The Best?

[WineRider]

Now I'm going to be provocative, but please don't take it to heart. I have heard this question from my days racing motorcycles for a living, and the same question when I was a 'snapper' for Fleet Street and now I am seeing the same question about Steel Guitars and accessories...What Is The Best!!
There is no best of anything, the sound and playability comes from within. The best racing motorcycle doesn't exist, because two identical looking bikes with different riders on will do different things, the same can be said for camera's, the box only records what the 'snapper' see's. The same can be said for lap steel, sound is what you make it, with touch, feel for the music and the subtle nuances that come with understanding what you are trying to achieve.
There will never be another Don Helms or Sol Hoopi, why? because both were unique in style, technique and ability, plus they were both without doubt leaders at the time. They didn't have all the modern gizmo"s that are available now, but they felt their music and created their own sound.
Expensive tonebars don't make a huge difference, but the player does. The same goes for a lap steel, the amp helps, but it doesn't make the player better all it does is transmit the sound the player makes...mistakes, duff notes etc.
I recently had a visit from a friend who plays Resonator guitar, and he sat down at my home made lap steel and played a couple of numbers using my slide, thumb pick and he blew me away. The sound was out of this world...I am nowhere near what he achieved from my modest set-up, so I sat and thought for a while and came to this conclusion: Make your own sound personal, play with confidence and you won't make those duff notes stand out, use the tonebar with a thought for the music you are playing and don't be hide bound by convention. Be unique. Love what you play and play what you love.

WineRider (AKA Maurice)

[Donny Johnston]

DITTO ALL THAT, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, JUST BE YOURSELF.

[WineRider]

HI Donny,

You have an advantage over me as you list 'brain' I'm not too sure if I've got one...or maybe I should have a mirror transplant so my one brain cell thinks it's got company.

Thanks for the reply

WineRider

[WineRider]

Hi Peter,
There's food for thought in your posted reply...I came up with Skiffle, Bert Weedon, Wout Steehuis, Johnny Ray et all in the '50s through the 60s and ever onward. My main love has always been country, although I have listened to many of the steel players, so through my own lateness to steel guitar I am having a crash course trying to catch up. My brain just ain't what it used to be so I'm real slow...too many head injuries racing I suppose. But I am loving every minute of my conversion, although a 'friend' I'll use the term loosely told me I play like someone with no co-ordination. Left hand plays smooth on its own as does the right hand picking, the problem is getting the two damn things to work together. I will I hope eventually.

I listen to all styles of steel, but I can't emulate any of the players, I'm just not good enough, so I'm just sticking at it and making my own sound...or noise, which ever you like to call it. I've said before, the cats leave home when I start practising and I'll swear the sale of cheese has gone up around me for people to use as ear plugs...the French love "Allo Allo.

Still it keeps me off street corners.

WineRider (AKA Maurice)