An Old Newbie!

[Melvyn]

Hi Guys,
I built my own pedal steel some 47 years ago, Left handed, 10 string twin neck, but only ever got the E9 working, with a mechanism of my own design – long story…… got a hernia from sawing strips of metal relentlessly, too often, too quickly –cringing bottoms, what we do for the pedal steel!!

All built with hand tools, apart from an Arcoy drill press. Learnt to play, just by listening and doggedly practicing. No one to help, no You Tube…… Joined a country band (Whiskey Canyon) out of Hazel Grove, Near Stockport, and toured around for about 3 years, mainly in the Northwest. (Now living in Somerset Southwest England, for fortyfour years)

We went into a recording studio, but before the record was to be released, the band folded.). I did participate in the recording of The Swan, for Jonah Lewi, but quite fredly, it could have been done by anyone, on any slide. Jonah (aka John Lewis) was a friend, and though not seen him since those days, he still is. Great blues and boogie piano player, aside from his more pop work.

Anyway, I am now back playing again, after a fashion, 44 years on at 77, and trying to get old fingers to work again. A bit better than I thought I would be! I would love to make contact with any pedal steel players in the Somerset area. And have questions to pose within the forum, and hope not to be boring. And hope to contribute a little at least.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Hi Melvyn, welcome aboard you are in good company here......

[Danny Mitchell]

Hello Melvyn, and welcome, to probably the best forum in the world.
That was an interesting potted history, and out of complete respect, I raise my hat to anyone who could build one of these things.

[Uncle Roy]

Welcome Melvyn,
Where about in Somerset you live now.
There are a number of player around the area, Somerset, Dorset, Bristol, South Gloucester & Hampshire.

[Melvyn]

Hi Melvyn, welcome aboard you are in good company here......

Many thanks John, that's very clear from all that I have read so far. In fact, I did join many years ago when I thought I would get back on the peddles again, but didn't. So didn't get involved, and obviously membership lapsed. Glad to be here.

[Melvyn]

Hello Melvyn, and welcome, to probably the best forum in the world.
That was an interesting potted history, and out of complete respect, I raise my hat to anyone who could build one of these things.

Many thanks Danny. I am lucky being able to make things, mostly by visualising, and scraps of paper for notes, and being artistic - It's a happy combination that runs in the family. Sadly, dyslexic, discalculate, just a tad colour blind, left school at 15 with no qualifications - ded beat, slow coach, dim wit, and that is from the teachers!!! No clue that I had a different kind of intelligence, and was really a '''superior being''' huh?. Only subject that I was interested in and good at was art. Yet for many years I was an educational publishers area manager!!! make sense of that, if you will....

Pedal steel has a kind of logic to it, combined with a powerful desire to play it and no money. That makes one inventive!! First one I made I used cables and bits of Meccano to raise only a few strings. pretty crappy. Then got to make a 'proper one' once I figured out the principals. When i get my new phone, I will submit a photo or three.

Anyway, thanks again, and sorry have 'gorn' on a bit!

[Melvyn]

Welcome Melvyn,
Where about in Somerset you live now.
There are a number of player around the area, Somerset, Dorset, Bristol, South Gloucester & Hampshire.

Hi Roy, many thanks, all so kind.

I live near Wedmore, which is 4 miles from Cheddar, 9 miles from Wells, 11 miles from Glastonbury. I tried to look up locations of players, but just got a blank window. At this time I am not travelling far, too much to ellaberate, so If there are any guys who are really local to me, it would be good to have contact and compare their steels with my custom built one, and toss a few ideas around.

[Ken Byng]

Hi Melvin
One of the UK's top players, Dave Nash, lives in the Wincanton area. Dave is also left handed, and has built his own pedal steels since the 1960's. He currently plays a D9 12-string guitar. I think that he might be on version 4 of his guitars, but I know that he has modified his guitars over the years. There isn't much that he doesn't know about pedal steel.

[Uncle Roy]

Yes Ken is right, Dave is a top player and has built some great guitars for his self.

[Melvyn]

Hi Melvin
One of the UK's top players, Dave Nash, lives in the Wincanton area. Dave is also left handed, and has built his own pedal steels since the 1960's. He currently plays a D9 12-string guitar. I think that he might be on version 4 of his guitars, but I know that he has modified his guitars over the years. There isn't much that he doesn't know about pedal steel.

Wow Ken! many thanks. Dave left handed, and builds his own. Sounds like we might be '''compatible'''!!!!!!

I am about in the next couple of weeks to go in for a cardiac procedure, and hopefully get back to being a fully functioning 'top person' again! So will make contact with him after that, and give a me a chance to improve my chops a tad more. hopefully he might be happy to spend a couple of hours comparing and me learning some things that have bugged me for years. Sounds as though, there may be little or nothing he can learn from me!