Paul Franklin: Chris Stapleton Live ACL Music Fest 2024

[John Larson]

Paul is always top tier but man stuff like this just proves Country ain't dead yet!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ld9aK3z9bI

[Duane Becker]

Sorry, but a rock and roll mix, steel buried! Around 1:20:00 and 1:23:00, they've turned up the steel to a marginable level, but pretty much everything else visual for Paul.
I don't mind other styles of music, but if you're going to use the steel in this type of music, at least make the levels as loud as the rock guitar.

[Joe Bill Moad]

Yes and they had no lighting on Paul, barely see his Guitar! I hate top 40 Nashville POP music! Largest discrase since time. Yes Stapleton can croon big time, Yes the Guitars sound Great, but why not (as everyone knows) turn Paul or whoever is playing up to Guitar levels? Big time Joke and Discrace to Country Music!

Jbm

[Brett Day]

I saw Paul playing steel with Chris at the CMA Awards last November-I was at the show! He was singing a song called "White Horse" and I recognized Paul right away-he was playing the chrome Franklin guitar. Seeing Paul play live is another reason I decided to get my steel back out!

[Joe Bill Moad]

Kinda gives a man the “Bug” wanting to get after it, doesn’t it.

Jbm

[Bruce Derr]

Here's what he was playing with Chris on the Late Show last month...

[Frank Freniere]

Is Paul playing a (Les) Paul???

[Bob Carlucci]

boy that does look like a Les Paul w cream p90's doesn't it?...Maybe thats how he plays "slide guitar". I have been playing steel for 48 years, guitar for 55 but never could catch on to playing slide guitar styles.. Always felt awkward. I just take a standard guitar and put it on my lap where it feels natural.... Maybe Paul wanted a standard slide guitar sound rather than a "lap steel" sound, and took a regular guitar and placed it in a position where it felt natural to him... Just a theory of course, I'll let him answer correctly if he sees this. I do know that some long time steel players, myself included, would rather place the slide guitar on the lap or on a horizontal surface rather than play it "the right way".

[Bob Carlucci]

Sorry, but a rock and roll mix, steel buried! Around 1:20:00 and 1:23:00, they've turned up the steel to a marginable level, but pretty much everything else visual for Paul.
I don't mind other styles of music, but if you're going to use the steel in this type of music, at least make the levels as loud as the rock guitar.

Yeah pretty much.. I dunno, if I were a "country headliner", male or female, and could score a steel player of Paul's caliber for a tour or even just a few shows, I would lean a little harder on his gain slider on the board.. Mark Knopfler highlighted Paul's sound nicely on the Brothers in Arms tour with Dire Straits decades ago, and that was real rock band, not an "outlaw country" type act... Thats just the way it is with pedal steel these days, for reasons I can't explain... bob

[Bruce Derr]

Link to Late Show tune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceQB_p225ug

[Bob Carlucci]

Indeed, looks like a plain old P-90 equipped LP, most likely with action raised . Maybe Paul will clarify at some point, but its probably that he wanted a "slide guitar" sound, more than a lap steel sound.. If I had to play a slide guitar part that wouldn't work on pedal steel, I would do the same thing..Raise the action, go a gauge or two up on string gauge, and play it on my lap with finger picks and a solid bar, probably smaller in diameter than my pedal steel bar. Electric solid body Spanish guitars do sound different than a lap steel due to size, neck, scale length, string gauge, headstock bridge/tailpiece design,etc. I am positive Paul could have played the exact same[or close] solo on his steel, but chose to use a guitar for specific sound or feel for that song... bob