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Topic: What distinguishes an "entry' level pedal steel from a pedal |
John Watson
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 15 Oct 2020 6:18 am |
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Hello. Thinking of buying a 10 string pedal steel after a few years of 8 string lap. I see some listed as an entry level or starter pedal steel. I would like something with good tuning stability, tone and durability. Are the beginner pedal steels made of cheaper lighter frames and are the pedals, levers underneath parts ext less stable and flimsy OR is it more the case that the beginner models just have fewer pedals and levers, one neck and have cheaper finishes and the basic mechanics of the guitar are the same.
Thanks
John |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 15 Oct 2020 6:53 am
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Pretty much everything you said with the exception that most entry level pedals steels employ the use of a pull-release changer which work fine but are the easiest to manufacture and the least expensive to produce.
Last edited by Jim Palenscar on 15 Oct 2020 7:17 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Mike Vallandigham
From:
Martinez, CA
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Posted 15 Oct 2020 1:50 pm
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About $3500 bucks. 
But seriously. Mechanically, they should both play similar and get the job done.
On a pro model, you're gonna see things like:
-shiny metal bits
-fancy trim
-higher quality pedals, changers, mechanical bits
-more color choices and styling elements
-possible a better pickup
-better case
-nicer multicolored fingerboards
-more changes, or a fuller/customizable copedant
-more raise/lower holes in teh changer |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 15 Oct 2020 2:22 pm
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| A pro guitar is also likely be heavier built, and more stable. The main complaint against student models is (some) flimsy parts and light weight, both of which can contribute to instability. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 15 Oct 2020 3:43 pm
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On a cheap instrument it may be hard to alter the setup
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Aaron Johnson
From:
Lemoore, CA
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Posted 15 Oct 2020 4:18 pm
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I'll give my limited experience. I had an MSA Legend that was a couple of years old and currently play a Zum Stage One.
The MSA:
1. An adjustable copedant with a considerable amount of options given the number of raise and lower holes.
2. Split tuning available on every string.
3. Stainless steel and titanium for most of the instrument.
4. Very easy to place and remove pedal rods with on the fly adjustment.
5. Interchangeable pickups
6. Adjustable knee levers
7. Beautiful wood and build quality, one of the best in the business.
8. Lighted fret board
9. Lighted pedal board (for show)
10. A flight case with wheels
11. Rock solid tuning stability and the best tone I've had in a steel.
The Zum is very well built with a fixed copedant. The tone is fantastic and the play-ability is something special to a pull release. Nothing is adjustable. It weights less then the MSA, that's always a good thing. It's also 1/5th the price of the MSA and it is more guitar than I am able to play. I miss the MSA and will most likely buy another in the future but the Zum is all that I could ask for presently. |
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Kevin Fix
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 15 Oct 2020 6:08 pm
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| I had a Mullen Discovery for about a year. Great Guitar and great tone. The only issue I have with the light guitars is that they tend to move around. I play a little aggressive and it liked to move a around. If I was to buy a single neck it would have to be a single on a double neck frame. |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 15 Oct 2020 9:12 pm
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In days gone by all the features you listed were surely the case. Currently STAGE ONE and JUSTICE offer very well built less expensive steels that a new player can get into without spending 3-4 grand. JUSTICE S10 JR basic model is under $1K and you can add to it as you expand your skills. http://www.justicesteelguitars.com/S10%20Jr.html
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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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Michael Douchette
From:
Gallatin, TN (deceased)
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Posted 16 Oct 2020 7:19 am
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I've said this before, and again... personal preference plays into this a lot. MY most important factor is tone. Playability is next, to ME. That being said, those are the reasons I play the Stage One. It is simply the best recording guitar I'VE ever had. It sits in the mix perfectly, plays great, and stays in tune. My 2 cents.
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Mikey D... H.S.P.
Music hath the charm to soothe a savage beast, but I'd try a 10mm first.
http://www.steelharp.com
http://www.thesessionplayers.com/douchette.html
(other things you can ask about here)
http://s117.photobucket.com/albums/o54/Steelharp/ |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 16 Oct 2020 11:38 am
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| Michael Douchette wrote: |
| MY most important factor is tone. |
Me too. Best tone I've come across in an entry-level instrument is the GS-10. They sound just like a push pull (because indeed they are). But sadly, like all Emmons guitars, they're no longer in production. |
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Asa Brosius
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Posted 16 Oct 2020 12:46 pm
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Each builder builds differently-design and material, per model. The same is true for each builder's 'entry level' builds- I'm sure they'd happily explain the differences, if not listed on their websites. Also, there's going to be sonic variation between the exact same new model per new guitar. To complicate things further, the used market is generally a gamble unless you get to spend time with the guitar first.
My unsolicited opinion leans towards the new Zum models. |
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George Biner
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 17 Oct 2020 6:29 pm
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I just went from my student guitar, a GFI student S-10 cost $1250 used, to a Mullen Royal Precision SD-10, cost $3200, like-new.
The GFI, for the money, was a great guitar, but I had mild trouble keeping string 10 in tune -- the Mullen is rock solid, never goes out of tune. (In fact, don't let this get around, but in my daily playing I don't usually tune it.)
The GFI had sort of a sharp, strident tone that cut through nice but had not much character -- the Mullen tone is much better.
The GFI couldn't accept some changes/additions I wanted to make to it, so it was inevitable I had to swap guitars to get them.
The GFI case was, I must say, not of very good build quality -- I had to rebuild it with screws instead of the cheesy staples they had in it. Mullen case is solid.
The tuners for the actuators were very hard to tune as they did not turn smoothly, they would stick. Mullen are like butter.
One place where the GFI was better was it had tuners with big heads -- I prefer those to the small "bean" type on the Mullen.
Also, the documentation was slightly better from GFI than Mullen.
_________________
Guacamole Mafia - acoustic harmony duo
Electrical engineer / amp tech in West Los Angeles -- I fix Peaveys
"Now there is a snappy sounding instrument. That f****r really sings." - Jerry Garcia |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2020 5:33 am
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A good comparison between some economy steels an a pro steel pictured here ::::::: note I’m saying some economy steels.
The only reason for the pro players too own a good economy steel would be for a light weight travel an gig steel.
Lots of preowned pro steels sell here on the forum for less than a student model every month of the year.
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John Watson
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 19 Oct 2020 1:20 pm What distinguishes an "entry' level pedal steel from a pedal
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Good one. I had to look twice - thought it was another pop up for car sales.
Thanks to everone for the replies - sounds like the economy/starter steels are pretty respectable now but a pro model with single neck and 3×4 pedal/levers is what I'm leaning towards - Mullen discovery maybe. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Much appreciated
John |
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Jamie Kitlarchuk
From:
Alberta, Canada
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Posted 19 Oct 2020 5:50 pm
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John, I see you're in Ontario. Give Al Brisco a call and see if he has anything used in stock that would suit your needs. He also sells new GFI and Fessenden's, as well as his own entry level steel. Al is a great resource for us on the north side of the border.
Also, for what it's worth, Long and McQuade now sells Mullen steels, a couple locations near me stock them regularly. |
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John Watson
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 20 Oct 2020 5:17 am What distinguishes an "entry' level pedal steel from a pedal
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Thanks Jamie. Yeah I've been keeping an eye on Al Briscoe's site. Going to check the Long and McQ's down here - thanks for the suggestions.
John |
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Jeffery Mercer
From:
Born in Portsmouth Oh. Dec. 10th 1954 Reside in City of Mentor, in Northeast Oh.
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Posted 23 Oct 2020 8:26 pm Let’s See?
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My answe to that question would be the Strings breaking all the time when Tuning
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Jeffery S Mercer |
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Jeffery Mercer
From:
Born in Portsmouth Oh. Dec. 10th 1954 Reside in City of Mentor, in Northeast Oh.
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Posted 23 Oct 2020 8:26 pm Let’s See?
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My answe to that question would be the Strings breaking all the time when Tuning
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Jeffery S Mercer |
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