progress?
All best, Tony.

So your up and running my friend, well done, and glad you liked the introduction video, if you need any further help just give me a call, don't do too much anymore so lot's of time to spare, just take it easy at first, and as you allready play lap you will be suprised how the transition will become easier as you move along.

Thanks Tony, wise words.

Right now I'm focusing on 8-6-5-4 and the a+b pedals, with a few minors in there. I've found it's easier to play "lighter" with fingerpicks than to dig in and I'm trying to avoid the lazy no-fingerpick route but it's bloody 'arrrd! Thing is, I end up "kissing" strings here and there, blocking is a nightmare with fingerpicks, I'll get used to it sooner or later.

It seems like my old tube amps are not too fond of the George Ls pickup, a cheapo 90's Roland Cube 60 sounds waaay better (cleaner compressed sound). I thought pedal steels were way more trebly, even on the Tweed Bandmaster clone I built a few years ago it sounds bassy on the Bright channel!

By the way, just ordered a Dunlop 920 from Thomann, the Shubb bar is no good...

Slimbo, please tell me where you buy those magic hats so I can sound like you, maestro

This may be a different genre' but the picking and bar work would be similar. Note the lightness of the picking.. That's how you control volume and presence in the mix..

With due respect (as always) to Basil - just take note of Pat's rock steady rhythm guitar - like a metronome, except Pat can also handle the ritard at the end! Great backup.

beautiful Basil, what else can I say... is that C6 tuning?

yup, it's the rythmn section that holds everything else and what a sound, so warm and jazzy

If you want lots of hints and tips I would certainly advise going to the Sierra Steel Guitar web site. There are E9 and C6 lap lessons and its taken right from the word go. Exercises etc and a lot of common sense. I keep going back there and watching again as there is so much.

thanks a lot mick!

I'm checking out Slimbo's and Howcast's vids on youtube, I'm working on this one right now, love the jazzy sound:

(Tip FWIW, take out the 's' of https)