Another New Member

[GarryProcter]

Another new member here, from South Wiltshire. I lived and worked in the US for six years from the beginning of the century, and my 'leaving gifts' to myself included a Carter S10 and a Nashville 112. So I've been messing about with pedal steel since 2006 - but I'm still very much at the beginner stage! I'm now retired and so have no excuse for putting in more time on the pedal steel. Except that I now find myself busy playing guitar (acoustic and electric), lap steel, Weissenborn, and mandolin in a few local bands (amateur only), and doing guitar repair for friends - I spent a couple of months being taught by a friend in the US who is a repair man and builder. I've been a member of the US site (SGF) for ages, but somehow only just got around to joining here I expect I'll be mostly lurking here, and learning from this site, but I'll contribute in the unlikely event that I can be of help!

[Danny Mitchell]

Welcome Gary,
Wether lurking, learning or contributing, you're in good, like-minded company here.
I reckon a fair few of us forumites are retired, amateur musos who've been strangely drawn to this beguiling beast, and this forum is an excellent place to pick the brains of our more experienced members.
Happy Picking

[GarryProcter]

Thanks Danny - I was 'strangely drawn' to pedal steel when I heard Sneaky Pete on Jackson Browne's first couple of albums (bought when the were first released, a very long time ago!). Through Jackson Browne I found David Lindley - so I also play (mangle) lap steel and Weissenborn. When "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" came out I was delighted to 'discover' two unbelievably fine pedal steel players (Lloyd Greene and JayDee Maness). It took an awful long time for me to acquire a pedal steel... Never having had much money, and little free time (family, career) I stuck to acoustic guitar, which I first started 53 years ago, mainly fingerstyle stuff (Matrin Simpson, John Renbourn, Ry Cooder, etc.). I keep myself busy!

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Hi Gary, welcome aboard, If you find yourself up around St Neots Cambs. at all make sure you bring that steel with you and we can sit'n'pick for a while.. tea
and biscuits are plentiful up here...

[GarryProcter]

Hi John, thanks for the welcome and the invitation. If I'm ever in your area I will gratefully accept. But be warned, my biscuit eating ability far exceeds my steel picking ability