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Topic: Looking to upgrade steels, could use some advice |
John Bohannon
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 8:53 am |
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Hey ya'll
I'm at the stage where I'm making it out from beginner to steady gigging with my pedal steel (well, I WAS steady gigging, we'll see what happens  ) -- ANYWAY I've been playing a carpsteel that I picked up from John Widgren, and I love the guitar but I think it's time for a little bit of an upgrade. There's some lack in tone to be desired, and I'm wondering where to go next. I'm looking somewhere in the 2k-2500 range absolute tops, and a single E9 neck that travels well (preferably on the lower end right now). I played a GFI Ultra on a few gigs last year and I really loved that thing, but still want to do some proper exploring before I settle.
Feel free to chime in with things to explore, thoughts, concerns, etc. I still consider myself a beginner when it comes to purchasing a steel, as there's so many options, and I'm based in NYC - so there's not a ton of steels around to try out and figure out what works best for me.
JB
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Emmons s10 3x5, Guild D55, Guild F212, Gretsch Dobro, Superior Wiessenborn, Fender Nashville Deluxe Tele |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 9:16 am
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| Since you are (obviously) not going to be able to try every guitar that is going to get thrown at you here in this post, and since there is pretty much nothing bad that can be said about any reputable modern steel, I would suggest that you give a LOT of weight to your experience with the GFI. I have no experience with it myself, but you are already past the intangible "I dunno...I took a chance but it just doesn't talk to me" with the GFI and that is huge. |
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John Bohannon
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 9:21 am
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that's good advice, Jon. Yeah im leaning towards the GFI but just kind of want to see what's out there in case something else comes along that makes more sense. Other than a Zum its the most comfortable I've felt behind a steel.
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Emmons s10 3x5, Guild D55, Guild F212, Gretsch Dobro, Superior Wiessenborn, Fender Nashville Deluxe Tele |
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Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 9:22 am
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Start by checking out the major builders' websites and the SGF classifieds.That should answer a lot of questions,and the good folks here undoubtedly can answer enough of the others to make a decision easier.One piece of good news is that you can very likely get a factory-new name-brand S-10 3X4 in your price range,although it'll probably be a lot closer to the top price than the bottom.....If you're transitioning from six-string,you've probably already learned that there's some sticker-shock involved; there's no such thing as a Squier or Epiphone pedal steel!  |
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Lynn Stafford
From:
Ridgefield, WA USA
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Charley Bond
From:
Inola, OK, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 10:24 am Used Pedal Steel ..
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Myself, I like Sierras, but after that it would be that Carter, which is for sale on the previous Post. When you get ready to sell it, you might get more money than what you paid for it (inflation never stops), as long as you take care of it... & the case it comes in.
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Steel Guitar players are members of a Special Family |
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John Bohannon
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 11:34 am
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hey Lynn, im going to write you about that Carter. Have heard great things about those as well, and that one looks beautiful. I have to unload this carpsteel first but I don't imagine that would be too hard as they seem to sell quick.
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Emmons s10 3x5, Guild D55, Guild F212, Gretsch Dobro, Superior Wiessenborn, Fender Nashville Deluxe Tele |
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Charley Bond
From:
Inola, OK, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 12:07 pm Carp Steel
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There is a post on "Wanted to Buy" Carp Steel...
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Steel Guitar players are members of a Special Family |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 12:37 pm
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I just found a Rains SD 10 for $2000 for a buddy. That is about as good a guitar as money can buy. Get your money ready and be a little patient and you can move way up in quality.
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Bob |
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Fred Justice
From:
Mesa, Arizona
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 1:10 pm
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John, this is Ron Anderson, down here at Justice Steel Guitars.
I bet you would feel really comfortable behind one of our Justice "Pro Lite" guitars.
Its our # 1 seller, at 26 lbs its easy to tote around, yet its a pro guitar in every way.
Easy to get into with a low down payment.
Give us a call at 480-529-5096 and here's a link.
Thanks for looking.
http://www.justicesteelguitars.com/Pro%20Lite.html
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Email: azpedalman@gmail.com
Phone: 480-235-8797 |
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Clark Doughty
From:
KANSAS
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 2:02 pm Upgrade Guitar
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| JUST TO TACK ON TO WHAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS SAID. I WOULD TEND TO GO WITH THE GFI SINCE YOU ALREADY INOW AND LIKE THE GUITAR. THEY ARE STILL BEING MADE AND EASY TO GET SERVICE. THESE OTHER SUGGESTED OPTIONS ARE GREAT BUT YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED ANY OF THEM......FWIW.....CLARK |
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Clark Doughty
From:
KANSAS
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 2:31 pm
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Lotta money for a pull release with a fixed copedent and no neck, Clark. And kind of an anachronistic copedent at that.
I think GFI builds a great guitar, and you can get a pretty good price on a used one in general. Especially over the near future. The Justice is fabulous bang for the buck.
Can't go too far wrong with Lynn's Carter, which is much more guitar than the Jackson. |
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Larry Baker
From:
Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 3:06 pm
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I've owned 5 brands of steels. I presently play a Mullen G2 and think its great. For the money, I would go for a new Mullen Discovery. A pro model guitar, and the service from the Mullen crew is top notch. Just my opinion. Good luck
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Mullen G2 SD10 3 & 5 The Eagle
NV112 amp===Earnie Ball V.P. |
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Charley Bond
From:
Inola, OK, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 3:37 pm I second the motion...
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| Ken Pippus wrote: |
Lotta money for a pull release with a fixed copedent and no neck, Clark. And kind of an anachronistic copedent at that.
I think GFI builds a great guitar, and you can get a pretty good price on a used one in general. Especially over the near future. The Justice is fabulous bang for the buck.
Can't go too far wrong with Lynn's Carter, which is much more guitar than the Jackson. |
I second the motion. I like Sierras as I have stated, so I don't think in terms of a heavy Pedal Steel Guitar. I started off with a 1973 D-10 ShoBud. It was great. Then I had an MSA SD-12.. I didn't care how much they weighed, I liked the way they sounded. My fist Sierra was a heavy guitar, It was a D10, with 9 & 6.. that was a lot of Pedal Steel Guitar. It was a Sierra Show model. But, when I think of a heavy instrument, I envision a Bass Fiddle or a real Piano & I'm glad I didn't go that way. That Carter will play like silk, you can play it in your pajamas. I can't do that with my Sierra, but I ain't changing PSGs...
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Steel Guitar players are members of a Special Family |
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Doug Earnest
From:
Branson, MO USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 4:19 pm
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| My advice would be to go buy that Carter from Lynn Stafford just as fast as you possibly can. |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 4:35 pm
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I would be remiss to omit that I recently owned a Zumsteel Encore for about two weeks. I thought it was a great playing and sounding guitar. And an unbelievable value. But it didn’t have a C6 neck, which I decided I needed.
Take that, Doug Earnest. |
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John Goux
From:
California, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2020 6:31 pm
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GFI. Justice. Every one I’ve played has been great. .
If you can wait for one to come up, a Zum or a later model Rittenberry. Those are my personal favorites.
Also, a Push Pull if you can swing it. There have been quite a few for sale lately.
John |
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Larry Phleger
From:
DuBois, PA
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Posted 24 Apr 2020 10:02 am
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| I have owned a number of steels. All have been good and reliable. I had a Carter U12 for nearly 20 years. I sold it to raise some needed cash. It was the most reliable instrument of any kind I have ever owned. It had tone to the bone, and stayed n tune better than any of the others. It was also the lightest weight of any. Wish I still had it. |
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Marc Jenkins
From:
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 24 Apr 2020 2:15 pm
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| Doug Earnest wrote: |
| My advice would be to go buy that Carter from Lynn Stafford just as fast as you possibly can. |
John, this is coming from the guy who builds Stage One steels! |
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Clark Doughty
From:
KANSAS
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Posted 25 Apr 2020 11:23 am Carter
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CARTER SIMILAR TO THE ONE ABOVE JUST SOLD IN ONE HOUR AND 6 MINUTES..FOOD FOR THOUGHT  |
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Bill C. Buntin
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Posted 25 Apr 2020 1:22 pm
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John
Get that carter from Lynn. Great pro guitar. Modestly priced.
Bill |
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John Bohannon
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 25 Apr 2020 8:35 pm
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I switched gears and bought a Emmons S10 P/P  
thanks everyone for your advice. I decided to just go for what I always wanted in the first place but never allowed myself to have.
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Emmons s10 3x5, Guild D55, Guild F212, Gretsch Dobro, Superior Wiessenborn, Fender Nashville Deluxe Tele |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 26 Apr 2020 3:41 am
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John,Where in New Yawk is you?
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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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John Bohannon
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 26 Apr 2020 9:26 am
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Stu, I'm in the city in Brooklyn
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Emmons s10 3x5, Guild D55, Guild F212, Gretsch Dobro, Superior Wiessenborn, Fender Nashville Deluxe Tele |
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