New member

[Jeremy Sherman]

Hello fellow members ,

Thought I'd introduce myself . I've been playing regular and bottle neck guitar for around 40 years but some years ago having heard players like Bobby Black with Commander Cody , Lucky Oceans with Asleep At The Wheel and Russ Hicks with Barefoot Jerry I fell in love with the pedal steel .Unfortunately I was in no position financially to pursue my dream of getting one until around 3 years ago when I was fortunate to be taken on by 2 publishers writing music for TV etc . The money from that enabled me to finally to go down the pedal steel road and I got a Carter Starter and then last summer a lovely post box red Bennett D10 .

So far I have just been using it in my studio on tracks for the publishers which means I haven't really spent the time on it as much as I should have .Because I write in many different styles it only gets used when it's called for . However I have recently joined a local country rock band which should hopefully push me into improving my playing etc.

I'm now looking for a second guitar : being a lazy so and so I do'nt want to be constantly taking down the D10 and dragging it back and forth from the studio for live work .I'm in a bit of quandary at the moment as I can't decide what to do : most of the live stuff is on the E9 neck so I thought I'd just get a single neck but then I'd quite like to have the 6th voicings there just in case so the option of a U12 has now entered the fray ......still it provides many hours of fun research whilst I decide .

all the best

[Ken Byng]

Jeremy - welcome. There are advantages to having a steel permanently set up, and have one for live gigs only. I would go for an SD10 - preferably a lightweight model. You can get some 6th sounds on E9 - it is just finding where they are.

You will get a ton of advice regarding a second guitar - so wait for the PM's to come through.

Regards
Ken

[Jeremy Sherman]

Ken ,

Thanks very much for your welcome & advice

much appreciated

[Donny Johnston]

Welcome Jeremy, It's good to have you on board, I must be well up the social rankings now, I'm talking to a media composer.

[Jeremy Sherman]

Hi Donny ,

Thanks for the welcome .

I have to admit that in my case Media Composer sounds more glamorous than the reality ......I have'nt done any theme tunes for programmes but get a lot of use with the incidental music ie .the music behind the words that no one listens to !!

best wishes

Jeremy

[Tony Russell Davis]

Hi Jeremy and welcome. I know the quandry, been there too! My logic goes this way and agrees with Ken's advice. A second steel, set up like your main one (not a different tuning) is helpful where you have two main areas of work.
If you go the U12 route (and there is, or was, a Mullen 12 for sale on the forum) then you are back to taking it from the studio/home to the gig. Actually your problem will be greater because your choice will be from more instruments and they're' not like guitars where you can stick 'em all on a rack behind you.
So far as adding a U12 to your armoury, there is nothing particularly hard about using another tuning - you probably use more than one on slide guitar anyway I guess and already you swap from E9 to C6, yes? Non-pedal players get up to four neck guitars and seem to manage.
You could manage with having a single E9 as your home steel if that covers your main work, but then how do you get better on C6th?
I hope that helps to clear some of the smoke and you make the right decision for you. Regards, Tony

[Jeremy Sherman]

Hello Tony ,

Thanks for your welcome & advice .

I think I was trying to "have my cake and eat it too" so as it happens I have gone along with the line suggested by yourself & Ken . I've just bought a Rains SD10 on Ebay before anyone else snaps it up ....so , the D10 can remain in the studio and I'll use the Rains for live stuff . I pick it up next saturday and I can't wait ...who'd have thought a rectangular box on legs with various metal attachments could be a thing of such beauty !

Thanks again

Jeremy

[Tony Russell Davis]

Ooooh! Nice guitar. Tony

[Donny Johnston]

Jeremy, don't worry about it just sounding glamorous, anything that can make me remotely glamorous, I'm in there. Congratulations on the Rains, You'll love it.

[Jeremy Sherman]

Cheers Donny