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Bill Ford

[This message was edited by Bill Ford on 12 October 2002 at 06:39 PM.]

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My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories

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kd...and the beat goes on...

I traveled the rain, and foggy MA
turnpike yesterday to play the E.
Coast Steel Show. Thanks Frank for squeezing me in. It was fun chatting with Al Brisco, and Dana Flood. Both are top-notch steel guitarists. I invited both entertainers, as well as many others to view my Upright Fretboard. It turned out to be a lot of fun.

Your stepping into a morass where
it may be difficult to extricate yourself from. You've thrown in a barb or two that have fallen short of their intended mark. What gave you the false impression that I stare at the fretboard? I said it once, and I'll say it again. In my opinion, I've got something special here, over conventional fretboards.
I'll never use a horizontal fretboard again. There is simply no reason to compare the Hankey Upright Fretboard to horizontal boards. It is entirely new in concept, and I am delighted beyond imagination. To say this works for me, is the understatement of the year. Are you saying that you don't look at the fretboard?

I don't play much Pedal Steel, I'm not an expert on this but I do play piano, guitar, a good amount of Dobro and a few other instruments. I try not to look at the fretboard too much.

When I saw your picture my first thoughts were "why"? My Dad was a pretty darn good steeler who was also legally blind...if he taught me anything it was don't worry about the fretboard.

I also know it's not that simple, that in the course of mastering any instrument there are several methods used.

Your invention is great, I'm sure a lot of people will find something like that useful...I have a different approach, that's all.

I take back the first sentence of my earlier post...I didn't mean to be rude...I wasn't really assuming you stare at the fretboard and should have chosen my words more carefully...no insult intended at all.

Good luck..if you want me to clarify my opinion more I'll be glad to.

http://www.jamfree.com/

[This message was edited by Stephen LeBlanc on 14 October 2002 at 05:39 PM.]

May I wish you and your dad the very best in every musical endeavor. I hope that you pursue the rewards to be found in the music of the pedal steel guitar.

I find it re-assuring that, whatever I tune it to, it's always gonna be those notes.

Your reacquisition of the 6 strings
guitar in 1977 is an interesting thought. Yes, denotations have a very special place in our lives. Ask any carpenter who relies on the scribes made to complete their work. The "Hankey Upright Fretboard" shown at the beginning of this post, has been treated to subtle modifications. It has been trimmed to provide maximum visual acuity. The new concept is ideal for many reasons. Individual preferences governing that which pleases one viewer, and not another, is not a problem. There would be any number of decorative fretboards available, should this new concept attract others who may be interested in eliminating
wearisome eyestrain.

When Christopher Columbus "sailed the ocean blue in 1492", his mates wanted to toss him overboard, and turn the ship around. They panicked thinking that the earth was flat, like a steel guitar fretboard. My new invention, smacks of the trending away from any sort of flat fretboard concepts. Mine has been removed, and the "Hankey Upright Fretboard" is all I'll ever need to enjoy playing songs with the fretboard clearly showing frets throughout performances. You wrote in your reply that a problem may exist while positioning the bar on the lower strings. Not so, turn back and rethink the would be helpful assumption. There are two words to describe the new concept, "Visually acceptable".

Bill H.

I'm pleased to read that you like the idea of relocating the steel guitar fretboard. Yes, it's the "Lucky 7" at the third string pull. I will be showing pictures to provide a better view of the attachment.

Bill H.

[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 21 October 2002 at 02:50 AM.]

I have been experimenting with a blocking technique that may very well be worth the effort, and time needed to correctly apply it as a new style while playing the steel.
I've spent some time trying to look at how best to work it into my music. The "Hankey Upright Fretboard" has brought much pleasure to me, and now I'm back to serious practice sessions. I hope to spend some time at each session
looking for ways to advance the blocking technique to new levels of expertise.

Thanks for the response. I am enjoying the Upright Fretboard. It is everything I've ever wanted in finding a solution to difficult viewing of the horizontal fretboard. The original fretboard is just a memory. It is no longer needed for any reason.

Bar slants are traditionally for show. They coasted on out of town with the inception of pedals and knee levers. However, the H.U.F.
(Hankey Upright Fretboard) offers exceedingly more visual accuracy should one resort to fanciful bar maneuverability. I watched Herb Remington use bar slants while jamming with Jeff Newman, and Hal Rugg, from a distance of 5 feet. It was then and there that I saw him use bar slants that approached becoming parallel with the strings. All of the frets on the H.U.F. are visible throughout a performance. The technique used is gunsighting the bar, which means total accuracy when adapting showmanship methods of playing bar slants. You would have a much better view of both ends of the bar in relation to the its position for extreme bar slanting. There is no substitute for visual acuity, which is the most prominent feature of the H.U.F.

Bill H.

[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 22 October 2002 at 02:29 AM.]

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There is no substitute for visual acuity,

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I absolutely do not agree with your concise repartee. Nothing in the world could ever measure up to good vision. Diminished hearing ability is very common in the real world, particularly if one has been treated to rock era decibels that unsuspecting victims were subjected to, before the realization dawned on them, that something was amiss.
The highs don't register as well, and other sounds are lost amidst the din of a high volume band. Crashing cymbals have taken their tolls on steel guitarists. There is a great need for a caring person to address this abuse, and request that the band members become aware of the risks.

Musicians naturally listen to their own music, for the great pleasures provided in music played well. There is no need to remind someone that they should develop a good aural ability, to replace visual acuity.

Bill, you should probably just let your invention speak for itself...if players gravitate toward it and like using it, it will become popular.

The more you argue for it the more silly it seems.

You might want to familiarize yourself with the many great blind musicians of the past and present...you might be amazed...they actually play in tune.

I'm just joshing...I think.

Your inventions are very interesting, obviously the result of a lot of experimentation. The guitar in the photos guitar looks like a test-bed!!

The Lucky 7 is a great idea, reducing the angle at which the string sits. I suggest making up a bunch and selling them at next years convention in St. Louis.

Best of luck!

Drew Howard

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www.newslinkassociates.com
www.drewhoward.com

quote:

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Bar slants are traditionally for show. They coasted on out of town with the inception of pedals and knee levers.

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It is often necessary to slant the bar to get harmony notes for which there is no pedal installed. Do you really think that Lloyd Green does all of those slants for show???

I base my statement on what I saw with my own eyes. A time or two ago, I saw "Scotty" point a time tested finger at Buddy Emmons, when he did his now famous 360 degrees twirl, while playing a slow ballad.
I thought to myself at that time, that the move was showmanship. I realize that this type of entertainment is provided for the attendee's viewing pleasure, and doesn't serve to make the melody line sound better. As for Lloyd Green, who in their right mind, would question anything that he does while seated at his steel guitar? I'm one of his most faithful fans. I'm comfortable with the thought that Herb Remington may have the leading edge when it comes down to bar slanting. His bar slant moves seem to be endless. Bob, thanks for allowing me to state my opinion. Your friendship means much more to me, than whatever happens to be right or wrong.

Pictures will be forthcoming soon.
Thanks for your interests.