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Topic: New Guitar Purchase |
Dennis Manuel
From:
Quesnel, B.C., Canada
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Posted 14 Oct 2014 1:33 am |
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| Want to buy a new guitar and with so many great guitars out there today it is really confusing trying to figure out which one. Can anyone shed light on their favorite and why. Email would work best. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 14 Oct 2014 2:58 am
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I'm in the middle of compiling a comparison table of features of the various new guitars.
It's slow going because it's not at the top of my list.
There's not really a bad guitar on the market in terms of build quality.
There's a few that are well-made that don't stand out on a features list but are great guitars (Mullen, Rains, Fessy and Justice spring to mind); they're damn fine.
Bill Rudolph over at Williams stands out for those "ramps" at the fingers to minimize breakage and fatigue.
MSA has a whole list of features that, if you like their features, easily justifies the expense. Look at their website.
If you like the old Sho-Bud guitars, both Show Pro and Jackson follow in that mold for tone and appearance (and Jackson is made by Shot's family)
If purty woodgrain cabinetry floats your boat, Williams, Mullen, MSA, Show Pro and Ben-Rom jump to mind. Wait. Mark Giles is part of Lone Star.
We're in a golden age of steel guitar manufacture: you damn near can't go wrong.
If I were looking to order a new guitar, I'd probably (since I want my next guitar to be lacquer) put Williams, Mullen, MSA, Show Pro and Ben-Rom in a hat. Only because I've never seen a lacquered Rains or Fessy.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jim Eaton
From:
Santa Susana, Ca
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Posted 14 Oct 2014 3:06 pm
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A LACQUERED FESSY !
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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Hamilton Barnard
From:
Oro Valley, Arizona (deceased)
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Posted 14 Oct 2014 3:25 pm
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I've had 4 Emmons, a ZB and a GFI.
In April I bought my first Mullen, an SD10. Liked it so much I went and bought a D10 G2.  |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 14 Oct 2014 3:40 pm
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That's right purty, Jim!
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Ron Whitworth
From:
Yuma,Ariz.USA Yeah they say it's a DRY heat !!
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Posted 14 Oct 2014 5:21 pm
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And let's not forget the Infinity >
it is climbing up the ranks real fast!
Ron
_________________
"Tone is in the hands. Unless your wife will let you buy a new amp. Then it's definitely in that amp."
We need to turn the TWANG up a little
It's not what you play through, it's what you play through it.
They say that tone is all in the fingers...I say it is all in your head 
Some of the best pieces of life are the little pieces all added up..Ron
the value of friendship. Old friends shine like diamonds, you can always call them and - most important - you can't buy them. |
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Dave Bertoncini
From:
Sun City West, Arizona USA
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Posted 14 Oct 2014 7:02 pm
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| What Ron said |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 14 Oct 2014 7:15 pm
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Agreed. I've heard much about them but never seen one.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 14 Oct 2014 7:31 pm
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Jackson makes a great steel-it's what I play now. Before the Jackson, I played an Emmons and then a GFI. The Jackson sounds similar to a Sho-Bud. My Jackson is a Blackjack Custom-sound is similar to the Sho-Buds of the '60s.
Last edited by Brett Day on 15 Oct 2014 7:52 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 15 Oct 2014 2:53 am
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If there is, B0b doesn't know it.
Nearest stores are Oregon and Alberta.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 15 Oct 2014 4:31 am
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As Lane mentioned there really isn't a "bad" guitar being built today. Some may be better than others, but that is very subjective.
With an investment, such as a new Pedal Steel Guitar (assuming that is what you want), its worth a trip, even a relatively long trip, to somewhere that has a stock of (more than one brand) guitars. Jim Palenscar's shop in California may be the closest.
http://www.steelguitars.me/ |
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Dennis Wireman
From:
North West Indiana 47978
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Posted 15 Oct 2014 5:36 am Rittenberry
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| don't forget the Rittenberry steels they are well known for quality and sound and great person to deal with |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 15 Oct 2014 10:40 am
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
| Agreed. I've heard much about them (Infinity) but never seen one. |
I have, and they're absolutely wonderful. If I had the bucks, I'd buy one.
BTW, the name of the man who makes the infinity is Franklin (Frank) Carter, and he can't use either his first or last name on the guitars.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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Roger Francis
From:
kokomo,Indiana, USA
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Posted 18 Oct 2014 7:16 am
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Another plug for Rittenberry, GREAT GUITAR!!!
_________________
Rittenberry SD10, 2 nashville 112s with telonics speaker, behringer EPQ450 power amp, 705 pups, Telonics FP-100, live steel strings, mogami cords, wet reverb |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 18 Oct 2014 12:09 pm
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the new wave of builders seem to be infinty, justice and rittenberry prestige. (not to slight some excellent smaller builders)
is rains still a company? what about rusler??
is zum still there? is emmons dead yet?
msa still make beautiful machines?
and i suppose we still have fessenden, show pro, mullen, bmi, gfi, desert rose, star, jackson, williams... ??
what else?
that's about 17...not counting ben-rom, weenick, simmons, etc.
Last edited by chris ivey on 18 Oct 2014 12:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Chuck Blake
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 18 Oct 2014 12:32 pm
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Rains....yes 
_________________
2010 Rains 3x5 SD10, 2006 Rains 3x5 SD10 Powered by Quilter Tone Block 202 and 15' and 12' Custom Speaker cabs |
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Chuck Blake
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 18 Oct 2014 12:32 pm
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Rains....yes
_________________
2010 Rains 3x5 SD10, 2006 Rains 3x5 SD10 Powered by Quilter Tone Block 202 and 15' and 12' Custom Speaker cabs |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 18 Oct 2014 12:33 pm
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Chris, Rains IS still around, but Gary seems indifferent to the net. All accounts suggest that the phone is the best way to reach him.
The Emmons factory is not to be trusted, although dealers can get new guitars. Some dealers accomplish this by making the guitars they sell.
Zum is currently on hiatus as Bruce had to retire, but don't count them out: a handover is being discussed and negotiated, but will not come to fruition til Bruce is satisfied that the new guitars will meet his standards. I've talked with the prospective buyer, but there's nothing for public consumption yet. But it sounded promising.
Rusler is still around; the makers are, IIRC, gigging musicians, so their output remains low and they're happy with that. The production schedule allows them to have a real life. (I've seen some people decry long lead times as ridiculous: at least in the case of RusLer, it's absurd to call it ridiculous. They're people with real lives building excellent guitars in their spare time. Get over it)
Reece left MSA as a going concern, they're still making guitars at the leading edge of innovation.
Any other questions?
Why would you put Simmons with Weenick? Martin makes machines apparently for the joy; I am not aware of him taking commissions, while Bob is in business: those who like pull-release tone and feel need to know you can still get custom-made loaded guitars.
Ben-Rom makes gorgeous guitars, but at lower volume. My GOD, they're purty.
You left off the offshore makes: there's Excel; that look like you'd expect from the country that gave us Honda and Subaru; there's WBS, Schild and one other in Germany (or is one of those Swiss?), and I think one or two others.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
Last edited by Lane Gray on 18 Oct 2014 1:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 18 Oct 2014 12:45 pm
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| are the rains in spain found mainly on the plains? |
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Chuck Blake
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 18 Oct 2014 1:13 pm
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Dennis:
Rains SD10, talk with Curtis Hogue for these guitars. He's down in Texas. Rains D10, Gary Carpenter is the go to guy.
If you need their telephone #'s, pm me
_________________
2010 Rains 3x5 SD10, 2006 Rains 3x5 SD10 Powered by Quilter Tone Block 202 and 15' and 12' Custom Speaker cabs |
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Clark Doughty
From:
KANSAS
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Posted 18 Oct 2014 2:19 pm Show Pro
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Here's what a Show Pro looks like
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Joe Rouse
From:
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted 18 Oct 2014 5:15 pm Desert Rose
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| You must remember the Desert Rose...nice guitars and pretty...and Chuck Back is a great guy to do business with...jr |
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Ron Pruter
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 18 Oct 2014 8:10 pm
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Chris, You finally made me laugh.
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Emmons SKH Le Grande, '73 Fender P/J bass, Tick tack bass, Regal high strung, USA Nashville 112. |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2014 4:28 pm PDF: Buying a Pedal Steel Guitar
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As a service to all Forum members (and lurkers), I'd like to share my column all about what to consider when buying a pedal steel guitar, new or used. This was published in the April 2014 Southwest Steel Guitar Association's newsletter, The Steel Guitar Rag, edited by the great Denny Beaver. (I urge you to join the SWSGA and get the great newsletter and many other benefits, and attend their fabulous show every late-January).
I may keep this article updated as a reference piece, so if any of you have thoughts now or in the future on what I may have left out that YOU'D consider a key shopping feature, please send email submissions to me here: steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net, subject: Buying a Pedal Steel. Thanks for your input.
This article isn't about brands comparison, but the many things I feel one should be aware of when getting a new, used, or spare pedal steel.
Get the free PDF here:
http://tinyurl.com/buyingapsg
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E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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