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 The Steel Guitar Forum
 Steel Players
 Norm Hamlet
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| Author | Topic: Norm Hamlet |
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Stephen Winters Member From: Holcomb, Mississippi, USA |
posted 20 November 2002 01:57 PM
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Does anyone know how the great Norm Hamlet's steel is set up? I saw him on tv the other night playing some great C6 sounding licks, but it looked like he was playing on the front neck. He is one of the greats. ------------------ |
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Kevin Hatton Member From: Amherst, N.Y. |
posted 20 November 2002 07:53 PM
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I saw that. He was emulating C6th on E 9th and I never heard it done better. I was wondering about that also. |
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Terry Wendt Member From: Nashville, TN, USA |
posted 20 November 2002 10:50 PM
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I missed it!!!!  Did you tape it Kevin? |
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Rick Schmidt Member From: Carlsbad, CA. USA |
posted 21 November 2002 03:09 AM
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I could be wrong, but he could have his C6 neck on top. I do know he uses a Day setup on E9, plus he has an interesting pedal that he came up with to emulate some of the R. Mooney licks on early Hag recordings. Kevin Ryan, do you remember what Norm said he had on that pedal? [This message was edited by Rick Schmidt on 21 November 2002 at 03:13 AM.] |
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Chris Forbes Member From: Beltsville, MD, USA |
posted 22 November 2002 03:55 AM
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If he has a C6 neck on top, it's a steel I've never seen him play before. Every steel I've seen him play is set up like 99.9% of the steels out there. |
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scott murray Member From: Orange Park, FL |
posted 22 November 2002 08:17 AM
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Like Big E and many others, Norm's a master at getting the E9 to sound like C6. I'm certain that his setup has the E9 in the front. He cut a version of "Almost to Tulsa" on one of the Strangers albums, and I'm thinking he may have done that on E9 as well. |
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Ron Page Member From: Cincinnati, OH USA |
posted 22 November 2002 10:13 AM
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I don't know off the top of my head. It's only changed once since Winnie's book. He has moved 1 of those knee levers to a 4th pedal. Later I'll check his copedant in my book, which Norm marked up a couple years ago. He doesn't have the C-neck on top. That's E9th. I swore he played "Sin City Blues" on the C-neck but he told me it's E9th and he was going for a "6th-like" sound. I wonder if perhaps he did the same thing on Ida Red -- on Live at Billy Bob's. Copying all my Haggard records and tapes to CD, I'm getting to revisit many great album cuts that I don't hear often. Let's make sure to get Norm nominated for the HoF. We can worry about Pete Rose later. ------------------ [This message was edited by Ron Page on 22 November 2002 at 10:13 AM.] |
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Stephen Winters Member From: Holcomb, Mississippi, USA |
posted 22 November 2002 11:11 AM
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"Sin City Blues" is the song I saw him play on tv, on the front neck. He is a master of the instrument. ------------------ |
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Ron Page Member From: Cincinnati, OH USA |
posted 26 November 2002 09:06 AM
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Sorry it took so long. I'v been a little under the weather... According to Winnie's book and Norm's update handwritten in, Norm does use a Day pedal setup. A 4th pedal, which used to be a knee, lowers 3rd to G and raises 6th to A. Knees (5): Standard 1/2-note raise and lower on E's, and standard lowers on 2nd string; lowers B's to Bb;raise 1st to G and lower 6th to F#. ------------------ |
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Joe Casey Member From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9) |
posted 26 November 2002 11:13 AM
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Certainly Norm belongs in the Hall so I would show up again next year to see him and Reece go in together. ------------------ |
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Dave Birkett Member From: Oxnard, CA, USA |
posted 26 November 2002 03:26 PM
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quote: That'll do it right there. If he put a split on the lever that lowers the 6th to F#, he wouldn't need that pedal. When were splits first used? |
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norm hamlet Member From: bakersfield ca. usa |
posted 26 November 2002 05:18 PM
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Ron, thanks for answering the questions about me. I was out of town and just now got home. I use the Jimmy Day setup and also E9th on the top neck and the C6th on the bottom. I did play Sin City Blues on E9th. I get a few licks that sound like C6th by using three finger picks and a thumb pick so I can grab four strings together. Also, I recorded Almost To Tulsa on the C6th tuning. The fourth pedal lowers the third string from G# to G and raises the 6th string from G# to A. By using my third pedal which raises the fifth and tenth strings from B to C# along with the fourth pedal, gives me a 7th on strings three through six. You can get the 7th by raising the first string 1/2 tone from F# to a G but there are some licks that just don't have the same sound. This way you can rake four strings backward starting with the third to the sixth with pedals three and four. This is the setup I used to play some Mooney licks. It is hard to describe how this would sound, you would almost have to hear me play it to hear how it sounds. Norm Hamlet |
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Chris Forbes Member From: Beltsville, MD, USA |
posted 27 November 2002 02:48 AM
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I've always respected and enjoyed your playing Mr. Hamlet, thank you. |
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Dave Van Allen Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth |
posted 27 November 2002 05:43 AM
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I love this forum... ask a question and get answered straight from the maestro himself... thank you Mr Hamlet. do you still own any ZB Customs? |
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Stephen Winters Member From: Holcomb, Mississippi, USA |
posted 27 November 2002 05:55 AM
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Thanks Mr. Hamlet for the response. This forum is a great place. ------------------ |
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norm hamlet Member From: bakersfield ca. usa |
posted 27 November 2002 08:20 PM
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Dave, Yes I have a ZB double eleven string with 9 pedals and five knees red cherry color and real pretty birdseye maple. It was built just before Tom Brumley bought the company. I also have my lime green Rus-ler eleven and ten string with 9 pedals and five knees. They are still great sounding guitars. Norm Hamlet |
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Kevin Hatton Member From: Amherst, N.Y. |
posted 27 November 2002 11:31 PM
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Norm, again thanks for coming on and posting. I swore you were on the C6th neck but knew you were on E9th on Sin City. I love your tone and approach to steel. Very sensitive touch and phrasing. Bravo. We loved it. Terry, sorry, I didn't tape it. Hopefully it'll be re-broadcast on CMT. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 27 November 2002 at 11:33 PM.] |
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Tiny Olson Member From: Tribes Hill, NY, USA along the Erie Canal in the beautiful Mohawk River Valley |
posted 28 November 2002 06:50 PM
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I met Norm Hamlet several times while I was with Gene Watson and we did shows together with Merle and Norm. He was always a cool and great guy to me, besides being a great player. His posting of reply on this forum just proves that I guess. And that double eleven ZB is sure cool too. Best wishes to you Norm and I admire your long and great career with "The Hag." Tiny Olson |
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Tommy Detamore Member From: Floresville, Texas |
posted 29 November 2002 06:23 AM
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I had the pleasure of spending some time with Norm a few months ago. He is a true gentleman-incredibly modest, and a legendary player in my book. Thanks Norm! Hey, when are you gonna write that book we talked about? Tiny, we have traveled the same paths, eh? |
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Tiny Olson Member From: Tribes Hill, NY, USA along the Erie Canal in the beautiful Mohawk River Valley |
posted 29 November 2002 09:30 AM
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Yes Tommy, we sure have. But I don't know if you had to drive the buses as much as I did... especially in reverse !!! I wish Norm would write a book. Many of my buddies are always telling me I should do so, what with all the "interesting" road and music stories. But a guy like Norm, with such an unbelievably long and great career, out there with the same guy for so many years should really do so. I'll buy one if you write it, Norm. Sorry I missed you in "The Big Apple" Tommy. Tiny O. |
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RON PRESTON Member From: Dodson, Louisiana, USA |
posted 29 November 2002 10:12 AM
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Wow, Norm, I remember seeing a photo of you quite a while back playing that Rustler. I have been to quite a few Steel Guitar shows through the years, but, I have never seen a Rustler yet. I've always wanted to sit behind one and try one out. Thanks for the great playing through the years with "The Hag" |
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Rick Schmidt Member From: Carlsbad, CA. USA |
posted 29 November 2002 12:26 PM
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Hi Norm...just wanted to say it was great seeing you again at that show we opened up for you last month in San Diego! Don't know how I coulda thought you had the C6 on top. You sounded great at that show! |
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Pat Goodbla Member From: Las Vegas, NV USA |
posted 30 November 2002 09:43 AM
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It was a real treat last year in Sacramento when Norm was inducted into the POWS Hall of Fame. Had a green guitar that day. Pat |
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Joe Henry Member From: Ebersberg, Germany |
posted 30 November 2002 12:04 PM
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I have yet to listen more to Norm Hamlet. Can anybody recommend some particular records that have outstanding examples of his style? Also, I think his pedal setup and choice in guitars are ultra cool. Regards, Joe H. |
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Chris Forbes Member From: Beltsville, MD, USA |
posted 30 November 2002 12:11 PM
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Merle Haggard's "Live at Billy Bob's" is a good place to start |
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Ken Byng Member From: Southampton, England |
posted 01 December 2002 05:47 AM
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Norm Hamlet was the first player to inspire me to take up the steel in 1970. His playing on the first Strangers instrumental album is beautiful. It features some brilliant duet work with the awesome Roy Nicholls. |
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Chris Forbes Member From: Beltsville, MD, USA |
posted 01 December 2002 08:24 AM
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Man, I've been trying forever to get ahold of those Strangers albums. I've wanted to learn Stealin' Corn for about 10 years now and can never get a copy of the dang thing! If they can reissue some of the Buckeroo's stuff on CD, why not the Strangers? DO YOU HEAR ME YOU WORTHLESS RECORD COMPANY EXUCUTIVE!!?? |
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Frank Parish Member From: Nashville,Tn. USA |
posted 01 December 2002 08:50 AM
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I seen a guy with a Rustler downtown a few months back and at sounded pretty darn good but had to weigh a ton. I think it was D-12! He said it was about 100 pounds. One thing about this is if you've got people to carry your stuff on and off the stage like Mr. Hamlet does you can play them tanks and not be any worse off in the back department. I'm looking for those early Strangers records too. If he writes the book I want one too. |
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Jack Francis Member From: Mesa, Arizona, USA |
posted 01 December 2002 03:42 PM
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I know what your talking about. I play a RUS-LER S10 and even it is heavy. I guess it's old age but my gigs are usually in a 50 mile radius, so I load all my equipment into my van then open the back doors set my case on the floor and put my steel into the case and leave it assembled. Sure saves the old back  Jack ------------------ [This message was edited by Jack Francis on 01 December 2002 at 03:43 PM.] |
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Ron Page Member From: Cincinnati, OH USA |
posted 02 December 2002 11:10 AM
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Joe Henry, I agree with Chris that "Live at Billy Bob's" is THEE place to start. Just about anything Merle has recored in the past 34+ years is Norm's; except Haggard 1994 which was Sonny Garrish. I've got 20 Hag LP's and 7 tapes that I'm converting to CD; several others I'd already repurchased on CD. I always thought a collection of the older live albums would make a great box set. Those albums are... 1. Okie From Muskogee The only one of the originals I've found on CD is #3. I've got the others on LP's so...problem solved w/o those brilliant record co. execs. I love the part in Rainbow Stew where Norm is playing a great break in "The Runnin' Kind" and the PA announcer says, "Attention: For your own safety please don't dance on the floor in the 2nd deck". Big A Stadium must have been rockin'! Album is early 80's and Merle's vocals are out of this world. ------------------ |
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