| Author |
Topic: Opinion on Deussenburgs multibender lap steel |
Ben Godard
From:
Jamesville NC
|
Posted 20 Nov 2016 4:08 am |
|
| I was wondering what people thought about this guitar. Looks extremely cool but I can see it might be hard to adjust to picking hand to accomadate using the levers. I really wish I could try one but I live way past the sticks. Lol |
|
|
 |
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 20 Nov 2016 7:18 am
|
|
I think you can buy a nice pedal steel for less money than they are asking for that guitar.  |
|
|
|
Ben Godard
From:
Jamesville NC
|
Posted 20 Nov 2016 8:57 am
|
|
| That's probably true but I want something light and easy to play but still have the Psg sound. One of my biggest questions is how is the action of the benders themselves. Is it touchy and raises strings quickly or is it have a longer throw. I prefer a long enough throw action where I can get the true slow mechanical bend of the psg sound. |
|
|
|
Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
|
Posted 20 Nov 2016 9:51 am
|
|
I love palm pedals on regular guitar when I'm using a pick but haven't been able to get on with them on a steel.
When I need a light, simple version of a pedal steel, I use my Fessenden 6 shooter (a lot cheaper too). |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 21 Nov 2016 8:59 am
|
|
I think it would be a lot cheaper to just buy the changer mechanism and install it on a lap steel. I have seen them mounted on an inexpensive Epiphone lap.
You need a guitar with some tail room. |
|
|
|
Frank Agliata
From:
Jersey Shore, USA
|
Posted 21 Nov 2016 9:44 am
|
|
The genuine Dusey's do sound sweet. These's some guys on YouTube that do some amazing things with them. But they are very pricey.
You can just put a multi-bender on cheaper lap steel like a Gretsch. I've done that and they work really well, once you get used to them. Total cost around $650 for the bender and guitar.
Forum member Peter Funk inspired me to try it after viewing his version of Stand By Your Man . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt2OD2JZZ5I
Or like others suggested, you could go the "six shooter" route for about the same money. A matter of personal preference.
It's good to have options . . 
_________________
GFI Expo X1, Melbert 8, Rukavina 6
always learning |
|
|
|
Brooks Montgomery
From:
Idaho, USA
|
Posted 21 Nov 2016 10:18 am
|
|
I own a Duesenberg Fairytale. I got a great deal on it, way below retail (I think the guitar shop was worried they'd never sell it), but it was still REAL expensive,for what you get, when compared to a 'real' guitar or pedal steel.
I like it a lot. I have a homemade base gizmo that gives it a width profile similar to a dobro, and I play it sometimes with a strap standing up (depending on the local group I'm playing with). And I play it on a stand also.
The workmanship is superb, the pickups are awesome, the sliding capo is like cheating. I play the guitar in open-D, and mostly use the capo just to move up to E; the guys I play with do a lot of rock and blues covers.
As for the benders. For the life of me, I cannot figure out a tuning combo that works better than open D, with benders on strings 2 & 3: string 2 bends a full step, string 3 a half step. Bending string 2 gives a six-chord, bending both 2 & 3 gives you a sort of maj9 thingy (you theory guys can tell me what it really is).
So, I only seem to use the benders on country-type songs to get a nice 'pedaly' resolve on turnarounds and such. I never seem to use them on blues stuff. On blues, with my skills, or lack-there-of, the benders tend to put whip-cream on pork belly, which never sounds right (or tastes right).
I've contacted Duessenberg to ask for a list of preferred tunings using the benders, wondering what all, or some, or any of their pros prefer or have had fun with, and I got a pretty lame answer, that "with all the tuning combos available, the sky is the limit". Which to me meant that they had no clue, other than the factory DADF#AD tuning.
So I'd be very interested if any of you guys have found some other interesting/useful combos. I have another lap tuned to A6, and the two guitars together are a hell of a lot of fun.
Is the guitar worth the money? Probably not, but I've made several 'extravagant' guitar purchases, and have never regretted any, except when I'm down & out, and living on Hamburger Helper without the hamburger.
_________________
A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first. |
|
|
|
Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
|
Posted 21 Nov 2016 11:06 am
|
|
I tried one out for just a minute or two, and only got a fleeting impression. I didn't like it. I felt the palm pedals were more difficult to operate than real pedals.
Perhaps if I had spent more time with the thing I'd have liked it more.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
Last edited by Mike Perlowin on 21 Nov 2016 11:38 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Brooks Montgomery
From:
Idaho, USA
|
Posted 21 Nov 2016 11:16 am
|
|
| Mike Perlowin wrote: |
I tried one out for just a minute or two, and only got a fleeting impression. I didn't like it. I felt the palm pedals were more difficult to operate than real pedals.
Perhaps if I had spent more time with the thing I'd have liked it more. |
I'd admit that the palm pedals require a heavy-handed approach with the picking hand. I'm not a pedal-steel player, but I can't imagine that it would ever be as smooth as foot pedals. I find I play mine kind of like I used to type on my old Smith-Corona, with a fast heavy-hand on the return carriage lever, but opposite hand (how many of you remember that feel?).
_________________
A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first. |
|
|
|
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
|
Posted 21 Nov 2016 11:36 am
|
|
| Brooks Montgomery wrote: |
| I own a Duesenberg Fairytale... |
Excellent post, Brooks Montgomery. Expert, insightful, and brimming with information relevant to the inquiries of the original poster.
Two questions: What is the string spacing at both the nut and the bridge on your Duesey? Are different spacings available, or is there only one? |
|
|
|
Brooks Montgomery
From:
Idaho, USA
|
Posted 21 Nov 2016 2:29 pm
|
|
Jack Hanson:
According to the Duesy website:
width @ nut = 1.67"
Stringspacing = 2.13"
At work now, I'll have to check it out when I get home, but I don't think you can adjust the string spacing without an overhaul.
_________________
A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first. |
|
|
|
Stephen Williams
From:
from Wales now in Berkeley,Ca, USA
|
Posted 21 Nov 2016 11:24 pm
|
|
| I got my multibender from germany direct ....about half what you pay in US. Mounted it on an old Stella. Works well enough but after playing steel it's sort of limited. |
|
|
|
