I remember seeing on some old country videos someone playing something that looked like a table with strings across it, rather like a guitar turned on its side strings upwards with an underslung soundbox and a winding handle for tightening them. It seems to be a rare instrument, because I can't find it anywhere! What is it called, because trying to look it up is driving me insane.
Do you mean a pedal steel guitar? They're common in country music, just not really anywhere else, so I'd guess you don't listen to that much country. Hope that helps your sanity!