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kahealani
Akahai
USA
64 Posts |
 Posted - 06/08/2005 : 07:54:51 AM
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Hi Everyone,
I'm getting into steel guitar and had my first lesson with Uncle Charles Nosaka on Monday. Uncle Charles played with Aunty Genoa, Jerry Byrd, and all of the awesome legends here!
Anyway, we're looking for a steel.
Do any of you know if there are any websites that sell some?
I'm particularly looking for a Frypan (i know they're hot on the $$$), but anything will do. Or if you have some recommendations as to what I should get.
Thank you!
Have a nice day,
Brittni
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Brittni Paiva
www.brittnipaiva.com
www.myspace.com/brittnipaiva |
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Mainkaukau
Lokahi
USA
245 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2005 : 11:24:28 AM
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Alohas Brittni, congratulations on the Hoku win and many more to come. I purchased my Lap steel guitar on Ebay and was very luckly to get a very good deal. Of course buying stuff online is always a little risky especially for a big ticket items, but check it out, who knows, at least you can research the prices. Good luck and alohas... |
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Jeff Au Hoy
Aloha
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2005 : 05:04:22 AM
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Hi Brittni, congrats from me as well.
I got to hear you at the Big Island Music Festival last July. You were awesome. I also got to hear Uncle Charlie... sounded like he plays the C6 tuning with a G on top(?)
I always recommend old Magnatone steel guitars, the 6-string pearloid covered ones... they are still very inexpensive (I got one on eBay earlier this year for $180) and in my opinion are just as sweet sounding as Rickenbachers if the settings are right. Totally underrated steels.
Also, you are already a pro at slack key... why not just get an acoustic guitar and raise the strings up with a nut raiser (maybe $5!)? That works out cool too.
Good luck! |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
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kahealani
Akahai
USA
64 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2005 : 06:50:26 AM
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Hi Jeff & Mainkaukau
Thank you so much for your kind words!!!! I really appreciate it.
And thank you so much for the advice.
I'll be looking around for steels on eBay.
Also, what kind of slides would you recommend, glass or metal?
I hope I'm not asking too many questions.
Thank you! |
Brittni Paiva
www.brittnipaiva.com
www.myspace.com/brittnipaiva |
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Mainkaukau
Lokahi
USA
245 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2005 : 06:43:38 AM
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Aloha Brittni,
For me it's heavy metal, the type of slide I mean. I bought several old ones on Ebay again. The seller also threw in a couple of triangle and square cross section ones to. What do I do with those Jeff? Have a great day! |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2005 : 06:52:19 AM
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Britteni, if Owana Salazar is your roll model, then you should be using a stainless steel or chrome plated "Hawaiian Bullet" which is shaped like a large bullet, of course. They are heavy and make the strings really ring when you are playing chimes (harmonics). You can roll them up and down the strings for a nice slidey effect, and they are easy to move sideways across the strings. The trouble is, they are hard to hold onto! I have one that Bob Brozman gave to me last June. I practice with it, but I tend to go back to my favorite slide. The Shubb SP-2 (http://www.folkofthewood.com/page1521.htm) is really easy to hold onto, and has a rounded nose just like the bullet. I will be bringing a few with me to Georges. I am also bringing some of the "nut raisers" that Jeff mentions. If you have never played with finger picks, get some! They make a world of difference. Most of us use a thumb pick and finger picks on the first 2 fingers. Try a bunch of different kinds when you are in the music store, and try playing slack key with them on. If you can comfortably play slack key with them on, then they should work just fine for steel guitar. (If you have never used them before, they feel weird at first, you can't feel the strings - that's normal)
I have never met a Hawaiian player who uses a glass slide. There may be one out there.
Good luck finding a frying pan. They certainly are the hot item these days! If you find a good Rickenbacher or even a Fender, make sure you try it out too. Lots of professionals play these guitars here in Hawaii. There are a lot of fine guitars, and lots of different sounds in the world of steel. If you know the sound you want, then it is easier to pick the guitar that will make that sound.
Oh, yeah, you might really enjoy trying acoustic steel. Try it out too before you decide what kind of guitar you are going to spend your money on. You might also think about contacting National. If they know you were voted "Most Promising", they might help you into a nice new metal body tricone. They have helped a lot of other artists.
Aloha,
-Konabob |
Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
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kahealani
Akahai
USA
64 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2005 : 07:32:02 AM
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Konabob: I'm so sorry I missed your post. I guess we posted at the same time! I did send you an e-amil, though.
I found a glass slide last year. I bought it, but it's very light, so I use it on ukulele.
Surprisingly, it sounds pretty good. I think I might go with the bullet - it's easier to control.
Thanks, everyone, for your advice. I appreciate it so much! |
Brittni Paiva
www.brittnipaiva.com
www.myspace.com/brittnipaiva |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2005 : 12:56:47 PM
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Hi Brittni,
Does this mean the next album is Brittni X 4?
My two cents: You might consider an eight string guitar. It gives you a couple more options for non-slanting chords. A guy in California makes some at www.georgeboards.com
The absolute cheapest guitar out there (unless you find one at a garage sale) is the Artisan model sold at www.musiciansfriend.com for $60. Someone at TP.net bought one and said it was okay for jamming and learning. Here's a link:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_id/89446
If you're thinking of recording or performing with it, you'll probably want to spend some money to get a more solid sounding guitar/amp combo. Amps are a big part of the sound that a steel produces.
I have a couple of heavy steel bars, but the most important thing is finding something that fits your hand. Most steel plays either use a bullet shaped steel that they can lock between their palm and the first joint of their middle finger, or they use a concave-sided bar that they can hold between their thumb and the side of their palm.
Have fun! I'm waiting for Brittni X 4!
Jesse Tinsley |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2005 : 2:00:35 PM
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quote:
The absolute cheapest guitar out there (unless you find one at a garage sale) is the Artisan model sold at www.musiciansfriend.com for $60. Someone at TP.net bought one and said it was okay for jamming and learning.
That would be me. Cheap it is. And an amazing bargain, actually. Very short scale with a suprisingly nice single coil pick-up. Basic tone and volume controls. Sounds a bit like a Fender, thanks to the pick-up.
The downside is the wierd placement of the jack on the left side near the bridge-- you'll need to use a 90 degree plug to keep it out of the way of you hand.
I'd suggest picking one up while you are looking for a "real" instrument. At the worst, you'll have a nice beach guitar! Plus you can keep it in a different tuning from your main axe.
There are a couple guys who make fying pans.
Brad's Page of Steel is a good place to start searching:
http://www.well.com/user/wellvis/
The Fuzzy Steel Guitar Company in Japan makes Excel Jerry Byrd model frypans:
http://www.fuzzypsg.com/
The amp question is a big part of it. My main amp for gigging has been a 25-year-old Seymour Duncan 30 watt tube job with a single 12. Sounds like a cross between a Fender Delux and a Vox AC30.
I'd suggest going with tubes, cuz they really do sound better. Some of the new little Fenders are really, really good.
That being said, I got a Roland Micro-cube battery powered amp (about $100 on-line) that is just about the best sounding battery amp I've ever heard. It has more than ample volume for playing with a bunch of acoustice guitars, it's portable, and it has a line-out for patching into a PA.
Happy slidin'!
Mark |
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kahealani
Akahai
USA
64 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2005 : 6:03:18 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by hapakid
Does this mean the next album is Brittni X 4?
Actually, with the steel guitar, it would be "Brittni x 5"!
There's more surprises to come on that album, and I'm not going to give it away!!!!!  |
Brittni Paiva
www.brittnipaiva.com
www.myspace.com/brittnipaiva |
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Jeff Au Hoy
Aloha
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2005 : 9:44:38 PM
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I don't mean to insult anyone's intelligence here, but beware that just because an instrument looks like a frypan (e.g. the Jerry Byrd model from Excel) does not mean it sounds like the frypan which Rickenbacher manufactured. I've played the Excels and they are alright... but if you are looking for the true classic Hawaiian sound, I feel the old steels suit that much better.
In my opinion 6 strings is plenty and all one needs. Every legendary Hawaiian steel player did both their melody and accompaniment work primarily on the top 4 or 5 strings. I disagree that an 8 string guitar really affords you more chords. But hey, try it all out if you can.
Mainkaukau...re: the square and triangle ones... is Kama'aina Metals still in business? Hehe. |
Edited by - Jeff Au Hoy on 06/10/2005 9:45:09 PM |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2005 : 08:02:29 AM
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quote:
I don't mean to insult anyone's intelligence here, but beware that just because an instrument looks like a frypan (e.g. the Jerry Byrd model from Excel) does not mean it sounds like the frypan which Rickenbacher manufactured.
Thanks for an excellent bit of advice, Jeff.
I haven't played the Excells, only heard about 'em.
And I will certainly agree that "old is better." I've got a '37 Ric "Silver Hawaiian" -- the all chrome, hollow body one -- and it sounds absolutely amazing. Yet, from everything I've gathered, it's not as desirable as a Bakelite or Frypan. So there ya go.
That being said, I'll still second my comment about the el cheap-o Artisan. Ya can't beat it for the price. And I've got no problem tossing it in my suitcase and spending a week camping on Moloka`i with it. Don't think I'd want to do that with a 68 year-old axe.
Cheers,
Mark |
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lwj001
Aloha
USA
41 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2005 : 11:35:54 PM
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Aloha Brittni. I don't post on this forum very often, but I wanted to share a couple things. You're on page 14 of Island Song Lyrics as Featured Entertainer and well deserved. Here's the link:
http://www.pic-a-pagediscounts.com/song_lyrics_14.html
Also, I'm a beginner on lap steel and really enjoying it. My steel guitar teacher tried out my el-cheepo Chinese made Artisan EA-1 and said it sounded very good. True, it's a beginner's special, but I'm quite satisfied with it so far. Here's a photo of my first "gig". With all the experts there on the islands to help you, I know you'll be steelin' away on Blue Hawaii in no time. Haina ia mai ka puana la mau loa. Larry W. Jones, Island Song Lyrics
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chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2005 : 06:53:00 AM
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Aloha e Brittni,
Check out www.wailua-instruments.com for Weisenborn and National (resonator) style square necks. Tom Owen makes some interesting steel, albeit acoustic, rigs. I've seen them and they are pretty good quality instruments. He also does uncommon instruments like Harp/Guitar combos. |
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kahealani
Akahai
USA
64 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 8:15:21 PM
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Hi Mr. Jones,
I apologize for nit responding earlier. We were at Uncle George Kahumoku's camp from the 22nd through the 26th.
Thank you so much for putting me as the featured artist! I am very honored and appreciative.
Chunky Monkey:
Thank you so much for your input about the steel guitar.
Someone is willing to lend me a 1920 Rickenbacher Bakelite steel.
I can't wait for it!!
Thanks!!!
Brittni |
Brittni Paiva
www.brittnipaiva.com
www.myspace.com/brittnipaiva |
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