Chloe/ My First Attempt

[Gary Meixner]

Hey,

When I first started to play steel guitar my inspiration came from recordings of the many Hawaiian players that I llistened to and loved: I had been collecting this music for many years prior and it t was my intention to learn as many Hawaiin instrumentals as I could. But as soon as I learned to articulate a few chords and play some simple melodies I found myself backing up singers / songwriters, and playing in bands where I could lend some steel sounds, playing little runs and funny little fills (John Hartford reference). I never really got around to learning the Hawaiian tunes that I love so much.

Last year I decided to dive in and learn as many of my Hawaiian favorites as possible in hopes of presenting them live in a band decated to presenting Hawaiian music as well as other music that was influenced by the Hawaiiian style of playing. It as been difficult. I needed to adjust how I approach everything and found there is no place to hide. I had an opprtunity to record (rough) a few songs recently and thought I would share my work so far. This a version of Chloe, a tune which everybody loves. I play it a little slow and have left out some important details but it is a work in progress. I am not sure I know the proper way to lnk music to this site so let me know if you cant play it.

Best

Gary

https://on.soundcloud.com/U4If1bDklnzgSXrXST

[Michael Kiese]

Aloha Gary,

Very nice work all around! It was pleasing to listen to.

I like how you went for the vintage steel sound. Almost sounds like you're listening through an old telephone.

Keep making more!

[Jack Hanson]

Love it! Thanks for sharing.

[Gary Meixner]

Gents,

Thanks fo the encouragement. Michael your guess is very close to what I am playng through: it is Fender Champ 5F2A style amp that I bult last year. The guitar is one of my many, homemade 6 string short scale Hawaiian guitars. I am trying to get a very old, boxy, compressed sound, but I may have it too much so.

The speaker is a ten inch alnico speaker rated at 75 watts from an old Music Mann amp. It was just reconed and might be too tight - I don't know. I do want to put in another speaker that might open up the sound a little more. My usual set up is a Milkman, The Amp, through a SICA 12"speaker. Everything sounds great through it but to my ears (and they are shot) it can sound a liitle too neutral. I wanted to make something with a lot of character which this amp has. And by the way it is loud. I can tailor the tone a little with diffrent preamp tubes - I'll keep tinkering.

The guitar is ash with a Vintage Vibe CC pickup, I have thought about switching out the pickup. I have another guitar, kind of a Les Paul, mahgany and maple arrangment with VVCC pickup as well. I dont like it much and am considering a Lollar F spacing P90 for it or maybe a Lollar Chicago Steel but they sound harsh too me.

All the screwing around with building guitars is so I can always have something that is set up as close to my Rickenbacker B6 as possible. I am switching tunings often and using several guitars. I generally have no problem changing scale length and spacing, except during a show it much easier if the guitars feel similar to one another. And l really like short scale, wider spacing sixstringers. Todd Clinesmith is making me a 6 string short scale with a horseshoe pickup to match my Ricky. I might get rid of some Fenders that I have.

I 'll post more music when I get a chance.

Thanks,

Gary

[John Drury]

Very nice!

J. D.

[Bill Groner]

Gents,

Thanks fo the encouragement. Michael your guess is very close to what I am playng through: it is Fender Champ 5F2A style amp that I bult last year. The guitar is one of my many, homemade 6 string short scale Hawaiian guitars. I am trying to get a very old, boxy, compressed sound, but I may have it too much so.

The speaker is a ten inch alnico speaker rated at 75 watts from an old Music Mann amp. It was just reconed and might be too tight - I don't know. I do want to put in another speaker that might open up the sound a little more. My usual set up is a Milkman, The Amp, through a SICA 12"speaker. Everything sounds great through it but to my ears (and they are shot) it can sound a liitle too neutral. I wanted to make something with a lot of character which this amp has. And by the way it is loud. I can tailor the tone a little with diffrent preamp tubes - I'll keep tinkering.

The guitar is ash with a Vintage Vibe CC pickup, I have thought about switching out the pickup. I have another guitar, kind of a Les Paul, mahgany and maple arrangment with VVCC pickup as well. I dont like it much and am considering a Lollar F spacing P90 for it or maybe a Lollar Chicago Steel but they sound harsh too me.

All the screwing around with building guitars is so I can always have something that is set up as close to my Rickenbacker B6 as possible. I am switching tunings often and using several guitars. I generally have no problem changing scale length and spacing, except during a show it much easier if the guitars feel similar to one another. And l really like short scale, wider spacing sixstringers. Todd Clinesmith is making me a 6 string short scale with a horseshoe pickup to match my Ricky. I might get rid of some Fenders that I have.

I 'll post more music when I get a chance.

Thanks,

Gary
[/quote

Yes Gary, please post more music when you have a chance. Your playing was great. Very nice tone. If possible could you post a picture of the guitar you built and used on this recording? Also a pic of the amp would be great as well. Keep up the good work. Loved the post.

[Andy Volk]

Gary, that was really enjoyable. Relaxed feel and vibe and nice acoustic Spanish guitar for contrast. Well done!

[Joe Cook]

That song got me interested in Hawaiian steel when I heard it in the 70's. I played that track over and over. Nice job, Gary! Sounds great!