Is Pedal Steel Guitar the Most-American Instrument? John Bohlinger Believes It Is: Here’s Why

Read Article: https://www.premierguitar.com/pro-adv... Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube An ode, and historical snapshot, to the tone-bar played, many-stringed thing in the room, and its place in the national musical firmament. Blues, jazz, rock, country, bluegrass, rap.… When it comes to inventing musical genres, the U.S. totally nailed it. But how about inventing instruments? Googling “American musical instruments” yields three. • Banjo, which is erroneously listed since Africa is its continent of origin. • Benjamin Franklin’s Glass Armonica, which was 37 glass bowls mounted horizontally on an iron spindle that was turned by means of a foot pedal. Sound was produced by touching the rims of the bowls with water-moistened fingers. The instrument’s popularity did not last due to the inability to amplify the volume combined with rumors that using the instrument caused both musicians and their listeners to go mad. • Calliope, which was patented in 1855 by Joshua Stoddard. Often the size of a truck, it produces sound by sending steam through large locomotive-style whistles. Calliopes have no volume or tone control and can be heard for miles. But Google left out the pedal steel. While there may not be a historical consensus, I was talking to fellow pedal-steel player Dave Maniscalco, and we share the theory that pedal steel is the most American instrument. Continue Reading: https://www.premierguitar.com/pro-adv... Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com PG's Facebook:   / premierguitar   PG's Instagram:   / premierguitar   PG's Twitter:   / premierguitar   PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar PG's TikTok:   / premierguitar   © Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025 #guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear