playing steel in the past, compared to these days

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 2 Jun 2002 1:15 pm

Was it all better those days? More work, more appreciation, better music? Or better these days, more crossovers to other kinds of music? More ways to learn, newer insights?
Let the bar slide!!!!!
JJ

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Jun 2002 1:49 pm

I wouldn`t know what to say,it seems to me that these days everything is about a speed and who can play faster.Every time I go out to see bands I get a motion sicknes from the steel players who play 100 mph.That all sounds the same to me,up and down the scale,it is interesting for a song or two but I get very tired of listening that.I think that young players like to show off and impress too hard.I always stated, I can`t play steel, but I enjoy playing in the band and listenig the complete picture.There is time and place for every lick and when that time comes it doesn`t have to be played in worp speed to be nice and beautiful.I would like to hear much more heart and music rather then trying to absorb too many notes in too short period of time.There is only so much notes that you can put in the mesure.But then again,what do I know.

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http://hometown.aol.com/damirzanne/damirzanne1.html

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 2 Jun 2002 3:16 pm

Damir

YES....................YES.................

John Hawkins · Post by **John Hawkins** » 2 Jun 2002 3:27 pm

Damir ,

I admire the players that have the ability to play at "100 MPH" . They have practiced many hours to get to that point . I do play steel but now, these old hands will not allow me to go to any speed much over 20 M.P.H even if I had achieved the 100 M.P.H method some fifty + years ago when I first started playing steel .

Having said that , I agree with you on all other of your points ! There is a time and place for it .

I was once told that after a big show that involved several of the great steel players, someone asked Jimmy Day if he could play as fast as " so-in-so " did ? If what was told me is correct , Jimmy replyed to that person something to the effect " I WISH I COULD PLAY THAT FAST BUT WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO ?"

I may not have his quote , or the story exactly right but who would want to question the playing methods of that great steel player . Talk about soul , great feeling and all the rest of what he was capable of doing on a steel guitar!!!

Just my two cents worth .

John

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 2 Jun 2002 5:04 pm

Today, we have the Forum, and many more ways to learn steel, and the musical styles featuring steel are wildly different. But as to the "old days", I can't really describe it. You almost had to have been there, Johan...

I can only speak from my own point of view. But, to me, it certainly seemed better years ago. Despite the fact that there were country artists who didn't use steel in their recordings (Johnny Cash, Jimmy Dean, LeRoy Van Dyke, and many others), most local country bands would do anything to have a steel guitar! Often, the first question asked by someone hiring a country band was..."Do you have a steel guitar?" If you did, then you got hired, it was that simple. Demand was "through the roof", and I got job offers back in the '60s most every week to play with this band or that. Yeah, everyone wanted a steel, or more precisely, a pedal steel. It was new, a novel sound, and quite popular.

Music was much simpler back then. Digital keyboards and 40-piece drum sets didn't exist. Amplifiers and P.A. systems were minimal, and so everything was heard as an "individual instrument". Nowadays, with everything going through a single humongous P.A., the "separation" between instruments... that sound that's so hard to recreate on a recording of a "live band", is gone.

Playing styles weren't generally as fast or flashy as they are now, but you heard a lot more steel. Most country bands had a steel and an electric guitar for lead instruments. (The biggest ones might have had one or two fiddles, too.) So for the most part, you either heard a steel or a lead guitar all through the music. Yes, it was a great time for us steelers.

But perhaps the biggest difference was how the musicians were appreciated. They were always mentioned, and they always got to "show their stuff". The big stars took great pains to put together, and to keep together, a good stage band, and they showed them off every chance they got. Lots of people back in the old days came to see the bands more than they did the stars! They were as much a part of the show as the stars were. Almost every time the steel or lead played a ride, they got a hand, too! (The stars back then saw to this, encouraging the audience to notice "their boys", and give them a round of applause. Today, stars don't want any "competetion", I guess.) Some good bands (like the Po' Boys, The Troubadors, the Strangers, and the Buckaroos) even got to release their own records! (Could you even IMAGINE that happening today?)

Big package shows (traveling shows that featured a half-dozen stars) were seen everywhere, and it was heaven to see 3 or 4 famous steelers backing up their stars. You knew who they were, and each steeler had a distinctive sound and style.

Today, the chances of hearing a couple steel solos with any of the big star's bands is about zilch. The "crossover" thing is so important today that they don't want the steel guitar "sticking out" where everyone might hear it...so they kinda bury it behind everything else. The only way to hear a lot of live steel (for most of us, anyway) is to go to a steel show.

But, I digress. Your question was something on the order of..."Were things better back in the good old days?"

I really couldn't say. [This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 02 June 2002 at 06:21 PM.]

Joe Law · Post by **Joe Law** » 2 Jun 2002 5:33 pm

So well said Damir.As a good listener I like some of the fast picking as I recognize the talent involved but dosen't it take just as much to play tastefully?

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 2 Jun 2002 6:53 pm

I think Donny pretty much nailed this one.

Wayne Morgan · Post by **Wayne Morgan** » 2 Jun 2002 8:45 pm

Donny,
I also remember the days when still was out front like you mention,,and I miss that very much. When you went to a concert to see Buck, The Hag, Ray price, Mel Tellis,Conway or any of the greats,, there was planty of great country music with the steel out front.
Most of the time if you want to hear good music you have to drop back in time,,so I would say,,YEAH THAT WAS THE GOOD OLD DAYS !!!
Wayne

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 2 Jun 2002 8:59 pm

Donny covered a lot of ground, and made a lot of sense, IMO. One point I would emphasize, and I feel this is very important, is that back when I started playing (the early 70's), steel was fundamental in several of the popular groups of the time. Back then, country-rock was very "in", and the college kids were listening to NRPS, Poco, Linda Ronstadt, and to a lesser extent, Commander Cody, Graham Parsons, and the Byrds, with the steel totally in the (non-country) musical mainstream. That doesn't exist now. This is not to say that there aren't some real pluses nowadays compared to the past, but the lack of steel in high profile, big selling commercical acts that appeal to young people is a key difference between eras. With the invention of commercial country-rock, a very large pecentage of today's players took up the steel. As has been dicussed many times, Robert Randolph could start another movement. But who knows.

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 2 Jun 2002 10:43 pm

Id have to go with"better back then...."
When I first hit the beer joints at 14, the vibe around real country musicians was much different.My old boss Tom T. had a good way of putting it...he said country music(then), was still more of a cult music than commercially popular, although country radio at the time was popular. Beer joints, high school auditoriums, supper clubs & the fair circuit were the mainstays of country music performance venues. As opposed to today, where finding a true country band in a beer joint or supper club is a rough task & forget the high school

. The fair & colliseum circuit is the thing nowadays.
Back in the 60's & 70's the camaradirie was more apparrent.The package shows made the travelling lifestyle into something similar to a carnival gig

These days its usually 1 artist & band with a local opening act.
Steve Hinson also talks about how, in the 60's & 70's, Nashville really felt more like an artists colony than "Music City" & he's right.
The jamming & spontaneous music scene was totally cool & virtually unheard of much of anywhere else, save for maybe the jazz scene in the village in NYC. Who knows what changes it?
But I remember the fun of playing "so & so's" new single for the folks who came to the joints etc, to listen & imbibe

Those places to cut your teeth are few & far between anymore.
When I was 16, Curly Chalker told me (some 30 minutes after I looked up & saw him seated by the dance floor

), that I would do most of my learning & chop building on the stage & he was soooo right!
The house gig or regular club circuit is a thing of the past, for the most part. The music has changed & the performance outlets are different. The audience is younger & they have more entertainment options than we did & thats a good thing & a bad thing,imho.
Interesting thread Johan & thats just my $0.02 worth

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 2 Jun 2002 11:43 pm

"The olden days"........ahhhhhhhh, I do remember them well. Why, just the other day I was saying to myself..."Self, remember those days when country music was something really BIG and meaningful too.......and steel guitar players were the masters of the musical group!"

When I hit the local BIG TIME, I was a mere 14 years of age with a triple neck Fender and a 4x10 Fender bassman amp. and had never heard of reverb or wheels on the bottom of the amp! I was the youngest in Local #99 of the AFofM.

The first band and those too, that followed, all had from five to seven pieces.
The BAND was the single most important item.
We all wore uniforms...usually dark pants, boots, white shirts or plaid but coordinated, with neckerchiefs and/or hats.

The STEEL GUITAR was the dominate instrument, ably assisted by a competant lead guitarist and often times one or more fiddles that worked closely together. The first band had no drums and had survived thro-out the war and post war years.

The biggest hall in the region was alcohol free with cops that patrolled the lot and sold tickets at the main gate. It had one, occasionally two, mikes, and some one to two dozen six inch speakers hanging from the rafters around the hall. This was a FAMILY ENVIRONMENT!

We provided our weekly crowds of 500 to 700 people per night....with DANCE MUSIC. There was music and a beat for everyone to dance to. The tunes were a mix of 4/4 and 3/4 at different tempos. They were current radio hits and old traditional songs as well.

We'd perform a dozen or more instrumentals throughout the course of the evening. The "live from the bandstand" radio and television shows....would usually feature atleast two instrumentals....doing 2, sometimes 3-part, harmonies.

We'd give the folks an occasional Schotish, Polka, a square dance or two, "Put Your Little Foot Right In"....etc. We relied heavily on "requests" from the audience. Many groups today adhere to a strict song lists.....and often are quite limited as to what songs they can even perform........when requested.

I've witnessed so many groups today where the concept of "BAND" is unknown. You often see open competition between group members; either in the fastest playing this side of where ever...to the loudest shrillist sounds one can imagine. The BIG BOARD and the often non-musician technician, routinely robs the players of that very item, "that sound" or "tone" for which they've spent a lifetime attempting to master.

In some instances, the pickers will wear the same duds thro-out the week without an apparent change.....and getting a haircut, it's out of the question.

Now, I'm not knocking todays' crowd, but rather, I'm attempting to share with you what it meant back in those olden days, to be a country western musician......and steel guitar player. Those were great times....until the hard rock influence invaded those friendly family circles.

People would drive for miles to see/hear you after you played over the radio/or TV. Those out of town trips to some high school auditorium or fair grounds......were always a pleasant experience. Those days appear to have faded into history.

Yes, those were the good ole days. Too bad many of you younger musicians will never have the occasion to experience what it was truly like.........way back then. In fact, those were some of the happiest days in my musical life. Many of my current musician friends were the result of those early day radio performances.

Now as the lights grow dimmer and the beat of the BIG AMPLIFIED DRUMS grows harsher and louder........, I do believe more of the traditional c/w music lovers/fans will be migrating over to the numerous blue grass groups that are once again flourishing around this great land. Their tateful accoustic performances are not only pleasant to the ear but one has the chance to see talented musicians PLAYING TOGETHER for the benefit of the band and the enjoyment of the crowd.

Ahhhh yes, those were the good ole days. I can remember them now.....ZZZZzzzzzzzzz.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 3 Jun 2002 2:19 am

I too would have to agree that playing Pedal Steel in the bands back in the 70's (thats the old days for me ) compared to today was
a better experience, not necessarily better music, but for me personally as a Steel Player, a better experience. The bands I played in and with always had a following and looking back many came just to hear and see the Steel. During the breaks folks would always just hang out and chat , it was pretty cool as I look back. A Country band back then wouldn't think of doing a gig without a Steel Man, it was un-heard of. presently I gig with a local band and there are a few, very few, that come around and hangout and ask Steel question, I'm talking 1 or 2 at most. The music is much more challenging as the Pedal Steel has evolved technically and thanks to the likes of Paul Franklin and such there are specific signature licks which are pretty much required( or at least should be played ) in many tunes , and thats a good thing as it is forcing me to play at yet another level. Using Alan Jackson tunes as an example, there is much more , or at least it seems that there is more interaction between the Tele's and the Steels in many of the common popular tunes. Playing them is great but the audiences are pretty much there just to hear the band play the tunes and pretty much don't give a hoot how we do it ! On a general scale the music is better today, but the Steel had more overall personal identity back then. Intimate may be the word, not sure..
tp

TPrior/SteelGuitarHomesite
[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 03 June 2002 at 03:26 AM.]

Joe Smith · Post by **Joe Smith** » 3 Jun 2002 2:42 am

Well, I'm doing pretty good in the present. I am booked untill the end of the year and turning down gigs. One of the bands that I play in( The Stragglers )is a country jazz roots type of band. We do a lot of old swing stuff. Lots of twin guitars with the steel and lead. The best part is I get to play a lot on the C6th neck.
No, I'm not a speed picker.

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Playing PSG keeps you on your toes.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 3 Jun 2002 4:29 am

Don't let Joe Smith fool ya..he is as fine a picker as one could find anywhere. he can do it all..and he's modest too..! His bands are top notch .

tp

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 3 Jun 2002 5:54 am

AAHHH, yes, the old days...I learned to play chords in church, and lead guitar in bars and dances. The crowd paid attention to the bands, and knew who could cut it, and who couldn't. I don't play out anymore, except for bluegrass gigs, but it seems that, if there is a band, they'd better be able to play covers exactly like the records. Clubs are going karaoke, and the gospel folk are using soundtracks.
But on the other hand, there aren't as many local pickers drinking/doping themselves to death, either. But there's too many good pickers having to compete for too few jobs these days. AAAHH, misspent youth.

John Russell · Post by **John Russell** » 3 Jun 2002 6:33 am

Great topic. I like the comment that back in the '70s, rock bands often had steel and it was accepted in a non-country style. It was a sort of novelty and it got lots of guys, me included started. Of course most touring country bands had steel and nobody thought anything about that.

Also, who knew back then that 20-25 years into the future we would be having steel guitar conventions with touring pro steel guitar artists and their own fan base. What about the dozen or so great pedal steel manufacturers around today that didn't exist then? All of the instruments and equipment have evolved for the better today in my opinion. Also, recording has improved and most of the recorded material from back then is available today on CD. Everybody has access to most great music.
I think that music has become more segregated in a sense than it was years ago. R&B, rap, country, alt-country, pop, hard rock, metal, jazz. Each seems confined to their own audience and there's less cross-polination than there was back then. Check out Sneaky Pete's website and read all the artists he recorded with, mostly in the '70-'80s. It includes the Bee Gees, Stevie Wonder and other non-country artists.

But, on the local level in most areas, I'd say that live performance opportunities have dwindled. There are less clubs but still lots of outdoor shows. There are less pure country bands at least in Austin. By "pure country" I'm talking about ones with fiddle and steel. Other rootsy acts are plentiful, with an increase in rockabilly, bluegrass. In Austin, I'd dare to say that non-pedal steel is at least, if not, more popular than pedal steel. Not that it's very commonly heard. Guitar is and will probably always be the most dominant instrument. I'm encouraged by the fact that traditional acoustic music is holding up so well. Maybe the vintage '70s sound will be perceived as "quaint" in a few years. I play in a band with a young (30-year-old) singer who plays several covers by the Byrds, Dylan, Gram Parsons. He wasn't even around when that music was being made. All his friends who hang out know all those old songs. So the music's still got plenty of respect. ---jr

Billy Poteet · Post by **Billy Poteet** » 3 Jun 2002 8:12 am

Its a no brainer for me. in 1970 after I finished 3 years with Tony Booth in National City Ca. I went back to Lubbock, Texas. At that time on a given Saturday night, you could find at least 8 to 10 clubs that were going 6 nights a week. All of them had good bands and good steel players. The music was a lot more fun and the people came to see you play. These days you would be hard pressed to find 1 club in Lubbock that even has a band. With the drinking laws, the movie rentals, Karoke, and a lot of other things that choked the music world to death
there is not much room left for much enjoyment in the music world for anyone. NOTHING LIKE THE OLD DAYS. I remember them well.

Billy Poteet

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Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 3 Jun 2002 8:14 am

Johan-"comparing playing steel in the past compared to now"

It seems that Ray Montee has pretty much described what it was like in the past. I know as I was there way back when. We did play everything, Hawaaian,Polkas, Jazz, modern, pop of the day, Old cowboy Westerns, Rhumbas,Cha-chas, all with non-pedals, and later with pedals. All melody.
That's the way it was......But...

Today the instruments are much better, the recording techniques are a lot better. And there are a lot more great players out there now, along with the improved instruments.

( I remember doing a radio transcription on Wax, yet, I had to do 8 songs for dinner music .

I flubbed the first one, So they had to get a new wax disc. That woke me up and I did all 8 songs one time through . Can't imagine having to do that today.

I even played some semi-classical," Humoresque","Clair-De Lune","Leibestraum"," Rhapsody in Blue"

Jeff Lampert made some pretty good points, Donny brought up some good info.

Those were good old days, but now "these are the good old days".....al

Eric Jaeger · Post by **Eric Jaeger** » 3 Jun 2002 2:42 pm

They weren't steel players, but...

"Sometimes I wish I could play fast, but that's not me anyway".
-George Harrison

"I can't play like other people anyway, so I always had to sound like me".
-BB King

Seems to me you can only have your own voice anyway, and hope others appreciate it.

Arty Passes · Post by **Arty Passes** » 3 Jun 2002 6:25 pm

I often wonder if it was really so much better in the old days, or if it's just that the old days were our young days...
We can all look at our own situation, and think that that's everyone's reality. Like the old story about the blind men who encounter an elephant. The man who feels only the tail describes the elephant as very much like a rope. The man who feels the trunk,says the elephant is like a tree.....etc.
When I came to Austin in 1977 I was already hearing that I should have been here back in the old days. Now the old days for a lot of locals is the 1980s. It's a moving target, relative to the age of the observer.
To see the big picture, I really have to say that in some ways it was better then, and in some ways, better now, as John pointed out.
Sure, I miss Poco, NRPS, Commander Cody, and that era. That’s what made me want to play steel. But we have to keep open minds about the fact that music is by nature organic. How boring would it be if musical styles never developed. The beauty is that we don’t have to discard the old styles. Audiences are becoming more open to cross-pollenization. I used to love playing these big dance halls, and in between sets the DJ is playing pure country one song, and hip-hop the next, and the same cowboys, fresh from the rodeo with the numbers still on their backs, dancing to it all. ( I have to admit, I could do without the hip-hop, but my Dad didn’t get Led Zeppelin, either)
I’m playing with a 30ish singer-songwriter these days, Floramay Holliday (www.floramay.com), mostly originals with country, bluegrass, blues, rock, folk, etc. all in the mix. (It’s heartening to see that she, too, embraces the Gram-Emmy Lou type stuff that was before her time, and we do some fun duets.)
Being a more experienced player, playing comes easier, so on that level, for me, these days are better. It’s fun and challenging making the steel fit in different styles, forcing me to find new sounds and new ways to play the 4 licks that I know.
You made some great points, John, and you’re right, there seems to be fewer “pure” country bands, but they’re out there to be found, especially here in Austin (John Russell and I share some history of bands we’ve been in). We also have to remember that those fueling the live music industry tend to be younger, and that’s whose styles of music are going to be found. I have to admit, these days if I’m not playing, I’m not out like I was 20ish years ago. Now when I go out I wonder, “Don’t these people have to get up for work????” If great quantities of middle-aged people started spending big bucks on beer every night of the week, we’d magically start seeing music we liked re-appearing. On the other hand, guys like Don Walser are reaching younger audiences, so maybe there’s hope..

“These are the good old days” ......-Carly Simon
(sorry, I had to do it)

Arty

Ted Solesky · Post by **Ted Solesky** » 3 Jun 2002 11:32 pm

I agree, the ol' days are gone. What I looked for, in order to keep busy, is a young singer who likes the steel guitar sound and likes and respects the classic country artists like George Jones and Merle. It's not the same as it was 20 years ago, but I do what I can to play licks that are tasty and that catches the band members' ear. It's a challenge.
Ted

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Tore Blestrud · Post by **Tore Blestrud** » 4 Jun 2002 12:39 am

I am a lucky member of a 5 piece HonkyTonk band where the bassplayer hates basses that have more than 4 strings and is anything else than a Fender, the drummer hates useing more than 3 drums, the guitarplayer can't play without a Tele and a Twin and the songs are no god if they don't HONK. A steelplayers dream - and we are getting a lot of jobs. Hopefully real country is comming back in Norway.

John Russell · Post by **John Russell** » 4 Jun 2002 6:46 am

That's encouraging, maybe we should move to Norway.

Hey Arty, glad to hear you're still playing!

But seriously, music, entertainment actually, is a very ephemeral thing. That classic country, rock, pop ballad we remember as "timeless" when we first heard it, was bound to become passe for most folks. Same for the that great steel solo I remember on "Blue Bayou" or "Someday Soon." Not that they're not great to play and hear today, especially if a young person hears it for the first time and is inspired. It feels great to me that the Everly Brothers are still touring, singing teen ballads into their sixties. Talk about timeless. I know I'm talking in contradictions here but we can't live in the past. Youth is for somebody else now and middle age is where I am. Best to savor it.

Our instrument is unique and its time of glory may have seemed much greater back then. Still sounds wonderful today and what's great now is I can play much better than I did then! We just have to be a little more creative about where we seek to play and what we play. So most of the honky tonk road houses are gone now. There will always be one or two. (Think of the Randy Travis song.) Old thing come back. There's a club downtown called "Oceans 11" a tribute to the Rat Pack of 40 yrs. ago. Young folks have just discovered it.

Around here the accordian is as popular, if not more so than steel guitar. That's a sign on the times. Accordian has been around much longer than steel and you had to really search to find it in mainsteam music back when steel guitar was king--20 to 25 years ago. Around here, accordian actually is kinda hip now. Who knew? Keep that in mind when lamenting the demise of steel guitar. I say find new applications for it. Think Robert Randolph, Dire Straits, be-bob steel, etc. Based on the present, I'd say the future looks good. --JR

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 4 Jun 2002 7:01 am

Donny said,

"Music was much simpler back then. Digital keyboards and 40-piece drum sets didn't exist. Amplifiers and P.A. systems were minimal, and so everything was heard as an "individual instrument". Nowadays, with everything going through a single humongous P.A., the "separation" between instruments... that sound that's so hard to recreate on a recording of a "live band", is gone."

I would like to expound a bit on the PA system. First, I agree with you 100%. But it is even worse than you discribed it. Let me give you a little scenario:

Many many years ago, I was in charge of installing a PA system for an upcoming group of dignitaries that were going to attend a high level seminar. Because this group was very high level officials for RCA Corp, the head design engineer for RCA's sound division was heading this all up.

He had sent down all the plans and PA equipment ahead of time. The day before the dignitaries were to come in, he flew down to "check" out every facet of what I had installed. I was soo proud of the job my tecnicians and I had done. We smiling from ear to ear. If'n ya get me drift

So, using several people to mimic the spokesmen and band members, of the seminar (who had not arrived yet), this engineer was walking around the room testing for all the things that an engineer tests for;

I was at the controls. He would continually say to me. "Turn it down!!!". I of course did. This went on for a quite a while. "Turn it down further!!!!" over and over! I was in dismay.

Finally, my sound buddies and I made comments as to the fact that "it is not loud enough". He stopped, sat down and said words I shall NEVER forget.

"A PA sytem is NOT designed to make the sound any louder! It is designed to carry the person's voice to the listener!!. IF it increases the person's voice or instrument's volume, ONE IOTA, it is TOO Loud!!!!!!"

He went on. "A person in the audience should NOT even be aware that there is a PA system!!!!"

NEVER in my sound training had I EVER heard anyone say this. But the more I thought about it over the years, the more poignant his statement became. And for years, I noticed two things. Whenever, the PA sounded the BEST, one was not even aware there was a sound system. Whenever it sounded bad, it was simply TOO Loud. Fortunately during that era, most of the time the former was the case.

Then, it happened. Through psuedo leaders like Dr Spock and other "eggheads", we stopped disciplining our children and they began rebelling and the age of Evis and "Rock and Roll" was born.

Of course, ANY rule, regulation, standard, dress code, hair style, etc, etc, etc, was immediatley gone. IN fact, they went out of their way to rebel in every single facet of life.

And of course sound levels were, and are NO different. IF the standard wa 80-90 DB midway from the stage, THEY had to turn it to 140 DB.

WHY? NOT because they could not be heard. Rather because their parents had listened to it at a comfortable hearing range. And THEY were GOING to show the world that THEY were in charge!! So the PA's went FULL bore!!!!

Not to be outdone, the amplifier manufacturers wanted to outdo the PA manufacturers, so they built ever more powerful (LOUDER) amplifiers! It is STILL happening to this day sadly.

Elvis' sound level was way too loud for ANY body's GOD given ears. And his level was no where near what they are today. Last night I went to see my first Braves baseball game. And the PA was SOOOOO Loud it hurt my stomach. Imagine what is was doing to my ears!!

It could easily have been heard if they had turned the level down 3/4's of the way!!

But that is NOT the case today. The country folk have emulated the kids ludicrousy and stupidity and NOT only do we have amps on the stage that are horridly too loud, but then we have the audicity and hell bent determination to try and "better" that, we build and operate a Sound sytem with a level capablity a 100 times louder than what God intended for our ears to take.

Ok, I have said it. And I do not apologize for it one bit. Flame me if you wish. Tar and feather me and drive me off this forum if it suits your fancy. But somebody sooner or later has got to stand up and bring some sense back into our lives. Lest we all turn cold stone deaf by the age of TWO!!

And now, in case ANY one should wonder why the Steel Guitar Extravaganza is NO more.........

I love you all, and May our Lord richly bless each of you,

carl

John Russell · Post by **John Russell** » 4 Jun 2002 7:58 am

C. Dixon, you speaketh the truth!

Sound pressure levels ("volume") are beyond out of control these days. Add to that the general demise of the musical ability of the mainstream pop acts and you have lotsa folks tuning out. That has definitely changed during the course of the past 20 years or so.
About 10 years ago I played with a local artist who shall remain nameless (Arty knows who) and I was constantly amazed at the volume this guy wanted to perform at. He represented what was then the new "hot country" sound a la Dwight Yoakum, Garth Brooks, Brooks and Dun, etc. I endured a few years of weekend gigging with this band--hey, they kept us busy--but I never really enjoyed it and I don't think my playing improved all that much. Too freakin' loud! I objected at first but it was obvious that it was in vain.

My goal as a musician is to prove that louder ain't better, that just the opposite is the case. I heard Merle Haggard at a downtown club a couple of years ago. The opening act was a young, "hot country" artist whose name I forget. The volume was truly unbearable. Merle finally came on and it was like a time warp to the early '60s. Low volume, beautiful music, great performance. Amazing! Reminded me of the old days, performances where the band played, folks danced and were able to hold normal conversations.

Carl, no question, that has changed! I hope those days aren't gone for good. That's why I sold my 300-watt steel guitar amp and now I'm playing better with half the wattage. If you can't hear me, turn down or hire somebody else! --JR