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Topic: Who plays an Excel ? |
jerry harkins
From:
kingsland tx
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Posted 16 Mar 2007 3:19 pm |
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What do you like about your Excel guitar?
Looks like they are well built.
Concidering one and need some feed back.
Thanks, Jerry. |
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steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
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Posted 16 Mar 2007 6:27 pm
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| Just played my 1990s model S-10 (purchased used from Billy Carr) at last night's gig. I appreciate that mechanically it is precise, easy to play, is light (increasingly important when back problems are an issue), & the sound is very acceptable. Oh, yes, it is also easy to work on. I've had two Excel D-10s and wish I'd kept at least one of them. steve t |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2007 8:44 am
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| I play a U-12 Excel Superb ....I love it !!....It stays in tune, and has an anti-detune mechanism on it that corrects the cabinet drop when pushing down the A, B, or C pedal ....No cabinet drop when adjusted properly ... The mechanics are very presise, and there are more adjustments on it so you can set it up very presisely... A lot of bang for the buck too !!... It doesn't weigh that much either ... The thing I like the best is the longer scale which gives my U-12 a wonderful tight tone, with no flabby bottom strings at all ... It's my very first NEW pedal steel ... The only thing I wish it had would be interchangeable pickups, like the Sierra and the MSA ... That would complete the Excel for me ...I got spoiled by the Sierra ...It's a great feature , and hard to do without when you switch to different steel ...Jim |
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Greg Simmons
From:
where the buffalo (used to) roam AND the Mojave
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Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
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Posted 17 Mar 2007 3:08 pm
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I bought my Excel D-10,8+4,black from Scotty in 1991 and it served me without any problems for years.Tim Seargent broke one of my knee levers one time he set in with my band in Montana but I fixed it in 5 minutes.Great steel,stays in tune and has a great tone.Good buy IMHO.
Db
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www.steelguitarsonline.com |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2007 12:53 pm
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Jerry,
I played the one Bill used to have and liked it for what it was. Little Luke has it now. I bet he would let you try it out. I looks like Erv's only its red. I also remember Don Sowersby playing it (and spilling a cup of coffee in the changer) He didn't gripe too much about it so I bet you might like one. They are very lightweight and seem accurate. Call me and I will get you Lukes number.
Justin
512-695-5849 |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2007 5:10 pm
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Here's my Superb U-12 w/8+9
BTW,the drummer is pop singer Josh Groban.He's a pretty good rock drummer. |
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tom anderson
From:
leawood, ks., usa
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Posted 20 Mar 2007 12:33 pm
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| I've had two-both U-12's, first was keyless & the second is keyed. Well made, lightweight, stay in tune, & most importantly, to my ear, both sound like an Emmons push pull. |
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Roy Ayres
From:
Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Mar 2007 5:17 pm
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I have an Excel Superb, my steel of choice after having an opportunity to examine Bill Stafford's excel in great detail. There are many great steels out there -- but I would put my Excel up against any of them. I have never been able to detect any cabinet drop whatsoever. The only fault I can find with it is that it is sensitive to temperature changes -- but so are most of the others. Once it has stabilized after being taken into a different environment, however, it remains in tune better than any I have played. I have the keyless model, and I don't think I would ever go back to a keyed steel. Fine tuning down to less than a cent is no problem at all. In my opinion, the Excel is the best engineered steel I have seen. I have the original Excel pickup, wound to 18K-ohms dc resistance, which gives me the mellow tone I like to have. The weight of my S-10 6 + 4 out of the case is 30 pounds, and the metal-clad case weighs 12 pounds.
_________________
Pioneers of Western Swing HOF, Seattle 2005
Western Swing Music HOF, Sacramento 2006
International Steel Guitar HOF, St.Louis 2007
Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book. |
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Bob Ritter
From:
pacfic, wa
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Posted 21 Mar 2007 6:42 pm
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wow mj that is quite a guitar. U12 8+9 that is a lot of fire power under the hood...I play a U12 8+5 and I forgot what most of my bells and whilstle"s do...I would like to see you copedant on how you got that big rig set up.......Bob
_________________
Let's go catch a steelhead |
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jerry harkins
From:
kingsland tx
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Posted 23 Mar 2007 2:54 pm
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Bump please.
Thanks |
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Gene H. Brown
From:
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
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Posted 23 Mar 2007 2:58 pm who plays excel
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I chew Excel gum, does that count? 
_________________
If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!
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jerry harkins
From:
kingsland tx
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Posted 23 Mar 2007 3:05 pm
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| Don't count!!!!! |
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jerry harkins
From:
kingsland tx
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Posted 28 Mar 2007 3:50 am
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| Are there more EXCEL owners out there? |
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L. M. English
From:
Augusta, GA, USA
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Posted 6 Apr 2007 11:41 am
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| I have a D10 8+8 and a S12U. I played a Zum for a long time, but my age caught up with me and my back. The Excel in my opionion is the best in keyless design and weight of any guitar out there. The tone is very good and the feel of the guitar is great. I would reccomend the Excel very highly to anyone. My guitars stay in tune and have very little drop anywhere. Great Ax |
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Bill Stafford
From:
Gulfport,Ms. USA
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Posted 6 Apr 2007 4:33 pm EXCEL
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I have had the supreme pleasure to play my EXCEL Superb S-14 for many years now. It is the most accurate and trouble free instrument I have encountered-ever.
Gary Hood, Arizona, will be playing his new S-12 EXCEL when it arrives next week.
Ken Henderson, Gulfport, Ms., is waiting for a new EXCEL S-12.
R.J. Buras, Gulfport, Ms., plays two S-12 EXCELs, both Superb models. (One at home and one on the job and in his studio in Kiln, Ms.)
Mike Brewer, Dallas, TX. plays a S-12 EXCEL.
Margie Mays, Arizona, plays and EXCEL. She was heard at the Dallas show recently. Great player. And the list gets longer every day.
IMHO EXCEL produces one of the very best pedal steels on the market today-bar none. Thanks, Mitsuo Fujii.
Bill Stafford |
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jerry harkins
From:
kingsland tx
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Posted 6 Apr 2007 8:30 pm
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Well Bill, I may have to just agree with you.
Here's my story.
While in Dallas at the convention, I saw a EXCEL D-10 SUPERB for sale at a booth. I thought it was a Good looking guitar but it was Keyless and I had never had a keyless guitar before. I didn't buy the guitar at that time but after I got home I couldn't stop thinking about it . Thought I might like to try an EXCEL and see what they were all about.
I found out who had the guitar and called about it and it was still for sale so I bought it.
Turns out it had belonged to Mark Chestnut's steel player. After changing the knees to fit me and tweaking to my liking I'm surprised how well it stays in tune and the tone is awsome, and it still has old strings on it. The guitar has PF-2 pickups which seem to be a perfect match for the guitar. Haven't got to play it out yet but I'm looking forward to it. This might just be a keeper.
I'll let you know how it goes after a gig.
Jerry |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 6 Apr 2007 11:19 pm
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I got to see Jerry's new Keyless Excell tonight. What a great guitar! The overtones are great and it is one of the few guitars I have seen that doesn't give up above the 15th fret. Everything from the detuning springs to the split tuners for EACH string are easy to adjust. The scale length combined with the keyless head would take some getting used to (like if you are trying to go to the 8th fret you will habitually pass it up and not stop till about the 10th) but all in all it looks like a keeper. Congratulations Jerry, Hope you enjoy it for years to come pal.
Best,
Justin |
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jerry harkins
From:
kingsland tx
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Posted 7 Apr 2007 5:45 am
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Thanks Justin, Hope to see you & Bill again soon.
Take care,
Jerry. |
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Jody Cameron
From:
Angleton, TX,, USA
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Posted 7 Apr 2007 5:55 am
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Hey Jerry - why don't you bring that new horn down to the Katy Jam next month and give us a chance to hear it and you! I want to check it out.
Oh, yeah, you can bring that Griffith boy with ya and you can both crash at my place Sunday night and head home Monday. 
JC |
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 7 Apr 2007 7:21 am
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| Hey Jerry,,glad you got that guitar,,if it had been S-12 I would have snapped it up. Once you've tried keyless,,you're hooked for life!!! (your old teacher couldn't be wrong!!!,,LOL) |
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jerry harkins
From:
kingsland tx
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Posted 7 Apr 2007 8:00 am
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Hey Sonny,
You might be right,Tom Brumley may know something that most of us don't!!! HE"HE" |
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Randy Gilliam
From:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Posted 7 Apr 2007 8:13 am Guitar
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| Jerry let me Know if you are going to the JaM in Katy I would like to hear your Exell .Randy |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 7 Apr 2007 8:19 am
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Sorry to get off topic here but when is the Katy jam?
If we are all off (Jerry,Randy,Me) We should load up our guitars and go. I would be happy to drive and Randy we could come thru San Antonio and pick you up. It is not too far out of the way. Let me know if you guys can swing it.
Justin |
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Randy Gilliam
From:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Posted 7 Apr 2007 8:26 am Exell
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| Jody will post when it is . I would love to go .Tell Jerry dont trade the Exell Of Till I Hear it Randy. |
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