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Topic: The Hunt is Over... |
Steve Howard
From:
High Ridge, Missouri, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2004 10:02 am |
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...Maybe (pending wife approves of financial output)
I went to Scotty's today and fell in love with an affordible steel.
It is actually a three year old Derby that was modified from a S-10 with Pad to include an additional neck tuned to C6 with no pedals. So I have my E9 setup with 4 knees and 3 pedals and an additional neck I can keep in C6, or tune to dobro tuning and play more rock slide stuff on it (probably a true steeler wouldn't care, but as a rock/country guy, I like it).
Price is $1750.
He had some old MSA's for around the same price but he mentioned the issues with trying to find available parts on older models. Derby's are still around and have parts available.
We played it a bit and as far as I can tell, I don't think I could get much more for a better price. Unless of course I don't go through a dealer and take my chances on buying outright. I like the security going through Scotty's.
I will do some begging tonight, and if all goes well, I will buy it tomorrow... I hope.
You can see it and listen to it at Scotty's website. If anyone sees any serious flaws, please let me know. |
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Tim Bridges
From:
Hoover, Alabama, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2004 10:20 am
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Is the C6th neck a Derby, or something else? I play a Derby and love it! Charlie Stepp in Brooks, KY builds the Derby. Great guitar and a great guy! Just make sure that you're not getting a retrofit that comprimises the long term value of the guitar. I'm confident Scotty's has taken this into account. Can you add C6th pedals and KL's? You might want to call Charlie and see if this is a possibility. You could do it later. However, it may be cost prhibitive. Just my $0.02 worth. Good luck!  |
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Steve Howard
From:
High Ridge, Missouri, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2004 10:26 am
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| No peddles can be added to the C6 neck. It is just a neck that was slapped on top of the pad area. So a retrofit would be correct. Whomever did it though matched the necks perfectly and it looks like a Derby neck, just like the E9 neck. But yes, it probably wouldn't help the value out and Scotty's was actually going to rip the neck off and use it for parts and put the pad back down tomorrow and still sell for the same price. However, I kind of liked the idea of having that extra ability. Nothing to say I can't rip it off later and put a pad back down if I wanted to sell. But remember, this will probably be my last steel. At least as long as I'm married [This message was edited by Steve Howard on 25 October 2004 at 11:27 AM.] |
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Steve Hitsman
From:
Waterloo, IL
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Posted 25 Oct 2004 4:41 pm
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| Famous last words. |
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Farris Currie
From:
Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Oct 2004 5:49 pm
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| AMEN!!!been there,done that,then i met another{guitar}and now she is gone!!!!! |
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Grant Johnson
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 25 Oct 2004 5:56 pm
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I saw that one on the Scotty's website...
That's a good one!
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www.bigsmokey.com
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Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
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Posted 25 Oct 2004 6:42 pm
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Im sure gonna miss her..... 
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Sho-Bud ProII, Pro III,
Nash 400,Hilton pedal,"There's been an awful murder, down on music row"
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 25 Oct 2004 7:01 pm
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| . [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2004 at 07:14 PM.] |
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Robert Momot
From:
Farmington, Missouri, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2004 8:57 pm
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| The Derby that you are talking about is mine.I had Charlie Stepp custom build that guitar for me and is the only one he has built like that. I am a non pedal player by choice, and I wanted to learn the pedal steel ,and still trying but I find it hard,but worth the effort so I had that derby built to suit me.It is a original Derby thru and thru. Then my wife got me the two tone Derby that Rusty Hurse had so I have that one up for sale. I hope your wife lets you buy it because it s well worth the price and a very nice instrument.I have the paper work that show's that I have over Three thousand in that guitar.Good Luck Robert Momot |
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Steve Howard
From:
High Ridge, Missouri, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 2:47 am
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Robert,
Your steel is beautiful. I really liked it when I went in. Scotty's acted like the additional neck wasn't much of a selling point (and maybe not to a true steeler) but for me I liked it. Great guitar.
But.... Hold the phone folks....
I got an email from a fella who has a steel on cosiegnment(sp?) at his music shop close to St. Louis. He has a GFI a kid got at Scotty's last year that is almost new and he is selling it along with a PV1000 and a goodrich volume pedal. All for $1450. It has three floors and 4 knees which leads me to believe it is indeed the pro model. As much as I liked the Derby over at Scotty's, if this is the real deal, and unles Scotty's wants to throw in an amp at that price (which I don't see how they could), I may have to take this one.
My heart really would like to have that second non-pedal neck, but my brain is telling me that this other deal is too good to pass up. As far as I know, GFI's are great guitars and I won't have to shop for an amp either.
...and there is a Fesseden for sale here, but I might not even bother as it is probably already sold. |
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Steve Howard
From:
High Ridge, Missouri, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 2:49 am
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Oh...
And for those of you wondering, my wife did approve the purchase. It is really going to be tough, but I am going to get it home, and then it gets wrapped up for Christmas. It will be tough waiting, but it will be a great Christmas present, no matter which one I get.
Steve |
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Farris Currie
From:
Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 3:02 am
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| Way to go Steve,now while your on your knees ask for both!!What kind of new car are you going to get her???? This is the way steels goes,grass is always greener on the other side.{just one more}!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Tim Bridges
From:
Hoover, Alabama, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 5:13 am
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| Steve, I haven't much first hand knowledge ,or comments pertaining to the GFI, but the Derby is a great guitar!!! Based on the fact that this is all original Derby, I wouldn't pass it up. The Derby is a wonderful playing and sounding steel. You can pick up a Nashville 400 for $300-$400. I can't imagine selling my Derby. I might own another steel, but not at the cost of losing my Derby. Stays in tune like nothin' else. I would think long and hard. Either way, I know the GFI is also a good guitar. Good Luck! By the way, my last steel cost me about $40,000.00. Most of that was the new car she ended up with that I didn't know about. They have a certain way about them don't they? |
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Steve Howard
From:
High Ridge, Missouri, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 5:20 am
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Tim,
that is funny stuff
Actually, it may turn out that the GFI is an economy model with 4 knees for some reason. I am going to investigate today, but if that is the case, it explains the good price. It almost makes me happy to know that it will be an easier decision to get the Derby.
And that will probably also make Mr. Momet happy to get some money off of his deal at Scotty's. I am so excited!
But I gotta contain it for two months until Christmas. It was a big thing for my wife to be so cool about me getting this. I mentioned selling stuff and she didn't really want me to have to. So, her big thing was that it has to be a Christmas present. So, I am cool with that.
Most likely will be purchasing the Derby tomorrow.
Thanks Robert for having a great guitar at Scotty's at a reasonable price for my first purchase. |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 10:02 am
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I think having a non-pedal second neck is a awesome concept - although, I would definately be looking to add a few more pedals / levers on the E9 side (future consideration).
I (and others) have argued in long-dead threads that the mechanics of an instrument hold a heavy influence on the patterns and style of the player. Even if you eventually move to a pedalled second neck - your playing habits with the non-pedal instrument will carry forward and give you a unique perspective and style. Probably more Chalker-esque - which is pretty intimidating style for us pedal pushers.
I think I would lean toward the Derby just because of the unique adventure that it presents....
Also - I want to add that I must have the best wife of them all - I still get away with "buying first, explaining later" Ha.[This message was edited by Tom Gorr on 26 October 2004 at 11:05 AM.] |
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Jim Peters
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 11:34 am
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| Steve, if you want to try my GFI, send me an e mail. I played the Derby at Scotties and it is a great guitar. I never knew that 2nd neck was added, it looks dead stock. That guitar always sounds good(except with me on it!) JimP |
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Steve Hitsman
From:
Waterloo, IL
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 11:37 am
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| What Jim P. said if you want to try my Legrande. But that Derby is just fine. |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 12:16 pm
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| . [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2004 at 07:15 PM.] |
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 12:26 pm
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Steve, if the decision is not definitely done, you might consider a used Sho-Bud Professional or ProII. To this day, pro-level players play them, they are considered by some to among the best sounding steels ever made, and they sell in the same price range as the Derby you are considering AND include a C6 neck equipped with the standard pedal arrangement, 5 floors and at least one knee lever. They are heavy though.
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[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]
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Jim Peters
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 2:36 pm
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Jim Ph.- with all respects, read the first post, the guitar started as an S10 with pad.I'm pretty sure the C6 was factory added. It is done so well that you would never guess it. It is a Beauty. Jimp
(added later after more reading) After reading
Mr. Momot's reply, now I am confused![This message was edited by Jim Peters on 26 October 2004 at 03:40 PM.] [This message was edited by Jim Peters on 26 October 2004 at 03:51 PM.] |
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Steve Hitsman
From:
Waterloo, IL
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 3:16 pm
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| According to Don Curtis it was ordered and made with the non-pedal C6 neck. |
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Farris Currie
From:
Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 4:23 pm
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STEVE,now i'm totally confused,i thought the deal was done,wife approved,and you were getting it today, now here we go again.
DARN shes gonna back out son, and say NO!!!!! |
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Robert Momot
From:
Farmington, Missouri, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 4:59 pm
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| Hello Gentelman,Let me tell you how the life of this Derby Steel began.I started out on a non pedal steel guitar and because I always loved the sound of Don Helms and his guitar.But I also loved the sound of Buddy Charleton and his pedal steel guitar.So about three years ago at Scotty's convention I went into the derby room and that is where I first laid my eyes on the Derby Guitars, and I watched and listened to Lynn Owsley playing his derby and after that I was hooked on derby,but the problem was that I did not know how to play pedal steel guitar at that time and I did not want to spend that kind of money for something I could not play.Then about three days after the convention I went to scotty's and talked to Dewitt and told him I had this dream of a Derby Steel guitar with a pedal steel front neck and a non pedal rear neck. the front neck I could take lessons on and I could play on the rear neck, He looked at me as if I had just lost my mind,then he said that the store had bought several derby steel guitars after the convention that I should check them out,So I did and when I saw the black Derby It was a single neck on a double frame with pad 3 floor pedals and 4 knee levers so I asked Dewitt if he would call Mr.Charlie Stepp and see if he could put a non pedal neck on the back instead of the pad,so he called Charlie Stepp and charlie said he never had a request like that before but he was willing to do it and the rest is history.Robert Momot ( the non pedal-pedal steel player). |
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Steve Howard
From:
High Ridge, Missouri, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 6:04 pm
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Yes, Robert obviously explains it better than any of us as it is his.
All is still good here. I got an email about this GFI with an amp for $1450 that I thought sounded too good to be true. It was. The GFI was the student model, not the pro, so once I got that cleared up today, I called Scotty's and told them to hold this for me until I got over there tomorrow. There is no backing out for the wife, she reluctantly approves of my purchase. Maybe the confusing part is I said Christmas present. Well, I am going to buy it tomorrow, but my wife insists (like our moms used to do) that after I buy it, it will go into mothballs until Christmas for my present. So, I am still buying it before she has the chance to say no. But then I just got to make sure I don't run her off between now and then or I may never find my steel
And as far as the pricing on this guitar and possibly finding other double necks with pedals for both necks out there for the same price range, I will just say that although I understand completely the thought of that by someone who knows steels, I don't know steels very well. It makes me much more comfortable to buy from Scotty's than to by from Joe Blow somewhere in the western United States. If I have any problems, I can take it back to right where I bought it. Also, I have had several emails about MSA in a better price range even. And although I have heard from everyone they are "solid" guitars, most say they have a different tone (not bad, just different) and have also been told by Scotty's and Seymour's (who both have MSAs to sell me) that the parts ain't easy to find.
Derby's are still around and any work needed shouldn't hurt the pocket book that much. So, if I wasn't a virgin PSG player, I may be more willing to buy from someone over the internet super highways, but there is just too much money being invested to take that risk.
Robert,
I will be buying your guitar around 11:30am tomorrow. I may have a couple questions for you on it (after Christmas) and may email you at some point. |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 6:05 pm
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| . [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2004 at 07:15 PM.] |
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