| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kapila Kane |
Posted - 11/22/2009 : 10:37:30 AM
I don't visit you HSG folks much, but always wonder when listening to Gabby's old cuts...
WHY and WHAT creates that ETHEREAL TONE.
I've described it as sounding as if it's from outer space.
I do hear modern players at Maui Slack Key festival with that same old classic sound.
I assume that HSG was one of the first ELECTRIC guitar sounds, and they only had tube amps...and had to use real copper windings, until they learned all the cheap short-cuts later on in production costs! Of course, those old, original constructions were some of the greatest tone producers!
Go look at the most up-to-date digital technology, and you may see them plug in a 50 year old tube mic!
Imagine to hear it on an old radio in the 20's and 30's and so.
AM of course...something magical too about dialing in far-away, static laden broadcasts.
My dad and I used to drive the 49 Dodge around to find the best reception... at first for ball games (Kansas City A's broadcast network, and also for tunes from KOMA...in Oklahoma City.
Of course, No slack key from there, but with that prime tornado belt, perhaps possible to land somewhere "Over the Rainbow"... |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Adam Troy |
Posted - 12/23/2009 : 11:48:43 AM
Aloha Lanet, thanks for posting these links. Its nice to see young people getting interested the old tunes. |
| abrigoohana |
Posted - 12/19/2009 : 11:25:39 AM
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 |
Posted - 12/10/2009 : 11:08:36 AM
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. |
| slipry1 |
Posted - 12/05/2009 : 07:08:14 AM
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. |
| Adam Troy |
Posted - 12/02/2009 : 9:21:00 PM
I see Hakuhouse.com have a copy for a $100. That's got to be some heady stuff! |
| Russell Letson |
Posted - 12/02/2009 : 12:18:41 PM
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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| Adam Troy |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 12:30:44 PM
Russel, I can't help you with info on that LP. Can you post the serial number and label of "East Is West". Cheers. |
| basilking |
Posted - 11/30/2009 : 1:23:12 PM
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! |
| slipry1 |
Posted - 11/30/2009 : 12:16:38 PM
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. |
| Russell Letson |
Posted - 11/29/2009 : 09:02:54 AM
Not that I know steel well enough to get arrested (maybe stopped and issued a warning), but I've been listening to the (un-reissued) Gabby steel cut from East Is West and trying to figure out if some of the other steel work on that album might be his. "Paradise Isle," with which he is credited, is one of those mixed-mode, half Hawaiian/half swing arrangements--the lead instruments are steel and clarinet. The striking thing about the steel work is the extensive use of the pinky-swell, which also shows up on the next track, "Song of the Islands." Makes me wonder whether it might be Gabby on steel there as well, and maybe on the Jose Secretario tracks (though the "Ke Kali Nei Au" steel sounds not quite the same as the others). Any sharp-eared opinions? (Or better yet, detailed information about personnel on this LP.) |
| basilking |
Posted - 11/28/2009 : 11:47:22 AM
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.
There was a Rick 8 w/horse-shoe p/u on Craigslist here recently but it fell off before I had time to investigate. I did one recording long ago with a vtg horse-shoe p/u Rick lap 6, got that Patsy Cline-era sound ok but gotta admit I sure like the tone of the Stringmaster through an old Vibroverb [15" spkr] or even Deluxe Reverb [12" spkr].
I've played "blues" with the 8 through a brown Deluxe, tone's great for that too, but waaaay easier to tune a 6-string elec guitar to open G/A/D/E and bottleneck for that kinda music [which I've logged much more time on than Hawai`ian music]. The thing that DOES translate well from slide to lap steel is that "hands" thing discussed above - how ya put yr hands on it, mute/damp, blah blah.
Again thx for the Hawai`ian tips. Plenty homework for me! |
| Adam Troy |
Posted - 11/28/2009 : 10:56:45 AM
I have to correct something I said back there. I think Billy meant he was plucking with the thumb pick and muting with a metal finger pick to get a more accurate harmonic. He moves so fast on video I can't be sure. Aloha |
| Mark |
Posted - 11/28/2009 : 09:45:50 AM
quote:
Check out Billy on this video about half way through he goes into Moana Chimes.
Thanks for posting the link. Great performance by an inspirational player.
I've been working back through the Jerry Byrd book lately & got to fooling around with that B-11th tuning. What a cool thing: who knew two major chords a whole step apart stacked on top of each other (Bmaj on the bottom and A maj on top) could yield so many harmonic possibilities! (OK, it's not really a whole step, cuz they are in different octaves... but it's how I can make sense out of it...)
After watching this video, I'm gonna practice harder. Which is always a good thing. |
| slipry1 |
Posted - 11/28/2009 : 08:43:56 AM
quote:
Originally posted by basilking
I've recently begun working on getting better on my mid-'50s Fender Stringmaster 8. Seems like getting a good tone isn't so problematic as pretty much all I got are old Fender tube amps. Sounding like Gabby, well that won't happen for me, but I'm doin' my best to absorb what I can. Workin' on "Blue Hawai`ian Moonlight" with some slack key friends. What started out as a "slack key quartet" concept is branching out, bringing my steel to rehearsal now too. Those "chimes"/false harmonics are hard to consistently hit well but they sure establish the "feel" when you do get 'em. Patience is its own reward.
Remember, Gabby played it on a single 8 Stringmaster. Two tricks. In C, with a C6 tuning (from bottom, Bb C E G A C E G), play the melody on the 3rd & 4th strings starting on the 5th fret, going up to the 7th and then slanting 8 on 4, 9 on 3 = "Blue Hawaiian Moon (slant here on Moon)". The other is on Gabby's second pass on "I'm depending", a tremelo on E & G strings at the 12th fret, slanting down to 12 and 11 on "You". As I said above, I've really got to video this one. I double checked with Cyril last week, and he agrees with what I've said - also Alan Akaka. I LOVE the Stringmaster!! I have a single and a double 8. I play thru a Peavy Classic 30, and I have a Boss Fender Deluxe Reverb pedal which I use as a direct box when gigging or when I don't want to drag an amp around. Again, thank you Alan! It'll make any little amp sound better, but not quite as good as a tube amp. |
| basilking |
Posted - 11/27/2009 : 6:28:10 PM
I've recently begun working on getting better on my mid-'50s Fender Stringmaster 8. Seems like getting a good tone isn't so problematic as pretty much all I got are old Fender tube amps. Sounding like Gabby, well that won't happen for me, but I'm doin' my best to absorb what I can. Workin' on "Blue Hawai`ian Moonlight" with some slack key friends. What started out as a "slack key quartet" concept is branching out, bringing my steel to rehearsal now too. Those "chimes"/false harmonics are hard to consistently hit well but they sure establish the "feel" when you do get 'em. Patience is its own reward. |
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