New Steel Not A Good Fit?

Preston Turner · From: Houston/Victoria, Texas, USA

Anyone ever bought a steel from a different manufacturer, and it not be a good fit for you? I just bought a Sierra Session, and I’m just not liking the way it plays at all in comparison to my BMI despite so many positive opinions out there.

Going to take it to get looked over and reworked to be sure, but wondering if this guitar is just not a good fit for me and it’s not going to work out.

Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

That’s not uncommon at all. I bought a top of the line steel that was immaculate in fit and finish and played smooth as butter. But it just didn’t fit like it should. My favorite guitar just fits like an old pair of shoes.

D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

I have bought several pedal steels with a first-class nameplate, pedigree, and sound -- and they just didn't have the right ergonomics, which caused me to play even worse than I normally do. Ended up selling, moving on. I don't think I'd ever buy another steel guitar without test-driving it first.
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GFI Expo S-10PE, Sho-Bud 6139, Fender 2x8 Stringmaster, Supro consoles, Dobro. And more.

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

When I got the GFI Ultra D-10, at first I wasn't sure how good it would sound or how the tone and sound was, and at the time, I was using a little Fender Champion 30 amplifier that could be plugged into any instrument, and at first I felt that the tone wasn't what I was looking for-I guess I'd forgotten to turn off effects or something, so when I got my Peavey Nashville 112, the guitar sounded great, but at one point, I didn't know if the strings were going bad or the pickups weren't working right or I wasn't putting enough pressure on the bar. In '09, after playing the GFI onstage in Atlanta, I met David and Harry Jackson, and they let me try out a Jackson Madison '63, and of course, I couldn't get over how awesome that guitar, the Jackson sounded, compared to the GFI. So, in 2010, I got in touch with the Jackson Steel Guitar Company and they built my Jackson Blackjack Custom, which I've been playing for fourteen years now. In October of 2017, I took my Fender Champion 30 amp, along with my Jackson Blackjack Custom to a jam session on Monday nights, and the Jackson sounded incredible through that little Fender amplifier, and I've found out recently, my Jackson is so much easier to play because of my Ezzee Slide polymer bar. My Jackson Blackjack Custom fits perfectly!

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

It happens. I love Lloyd Green's mid-late 60's sound and so I acquired a Sho~Bud fingertip that had the sound I was seeking (much different than the Emmons wraparounds I was using onstage).

But it just didn't fit me ergonomically... the cabinet was too long. I'm 5'5" tall and when I was in correct sitting position for C6, my left leg was incorrect for E9, and vice versa. It was a beautiful guitar, though.
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My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

Marco Schouten · From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

I only had 4 steels in my life, but I always started to play it for a few weeks first. After that, I would sete pedal height, play it for some time, than adjust the angles of the knee levers. At the end it always "fitted".
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JCH SD-10 with BL XR-16 pickup, Sho-Bud Volume Pedal, Evidence Audio Lyric HG cables, Quilter Steelaire combo

Bobby Martin · From: Virginia, USA

I bought a like-new name brand S-10 to complement my old 6139 Sho-Bud. Didn't realize it was set up 1" for a tall player. Removed front leg spacers,shortened and re-threaded the pedal rods (thread mis-match issue with quick connect links), got it adjusted properly,changed LKR E lower to RKL lower and just didn't like it! Sounded great but didn't feel right so I sold it to Billy Cooper at a loss. Luckily, a Show-Pro Lloyd Green floated down the Shenandoah River to me soon after and I love it! Moral to the story...try it out first!!
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Retired my "Flying Pro III" playin' gigs with the "little bud" in the Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Yep, been there. I guess that's why almost everybody gravitates to a particular guitar. The way a guitar sounds, plays, feels and responds to your touch is a personal thing.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

yes, way too many times.. Some of the best builders too... Just did not work for me.. A lovely Fessy, wonderful GFI keyless, gorgeous Desert Rose,MSA SS and several others as well.All were great guitars, in dead mint condition... They were all perfect... for someone else, I could not bond at all, and I really have NO idea why..I don't think any of those guitar lasted 2 months with me.. Whats REALLY weird is this-had a Carter 5+5 s10 that I played and loved for many many years... Sold it for some stupid reason.. One day decided I HAD to get another loaded s10 carter to replace the beloved one I sold on a whim... Although that guitar was the same era[BCT, and was basically the same as the one I sold, it never "fit" the same as the Carter it replaced.. Not even close, and to this day I can't explain why.. Experienced players just know which guitars work for them and which just don't, and it typically does NOT take long... bob
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!

no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......

Larry Hobson · From: Valley Grande (Selma) Al USA

Could this line of though be applied to women ? Asking for a friend.

Larry Ball · From: Airdrie, Alberta, Canada

“Wow”.. this thread has made me feel better..I recently sold two fantastic steels that didn’t feel right for me after I found the right one for me. I tried to get back playing them but would quickly go back to the steel that felt correct for me..
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Sho~Bud SD10 LDG, Show-Pro SD10 LDG, Peavey Nashville 112, Boss Katana 100 MK11, Telonic's F100 Multi-Taper Super Pro V/P, Wayne Brown “Custom Designed Amp”

Brett Lanier · From: Madison, TN

Yeah, I move the left knee levers back and closer to center on all my guitars. Beginners should take some time to get used to what they have because it’s going to feel awkward either way. Eventually you’re going to want to make sure you can get A,B, and F lever quickly (both independently and in combinations) without having to readjust your body.

Jon Jaffe · From: Austin, Texas

Some guitars just don't fit. My first instruments were MSAs; I don't remember if they fit. Besides, I was a lot more flexible in my 20s. I have two very adjustable Klines, but some might think they're small. I had a Zum U12 for a couple of years that was too big, and I could not adjust the outside knee levers properly. I also had a Carter U12 that was OK. Ross Shafer of Sierra considered my height, pant length, the height of my current Kline, my seat height, and the angle of my elbow when building my new guitar.

Ron Pruter · From: Arizona, USA

Being a "Po boy" what ever steel I wound up with, I made it work. RP
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Emmons SKH Le Grande, '73 Fender P/J bass, Tick tack bass, Regal high strung, USA Nashville 112.

Ross Shafer · From: Petaluma, California

I come from a custom bicycle building background where ergonomics are very important for comfort, endurance, power....everything!

As soon as I started to try learning to play these contraptions (got to the point I almost sucked, then decided designing and building them was an easier way to enjoy this awesome instrument)I found that ergonomics were super important.

In building custom steels for people, I've found that the majority of steel players tend to adapt to whatever they buy. And I've heard(surprisingly)from many of my customers that they were never asked the kind of fitting questions from builders that are standard here at Sierra

We humans are amazingly adaptable....to our own demise even! I've always been a big advocate of adapting the steel to one's ergonomic needs and have had much input about how comfortable the Sierra's I build have been compared to some previous rigs my customers have owned.

Just about all guitars can be adapted ergonomically if one takes the time and knows what they are after....comfort and ease of use are are your goals. Pain at any level is a very good indicator that something could be better.

Take the time and make your guitar fit you! You'll be glad you did! Good luck and have fun!

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Don't really know what aspect of not liking the way the guitar plays to which the OP refers...sound wise or comfort wise.

I can relate in a couple ways though. The most favorite guitar I ever played was a mid 90s Mullen D10. It just sounded, played, felt and responded so well it was like putting on an old favorite jacket or pair of broken in shoes. Just like home.

Like a fool, I had to sell it when times got rough and in later times when things were better I bought another Mullen. It was a beautiful lacquer finish but it just didn't do it for me. I bought a couple other mica Mullen guitars later on but none of them responded like the first one even though ergonomically they were basically the same.

I also once bought another name brand well respected guitar that many players, a lot of them professional musicians, liked and played regularly on the road and in the studio.

I loved the sound and the bell like chime it had when you really pushed it, but it just did not fit ergonomically and felt hard "on top" for a lack of better description in comparison to the Mullen.

I've also played Sierra guitars, Zums, Emmons, Derby and several others. These are all great guitars but for one reason or another, but with the Zum running a very close second, just don't fit the same in every way, sound, playability, comfort and all.

Since economics has been an issue for many years now, having sold out, I was able to pick up a Fender Dual 10 Artist reasonably and with tweaking, adding etc., even though it doesn't really fit my body as well, but I like it every bit as much as any of the others except my favorite first Mullen.

I know other players that don't see that much difference among guitars. Unless they are real dogs, I guess their own methods and execution make them do what they want. Maybe these are the real pros among us, unlike myself.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

This made me think.

When I first came to the USA, I'd ordered a new Emmons and deliberately left my old Pro-111 in London. The Emmons was delivered as promised, but I can't enumerate the differences between it and the Sho-Bud. Much less of a 'step' between necks, for a start. Knee-levers positioned slightly differently, wood vs. mica, pickups, and on and on.

But I had no choice. I had to start my first US gig on the Emmons.

Today? That same Emmons feels tailored to me. Every angle of every KL, the feel of the pedals....

Maybe it's just become my 'norm'. I bought a new Zum D10 in 2002; I kept it for about five weeks but sold it on because it was nothing like my Emmons. Smile

I have had a dozen steels (Mullen, Williams, JCH, Fessenden, Derby) through my hands in twenty-five years. Some stayed awhile but they always moved on.

I did have a Rittenberry on order but sanity prevailed. As good as it no doubt would have been, I'd have been measuring it against my LG111 and it, too, might have been rejected. These days, my budget dictates more caution.
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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Per Berner · From: Skovde, Sweden

The trick is to find a steel that feels right, and then have the builder of your new steel match the measurements of that guitar. When I ordered my Zum Hybrid SD10, Bruce Zumsteg managed to tailor it to my old AVM's measurements – moving the pedals slightly closer to the changer end and placing the knee levers as close to the rear apron as possible, just as I was used to. The throw and height of the vertical lever were also adjusted the way I wanted. The sideways adjustment range on the knee levers took care of the rest, and the guitar felt just right from day one.

On the other hand, I once bought a Sho-Bud Pro III, which felt totally wrong. Pedal and knee lever placement, string spacing – everything was off, though the sound was superb, as was the birdseye body with an abalone inlay shaped like the state of Tennessee....

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

I’m in the Ron Puter camp. I paid hard-earned money for every instrument I’ve ever bought, and nothing was ever top of the line (until my new Williams S12, couple years ago). I only ever returned one 6-str guitar to the store for a refund because it just sounded terrible and I don’t know why I bought it. Everything else, it was a “good enough/make it work” kinda thing. I got a fair amount of mileage out of that.

Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

Enlighten me.
The "Sierra Session" is not the current model being manufactured.
In fact, isn't it a completely different guitar?

Ross Shafer · From: Petaluma, California

oops double post

Ross Shafer · From: Petaluma, California

The Session model was discontinued when Sierra shut down in about 2003 which is when current owner Ed Littlefield purchased the remains which were being auctioned off.

I was asked by Tom Baker (long time Sierra assembler) and Ed to design and produce a completely new Sierra. This was an amazing opportunity as my marching orders were "spare no time or expense to create the smoothest, quietest, best sounding and lightest pedal steel you can."

So yes, the Sierras currently being produced are a ground up new design that share nothing with any older models but the brand name...currently the oldest pedal steel brand still in production. Sadly Sierra will close upon my retirement in late august of 2025.

Sorry for the thread hi-jack.

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

I've had some great guitars but most of them took a lot of tweaking to get that way. Any well-built steel can be restored and/or adjusted to physically fit just about anyone, and pickups can be changed to get the sound that pleases you, but the real bottom line is this: Does it make you want to sit down and play? Survey says we humans learn best when we're having fun.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Sometimes I think it depends on the size the present players body structure, Compared to the person who assembled the guitar. Or the last player the guitar was set up to fit and play.

When I bought a 2nd GFI Ultra S12, I went to Ohio, Sat down at the guitar, The knee levers did not fit me, But I bought the guitar.

When we turned it over, To put it in the case. I could see the LKL and RKR knee lever had been moved about 3"s from original mounting points. Whoever owned the guitar must of had very large wide thighs.

When I got the guitar home and compared it to my 1st GFI Ultra. I moved the 2 knee levers back to the original mounting holes, Which matched my 1st GFI. It fits me so comfortable, Being a keyless, And the guitars sustain, Its now my Go To guitar.

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