My new toy...

RomanS · May 7th, 2008, 10:16 AM

...is this brand-new WBS Basic 1 pedal steel:

It's an entry-level student model (simple oil-wax finish instead of flashy mica, old-fashioned pull-release mechanism instead of modern all-pull), made in Germany.

I'm glad I have been playing lap steel for a few years, because even without having to learn to deal with fingerpicks, blocking, vibrato, and steel bars, this instrument is really intimidating - only tuning it took me the better part of an hour...
Well, I can already play simple 1-4-5 chord changes, but anything else will take lots of wood-shedding.

It has a great tone (played through my JTM45-clone - can't afford a proper steel amp at the moment), not as thin & hifi-sounding as the modern steel-guitars heard on contemporary mainstream country tracks - this one, due to the singel-coil pickup and old-fashioned change mechanism, sounds much fuller, fatter, warmer, woodier - kinda like on classic 1960s country songs.

Charlie Bernstein · May 7th, 2008, 10:22 AM

Nice score! German, huh? How's your polka repertoire?

elmerbumpkin · May 7th, 2008, 11:21 AM

RomanS,
As soon as I saw your name and the title of your post, I knew you had finally scored a pedal steel. Congratulations!!

Nice lookin' guitar too.

good luck with it!

ps- nice studio floor. I stained the concrete in my music room, then dropped a 9x12 oriental rug in there, but I always think that someday I'm gonna put down a nice parquet (sp?) floor like my grandparents had in their den.

studio1087 · May 7th, 2008, 11:23 AM

I'm a fan of Lucinda Williams and a bigger fan of her guitar player Doug Pettibone. Doug can go from acoustic to electric to steel pedal and the sound and music just gets better and better and better.

It's amazing what some guys can do with a steel pedal....be it country or rock and roll. It's a great instrument.

BillyG · May 7th, 2008, 01:17 PM

Well done, I'm happy for you.

BritishBluesBoy · May 7th, 2008, 01:20 PM

Wow. Congratulations man.. That looks awesome!!

Tele Fan · May 7th, 2008, 01:23 PM

Congrats man!

Teleblooz · May 7th, 2008, 01:26 PM

Gratuliere, mein Freund!

mikespe · May 7th, 2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RomanS

I'm glad I have been playing lap steel for a few years, because even without having to learn to deal with fingerpicks, blocking, vibrato, and steel bars, this instrument is really intimidating - only tuning it took me the better part of an hour...
Well, I can already play simple 1-4-5 chord changes, but anything else will take lots of wood-shedding.

I converted an old Oscar Schmidt acoustic to a lap steel and I tuned it to C6 (I think that's what it was) and I know how you feel. I haven't played it much since I built it because it was tough enough learning the fretboard in standard tuning.

Nice purchase!

RomanS · May 7th, 2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Bernstein

Nice score! German, huh? How's your polka repertoire?

For my polka repertoire I use that red thingy in the middle:

RomanS · May 7th, 2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmerbumpkin

ps- nice studio floor. I stained the concrete in my music room, then dropped a 9x12 oriental rug in there, but I always think that someday I'm gonna put down a nice parquet (sp?) floor like my grandparents had in their den.

Actually, that's my living room floor - it's from the 1890s, AFAIK...

RomanS · May 7th, 2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by studio1087

I'm a fan of Lucinda Williams and a bigger fan of her guitar player Doug Pettibone. Doug can go from acoustic to electric to steel pedal and the sound and music just gets better and better and better.

Yeah, big Doug Pettibone fan here, too.
Another favorite pedal steel player of mine is Paul Brainard (who plays with the band Richmond Fontaine).

elmerbumpkin · May 7th, 2008, 07:44 PM

in that case, nice living room floor!

I love the Sadies material with Paul B. Great player, and a good trumpeter, too.

May 7th, 2008, 10:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
RomanS Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Age: 36 Posts: 2,609 14 Photos	My new toy... ...is this brand-new WBS Basic 1 pedal steel: It's an entry-level student model (simple oil-wax finish instead of flashy mica, old-fashioned pull-release mechanism instead of modern all-pull), made in Germany. I'm glad I have been playing lap steel for a few years, because even without having to learn to deal with fingerpicks, blocking, vibrato, and steel bars, this instrument is really intimidating - only tuning it took me the better part of an hour... Well, I can already play simple 1-4-5 chord changes, but anything else will take lots of wood-shedding. It has a great tone (played through my JTM45-clone - can't afford a proper steel amp at the moment), not as thin & hifi-sounding as the modern steel-guitars heard on contemporary mainstream country tracks - this one, due to the singel-coil pickup and old-fashioned change mechanism, sounds much fuller, fatter, warmer, woodier - kinda like on classic 1960s country songs. __________________ http://www.pbase.com/romans http://www.myspace.com/romans212 Last edited by RomanS : May 7th, 2008 at 05:29 PM.

May 7th, 2008, 11:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 3,372 33 Photos	I'm a fan of Lucinda Williams and a bigger fan of her guitar player Doug Pettibone. Doug can go from acoustic to electric to steel pedal and the sound and music just gets better and better and better. It's amazing what some guys can do with a steel pedal....be it country or rock and roll. It's a great instrument. __________________ JLG Carry On

May 7th, 2008, 01:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
BritishBluesBoy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Age: 40 Posts: 4,132 62 Photos	Wow. Congratulations man.. That looks awesome!! __________________ BBB.

May 7th, 2008, 01:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tele Fan Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Louisville, Ky Age: 29 Posts: 1,002	Congrats man! __________________ Life is better when you just make it up as you go along.

May 7th, 2008, 01:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
Teleblooz Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 52 Posts: 369 15 Photos	Gratuliere, mein Freund! __________________ “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men play the banjo" http://www.myspace.com/chrisleonhard

May 7th, 2008, 10:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Charlie Bernstein Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Augusta, Maine Posts: 2,333	Nice score! German, huh? How's your polka repertoire?

May 7th, 2008, 11:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
elmerbumpkin Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: A-TX Posts: 261 2 Photos	RomanS, As soon as I saw your name and the title of your post, I knew you had finally scored a pedal steel. Congratulations!! Nice lookin' guitar too. good luck with it! ps- nice studio floor. I stained the concrete in my music room, then dropped a 9x12 oriental rug in there, but I always think that someday I'm gonna put down a nice parquet (sp?) floor like my grandparents had in their den.

May 7th, 2008, 01:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
BillyG Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Summerville, SC Age: 40 Posts: 431	Well done, I'm happy for you.

May 7th, 2008, 07:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
elmerbumpkin Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: A-TX Posts: 261 2 Photos	in that case, nice living room floor! I love the Sadies material with Paul B. Great player, and a good trumpeter, too.