30 years from now.....Where will the Steel Guitar Be?

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 1 Jul 2002 3:18 pm

The TV show that has 5 spots in the Cable Top ten list, 'Spongebob Square Pants' has steel on it all the time, just think of all those kids... and adults whom are being exposed to it and sponging it up, even if they don't know it.

Robert Randolph also made Entertainment Weekly's list of top innovators in the music section of their last issue.

I personally think the future is bright, and everyone just needs to get out and play, even if it's at the local bandstand on a summer night.
You never know who you will inspire, maybe one of the little kids who watches Spongebob and finally says, 'So that's the thing that makes all those cool sounds'.

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Regards, Craig
[This message was edited by Craig Stock on 01 July 2002 at 04:19 PM.][This message was edited by Craig Stock on 01 July 2002 at 04:21 PM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 1 Jul 2002 3:46 pm

And it's pretty darn easy to tell Gary Brandin from Robert Randolph!

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 1 Jul 2002 4:36 pm

Craig--You are so right! That's one reason after 15 years I am at it again (a little rusty). I'm 62 years old, retired last year and hooked up with a 6 piece band playing weekends. Everybody around here is getting to see a steel guitar again. I don't like sitting home Saturday nights (with or without the wife). This Saturday we will be playing at the Moose Club in WESTFIELD, NEW YORK. Right city, wrong state

Joe

Bill Myrick · Post by **Bill Myrick** » 1 Jul 2002 5:56 pm

Carl---Although we've never met--I think I know something of you and having said that----in 30 years---what do you really think ????
Are we gonna be under a new government ? One that has a flat 10% contribution rather than "all we can get" taxes ? And another thing-- I am convinced that the King James people omitted some words when they interpreted Psalms 144 verse 9-- I'll bet the scrolls have something to the effect of --"and 3 floor pedals, 4 knee levers and a bump lever" !!!!! Well--- just a thought--
"Bill" -

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 1 Jul 2002 8:17 pm

Where?, in the hands of the sons of the Vanduras (metaphorically speaking)

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 2 Jul 2002 2:42 am

Well I'm not 100% certain where my Steels will be but I'm pretty certain where I may not be !
tp

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 2 Jul 2002 8:08 am

James Hall wrote

30 years from now someone will have invented an effect that sounds like a steel for the keyboard.

I think that sort of misses the point of modern steel guitar playing. While they might be able to emulate the sound of country steel guitar somewhat, the steel is capable of a wide range of sounds.

Also, the chord transitions on a pedal steel are virtually impossible to emulate. You can pretty much slide from any full chord to any other full chord. Coming up with a human interface to do this in real time on a keyboard is impossible, IMHO.

When you combine those two aspects - the rich tonal variety and the chord transitions - it will always be easier, cheaper and more satisfying musically to use a steel player than to try to coax those things out of a computer.

The real musical strength of the steel guitar is expressiveness. We have keyboards doing string sections, but only an amateur session leader would try to lay down a real violin part with a keyboard. The nuances would be lost. Same goes for steel.

Beyond that, the trend for replacing real real instruments with emulations has pretty much peaked. Heck, they're still using real b@nj*s in the studio.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
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Jerry Johnston · Post by **Jerry Johnston** » 2 Jul 2002 12:59 pm

Joey----My twin twelve Sho-Bud would still weigh a bunch--even on the moon.

The fact that they haven't been able to reproduce the SG sound electronically yet means it probably can't be done. For that reason I think the SG will be around a long time, in pretty much its current form.

Started with no talent--still have most of it.

Jerry

KENNY KRUPNICK · Post by **KENNY KRUPNICK** » 2 Jul 2002 2:12 pm

I sure hope that THE NASHVILLE SOUND is not put aside and done away with.That is THE sound.

Anders Brundell · Post by **Anders Brundell** » 2 Jul 2002 2:19 pm

I bet there´ll always be people who love real music, played on real instruments by good instrumentalists, and that the sweet, sweet sound of steel guitar will continue to thrill people in the future.
And youngsters far from country music heartland in USA will certainly come by a steel muuuuuuch easier than when I was young, so they can start playing much earlier and get much better than me. Maybe today´s great differences in playing skills will be somewhat evened out by that.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 2 Jul 2002 2:22 pm

Gil Berry brought up a good point. The more steel players copy each other, the less interest. They'll all sound alike! Then what!

The pedal steel guitar is a very versatile and expressive instrument.

It hasn't even begun to be recognized and appreciated as it should be by 200,000,000 Americans. Maybe someday......al

Jim West · Post by **Jim West** » 2 Jul 2002 2:48 pm

I believe that in 30 years steel will be better than ever. Yes, there will be new materials, new electronics and computer interfaces but the PSG is here to stay. I am waiting for the new young players to break out of the country mold and take the instrument in a totally new direction. I'm also waiting for a new Rusty Young to put the steel center stage again.

I believe the future is bright for PSG. Yes, some of the old musical traditons associated with the PSG will either evolve or die off but it is definetly here to stay.

I know that there are some here that cling to the past hoping that all will stay the same but I don't believe the PSG will take that direction. We are just tapping the potential of the instrument. Imagine the PSG being applied to new musical styles in the mainsteam music formats. Imagine computer automation being applied to keep the instrument in perfect tune at all times, change tunings etc. etc..

I am optomistic that the best lies ahead for the PSG. I will be 82 in 30 years and I'll still be playing my S12 E9. They'll have to bury me with my picks on (where they put the bar though is another question).

Everyone should keep their chins up, picks tight and their pedals tuned. The best is yet to come. I'm looking forward to the next 30 years.

[This message was edited by Jim West on 02 July 2002 at 03:51 PM.][This message was edited by Jim West on 02 July 2002 at 03:52 PM.]