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Topic: How To Buy My 2nd Steel? |
Gary Richardi
From:
SoCal, USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 7:31 am |
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| As I mentioned in one of the CS threads, it's past time for me to get a better instrument. Since I'm primarily a rock guitarist, steel will always be a secondary instrument for me. I think I'd like an SD10. I played a rented BMI SD10 once on a road gig and I really liked it. I'm in the Los Angeles area. What should I expect to pay for a decent SD10 (new and used) and where can I look at/play new ones? |
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Ron Davis
From:
Lake Arrowhead, California... We're a mile high. ;)
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 7:41 am
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Go see Jim Palenscar in Oceanside.
He's got lots of inventory.
Worth the drive, for SURE. 
Steel Guitars of North County
3375 Mission Avenue
Oceanside, CA 92058-1330
(760) 754-2120
rd
_________________
Emmons 12 p/p, Revelation, Black Widows, (& way too many assorted goodies...)
Drummer with a pedal steel fantasy.
www.LA-Zep.com
www.Desperado1.com
www.CMWChicagoTribute.com |
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Michael Robertson
From:
Ventura, California. USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 8:00 am Yep
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| Ron Davis wrote: |
Go see Jim Palenscar in Oceanside.
He's got lots of inventory.
Worth the drive, for SURE.
Steel Guitars of North County
3375 Mission Avenue
Oceanside, CA 92058-1330
(760) 754-2120
rd |
Yep
_________________
No Avatar only a picture of my Mentor. |
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John Castelletti
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 8:06 am
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| Another vote for Jim Palenscar. On top of having what is most likely the biggest selection west of the mississippi, he is about the nicest guy you could hope to meet- and also a great teacher! |
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Ron Davis
From:
Lake Arrowhead, California... We're a mile high. ;)
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 8:13 am
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Yep..!
We tried to get him to run for President, but...
Well actually I wouldn't wish that job on anyone.
But, really. If her in SoCal & haven't been to Jim's, the you've hot a real treat ahead of you, on several levels.
rd
_________________
Emmons 12 p/p, Revelation, Black Widows, (& way too many assorted goodies...)
Drummer with a pedal steel fantasy.
www.LA-Zep.com
www.Desperado1.com
www.CMWChicagoTribute.com |
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Jay Jessup
From:
Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 8:15 am
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| None of my business really but speaking from experience if you think you will ever be doubling on guitar and steel in the same song you will find a S-10 more manageble. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 8:59 am
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Gary,get on that Highway towards San Diego [405]? and go see Jim Palenscar,he will treat you right plus it's a nice drive...we don't have any nice drives up here right now...Except to the liquor store!
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Jim Eaton
From:
Santa Susana, Ca
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 9:21 am
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You might want to consider an SD-12 Ext E9th guitar as it has the same bottom end as your use to on guitar and Jim Palenscar has a really nice Black SD-12 PP Emmons in his shop that he is selling for me right now!
JE:-)>
_________________
Emmons D10PP 8/4 -75'
Emmons S-10PP 3/4 - 79'
Emmons S-12PP 3/4 -78'
MSA Legend SD12 5/5 -06'
Mullen S-12 4/5 - 1986
Nashville 112 x2 W/Knob Guards - Don't leave home with out one!
Walker SS rack system - 12"BW's
Quilter Steelaire Combo |
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Ron Davis
From:
Lake Arrowhead, California... We're a mile high. ;)
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 9:29 am
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Jim, I recently got an SD-12 Emmoms p/p, Ext E9 & I really like it.
Not much of a learning curve, at all. I don't use those bottom 2 strings much yet, but when I do... Oh baby.
rd
_________________
Emmons 12 p/p, Revelation, Black Widows, (& way too many assorted goodies...)
Drummer with a pedal steel fantasy.
www.LA-Zep.com
www.Desperado1.com
www.CMWChicagoTribute.com |
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Arne Odegard
From:
Norway
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 3:28 pm
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| You might want to give Jim a call before you visit his shop. I was there last september and it was closed on mondays. |
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Jim Eaton
From:
Santa Susana, Ca
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 3:43 pm
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Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 - 5:00 are his normal hrs.
760-754-2120
JE:-)> |
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Gary Richardi
From:
SoCal, USA
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Posted 15 Feb 2011 9:33 pm
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Next time I go down to SD, I'll try to arrange a side trip (tho' I doubt it'll be high on my wife's list of places to visit).
I played this borrowed BMI SD10 in OKC on the Toyota stage at the state fair a year or so back and really liked it. So that's at the top of my 'gotta play' list right now.
If the owner is a member....thanks! (lent to us through the stage sound crew) |
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Skip Cole
From:
North Mississippi
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Posted 18 Feb 2011 9:04 pm
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Gary , check your email .
Skip |
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Clete Ritta
From:
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted 18 Feb 2011 11:24 pm Re: How To Buy My 2nd Steel?
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| Gary Richardi wrote: |
| ...What should I expect to pay for a decent SD10 (new and used) and where can I look at/play new ones? |
A ballpark figure for a good (decent?) used SD10 steel is maybe $1250 to $2500 based on features, brand and condition.
A new one from $2400 to $5000?
The Dallas and St Louis conventions sound like the place to be to check out new ones.
Im hoping to make it to Dallas this year.
I just wanna look and listen though.
My wife says I have too many already.
Clete |
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Gary Richardi
From:
SoCal, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2011 9:29 am
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Thanks, Clete. My budget is ~$1500 for a decent SD or S 10, but that includes travel...lol!
Can anyone comment on how difficult changing a knee lever copendent on a Jackson Blackjack would be? Is it something I'd have to have done or is it a possible DIY with some forum advice/help?
Also, I'd noticed that some SD's, like the BMI pictured above, don't seem to be true double-neck size (pad area seems narrower than a neck). Am I imagining that or is that another classification? |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2011 10:55 am
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There was another fellow asking about steels in the $1150 - $1700 range, so I'll just C'n'P my pithy answer:
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Well, it sounds like you may be getting enough connected that someone could even help you look at a steel if it should pop up. In that price range, old MSA Classics come up all the time, they're pretty reliable and mechanically unbuggered. There are old Sho Buds that are great and others made with pot metal parts, and you have to know which is which... there are some good BMI's and MCI's and some lesser ones. In that price range you could luck into a GFI or Carter pro model, but again it would be a great help to bring someone along.
If you meet a widow who pulls grandpa's old Bigsby or Emmons push-pull out from under the bed and wants a grand for it, just buy it and worry about playing it later! Mr. Green Although many of the early and mid-60's pedal steels are "collectable" of sorts and some old steelers have a soft spot in their heads for them, getting into the 1970's the mechanics of the MSAs and others started to be a bit less quirky - those old ones have "character", IYKWIM.
Edit: I just saw this on the sales board:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=199927
I did a search for "MSA AND CLassic" that came up big, if you want to research prices.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/search.php?mode=results |
In your case, your mechanical ability and the time you're willing to spend on "the quest" will factor in; if Jim Palenscar doesn't have what you want right away, he/you might find it OK to buy an old MSA (or something) in less than optimum shape and pay him a few hundred to pixie dust it. There was a "handyman's special" MSA up here not long ago for $875, might still be there (David Wright was the seller). |
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Clete Ritta
From:
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted 19 Feb 2011 12:04 pm
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| Gary Richardi wrote: |
| ...Also, I'd noticed that some SD's, like the BMI pictured above, don't seem to be true double-neck size... |
Youre not imagining it. A true SD 10 is a double frame. There are S10s without pads on a single frame and also narrow body SD10s with pads on a 1.5 size frame. Really a matter of personal preference whether you like the armrest or not. I do. It provides a convenient place to put my bar and picks when not playing.
I have heard nothing but great things on the forum about Jackson guitars, but not sure how easy they are to alter. As mentioned, talk to Jim about a used steel. He can set it up they way you like so you dont have to. He may already have one with your name on the front.
Clete |
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Gary Richardi
From:
SoCal, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2011 12:17 pm
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Thanks, Clete, for a clear and to the point response! I seem to get very few like that around here. I've been getting the feeling steelers like the shroud of voodoo that seems to surround everything about steels. It's so very different from the 6-string world I know.  I just fired off an email to Jim P in Oceanside as his name has come up in almost every response. |
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Clete Ritta
From:
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted 19 Feb 2011 1:54 pm
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| Gary Richardi wrote: |
| ...steelers like the shroud of voodoo that seems to surround everything about steels... |
On the contrary,
This forum is chock full of very knowledgeable and helpful folks from all parts of the globe.
Im a new player and forumite compared to many here, but this is one of the finest online music forums due in part to its moderators, but mostly because we all love the steel guitar.
It used to be like you say, when pros hid the pedals from public view like some sorta Wizard of Oz a long, long time ago.
Clete |
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