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Topic: What Guitars with Smooth Pedal Action? |
Dale Lee
From:
Down Yonder
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 5:04 pm |
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| I would be interested in comments about the smoothness and quietness of pedal and knee-lever action of various makes and models of pedal steels. |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 5:39 pm
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Dale,
I have a 2002 Carter S/D 10, 4 & 5 that I'm very much satisfied with. Pedal, and knee lever action to me is very smooth and virtually noiseless.
I've owned 3 other top brand steels, and I think I prefer my Carter over them all for the pedal and knee lever action. 
Larry
_________________
Carter SD/10, 4&5 Hilton Pedal, Peavey Sessions 400, Peavey Renown 400, Home Grown Eff/Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY" |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 6:48 pm
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I played a bunch of steels a few times over the past few years when I was shopping. I didn't make my choice based on pedal smoothness or quietness alone but the 2 best I've seen in that area are the Zum and the Show Pro. Very close to those actually are any of the old Sho-Buds completely rebuilt with high quality custom parts. Those are really smooth and have super crisp stops on the pedals. Next in line would be an Emmons Push-Pull with bearings in place of the cross shaft bushings.
Greg |
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Jon Kostal
From:
Westmont, Illinois, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 6:59 pm emmons
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| The Emmons p/p can have the best action, it depends on who sets it up. I've been playing them for 28 years. |
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James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 7:13 pm
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I'm quite happy with my '70 Professional John Coop rebuilt for me. Pure smoothe and easy. Pretty darned quiet, too, compared to what a typical shobud sounds like.
The noisiest shobud I have ever played is my '67 fingertip, in original undercarrage---it almost drowns out my twin.
Last edited by James Morehead on 27 Nov 2007 7:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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KENNY KRUPNICK
From:
Columbus, Ohio
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 7:14 pm
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| Zumsteel! |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 9:05 pm
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Of the guitars I have owned and played the Franklin is the most smooth, quiet, solid and easy by a wide margin. The fulcrum points on the changer are unique on the Franklin. I'm surprized that no one has copied it.
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Bob |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 9:30 pm
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Dale-Having owned so many steels in my lifetime, that is a hard one to say. I liked the Emmonns PP, Sho-Buds, Mullen. But I guess I would have to say my MSA Millenium was about the smoothest and quietist. But they were all pretty smooth and quiet to me...al.
_________________
Michigan (MSGC)Christmas Dinner and Jam on my 80th Birthday.
My Email.. almarcus@cmedic.net
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus |
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Hans Holzherr
From:
Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 1:09 am
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I installed raise helper springs in both my Carter and my MCI to match the easy pedal action of my Schild...
Hans |
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Frederic Mabrut
From:
Olloix, France
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 1:25 am
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| I agree completely with Bob, everytime I play another guitar than my Franklin, I sorely miss its smoothness. |
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William Fraser
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 1:32 am Smooth
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My Pro-1 was silky, but once I was comfy behind my Pro-II I find it to be Smoooth,Like an old dump truck,when double clutched properly. Billy Lee Fraser 
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Billy Lee ,Pro-II,, Session 400,Session 500 , Supro , National, SpeedDemons,& too many Archtops & Stratotones.Lots of vintage parts for Kay ! etc. |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 2:55 am
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| Quote: |
I'm quite happy with my '70 Professional John Coop rebuilt for me. Pure smoothe and easy. Pretty darned quiet, too, compared to what a typical shobud sounds like.
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That's exactly what I needed to hear as I'm awaitin the arrival of my early 70's Professional. Ricky Davis and John Coop are workin their magic on my Sho-Bud. |
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DALE WHITENER
From:
TRINITY,NC USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 4:14 am
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| Zum!!! |
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James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 5:31 am
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Way Cool Andy, welcome to the next dimension of Shobud-ology!!  |
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Howard Tate
From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 5:49 am
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| My Mullen Pre-G2 is very smooth and quite. |
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Charlie Tryon
From:
Glovertown Newfoundland, Canada
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 7:37 am
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The Jackson guitars are great.
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My NEW TUBE AMP CWT Amplifiers I build, JACKSON COMMEMORATIVE all wood 3&5, Fender Steel King Amp,Telonics pedal |
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john buffington
From:
Owasso OK - USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 8:07 am
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| My Rains built by Gary Carpenter. |
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Roger Edgington
From:
San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 11:44 am
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| I believe that most modern steels play very well. One that dosn't play smoothe is probably the exception. It mostly comes down to what you like overall. I have been very pleased with the action on my ZUM but there are a lot of great choices out there. We are lucky to have so many great builders and rebuilders. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 1:02 pm
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| Definitely the Zumsteel -- although I haven't tried a Franklin and I believe they are silky smooth too. |
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Steve Norman
From:
Seattle Washington, USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 2:45 pm
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Carter starter,,just kidding.
GFI keyless ultra. Very smooth and less travel. I havnt tried it yet, but I guess putting nylon washers on the ends of the rods makes them very quiet. Mines quite enough I that Im not gonna do it.
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GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS |
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Bill Simmons
From:
Keller, Texas/Birmingham, AL, R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 2:47 pm Smooth
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| First, most of today's guitar's if adjusted correctly will play nice and smooth in my opinion. However, for the smoothest of the guitars I've owned are the Rains -- Franklin -- Mullen. |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 3:18 pm
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The first 2 pedals on my homebuilt are smooth as anything. So easy to push. Also, no play whatsoever. when I let off the A pedal, I have to be sure to lift my foot right off, because as soon as I touch it, it starts pulling the strings
The E to F lever has about one inch of travel out at the tip.
The C pedal is somewhat harder, but acceptable. The E to Eb lever has a bit too much travel but also acceptable |
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Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 3:31 pm Re: Smooth
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Totally agree with Bill Simmons "Most modern guitars IF adjusted properly" will feel "smooth" ..... Having said that, we all have different preferences to pedal feel, some like it light, some like it heavier, some like more travel, some dont!! To say "My brand of guitar feels the best" can't be too accurate. To "really" feel your appreciation of a guitar, you have to play it for sometime, and there are so many good guitars being manufactured now, and unless you do the same test to "ALL" the brands, it's hard to really judge. Then again, two identical guitars will feel different to some extent, as applies to their tone.
Micky "scars" Byrne United Kingdom
Carter and Sho-Bud universals |
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Larry Allen
From:
Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 3:49 pm
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| Having owned several steels of quality, my old 1982 Sho-Bud Pro1 with Coop changers and my alignments is by far the smoothest. Thanks Coop!!.Larry |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2007 3:50 pm
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I haven't played any guitars except the one's I own, or have owned. The steel show guitars are always too short for me to get under.
I have several MSA's, a Fessenden, a Williams, a custom built 12 string universal I call the V-steel, and a '75 Emmons P/P, and they all have smooth pedal action. If any of my guitars have a stiff or rough pedal action, there is something wrong, so I fix it. I have a couple of old Sho Buds that I'm restoring, and when I get finished with them, the pedal action will be the same on them too.
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Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro.
Last edited by Darvin Willhoite on 28 Nov 2007 8:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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