A little advice on this trade......

Jeff Metz Jr. · From: York, Pennsylvania, USA

Hello guys and gals,
I have been playing the steel for around a bit over a year now. I currently have a sd10 Thomas 3+5. Im sure you have seen it on the forum through out the years. I paid 1300.00 for the guitar and its my first real steel ( my only other being a wallpaper maverick). I recently came across the chance to trade my guitar plus $400.00 for a 1985 D10 Emmons P/P. All my instincts are telling me to jump on it, but, I know tons of people own emmons guitars and they aren't very uncommon. I just dont know if it would be smart to get rid of a guitar that is very well built and has tone to die for just to get the "industry favorite". What is your personal opinion on the matter. Keep in mind Im a beginner and dont come up on money too often. Would it be good to get the emmons just so I have a e9 and c6th to grown on. Sorry for dragging this out Its just how torn I really am. To many pros and cons.
Thanks
Jeff BTW DID I MENTION THAT ITS A BLACK EMMONS
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Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

Are you positive it's a push-pull? By '85 the Emmons Company was well into the Le Grande era. But you probably could still buy a push-pull at that time, so it might be a PP.

I love my 83 push-pull, but there is no doubt these guitars can be a nightmare if not properly set up and adjusted. If the guitar is in good operating condition, it should be very durable and dependable, and, of course, have that wonderful PP tone.

If you can get the guitar inspected by someone knowledgeable it would be well worth what you might have to pay for their expertise and time. Paying someone to rebuild a push-pull is not cheap.

As a relatively new player you don't want to be fighting mechanical issues. Your energy and time should be spent on developing your technique.

If this Emmons is in good to great condition, then it sounds like a good deal. But if it needs work, I'd pass, and look for some newer all pull D-10, like a Carter or GFI or Mullen, or any number of other brands (including Emmons Le Grandes).

I should add; I know nothing about Thomas steels, and how committed are you to learning to play C6th?
Finally; forget about that "Black" nonsense. I hope that's not really a factor for you, because it's nothing but pure B#$% S%^&.

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

I would keep the Thomas, they are nice guitars. Learn to play C6th stuff on the E9th, most of it is there.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I'd second what Paul said. A single mechanical issue should scupper the whole deal, this includes a copedent change. Also play it and make sure you're happier with its tone.
Paul obviously doesn't play a black guitar (just kidding)
While Doug is correct, most of us think differently when on one neck as opposed to the other. By all means, get a D-10, the back neck's a blast

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I think it would depend on the Emmons. $400 boot sounds like a pretty good deal to me. If the guitar is where you can go look at it, that's what I'd do. At least get some really good pics otherwise, verify it is actually a P/P if that's what you want.

Take someone with you that is familiar with Emmons guitars and knows what to look for far as problems are concerned, properly set-up etc.

David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

Easy enough to distinguish an Emmons push pull. There should be two rows of small holes (for each neck) in the endplate on the changer end. Cutouts in the endplate (with nylon tuning nuts visible) would indicate an early LeGrande(all pull changer)...FWIW..This may well fall into the category of, "If it sounds too good to be true etc." From the information provided in your post, your Thomas plus $400.00 places your side of the trade in the $1700.00 range, this in exchange for a guitar that routinely sells for $2500.00 to $3000.00 in good condition? JMO.

Jeff Metz Jr. · From: York, Pennsylvania, USA

Well the guy that has it recently aquired it from a friend in financial trouble for $800.00 The guy thought the emmons was too much guitar for him anyway . My friend originally purchased it with me in mind as a buyer. It is indeed a push pull emmons. The year is an estimate from what I know. It does have the narrower black foot pedals. It is in perfect working condition with the exception of a few barely noticable scratches on the back of the guitar. And No the color isnt an issue I just thought i'd play along with the whole black sounds better debate haha.
Thanks for the advice.
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Mullen G2 SD10 , Lil Izzy Buffer, Goodrich 120 volume pedal, Boss DD-7, Peterson Strobo flip, Peavey Nashville 112

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

If the Emmons is in the condition you have described, this sounds like a great deal for you. Even if you never learn to play C6th, the Emmons will probably appreciate in value far more than the Thomas.

Brendan Mitchell · From: Melbourne Australia

If you are anything like me , all the replys saying to stick with your guitar would have convinced me to snap up the Emmons .
If it turns out you don't get along with the Emmons you could always sell it , probably make a handsome profit as well .
My advice ? Go for it .

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

I have bought and sold a good number of Emmons guitars from all vintages. I'm also very familiar with Thomas steels. My opinion is that it is a no-brainer in all aspects. I would get the Emmons before the owner finds out what he could get for the guitar.
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My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Carson Leighton · From: N.B. Canada

I agree with Herb...Get the Emmons....

Craig A Davidson · From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA

Emmons hands down.

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

OK, I'll agree that from a monetary standpoint it would in fact be a good deal. You would have $1700 invested in a quality guitar that is worth a few hundred more - when you finally go to get rid of it. Just depends on how much you like trading guitars. It can get to be a terrible sickness.......and can get in the way of actually learning to play one of the silly things.

My initial response was meaning that a newer player may get discouraged by having a double neck guitar and trying to learn two tunings, dealing with transporting a heavy guitar, keeping everything in tune and so forth. I know that is what happened to me. I would have been better off if I had a good single neck and learned to actually play all of it. But no, I just had to get that shiny double neck thing like the big boys had......and it never did me one darn bit of good. My own fault, of course.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Carson Leighton · From: N.B. Canada

Jeff,,after re-reading your post,,I see you have only been playing for about a year...You say your Thomas guitar is rock solid and has a great tone...That's about all you can ask for in any steel..If you are comfortable playing your present steel,,you may want to reconsider..The only thing is,,an Emmons guitar has a great history and is very well known..You would have no trouble at all re-selling it for more money, if you are not happy with it...Of course that's only if it's in real good condition...As Doug Earnest said,,they are heavy and not easy to work on ,,especially if you have no experience on the push/pull system...I hope you do well with whatever decision you make....Carson

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

I'd personally snap it up and roll it over to one of the Emmons guys here (or Bobbe, or...) for twice the bucks (then buy a all-pull), but I know my way around a bit. "Buy low - sell high" works whether it's guitars, books, automobiles or anything else. What's it worth - $3,500 or so?

Eric Philippsen · From: Central Florida USA

Get the push-pull.

Don't forget, though, that you tune a push-pull differently than most all other knds of steels. That's not a big consideration at all but it is something you need to know before sitting down at it for the first time.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

As a new player it might be more guitar than you can handle. Also, if you are a working musician there's a big difference in weight to consider.

A Thomas SD-10 with 3+5 is enough to keep you thinking and learning for at least 5 years, maybe for a lifetime. On paper the trade sounds like a good deal, but unless you really have a deep yearning for C6th I wouldn't recommend changing guitars at this point.
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Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

So what you should do is:

#1. keep your Thomas, there's nothing more depressing than seller's remorse. If the Emmons is for sale outright at a good price, buy it....try it out....compare the 2....decide which one you want to keep and sell the other one.

You could make a nice profit on the Emmons, probably not so on the Thomas.

#2. Do what I do re: choice #1 except I can't bear to part with either one, therefore the onset of the sickness and subsequent GAS addiction. Oh Well

#3. I refer you and defer to Doug Earnest's last post.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

If it gets away, you'll have a wonderful "The one that got away" story to tell.

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