A day in the life of a Nashville studio steel player.

[Ken Byng]

I am hoping that some of you might find some interest in this post.

I spent today with the wonderfully generous Mike Johnson, who is one of Nashville's finest recording musicians. The first thing I did was to pass on Billy Murdoch's and Malcolm McMaster's best wishes, which he appreciated.

Mike invited me to accompany him in the studio to see how it all works in Nashville. I have attached a pic of him with one of his Franklin steel guitars, which he swears gives him the best recorded sound out of his vast array of pedal steels in his collection. You will see a couple of large racks next to him, and this is what he describes as his 'small rig'. Mike records using delay and reverb, rather than let the engineer put it on afterwards. All of the studio producers know and trust Mike enough to know that he will get it exactly right.

He has a Peavey speaker cabinet that is in a separate sound room, and miked up with the type of mikes that he likes. It looked like a Sennheiser condenser mike that was being used. Another little tip. Mike puts a piece of aluminium foil underneath his volume pedal, to give improved screening. He uses a pot pedal made by Paul Franklin Snr, and swears by it. Mike is the biggest tone hound I have ever met I can tell you. Just listen to him on Brad Paisley's first two CD's and also his version of The Lighthouse on the Show Pro CD. Just stunning.
The studio was using Pro Tools as the recording medium, and I was watching intently as the engineer was making up different mixing groups. No plug-ins, just using all outboard gear. Gave me plenty of room for thought.

Here is Mike backing the incredible Daryle Singletary, who I saw with Mike's equally incredible part time band - 45RPM at the Station Inn a week and a half ago.



Also with Brad Paisley, and Mike matches Paisley blow for blow in the solo department.



Tomorrow I am off to Buck 'flying fingers' Reid's house for a lesson and a butchers at his recording studio. For those of you who may not be familiar with Buck's work, he has a couple of clips on You Tube. He is arguably the quickest steel player on the planet. Mark Dunn saw him in the Telonics room trying out an Infinity guitar in there, and couldn't believe what he was seeing.

I will post a pic or two of Buck tomorrow. The term 'world class' is very much over-used in my humble opinion when it comes to describing steel players, but both Mike and Buck fall into that category. They are just phenomenal technicians who are light years ahead of any European players (on both necks!) that I have heard. Buck is also using Pro Tools in his home studio, and I am hoping to pick up some tips there tomorrow.

'Night all!!

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Last edited by Ken Byng on Sun Mar 30, 2014 2:38 am, edited 7 times in total.

[bob adams]

Thanks Ken... Looking forward to the 'Buck Reid Report' !

[Ken Byng]

Can't you sleep Bob, or is it still daylight up there!!!
24/7 BSS editing service is available for US correspondents! B

I am just having a warm up on my steel before tomorrow. Playing in front of Mr Reid is bicycle clips time. Just think, in 3 days I will have seen Mike J, Buck and Paul F (on Monday). Only need Tommy White to make up the numbers for the planet's top 4 steel players. Tommy emailed me yesterday to say that he is at the Crossroads bar in Nashville on Monday night. I had to tell him that I have already arranged to go to the 3rd & Lindsley to see the Time Jumpers on Monday.

I upset Tommy's wife on the US forum, when I described his tone on the Opry's front of house PA as being very bright - unusually bright for him. She flew at his defence (like all good wives should) and took me to task on the forum. In actual fact I wasn't criticising Tommy or his new Mullen, but more likely the sound engineers. That's how Tommy saw it too thank goodness and he emailed me quickly to apologise. We have been friends for a long time, and I would hate to lose his friendship over a throwaway comment. His daughter lives in the UK, and I have invited the White family to visit when they come over to see their daughter.

I am spending some of the daytime on Monday with the builder of my superb Show Pro, Mr Jeff Surratt at his workshop. What Jeff doesn't know about pedal steels isn't worth knowing. We had a great meal at the Hermitage Steak House last Thursday evening. Best steak I have ever tasted, even beat those in Texas.

Oh well back to the practising. Now what does that knee lever there do?

[Uncle Roy]

Ken, what a holiday, Wow, if you bump into Weldon please say hello from me.

[slimbo]

Blown away Ken, keeping us informed is like being there with you, and it's so nice to see one of our own mixin it with the best, keep um comming mate.

[Malcolm]

Ken, great report, glad you are having great time.Know you will be getting short on funds so will contact Spence and arrange a loan for you, ( at usual Wonga rates) .Enjoy your lesson.Regards Malcolm

[Ken Byng]

Ken, great report, glad you are having great time.Know you will be getting short on funds so will contact Spence and arrange a loan for you, ( at usual Wonga rates) .Enjoy your lesson.Regards Malcolm

Thank you Malcolm, I would appreciate you contacting Spence. I am down to my last $5K, and could do with a sub from our banker.

One one day I drove from Nashville to CHattanooga (135 miles) and back. I then drove to a club 18 miles away and then onto Cracker Barrel and back to my hotel. I did almost 300 miles before needing to fill up again, and it cost me 30 dollars in total. £18.00!!!! Eighteen flippin' quid!! £18.00 to fill up a Cadillac over here. I remember when it was just 2 dollars to fill up just a few years ago. Those were the days

I had a phone call last night from a superb drummer that I know here called Jim Hartley (no relation). Jim and I were discussing Bobbe Seymour and how we miss his humour. How's this for s Seymourism? Bobbe was playing at a steel guitar show somewhere a couple of hundred miles from Nashville. Jim was taken to the same show by another steel player. Jim played his spot and was then asked by another steel player to accompany him, and soon it got to 4 or 5. Eventually Jim sussed out that the house drummer, who was not particularly very good, was getting peeved that Jim was doing all the spots and using his drum kit on top of that. Jim retired to the bar and let the house band drummer finish the show.

Bobbe Seymour was the last steel player on, and when he came offstage, he approached Jim and said "Jim, why did you back all of the other guys tonight and not me"?. Jim said "Well Bobbe, I was only meant to play with one steel player, and ended up playing with a whole bunch of them. I pulled out when I could see that the band drummer wanted to play real bad". Seymour immediately said "And he did Jim, and he did". Classic!!

Well its time for breakfast and a dip in the pool. Will report back this afternoon after my session with Buck. He will be so jealous of my Carter (not). Bye for now folks.

[Malcolm]

Mr Byng all I can say is that I hate you, absolutely green with envy. Enjoyed talking to Jim last year at Dallas, really nice guy.Although old flying fingers sounded good , your own tone was well up there with him.Perhaps there is not such a difference between the JCH and the Carter than you think.

[henrybainbridge]

Interesting post, thanks Ken!

[Ken Byng]

Spent a wonderful day today with maestro Buck Reid.

Buck lives deep in woodland at the end of a very rough road. He is very secluded and likes it this way. My car didn't like being driven along such rough terrain, and bottomed out a few times. Below is a shot of Buck's 'front garden' which is a part of 18 acres of woodland shared by 2 or 3 homes. Absolutely idyllic if you enjoy seclusion. Buck certainly does.

I got my Carter guitar from the boot of the car and took it inside ready for a lesson. Within a couple of minutes of sitting opposite Buck I was convinced of one thing. He is not from this planet! He is an alien blessed with supersonic skills. He can play things right in front of you and he just doesn't seem to put any effort into it. Just try and play it. I spent a couple of hours with my mouth gaping wide open while he was going through incredible licks one after another on both necks. His use of open strings is integral to his style, and he has hundreds of moves at his disposal. He uses the raising of his 7th string a full tone on E9 quite a bit, and on C6 he dispenses with the normal changes on P4 and instead raises his bottom C string to D and lowers his 2nd string a semi tone.

Buck divulged something to me today that I never thought I would hear from him. Shock, horror Buck said that he was totally enamoured by another steel guitar - Frank Carter's Infinity. Here is a guy who had totally built his JCH guitar from the ground up, telling me that the Infinity is a pedal steel guitar of the like that he has never seen before in terms of build quality, engineering and tone. Don't be surprised if Buck is seen sometime in the future playing something other than his red JCH. You heard it here first.

The last 2 days have just been surreal with me being in one of Nashville's leading recording studios watching the incredible Mike Johnson in action, and the following day sitting down opposite Buck Reid talking steel guitar and playing steel guitar.

There is a strong possibility that Buck will be be seen at the Irish Steel Festival in October this year. For those seeing him for the first time, stand by for a firework display. He had top pros shaking their heads in disbelief at this slightly built and unassuming gentleman creating a display of pyrotechnics on stage at the Dallas Show. He can play things that other guys would need a delay unit to provide repeat notes. He is just stunning in his ability.

Photo1 - My Carter and Buck's JCH together.
Photo 2 - Buck and I in a 'selfie' with me squinting in the sunlight.
Photo 3 - Buck trying to show me one of his supersonic licks - akin to trying to teach nuclear physics to an Aboringine!
Photo 4 - The view from Buck's front door.

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