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

[bob adams]

I can't remember what Buck played on the C neck with his 4th pedal but it was really pretty

Now that made me smile. I guess your brain actually is fried after all Mr!


Get him to Dublin.... we’ll record it......play it back in slow mo!....And probably then we still won’t get it!
Who invented this frustrating machine anyway!

Crap US television!

Never a truer word said!

Their fuel is mega VFM ........... but their tele is mega crap!

As for shut-eye Mr 'B'… Not allowed from our US correspondents!…

Hello!

Stay awake!!!

[Ken Byng]

I am still here Mr. A.

(Just replied to a PM that someone sent me re Will Cowell's post where he was obviously and unnecessarily trying to stir the manure with an oversized stick instead of getting some much needed practise in).

My packing is done and I have my feet up now. 9.15 here. Just listening via my headphones to my digital stereo recorder that I recorded some of Buck's seminar on. It has actually come out very well all things considered. I have left the TV firmly switched off now that I have seen tomorrow's weather forecast.

I should have said that I don't remember precisely what Buck did with his P4, but do remember that the notes were very perdy!

I know one thing, he will either slaughter everyone at Drogheda or wherever this year's show is being held, or.........and this is a real risk......... he will be so far technically over people's heads that he will bomb. That is a real fear. Ted and I have discussed this and he feels that the audience is firmly entrenched in country stuff. Buck might just be too good and too clever. We will see. It will be for the show's committee members to consider this. I would like to play there this year so that at least I can say that I played once again on the same show as the great Buck Reid. I would like some of my close friends around Southampton to hear Buck live, as some of them intend to come over this year again.

Take care and get back to your tablature.
KB
Best wishes
Ken

[bob adams]

Yep!

Ted and I have shared numerous chats on this from the stands.
Mega jazz, can be ‘perfection personified’ from a PSG accomplishment perspective but way too heavy for a country biased audience!

Someone once said to me, the one thing about this stuff is you can ‘talk over it’

I guess it is all about compromise and judging your audience. Bombing is going to be down to the player’s judgement of those in front of him and the compilation of his set!

Excitement builds already!

4.01am! Is it dedication or complete madness! Yip probably! CM.

S'alright for you Mr! You have the night in front of you yet!

Safe travels! B

[Ken Byng]

Bob - you are a complete insomniac!!!

Just put a video of Coronation Street or EastEnders on. You will be asleep in no time.

I was going to start a thread on the USA forum about some players being too good for the general appreciation of a steel guitar show audience. I remember watching the late and great Reece Anderson on his last time on the Dallas stage, and a big guy behind me said in a very loud voice that Reece was playing 'dogshit music' and it was not country!! Reece got a standing ovation at the end of that set, but that guy's words will remain firmly entrenched in my brain forever.

By the way, the last time that I got a standing ovation was when I played at a haemorrhoids clinic in Cleethorpes - boom boom.

Nighty night Bob

[Uncle Roy]

What a thread, thanks Ken, made you feel like we were with you for the whole trip.
Have a safe trip home.

[Mark]

Re. the combo, many thanks Ken. I agree, Garry Rittenberry is a TOP class builder, and a modest guy. If I was looking for a guitar right now the Ritt and Infinity would be top of the list!

Cheers
Mark

[Will C]

Oh Ken, you obviously don't know me - but I was quoting you, not Bobbe! Let's not get bent out of shape over a little tug on the leg.

[Tony Smart]

Just been able to read your posts Ken after some Broadband problems. (Is it just outside my house they like digging up the pavement ? - - again...)

Really interesting to hear things from the inside - I'm sure we've all been soaking these posts up like a sponge.

Look forward to hearing more from you if you decide to continue posting here.
It's up to players like you to inform and encourage the youngsters if our instrument is going to survive. (no pressure)

Regards
Tony

[Ken Byng]

You are included in the 'players' bit Tony. You know a hell of a lot about pedal steel, especially Emmons guitars, and can definitely help some of the youngsters. You and Bobby Haskell could provide loads of info on here.

It was Ted Nesbitt who talked me into coming back on here and participating again, and I have tried to do that with a clean slate and open mind.

Back on topic - we Brits can learn an awful lot from the Yanks as they have the advantage of being steeped in steel guitar tradition. Just talking to the top boys in Nashville and at the Dallas Show has showed me one thing. They still love the instrument in a big way, and love talking steel guitar. That's how addictive steel guitar is, no matter how long you have been playing. They have insecurities like all of us do, and they are constantly seeking out what is new on the market and what sounds best.

I have just got into Dallas after driving all the way from Nashville in one hit. I am knackered. I've just had a greasy supper in Denny's next door, and I'm just about ready for bed. It's 29 mins past midnight, and nearly 6.30am where you guys in the UK are. I have a day in Irving, and fly back to the UK on Friday arriving at Heathrow on Saturday morning.

I will have a phone around in the morning and have a chat with Texan mates Mark Giles and Charles Tilley. Mark is an incredible craftsman, he really is. Some of his bodies are beyond description. I am hoping that he builds me a beautiful replacement body for my Zum, so I can pick it up at Dallas next year.

I'll be back on here once I have thought of something reasonably interesting to say - maybe this afternoon. I have heard one or two very interesting bits of gossip, but have been sworn to secrecy. One item is potentially white hot!!

Bye for now.

[Ken Byng]

Thanks to all of the guys who have supplied positive comments on this thread. It has made the effort worth while. I still have some more photos to download and put on this site for those of you who are interested.