What's a stand up steel guitar?

When I saw Hank III recently, he had a bandmate who played a steel guitar and I think he called it a "stand up steel guitar." And he did stand up.

I know lap-steel, pedal steel... is the "stand up steel guitar" the original steel guitar? Is it like a lap-steel, just larger? I guess it's just plain sliding around on the strings and no pedals or anything to change pitches.

I assume this is the type of steel guitar that was used in the bands for Hank Sr.

It's a lap steel on a stand. A lot of C&W bands (including the original Hank's) used one until pedals were developed, making it almost essential to play seated.

Single neck 6 or 8 strings was the typical one, but there were some double neck ones, and I believe I've seen Leon McAuliffe pictured with a four-neck one.

I had extended legs and pedal rods made for both my pedal steel guitars so that they can be played standing up. The manufacturers do this type of thing often.

You can't maniplulate the knee levers when standing, but you can work the floor pedals (it's a little wobbly, but works when needed).

I got the idea back in the 70's when I used to see Steve Howe playing his steel standing up. He had been using a lap steel with extended legs for tours in 71-74..but then on the Gates of Delirium tour, he played 'To Be over" with a (real) pedal steel with extended pedal rods/legs...while he was standing. It was the coolest thing. So I did the same.

Some folks call those table steels.

I put my lap steels- one in C6 tuning and one in E7 tuning- on an ironing board so I can stand up when I play.

Right, precursor to the pedal steel.

Used extensively on C&W and Western Swing up until about 1960.

I have a '57 Fender Stringmaster which has two 8 string necks. C6 and E13 tuning.

Many of Hank's (I) tunes were done by Don Helms with the E13 tuning.

NOT an easy instrument to play, even without the pedals.

Very cool. Howe's my guy, too. There is no such term as "stand-up steel".

Howe simply had the steel (Sho~Bud ProII, D-10) propped up 1 foot higher, but the pedals went up a foot also. A little platform under them gave his left foot a fulcrum. He didn't use pedals on the neck furthest from him. There's a video called Q.P.R. of this tour (excellent camera work).

Originally, he used a Gibson lap steel on a table/stand (see the Yessongs video). He then acquired the Fender dual 6 Stringmaster when in the States on this tour. These always had extendable legs from the 1950s throughout the end of production in the early 1980s.

Since he never used the Sho~Bud after the one tour, they never again have played the songs requiring it.

Post a pic of your extended setup. I'd like to do the same with mine.

just returned from SXSW and saw 3 bands with lap steel. saw some at the music stores. legs, no legs,i want to get one. been searching e bay.

hard to learn... easy for gigging.. it's a small case to carry. small amp and a vomume pedal and your ready to go

Here's my '59 Stringmaster

http://joeyace.com/59sm.htm