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Topic: Lap steel player looking for his first Pedal Steel... |
Rob Morrison
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2020 8:28 am |
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Hi all,
I hate to be that guy who does a "what should I buy?" post, but this forum is too good a resource not to poll you fine folks.
I'm a professional multi-instrumentalist...mainly guitar and mandolin, but I play a decent amount of banjo and lap steel, and picked up dobro recently. My GAS knows no bounds, and I'd like to use my time in quarantine woodshedding instruments I've always wanted to learn, namely pedal steel (though I have no illusions about it being an easy instrument to learn, of course)!
Being that I won't have any music gigs for quite a while, my budget is tight...I'd love to spend around 1500 if possible, which I know is low for pedal steels.
The subject of pedal steels is quite wide-ranging, and a bit intimidating when it comes to knowing terminology and making an informed decision. From older, similar posts on here, I've read that I should be looking for a psg with at least three pedals and four knee levers. I tend to prefer buying something a little beyond my abilities and growing into it, instead of getting a "student" model and growing out of it. Seems like on the beginner side of things, the Carter Starter is well-liked but limited, and a Zum Stage One might be a cut above that. Beyond those options though, I'm really not sure what to look at, and what I should be looking for.
I should add that I'm mostly looking to play country and country rock. I suppose I'm leaning toward a single neck, 10-string psg.
Any help/advice would be extremely appreciated! Many thanks in advance, and apologies for my long-winded post! |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 1 Aug 2020 8:48 am
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You could look for an older ShoBud or MSA. They are both good instruments and in the price range you’re talking about you can get some decent stuff. But you should also look into Justice guitars who make an expandable entry level instrument that is high-quality. That way you’ll have a brand new instrument that is mechanically very sound plus you can easily add onto and grow into.
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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. |
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Gene Tani
From:
Pac NW
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Doug Earnest
From:
Branson, MO USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2020 11:42 am
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A Stage One with three pedals and four levers in permanent standard 10 string Nashville setup is $1149 with case
A ZumSteel Encore with three pedals and five knee levers, triple raise triple lower changer, very deluxe setup which can be customized is $1649 with case.
There is always a wait for either model though, that's the down side. Used ones sell for more than new. |
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Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
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Paul McEvoy
From:
Baltimore, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2020 2:41 pm
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Personally even though I never bought anything from him, I'd try to buy something through Steels of the North Country. He seems to have a great reputation and you can bet that it's going to be packed and shipped well and he will be able to tell you what you are buying.
The problem is that if you buy something used and you don't know that much about it, someone sends you something and you don't know how to evaluate it, and they are pretty hard to return.
That was my experience. The guitar I got needed a lot of tune up that I had to learn how to do, but I didn't really realize it when I got it. I ended up getting it working nicely but it was a bummer. I was not anticipating that.
My suggestion to would be don't try to buy a guitar that will do everything possible. I bought a 12 string extended E9 and I think I would have been better with a 10 string with 3 pedals. I'm definitely glad I didn't get a universal. Personally I think you'll have your hands (and feet) (and knees) full just figuring out how to coordinate things, so you don't really need a ton of extras to worry about.
But I ended up selling mine and I'll stick with the lap steel, maybe some benders on it. Just easier to deal with. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 2 Aug 2020 3:29 am
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Rob,Where in New Yawk is You?
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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. |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 2 Aug 2020 6:20 am
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| Justice new S10 junior is a very good option for pros an Beginners!! |
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Rob Morrison
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 2 Aug 2020 8:00 am
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| Stu Schulman wrote: |
| Rob,Where in New Yawk is You? |
Hey Stu, I’m in Manhattan. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 2 Aug 2020 9:40 am
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Rob,I'm in Ulster Park if you like to visit some time,Try some stuff out?
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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. |
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Steven Hudson
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 4 Aug 2020 11:22 am
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I received a Zum Encore right before Memorial Day and I love it. I play with a band that does country rock, rock, and some grungy music. The single neck in E9 works great for these genres. The action is good and it stays in tune well. And at 42 lbs. in the case it's not killing my back to take out to play.
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2001 Marlen S-10, 2020 Zumsteel Encore, Melbert 6 string Roundabout, Evans E250HV Amp |
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Ray Ostwald
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 8 Aug 2020 10:50 am For Sale - 1973 Sho-Bud LDG, Chicago, $2,000 or best offer
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Hey Rob,
I just posted my 1973 Sho-Bud LDG for sale on this site. I'm in Chicago, but we could talk delivery or pick-up.
Best wishes,
Ray
rayostwald312@gmail.com |
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Rob Morrison
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2020 9:14 am
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Thank you all for the great suggestions. I know pedal steel is a very specific instrument, and while most of my instruments have been purchased used, I've gathered that can be a different ball of wax with a psg.
I think I'm going to hold out for a Zum Encore, or possibly a Stage One unless there's a really clean used option that pops up (there have been some nice looking Sierras close to my price range in the classifieds lately). Thanks again for your help, forumites! |
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Bobby Bonds Sr.
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 18 Aug 2020 12:33 pm Gfi S10
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| CAll Billy Cooper. He can fix you up with what ever you need. I keep a GFI Ultra set up in my music room just for practice. Great Steel. |
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