| Author |
Topic: (Hello!) In need of advice |
Johan Forsman
From:
Sweden
|
Posted 30 Mar 2015 1:09 pm |
|
Hello everyone, I'm new here, and in need of some advice. First, please let me know if this topic should be created in another section...
I've played the lap steel for a couple of years, looking to move on to pedal, but I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I would still consider myself a beginner I've played my 6-string lap in C6, and I think C6 is what I would like to continue playing.
My budget would be around 2000-2500 usd. I wan't something that will last for quite some time.
I live in Sweden where the market isn't that great so I'm going to Nashville in May/June to get myself a guitar, and have a good time of course 
What should I think about? Are there any good stores in the Nashville area, or should I place an ad here or somewhere else?
Also I'm hoping to take the opportunity to get some pedal instructions while I'm in Nashville, so any tips on that subject are most welcome (I might create another thread for that) |
|
|
 |
Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
|
Posted 30 Mar 2015 1:29 pm
|
|
Single neck C6th guitars are kinda rare, but that price will support something like a Dekley or MSA D-10 easy enough, and there are two dealers that are here on the forum.
Damir Besic and Vic Lawson (Vic owns Bobbe Seymour's old shop, Steel Guitar Nashville).
You could also keep an eye here on the forum.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
|
|
|
Gerald Smith
From:
Tennessee, USA
|
Posted 30 Mar 2015 1:36 pm steel
|
|
| Johan, I might have what you are looking for, I have a Dekley slimeline D10, of course you have a full C6 neck and also a loaded E9th neck, the steel has 8 pedals and 4 knee levers and is in mint condition including the Thomas case, these guitars are built very good, with great mechanics, I could met you in Nashville when you arrive, I want 1800 for the steel delivered to you in Nashville, I can send pics if interested. |
|
|
|
Dan Robinson
From:
Colorado, USA
|
Posted 30 Mar 2015 1:38 pm
|
|
Welcome, Johan.
It's a wonderful adventure that will change your life!
Dan |
|
|
|
Johan Forsman
From:
Sweden
|
Posted 30 Mar 2015 10:46 pm
|
|
Thanks for the tips Lane!
Cheers Dan, I'm so much looking forward to it!
Gerald: that sounds very interesting indeed. In case I would buy it, I don't mind driving to come and pick it up (it would be a part of my little adventure). I would love to see some pics, so please send!
I guess you figured that out, but might be worth pointing out that I will need to get it on the plane back home to Sweden, so do you think that Thomas case is good for flying (check in baggage)? I would obviously need to do some extra packing treatment to make sure it is safe, remove strings and so I figure. |
|
|
|
Johan Forsman
From:
Sweden
|
Posted 31 Mar 2015 2:15 am
|
|
Maybe I'm trying to bite off more than I can chew with going for a double neck - of course I could use one neck only on a double - but I'm thinking perhaps it is better to concentrate on on neck, E9th that would be then. It's not that I need to stick with C6th necessarily, and it's not that I've managed to learn it that well either.
I'm thinking logistics/portability here as well...
I'm looking to play country/americana music mainly
Any thoughts are most welcome |
|
|
|
Tucker Jackson
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
|
Posted 31 Mar 2015 1:14 pm
|
|
| Johan Forsman wrote: |
I'm thinking logistics/portability here as well...
I'm looking to play country/americana music mainly
|
I recommend a single-neck tuned to E9, since most of the country/Americana that you hear is played on that tuning. Also, a lot of the older country tunes that were played on C6 were played on a non-pedal guitar, which you already have. 
If you're going to Nashville you will have a chance to sit down behind some guitars in a store and ask for advice. Maybe you can take one home as luggage without paying import taxes? I don't know for sure.
There are also a few quality guitars built in Europe that might be less expensive, like the German-made WBS Basic model. Excellent for a first pedal steel. Check out their website for details. |
|
|
|
Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
|
Posted 31 Mar 2015 1:26 pm
|
|
One neck with both E9 and B6 is a Universal S12U...minus the E9th string 9 D.... easy to live without if you have a B to D or E to D lever.
Last edited by Tom Gorr on 31 Mar 2015 3:11 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
|
Posted 31 Mar 2015 1:42 pm
|
|
Johan, I started on a Rogue 6 string C6 lap steel, and went to a Marlen D-10 (E9 & C6) pedal steel and then to a single E9 pedal steel.
The only reason I sold the D-10 was it was too heavy for my arthritis. I liked it because I could play the C6 neck while learning the E9. Going from 6 strings non-pedal to 10 strings (non-pedal) was easy... no, I did not use the pedals, I still used slants!
If you plan to go to E9 eventually, (and have the strength to carry it!) let me encourage you to go D-10 pedal steel...
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
|
|
|
Johan Forsman
From:
Sweden
|
Posted 31 Mar 2015 11:44 pm
|
|
Thanks again for your advice.
I'm leaning more towards singe neck E9, but then looking through the sales section on this forum and the dealers in Nashville area it seems SD-10 is much more common then S-10...?
So again, thinking about the logistics (I also just realised  that I live three stories up without elevator) I would like to get an idea of weight difference between a SD-10 and an a D-10, is there a big difference...does a SD-10 generally weigh much less than a d-10? |
|
|
|
Johan Forsman
From:
Sweden
|
Posted 31 Mar 2015 11:45 pm
|
|
| Scott Duckworth wrote: |
Johan, I started on a Rogue 6 string C6 lap steel, and went to a Marlen D-10 (E9 & C6) pedal steel and then to a single E9 pedal steel.
The only reason I sold the D-10 was it was too heavy for my arthritis. I liked it because I could play the C6 neck while learning the E9. Going from 6 strings non-pedal to 10 strings (non-pedal) was easy... no, I did not use the pedals, I still used slants!
If you plan to go to E9 eventually, (and have the strength to carry it!) let me encourage you to go D-10 pedal steel... |
I do like that idea Scott, but I think perhaps I need to consider the portability. |
|
|
|
Tucker Jackson
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
|
Posted 1 Apr 2015 8:39 am
|
|
| Johan Forsman wrote: |
| So again, thinking about the logistics (I also just realised that I live three stories up without elevator) I would like to get an idea of weight difference between a SD-10 and an a D-10, is there a big difference...does a SD-10 generally weigh much less than a d-10? |
You are smart to be thinking about weight because regularly carrying a pedal steel up three flights is no fun.
As an example, here are the weights (in the case) for Carter guitars:
S-10 - 43lbs (19.6 kilos)
SD-10 - 48lbs (21.8 kilos)
S-12 - (on a single body) 48.5 lbs (22.1 killos)
D-10 - 56lbs (25.5 kilos)
Carters are considered a lightweight brand. However, they are no longer being manufactured.
I think most of the guitars manufactured in the last 25 years would be similar or slightly heavier than those listed above.
Guitars made in the 1960's and 70's are likely to be quite a bit heavier, especially Sho-bud and MSA D-10's. |
|
|
|
Johan Forsman
From:
Sweden
|
Posted 1 Apr 2015 9:09 am
|
|
Awesome Tucker, many thanks! That gives me a much better idea of what I have to deal with.
Cheers |
|
|
|
Johan Forsman
From:
Sweden
|
Posted 4 Aug 2015 1:04 am
|
|
I thought I'd post an "end" to this thread (the start of my adventure):
While in Nashville I took a couple of lessons from Mike Sweeney... I had signed up for 3 lessons but ran into some issues so the first session had to be postponed (i.e. converted into a Skype lesson, thanks Mike!) In all fairness it would have been enough with one since I struggled with practically everything. Mind you I had never sat down behind a pedal steel before. Best case would have been to have some good practice time between lessons to digest everything covered in the first session, getting somewhat comfortable with the hands, knees, feet. Now I’m looking forward to Skype lessons, but now quite there yet…
I play the saxophone, piano, guitar, mandolin, lap steel, none of them really well… I’ve never really had the structure or patience to dig in that deep on any instrument. I know if I’m going to get anywhere with this instrument I need to, and so far I’m quite happy with my effort, progress is rather slow (as expected) but somewhat steady.
Guitar wise, I settled for a Mullen Discovery with Zanzibar Ebony mica and the Lawrence 705 pickup, and here it is. Thanks to Vic and Michelle (Steel guitar of Nashville) for excellent service and the Mullen team for quickly being able to get me the colour I wanted.
&
 |
|
|
|
Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
|
Posted 4 Aug 2015 9:16 pm guitar
|
|
Man....another gorgeous looking guitar...
"Can't tickle my ivories but you can sure tease my strings".
You can practically hear this one just by looking at it.
Nice buy.
Enjoy Johan.
Dick |
|
|
|
Johan Forsman
From:
Sweden
|
Posted 4 Aug 2015 10:34 pm
|
|
| Thanks Dick! |
|
|
|
