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Topic: Sampling steels at Dallas show |
Doc Hall
From:
Galveston, Tx
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Posted 14 Mar 2011 7:37 am |
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This is just an observation, but I would also appreciate some feedback. I am interested in attending a steel show where you can play a sampling of steels. I noted in Dallas that several steel makers had guitars set up to sample. Several did not...they only had guitars on display. It just makes sense to me that you would want to make guitars accessible to the public for a "test drive". John Fabian and Carter were the best at this. You could sit in front of their room and play in the foyer. As a result, I eventually bought a Carter.
I am only familiar with the Dallas show. Could anyone recommend a show that is arranged so that more steels can be sampled. In particular, steels like...Williams, Desert Rose, and Rittenberry. I plan on buying another steel in the near future and I want to sample several. |
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Joe Rouse
From:
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted 14 Mar 2011 12:35 pm
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| Doc, I am with you.Carter knew how to merchandise their guitars and I came very close to buying one after I went to my first TSGA show 4 years ago.....jr |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 14 Mar 2011 12:58 pm
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| Considering most builders have websites & can be contacted, how bout workin' out an appointment w: them for the upcoming steel shows ? |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 14 Mar 2011 2:20 pm
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Don't be afraid to talk to any builder and ask him to try out there steels. There really is no big official system set up. We are talking about individual craftsmen and not companies with sales departments for the most part. One of the real beauties of the pedal steel world is that you can have a personal relationship with the guy who built your steel. If you are more comfortable making an appointment drop them a line before the show.
_________________
Bob |
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Doc Hall
From:
Galveston, Tx
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Posted 15 Mar 2011 6:51 am
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| I appreciate the suggestions. Can anyone suggest a show that is more conducive to product exploration? I wondered if Scotty's was different from the Dallas show. I assume it is bigger and more steel builders attend...bringing a larger inventory of steels. |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 15 Mar 2011 7:07 am
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Scotty's Show wouldn't be any different, maybe even more crowded. All builders will find the time for you if you ask.
You should consider a trip to a dealer that has a lot of stock. There are many to choose from. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 15 Mar 2011 9:06 am
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| Quote: |
| You should consider a trip to a dealer that has a lot of stock. There are many to choose from. |
But I doubt there is even one that stocks one of every brand you would see at a show like this.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 15 Mar 2011 1:57 pm
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I would have to say, that, the steel shows are the best arena for seeing and testing out a manufacturers steel guitars. Another way is to get out and see and hear another steel player and ask him or her, what they think about their steel and why they bought it. And, of course, contact the builder and see if you can actually play a few of their steels. Music stores hardly ever carry pedal steels, anymore, so that avenue is a dead end.
I met and spoke to Bruce Zumsteg, the owner and builder of "ZumSteel" guitars a few years ago and ordered one at Scotty's show in St.Louis. He let me play a couple and answered the several thousand questions I threw at him. He's a totaly gratious and intelligent man, who, made a sale to me by being who he is and by the fine product he makes. |
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Jim Cooley
From:
The 'Ville, Texas, USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2011 7:13 am
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| I played (and I use the term loosely) a few steels at the Dallas show. Most reps offered to let my try one. If they didn't offer to let me play one that I was was interested in, I asked. Some took the steels that were displayed on tables and sat them on the floor so that I could play them. No one refused. |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 16 Mar 2011 8:10 am
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I didn't play every steel guitar at the show, but every maker who had a steel guitar I was interested in was more than happy to have me play it. Any hesitation you have in playing a steel guitar at a show like this is your own; the builders WANT you to try out their guitars.
Some of the builders might not be set up in the optimum location for you to be able to hear how their guitar would sound, given the fact that the exhibition room is one big noisy hall. You might consider bringing your own headphone amp, headphones, cable and tone bar so you are cutting down on the number of variables influencing your opinion. If you know what you sound like through a specific setup, you can use that portable setup to do a real world comparison between a lot of different steels.
Hmmm...maybe that's what someone should do next time - have one space available as a test drive location. All you have to do is bring the steel guitar over and play it through a predefined setup. Of course, then you have to haul the guitar through the crowd and back.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Doc Hall
From:
Galveston, Tx
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Posted 16 Mar 2011 5:44 pm
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| Yes, Brad...I agree that it is mostly my own deal. I really don't like having to ask when something is inconvenient. That's not necessarily the fault of the builder, it's more of my own personality quirk coming through. Of course, good marketing and ease of access for the customer is an attribute for any builder. I noticed that Fred "tone dog" Justice had a very nice set up for potential customers. Thanks Fred. |
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