New GFI Ultra

Jeffrey McFadden · From: Missouri, USA

I am considering buying a new GFI Ultra, S-10 with pad and keyless tuning.

I am certain my next PSG will be an S-10 or S-12, probably 10, probably with a pad. I am certain it will have keyless tuning. I am tired of setting up and breaking down, at home and out, twice or more every week, and seriously looking at a gigging PSG and a practice / home PSG. I'm tired of shlepping my "cast iron" Carter D-10, but it's fine to play. It can stay here, set up and ready to go.

Given the moderately crippled state of my hands, and other considerations, I feel sure that keyless tuning would be better for me.

As to why GFI: For one thing, it's an old and respected brand. Next, it's built in my state. I can support my local economy and also save over $700.00 by picking it up at the factory.

What's wrong with this plan?
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Well up into mediocrity
I don't play what I'm supposed to.
Home made guitars

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

I purchased a new GFI Ultra Keyless S10 with pad in 2006.

It has traveled well and done many gigs, and is still in use. The staff at GFI were always quick to answer on the rare occasions I needed assistance.

Recommended!

John Haspert · From: Illinois, USA

Absolutely Nothing wrong with your plan. Gene Fields designed a super guitar that sounds great and stays in tune. Bob builds them and they are just very fine instruments. I love my D-10 Ultra
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Pedal Steel Guitar is "Music from Heaven"

John Goux · From: California, USA

Every GFI Iâ€™ve played has been impressive.
You should know, the scale is 24â€ instead of 24 1/4â€. Sho-bud, Desert rose, older MSAs and GFI use the shorter scale. Most other companies use the longer scale.
The GFI look is an acquired taste. Not my cup of tea, but there are many happy owners.
John

John Swain · From: Winchester, Va

Sounds like a plan! FWIW, your Carter is also a 24" scale.

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

GFI makes an excellent guitar. But if weight is your main concern, you should make sure you get an an S-10 rather than the SD-10. It will be noticeably lighter that the SD-10. No pad, but you should be able to adjust to that.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I disagree on the S10/SD10. If I were to buy a "single neck" guitar it would be an SD-10. Just seems more natural to me. My wife's GFI Expo is an S-10 and I have to "work at it" when I play it. I've played other SD-10's and much better. Only advantage is the lighter weight S-10.

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

I bought a used GFI Ultra from Bill Moore a while back and it's a great guitar,I loaned it to a friend in Nashville because he had sold his guitar,It's a well built great sounding and playing guitar.My Desert Rose guitars are 24and a quarter inch scale.
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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

K Maul · From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL

If poundage is of paramount importance then get a single neck no pad and get used to it. I love GFIâ€™s because even though keyless thereâ€™s a knob right there that you can just put your fingers on and fine-tune instead of reaching for a tool to do it. I have a 12 and a 10. They sound great and are very compact. The S 10 is a short scale, 22 inches and fits even the tightest stage situations.
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KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing.

Dennis Montgomery · From: Western Washington

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

My personal experience with the GFI Sd10 keyless I have had for about 10 years now, is mixed.

Positive: sounds good, plays well mechanically, is light, and is about the easiest to maintain in the world of pedal steel guitars.

Negative: strings hang on the nut-bolt – causing hysteresis (hang after lower), and the pad is so high that it gets in the way – prevents a natural posture and bar-arm movement – for me.

Jeffrey McFadden · From: Missouri, USA

I appreciate all the replies and suggestions. I'm pretty sure, for the ~5 pound difference, I'll go with the pad to support my raggedy wrist and ruined shoulder. I spend a lot more hours playing than I do carrying.
Now all I've got to do is sell my Russian side-car motorcycle to fund this plan. Very Happy

_________________
Well up into mediocrity
I don't play what I'm supposed to.
Home made guitars

Stephen Rethmeier · From: Nashville TN

Johnie King · From: Tennessee, USA

I vote s10 with small detachable wrist pad.

very easy to make slides in a slot

Johnie King · From: Tennessee, USA

One of the Best Buyâ€™s for a pro steel would be preowned Zum oncore or stage one but they bring about the same as new they hold there value very well.

Dan Robinson · From: Colorado, USA

Pack your pedal bar, legs and pedal rods in a nylon tac. shotty case. Lightens the main case by ~20 pounds, plus you get THIS:

"Master, what do I need?"

"Grasshopper, you need BALANCE."

Richard Alderson · From: Illinois, USA

Dear Jeffrey - If you play out with any frequency at all, then packing up your guitar and unpacking, and setting up again, gets old REAL QUICK. Basically you need two of everything, not only the guitar, but volume pedal, cords, effects, picks, bars, the whole shebang. One set up for the house and another for the car. There is also no doubt that gigging exposes a prized guitar to more chances to get damaged. Then there is the question of responsibility to the band to consider, your band-mates are probably counting on you now, what would happen if your main guitar needed a repair? So all of that points into the direction of having a second guitar is something of a necessity, not an option.

I have a recently acquired GFI, all I can say is .... so far so good !! I am a real happy camper. It's a much more appropriate guitar for gigs than my main one. I can replace it, if it gets stolen or damaged. It looks GREAT, actually its got a sleeker more modern looking design than my main rig. My GFI is an SD-10 Ultra with gold trim. It shines under the lights real nice. As far as the sound, its more of an "electric guitar" and less of a "musical instrument" than my main guitar, it has more mid tones and sometimes its hotter than my my main one, but my main one is sweeter and fuller, and hits chimes and high notes more like a violin. Several guitarists that I admired and trusted have used GFIs over the years, especially at gigs, Fred Newell and Don E. Curtis (RIP) come to mind. Billy Cooper plays some of the sweetest music I have ever heard, and he plays GFI exclusively as far as I know. So I am with you on both counts, you do need another guitar, and GFI looks like a great choice. Maybe they ought to change the name from G -F-I to G- F- G - Great for Gigs.
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Derby SD-10 5x6; GFI S-10 5x5; GFI S-10 5x5; Zum D-10 8x7; Zum D-10 9x9; Fender 400; Fender Rumble 200; Nashville 400; Telonics TCA-500.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

I bought a GFI SU12 Ultra about 3 years ago. I was playing a MSA S10 with a 3/4 body with a ledge behind the neck and I put a pad on it. When I went serious on the GFI in Dec. 2016 I missed the pad. This is what I done to cure the problem.

Sorry this is the only picture I have. I built a place for my bar on the space by the tuning head, The right end has a standard loop that holds my tuner.
]

Patrick Richards · From: Arkansas, USA

Hi Jeff. Your choice is a good one. My Ultra has been all over the country with no issues. Bob and the GFI customer service is great. It's a fine guitar in every aspect with sound being an individual preference. The SD10 knee lever placement can make a difference in the feel. Some guys are used to the wider width over their laps and going from D10 to an SD10 just feels more natural. It's what ya get used to. Play it and enjoy it!
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Breaking strings and gettin dings.

Garry Vanderlinde · From: CA

Tommy Boswell · From: Virginia, USA

Love my GFI Ultra. Not keyless, got it used on a budget. Great sounding, easy playing, stays in tune.

Norbert Dengler · From: germany

have my GFI Ultra for 10 years now. bought it used back then.
played it a lot, never had any issues and it sounds real good.
customer service is unbeatable.
defnately a great product!

Bruce Derr · From: Lee, New Hampshire, USA

My current grab-and-go guitar is a GFI Ultra S-10 keyless that sounds great, is solid and smooth to play, and has been very reliable. It also looks good - it's their "vintage wood" mica (which looks like Macassar Ebony). I have not observed any noticeable hysteresis caused by the non-roller nut, but I do not lower the 6th or 5th.

I like GFI's mechanical design overall. They have always been responsive when I've had a question. Parts are reasonably priced and the guitar is easy to work on.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

The picture in my previous post is of my GFI Ultra 12U with attached pad with carved bar and pick holder. The pad is attached with 2 pieces of Industrial grade Velcro. No holes or damage to guitar. I have to remove the pad to fit it in the case. It goes in with the legs and pedal bar in the case.

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