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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
 Posted - 11/30/2009 : 12:16:38 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by basilking
I saw a '59 Stringmaster 8 in the Vintage Room @ Gtr Cntr on Sunset in Hywd today, $1595. Seems a little pricey compared to a coupla Stringmaster sgl 8's I've seen on ebay lately going unbidden with BIN of ~$8-900, in case anyone's lookin' for a Stringmaster 8.
Thx for "Blue H..." tips, slipry1! My "issue" is I tune to E6 [ez for a long-term gtr plyr to remember which "fret/chord/note-name" I'm at] so will attempt to translate. The guy I bought my steel from long ago tuned to E6, and the Stringmaster 8 I saw up on "guitar row" today was also in E6.
Again thx for the Hawai`ian tips. Plenty homework for me!
1. That's a high price for a single 8 Stringmaster. I got mine for $600 on ebay. Double 8's are going for $1600-$2000 around here.
2. It dosen't really matter which sixth tuning you use. The idea is that the 6 and 1 tones (going up) are the 3 (mi) and 5 (sol) notes for the IV chord. Gabby used a C6 tuning, so the song is in C. Sol Ho'opi'i used an E6 tuning, tho. |
keaka |
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2009 : 1:23:12 PM
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slipry1 - a question if I may: when you say "(from bottom, Bb C E G A C E G)" do you mean "bottom pitch"? The string-guages and tuning of my Stringmaster as it sits accomodates this but the notes don't work out as you describe nor sound to me like they facilitate the phrasing I hear on the recording [yes, I realize Gabby tracked two steel parts, I'm addressing the "main" or melodic one]. Do you mean "bottom" = farthest string from you as you face your steel ? I see eleswhere that [from lowest-to-highest-pitch] Bb-C-E-G-A-C-E-G is called C13 and said to be used by Junior Brown.
Back to Gabby's steel - the 1st time I heard him and knew he was the steel player was the 1976 Ry Cooder album "Chicken Skin Music". I especially admired the steel on "Yellow Roses" and "Chloe". The album photos included a picture of Gabby, with his Blonde Fender Single 8 Stringmaster. This is probably what influenced me to acquire mine when it crossed my path 2 decades later. Thanks in advance for any light you may shed on Gabby's tuning. I may need to stick with the tuning I'm accustomed to but knowing what a master like Gabby used can illuminate whether we do exactly the same or not.
+1 to Russell's "Not that I know steel well enough to get arrested"; I might could get cited for "misdemeanor steeling"...
<edit> Our postings must've crossed as I didn't see your most recent one, slipry1, musta been composing mine. Thanks again for for your insight and encouragement! |
Edited by - basilking on 11/30/2009 1:49:34 PM |
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Adam Troy
Akahai
Australia
58 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 12:30:44 PM
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| Russel, I can't help you with info on that LP. Can you post the serial number and label of "East Is West". Cheers. |
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Russell Letson
`Olu`olu
USA
504 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2009 : 12:18:41 PM
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Full title (almost never used) is "East Is West and the Twain Shall Meet in Hawaii," Waikiki 113. The label, but not the sleeve, credits Eddie Spencer and the Queen's Men, which played the Barefoot Bar at the Queen's Surf. The sleeve credits Spencer, Gabby, "Jose Secritario," and Phyllis. The Eddie Kamae/James Houston memoir Hawaiian Son adds the info that Joe Marshall played bass in Spencer's band.
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Edited by - Russell Letson on 12/02/2009 12:19:34 PM |
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Adam Troy
Akahai
Australia
58 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2009 : 9:21:00 PM
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I see Hakuhouse.com have a copy for a $100. That's got to be some heady stuff! |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2009 : 07:08:14 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by basilking
slipry1 - a question if I may: when you say "(from bottom, Bb C E G A C E G)" do you mean "bottom pitch"? The string-guages and tuning of my Stringmaster as it sits accomodates this but the notes don't work out as you describe nor sound to me like they facilitate the phrasing I hear on the recording [yes, I realize Gabby tracked two steel parts, I'm addressing the "main" or melodic one]. Do you mean "bottom" = farthest string from you as you face your steel ? I see eleswhere that [from lowest-to-highest-pitch] Bb-C-E-G-A-C-E-G is called C13 and said to be used by Junior Brown.
Back to Gabby's steel - the 1st time I heard him and knew he was the steel player was the 1976 Ry Cooder album "Chicken Skin Music". I especially admired the steel on "Yellow Roses" and "Chloe". The album photos included a picture of Gabby, with his Blonde Fender Single 8 Stringmaster. This is probably what influenced me to acquire mine when it crossed my path 2 decades later. Thanks in advance for any light you may shed on Gabby's tuning. I may need to stick with the tuning I'm accustomed to but knowing what a master like Gabby used can illuminate whether we do exactly the same or not.
+1 to Russell's "Not that I know steel well enough to get arrested"; I might could get cited for "misdemeanor steeling"...
<edit> Our postings must've crossed as I didn't see your most recent one, slipry1, musta been composing mine. Thanks again for for your insight and encouragement!
Thanks for the complement, Basil. Yes, the bottom is the bottom tone. The Bb is the lowest (string 8, in the usual parlance), i.e., the thickest string. Alan Akaka has the following on his C6 neck of his double 8 Canopus (I played on it at the Marriott): C G C E G A C E, with the low C a REALLY thick string, most likely an .064, but Bobby Ingano has a Bb down there, just below the C. Jerry Byrd lists C Bb C E G A C E, Low A C C# E G A C E in his book. The 8th string is the one which varies most among steelers, imho. You are right about Junior Brown. I've been told that that tuning was used by Noel Boggs. Also check Brad's Page of Steel on the web. AS I said above, "Chicken Skin Music" was my introduction to Gabby as a steeler, too. I don't know what tuning Gabby used, but having a G on the first string helps. |
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Adam Troy
Akahai
Australia
58 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2009 : 11:08:36 AM
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| I have been thinking about the tunings these older players used. Each tuning will lend a certain tone to the overall sound. The DDF#ADF# (low-high)that Feet was said to use doesn't thrill me. However, I see it does at least one thing for his tone. By raising the upper strings to a D and F# other than the more common Cs and Es Feet could play more harmonics closer to the middle of the neck. Its certainly easier to get a fuller sound there. And he did like his harmonics. |
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abrigoohana
Lokahi
271 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2009 : 11:25:39 AM
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Aloha,
Just found this thread, and thought I'd come by and share some aloha.
I'm the one who shot that video of Uncle Ronald Kanahele and Greg Sardinha shared earlier in this thread. Here's a couple more videos you might enjoy:
This is the Moana Chimes for which the Rogers family is famous. The first link is Uncle Ronald, the second is my son Timi, who had been learning steel from Uncle Ronald for two months at this point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4gFa6EROk0 Uncle Ronald
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSDJ35etzt0 Timi, Ronald's student
This one is my daughter Emily. She is backed by everyone here at our monthly Waimea Valley Kanikapila. You will very much enjoy Uncle Ronald's steel playing in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NunI_kf_32g
Tomorrow is our Waimea Valley Kanikapila, so I'll be shooting more video. We've been given the green light for the year 2010 too, so come on down and join us! It's the third Sunday of every month except for August, that date will be Saturday, August 14th, 2010.
Aloha,
Lanet ~ mom of the Abrigo Ohana
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Adam Troy
Akahai
Australia
58 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2009 : 11:48:43 AM
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| Aloha Lanet, thanks for posting these links. Its nice to see young people getting interested the old tunes. |
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slacker visiting hours...Secrets of Old HSG tones?
