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 Whats the average age of a new steel player? (Page 2)
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Russ Young Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA |
posted 23 December 2002 01:05 PM
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Ditto RickyOne1 ... I wanted to buy a lap steel after I saw David Lindley playing a Rick Bakelite. I was about 20; it only took me another 27 years to buy one and start playing (earlier this year). |
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Blake Matthies Member From: Tucson, Arizona, USA |
posted 23 December 2002 02:07 PM
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I just started playing the steel four months ago, at age 49...and like a lot of you other folks..it's something that was on my "to do" list for the last 20 years or so! |
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Ray Rasmussen Member From: Santa Rosa, CA, |
posted 23 December 2002 05:32 PM
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I had a false start 20 years ago when I was 27. Life happened (marriage, kid, etc.)so I sold the guitar after a year of collecting dust in the closet. I bought another one a year ago and plan to stick with it this time. |
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Matt Brydges Member From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada |
posted 23 December 2002 06:59 PM
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Hehe, well Bob you have a point there, I feel very fortunate to be starting early. Mind you, my problem is that I when I'm older with more experience on the steel, I won't have too many excuses left to explain bad nights - I'll just flat out suck.  Matt |
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rhcarden Member From: Lampe,Mo / USA |
posted 23 December 2002 08:01 PM
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I started at 16, and at 65, sometimes I feel like I just started. I still love it! ------------------ |
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Patrick Carlson Member From: Sutton, Nebraska, USA |
posted 29 December 2002 02:31 PM
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I started playing this year.Truman was president when I was born. |
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DroopyPawn Member From: Fox, OK, USA |
posted 29 December 2002 04:38 PM
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I got a used Sho-Bud Pro II in less than perfect condition when I was in college. So I must have been about 22. I didn't have a clue what to do with it so it became too frustrating and I quit and traded it for a Roland ready strat, a CS800, a 4x10 cabinet and some other goodies (or some combination thereof). Then a couple of years ago I got an MSA Classic U12 - couldn't do it - sold it. And last year around Christmas I got my current guitar - Sierra Session U12. I plan on sticking with it this time. At least now I can find some chords and play with the radio - sort of. I turned 34 on Dec 15th. I think it's really cool to have a place to talk to other steel players. Thanks b0b. ------------------
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Robert Thomas Member From: Mehama, Oregon, USA |
posted 29 December 2002 05:59 PM
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I started learning at the age of 12 and then started playing at 15 for dances by myself. I am right close to 69 now and have no plans to quit until I can't play anymore or I am dead. |
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Rick McDuffie Member From: Smithfield, North Carolina, USA |
posted 29 December 2002 06:26 PM
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Not an easy question for me. Started playing guitar in 1966 at age 11 and my best buddy had bought a "hawaiian" guitar from the music store- a steel-string "Marathon" acoustic guitar with a raised metal nut and a pickup. We learned a little steel back then, but it didn't stick. I had a "Norwood" (made in Ohio, don't know much else about it, but would be interested if anyone knows anything) S10 3&1 in the early 80's and worked my way through the Winnie Winston book. I enjoyed it immensely, but wasn't in a band and soon traded it for a Tele... or 335... can't really remember. After playing jazz, blues and rock all my life, I joined an excellent country band (on guitar)last year. The other guitar player had a Fender Champ lap steel, and I played it on a couple of tunes. All of a sudden we sounded like a different band- I couldn't believe that little insignificant-looking instrument had such a powerful sound! I had the fever again. So... I started messing around on eBay and fell into a deal, then another. Now I have a ShoBud Pro I and a Pro III. I'm 47, and having fun with it! Glad to be a part of this forum- my playing and knowledge is taking giant steps because of the treasure of knowledge (and opinions!) I find here. ------------------ |
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Brian Lethert Member From: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA |
posted 29 December 2002 10:20 PM
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Started at age 17 in 1986, when i was a junior in high school. Ricky Skaggs Highways & Heartaches album, 7 Year Ache, Bellamy Bros. Whistlin, Dixie. That's what did it. Saved up for two years and in 1986 I bought a Sho-Bud D-10. (The old one with the barrel tuners). Played in a hillbillyish sort of band for a year or so. Everyone thought i was the piano player. After a while they introduced me like this: '... and Brian over here on the string piano...' Bought a used Williams S-12 last year and now I don't tip over when I carry my steel. I wish it was maple instead of mica, but at least it keeps my Sho-Bud from getting jealous... |
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Jeff Au Hoy Member From: Honolulu, Hawai'i |
posted 30 December 2002 01:18 AM
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22 here...definitely an outlier. My mission is to change that. For lessons, I charge 1 softdrink and a friendly chat. If you have good beef jerky and want to share that, we'll go an extra 4 hours. |
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Jeff Au Hoy Member From: Honolulu, Hawai'i |
posted 30 December 2002 01:19 AM
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_ [This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 30 December 2002 at 01:22 AM.] |
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Jeff Sunstrom Member From: Boone, Iowa, USA |
posted 30 December 2002 07:08 PM
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I just turned 44 on Dec. 11 and I've been working at the steel about 18 months now! Played in front of a full sanctuary on Christmas Eve backing up a singer! 1st time to play in front of a crowd outside my home. Just Loved it and want to keep learning more about this great sounding and very intimidating instrument. Jeff Sunstrom Emmons S10 3&4 |
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Nathan Delacretaz Member From: Austin, Texas, USA |
posted 31 December 2002 05:38 AM
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Started lap steel in'99 at 27 and pedal steel last year at 30. Loving it! |
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Shaan Shirazi Member From: Austin, TX, USA |
posted 31 December 2002 06:21 AM
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I started in June of 2001 at age 33 luckily with 18 years of guitar playing to rely on. I traded a double neck fender 8-string for my roomate's Fender 400, then sold that to buy a great Fessenden S-10. My roommate now plays the nicest Sierra Universal in town and he's been at it for about 3 years now and he's 30. Austin has at least a half dozen steel players my age or younger that I can think of and the best teachers around! Shaan ------------------ |
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Jason Stillwell Member From: Soper, OK, USA |
posted 31 December 2002 07:02 AM
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I'm 28 now; started playing steel when I was 19 or 20. As someone stated earlier, I feel as though I'm just getting started. I'm finally starting to develop a half-decent right-hand technique...whew! |
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George Kimery Member From: Limestone, TN, USA |
posted 31 December 2002 10:02 PM
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The first thing I bought when I graduated college and got a job was a car so I could get to work. The second thing was a new Emmons D-10. This was in 1968 and I was 21. I only played a Tele and Banjo up to that point, but studied the pedal steel on paper for 4 years before I actually had one. The first pedal steel I ever saw was in a case in the trunk of Billy Bowmans car and it was an Emmons, and then, I only got to see the undercarriage. I wish I could get that Emmons back. I sold it to a guy in Knoxville, TN with the last name of Poor, so if anybody knows him, I would like to know what ever happened to that guitar. |
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Mike Lucas Member From: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
posted 01 January 2003 01:55 AM
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I'm 52 yrs old and just starting out although I've had my Maverick S-10 since '79. |
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John S. King Member From: Mentor, Ohio, USA |
posted 01 January 2003 12:16 PM
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Bob, I started about six months ago, I am 56 Yrs. & will be 57 on the 7th of this month. I have been have a ball learning. John S. King |
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Ken Lang Member From: Simi Valley, Ca |
posted 01 January 2003 05:35 PM
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If the question is, how many young folks are taking up the steel guitar, the answer has to be--not many. That's verified by the posts on this thread. There is no glamor in the psg. You can't be on MTV dancing around in your leathers, kicking a leg up or stand back to back with the bassman undulating up and down and making faces like your both getting off on this ritual dance. You can't jump off a riser and slide to the front of the stage just in time to grab a proffered female undergarment and twirl back and jump high in the air just in time for the crash ending. (whew) And yet, neither can the guy behind the keyboards. Still, he is cool, but the psg is not. Perception, visualization and pumping music is the lot of todays young music. Only the stalwart fans of country music can carry the flag. The truly raised country folks, the gray hairs and our occasionally found young folk who see beyond the smaltz of the glitter. |
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Rick Barber Member From: Morgan Hill, Calif. USA |
posted 10 January 2003 11:41 PM
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I started when I was 49 1/2 and now I'm 53. Rick Barber |
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Rex Thomas Member From: Thompson's Station, TN |
posted 11 January 2003 08:12 AM
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I started when I was 17, & I'm now 50. |
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Joe Kaufman Member From: Lewiston, Idaho |
posted 11 January 2003 06:08 PM
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I started 4 years ago at the age of 18 on my own "built from tele parts" lap steel. Since then I've tried a Maverick for 2 yrs, and just bought a D8 Stringmaster. (I'm selling the Mav) |
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ray qualls Member From: Baxter Springs, Kansas |
posted 11 January 2003 06:36 PM
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I know the question is "How many young guys are starting to play steel". Four years ago I posted the topic "What is the average age of steelers on the forum" and got about 160 responses. The average age turned out to be 53 years old. I'm sure that with the conventions and steel guitar clubs that are in existence, promoting the music of the steel guitar will keep going on and hopefully with the help of the elders, that new guys will still want to learn this facinating instrument. It up to us to "keep on steelin". ------------------ |
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