My GFI

Robert Morgan · From: Texas, USA

I have an Ultra that is a year old and it has been a problem from day one. I wonder if any other GFI owners have had the problems that I have. It doesn't stay in tune as good as other steels I have owned. Left knee lever right used to hang up and (not anymore though) the third string was not returning to pitch afer pressing B pedal. (but not anymore) When (still) I press A pedal, pedal C goes down also.

David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

I've had several GFI's and I have experienced few issues with them. The issues I've had were easily remedied as they are very versatile guitars. All steels need adjustments but if you're having that much difficulty you may want to contact Bob at GFI as they are outstanding in customer service. I still have a pre-ultra model that is my main steel. It has outlasted all the name brand steels that I've had.
Dave

Dennis Wood · From: Savannah, TN USA

I have to tune the pedals and knees only when i replace strings. My GFI is trouble free. Never had an issue. I change my copedent so often, i have to think about what pedals 6 & 7 do.
_________________
auribus teneo lupum

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

Robert, may I suggest getting your GFI checked out by someone. I have never had any tuning problems with my Ultra and have and continue to play other brands of steel guitar as well. steve

Robert Morgan · From: Texas, USA

Well, thanks for your answers guys. I would also like to mention that the first time I changed strings on the E9th the Grovers on strings 7, 8, 9, and 10 were so wobbley (is that a word?)it was unbelievable. At least 1/8 of an inch play in each one. All the rest were okay. 3rd string on E9 is lower in volume than the others. C6 has never given me any trouble at all and stays in tune well. It had tone changes for the first few months (both necks) that almost drove me crazy. It is a very beautiful (special order) white guitar with (I think) 1 1/2" longer pedal rods and legs. I bought it from Bobbe. I've said all that to say this. You can have this beautiful guitar (absolutely mint) for $2100 and I'll pay the shipping and insurance. It has never been gigged. It just sits in my living room all the time. I've been off the bandstand for 35 years.Thanks a lot fellers. I know any one of you could fix it. Overlook any typing errors. I'm 76.

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

My experience w GFI's is just the opposite. I find them to be reliable, well built, and light pedal steels w customer service that is tough to beat.

Norbert Dengler · From: germany

watch the forum posts, you`ll find out the GFI to be one of the most reliable steels at all.
bought my ultra used, its a 2004, play it for 5 years now on- and offstage, never had one single issue Smile

John Ely · From: Minneapolis Minnesota, USA

Mr Morgan,
My experience with a GFI guitar has been all positive, the same as others who have posted in your thread..
Along with a Zum D10 and a Williams D10, I also own a GFI S-10 Expo that I bought in 2010.
I see from your post the difficulties that you've had, and my understanding is that you hope to sell the guitar as-is.
But it wouldn't surprise me at all if just some limited adjustments, not full-blown "repairs", would restore your guitar to good working order, possibly for not much money.
I hope it sells quickly for you if that's your goal. But if not, maybe one of the TX guys could be a resource for adjusting the guitar.
Good luck sir.
John
_________________
John Ely (but I'm not THE John Ely who played with Asleep at the Wheel).

Robert Morgan · From: Texas, USA

Yeh, I hope to sell it as is. At least I won't be hiding anything. I'm sure it can be fixed but I don't know how to work on steels. I have a couple of nibbles already. Maybe it'll go quickly. The Forum has some guitars already for sale that I would like. Thanks a lot. Maybe I can trade it for an old MSA or Shobud. The forum has a red ShoBud that I'd love to have for $2800.

Norbert Dengler · From: germany

i`m sorry to hear about your bad luck with the guitar...
maybe the best for you is to sell it.
if you want to keep it i can highly recommend to send it to the GFI-factory in missoury.
bob there will change the lemon in a well working and good sounding guitar, i`m sure.
good luck! Wink

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Robert, have you sent it back for correction? It would surprise the heck out of me if they wouldn't fix it.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Jim Eller · From: Kodak, TN (Michigan transplant)

Am I missing something here?

"I have an Ultra that is a year old......"

Why would you not be contacting GFI?

I just bought my first GFI. A 2007 SD10 Ultra that is a pleasure to play. I also have a couple of the "E" brand but they have nothing over the GFI..... TO ME. Maybe weight and price.

I contacted GFI 3-4 times before and 3-4 times after I purchased the guitar with questions and found them(Bob) extremely willing, knowledgeable and helpful.

Just my two cents or <

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Is it "one year old" or just that you have had it for a year? If its just one year old, it is still under warranty and any problems fixed. If its a used guitar that you bought that is a different story.

My wife has a GFI Expo S-10 and no tuning key or or tuning problems with it.

Jack Hargraves · From: Missouri, USA

I have had my GFI SD-10 Expo since 2011. At first I had a couple of problems with it but I contacted Bob at GFI and he walked me through the adjustments. Trouble free ever since.

George Buechley · From: Indiana, USA

Mr. Morgan,
I can't see Bobbe's store selling you a guitar that is not set up properly. Contact Bob Hempker and see if they can help. My Expo is a great guitar and Steel Guitar Nashville was great at setting it up for me.

George
_________________
Pre WWII Dobro, Sho~Bud Pro II Custom, Peavey Session 115, GFI Expo, Roland Cube XL80, Lil Izzy

Daniel J. Cormier · From: Lake Charles, LA, USA

Owned 5 or 6 GFIs and have never had a problem with them. Even The SM-10 which are pull release where near trouble free. Contact GFI or Boobe and the crew.
_________________
Daniel J. Cormier
Rittenberry with Tone to the bone,profex or tubefex and what ever amp, hilton pedal, BJS bars. Email at kajunsteelman@yahoo.com.

Kurt Kowalski · From: Kendall, NY USA

Hello,

I have Played, Endorsed, Repaired, Adjusted, Bought and Sold MANY GFI's and I LOVE 'EM.

I am so very sorry that you are having an issue with your Guitar.

That being said...
I also feel the GFI has the BEST Customer service and response of any company out there...
and the steel guitar companies today are all pretty good and responsive.

I feel that an issue as you are explaining would certainly warrant a call to Bob or Gene at GFI, because those two guys would want to know about the issue and try to remedy it.

*** NOW ***
to try to address your issue:

The first thing I would suggest is to back off all the way on all of your nylon tuners and make sure the changer is coming back to neutral and returning to neutral position.
(OVER TIGHTEND CHANGERS cause all sorts of wierd things)

Next I would tighten the screws a bit on your tuning peg heads so that they are not sloppy as you describe.

Then I would add just a tiny drop of 3in1 oil to the side of each roller nut and make sure that they move freely on the axle. (smoke and gunk have a way of seizing these up)

Then I would put NEW strings on and re-try it.
(a bad set of strings can cause poor tuning problems)

Also... Check your cross shafts and make sure that hey are NOT over tightend (front to back).. they need a hair of movement front to back.

Lastly if that is not fixed...
Call Bob at GFI and let him know what you have done.

They will be glad to help you... They are great guys.

Hope I have helped out some.

My best always,
Kurt

Robert Morgan · From: Texas, USA

Thanks all of you for your comments. Any of you can have this beautiful hardly used mint condition, never been gigged GFI (white) steel for a mere $2300 + $70 shipping and insurance.

Robert Morgan · From: Texas, USA

Well, I thought my Boss tuner was going out it was acting so crazy and I couldn't tune my pretty GFI. But, I was all wrong. It was the steel. It is as dead as a door nail. So, the good news is, I don't have to buy a new tuner after all. I turned it(though I don't know what for) upside down and it worked for about 8 seconds. Come on gang. The price on this lovely piece of has just dropped. Make me an offer. I'm serious. This is the second GFI I've owned. I traded the other off right away and it went dead on the new owner during a dance.

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic