Pad or no pad?

[Nick Bidmade]

I'm not sure quite where to post this topic.
I was very impressed by JD's Emmons restoration. But it got me thinking...
Why do we have a pad on an SD10 when there isn't one on a S10? If the pad is to affect our wrist position (anybody had piano lessons? Ouch!!) If so, then we are using two separate techniques to play the instrument. Might this have a bearing on our ability to palm block, or speed pick, for example? Does a pad affect our wrist position? I thought the Emmons without the pad looked great. The lack of a pad didn't seem to affect John's playing.
I also began to wonder about cabinet drop. Would a wider apron beyond the first string, for example, by a couple of inches, have a bearing on tuning, cabinet drop etc. I know this would increase the weight for E9 players, but it still wouldn't be as heavy as a D10.
Any thoughts?

[ZakTF]

It's an interesting question Nick. I've been wondering the same thing myself. I've only been playing the steel for close to 2 years, so I'm no expert, but having practiced a lot of both E9 and C6 on a D10 and SD10, I suspect that the pad doesn't actually affect technique very much, and for me personally, I think it's easier and more comfortable to play C6 on a D10 (no pad to rest my arms on), than it is to play E9 on an SD10 with a pad. I'm curious to see what others think.

[Danny Mitchell]

Good topic, Nick. Having only ever played S10. Anytime I've sat at an SD10, it felt weird and distant, but I've witnessed a great players (Willie Gamble, Bob Adams) move effortlessly from SD10 to S10, with no change of playing position. I'd always imagined the pad was there for lounging around on, in between flashes of brilliance, kind of like Jacob Rees Mogg on the front benches of Westminster, only in his case, ixne onne illiancebre

As an aside, Zak "playing under 2 years"
I doff my cap to your development, bodes well, young man Keep up the great work!

[Ken Byng]

Nick
The first commercially made SD10 with a pad on the rear deck was the Sho~Bud LDG, made on the suggestion initially of Lloyd Green. His pad on his guitar was made to cover up the hole left by Lloyd's C6 pick up and changer on his rear neck. Lloyd simply wanted to reduce the weight of his Sho~Bud that made the transportation of his guitar to and from sessions so much easier. The rear pad was adopted by many other steel manufacturers but in recent years, Show Pro have produced a number of SD10s with no rear pad. These have beautiful lacquer bodies, and the lack of a pad doesn't impinge in any way on the playability or tone of those guitars.

[Billy White]

Hi Nick
Because the knee levers are under the pad, the neck and pedals are further away. I prefer this as I can get more foot movement. Also your arms are more in position you would use playing a piano or the position recomended for using a keyboard. I realise that for me this is just a personal choice.

[ZakTF]

Thanks Danny! (Lockdown certainly gave me time to practice )

[hickenjr]

I think the wide body and pad can affect you if you're not used to it but after a while you can play both.

My first 4 years was spent on a Carter Starter and my Dad's Pro 1 and although my Show Pro was smooth to play, the difference in ergonomics did initially throw me off but right now I'm used to it and can easily transition.

As Ken says, the original reason for the pad was to cover up the mess of removing a C6 neck. I was always told by those over the pond that it's a bad habit to rest the right arm/elbow on the pad. I sometimes find myself doing it but I tell myself not to.