GFI Expo are they really that bad looking?

Matthew Jackson · From: Tennessee, USA

Ok I have taken some ribbing about the way my beloved Expo looks, I have been told by two people that it is kinda "homely" one even said it is "ugly"
aside from the fact that it plays great, sounds wonderful, is light to move, NEVER has needed any work, stays in tune and is pretty much bullet proof--I just want to offer some perspective. Now my giggin bass (48 alum pitzpher), my old Les Paul amp and of course the slot head banjo I take every where is a good example of functionaly sight impaired giggin tools. Really is the GFI bad looking next to these? Now for something pretty: my old Hienz 57 parts tele and of course the akward tele-jo are nice looking darn near as pretty as the old 48 Kay for sale (pending payment). I guess it is in the eyes of the beholder....lol

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telejo, la 400, a few wonderfull TG banjos, a red tele made from what ever parts I could find, a few dobros and my beat up/butt ugly Pitzfer aluminum upright bass.

Iestyn Lewis · From: Georgia, USA

I love the way they look and just based on that, it's probably what I'd go for if I ever spring for a commercial steel.

Something about the fonts they use and the straight, functional lines reminds me of a DeLorean. In the best possible way, it looks like an ahead of its time car from 1983. Sort of timeless and dated at the same time.

I really like the look, but if you're expecting woodgrain and acres of shiny chrome, it doesn't quite match expectations.

Love the aluminum bass!
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Iestyn
http://facebook.com/trcguitars

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

In my opinion, they don't look "ugly", they just look "cheap". Rolling Eyes

Matthew Jackson · From: Tennessee, USA

I think they have an "insustrial" look, not ugly just different. Wonderful playing, trouble free, light and good sounding steels. GFI really pegged this one, different but great.
Now the upright is an eyesore, but, it always sounds great, never has let me down and could care less if it is hot, cold, humid or any other thing that affects most uprights. Hey it has been moved in the back of a truck, the top of a car, gone from A/C to mid day heat in the same day, has been abused and loved at the same time, but never once failed to "get r done".
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telejo, la 400, a few wonderfull TG banjos, a red tele made from what ever parts I could find, a few dobros and my beat up/butt ugly Pitzfer aluminum upright bass.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

"insustrial"?

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

As long as it suits you, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks does it? Maybe you don't like the way theirs looks but you probably wouldn't make a point of it to their face.

It's terribly insensitive to disrespect someone else' choice simply because they wouldn't choose it for themselves.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

GFI's are "different" from the Sho-Bud/Emmons designs that most other steel builders have embraced. Gene Fields was responsible for a lot of the old Fender pedal steel line which is also "different" from the Sho-Bud/Emmons designs.

My wife has a GFI Expo S-10 and the only knock on it is the pedal placement and spacing between the pedals. As it came from the factory the pedals were too far to the left, but changing the pedal rods to connect from the opposite side of the pedals allowed moving the pedals a little to the right and more in line with the left knee levers. I want to make the pedals closer together for my wife's narrow shoes (and they are iffy at times for me) but I haven't worked that out yet.

I built a lighter case for it. The original case is built like a battle ship and almost as heavy as the guitar. I built a new, lighter, case from 3/8" Baltic Birch and covered the outside with a black "Fenderish" Tolex.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

"Beauty is only skin deep" but there are a lot of people who need skinnin'! Whoa!

Matthew Jackson · From: Tennessee, USA

ok I have spelling issues.
personally I like the way they look, not to say the old Buds, Emmons, ZBs, etc. are not nice looking, they are and most likley are Great steels. This is the only one I have owned-- I am not really an expert, but, everyone that has played it has told me that it plays great and one freind of mine that plays very well belives it sounds better and plays better than about any thing he has had in his hands. At the end of the day I belive with this guy it really does not matter what he plays cause it is in his hands not his steel that is the real source of tone.
of course there is not much I can say bout the old metal upright aside from that it works all the time and every time.
life is good
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telejo, la 400, a few wonderfull TG banjos, a red tele made from what ever parts I could find, a few dobros and my beat up/butt ugly Pitzfer aluminum upright bass.

Curt Langston · Posted 18 Sep 2012 9:30 am

Don't worry about it Matthew. If you really want to get the old buzzard, "has beens" buzzing, get a GFI keyless! Those guys are stuck in the fifties and cannot appreciate the latest technology!

They have to have a long "alligator snout" keyed guitar to look "country", even if it means breaking strings every five hours!!

That Expo is SMART looking.
Laughing

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

The GFI is the "Edsel" of pedal steels. Rolling Eyes

Matthew Jackson · From: Tennessee, USA

ok even I would not go there with a keyless...lol, now it is great that GFI once again went outside the box and improved what we always thought things should be. I have had the same strings on this since I got it and it has yet to break one. Who knows in time these may just become the standard...lol or at least other mfg will take note and try new things, not that everyone has not made great changes and I belive that everyone making steels are making the best ones so far, new ideas and techno stuff just improves with time....
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telejo, la 400, a few wonderfull TG banjos, a red tele made from what ever parts I could find, a few dobros and my beat up/butt ugly Pitzfer aluminum upright bass.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Curt,
It's better to be a "has been" than a never was! Whoa!

A keyless guitar reminds me of a chicken after you cut off their head.

Quentin Hickey · From: Nova Scotia, Canada

I am glad that we have progressive makers like GFI, Sierra, ETS, etc because it gives people more choices.

Dustin Rigsby · From: Parts Unknown, Ohio

I must defer to Mike Sigler...who parked his push pull several years ago for one of Gene's guitars ! I think that the GFI is a real piece of engineering excellence. If I decide to sell the boat anchor that I'm playing,I'm buying a GFI. It has a price point that won't break the bank and the reliability of the chrysler slant 6 engine ! Think of your Expo like a brand new Mustang GT....it won't dust a vette,but most everything else is fair game Laughing

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D.S. Rigsby

Matthew Jackson · From: Tennessee, USA

ok just so I can fully cross the line here...I belive that Martin guitars are better built today than they ever were and Gibson has certinly improved the old flat tops (bet that will ruffle a few feathers), however, it is hard to beat a Mossman flat top period....
hey if I did not suceed in offending every one with the tele-jo I probally did with this post.
on the positive side: There is probally no subsitute for time and the amount something is played, but, every one has leanrned new things and now make better guitars than ever before, it they only knew then what they know now....
just my not so humble take on things
of course the old Kay basses are the exception...lol
and no one would consider making new alum uprights unless it is for a BBQ
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telejo, la 400, a few wonderfull TG banjos, a red tele made from what ever parts I could find, a few dobros and my beat up/butt ugly Pitzfer aluminum upright bass.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Matthew Jackson · From: Tennessee, USA

The biggest winds blow from empty canyons

well said, however, being born in New Mexico the biggest winds often come after a bowl of beans....lol
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telejo, la 400, a few wonderfull TG banjos, a red tele made from what ever parts I could find, a few dobros and my beat up/butt ugly Pitzfer aluminum upright bass.

Mike Schwartzman · From: Maryland, USA

OK, so some parts that are chromed on lots of guitars aren't chromed on that model. I don't think that makes it ugly...industrial is a good word. Or maybe "utilitarian"

But... I sat behind that model (the exact same color and an added 5th vertical lever)for 2-3 hrs. on a Sat. afternoon a few months back. I'd never played it before. It was set up at my buddy's place and I was invited to sit in during their jam. It played smoothly and easily like many modern guitars. And I saw the other players smile when they heard it. And it sounded darn good to me as well. Take Donny's advise...just ignore them.
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Emmons Push Pull, BMI, Session 400, Home of the Slimcaster Tele.

Mark Eaton · Posted 18 Sep 2012 2:19 pm

I don't have an Expo, I have a GFI Ultra and I like the looks. And oh yeah - it's keyless! Now I will admit that I do prefer the look of the keyed guitar a little more than the keyless, but I also appreciate the innovative design by Gene Fields. He's a guy that once he "hung out his own shingle" and years ago started GFI he had ideas for pedal steel guitars that come under the heading of "thinking outside the box."
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Mark

Norbert Dengler · From: germany

i have an expo and an ultra and i honestly admit that the traditional steels i`ve seen and played (franklin, emmons mullen zum) look nicer somehow.
just more classy and worthy propably... Shocked

anyhow i love my GFI s for their reliability, lightness and good sound and for the very good customer service.

and i like the idea of a certain understatement, not playing an expensive boutique guitar... Wink

Norbert Dengler · From: germany

looks okay to me...

Matthew Jackson · From: Tennessee, USA

so it only leaves one question....does the black one really sound better....lol
ultarian undersated pretty much sums it up, besides if I played a nice looking one would I be expected to sound good on it? Did Ralf have that same delima?
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telejo, la 400, a few wonderfull TG banjos, a red tele made from what ever parts I could find, a few dobros and my beat up/butt ugly Pitzfer aluminum upright bass.

Donald Boyajian · Posted 18 Sep 2012 2:48 pm

I have a black S10 Expo as well. Never been wild about the look, but I don't really mind. It sounds good, especially with the Truetone in there.
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GFI S-10 Expo. Peavey NV 112

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