| Author |
Topic: GFI SM versus Expo |
Sheila Markazi
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 18 Dec 2020 7:07 pm |
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| Hi folks. I'm about to buy my first PSG. It's a quick moving market right now, but I see options to purchase a GFI SM 3-4, as well as a GFI S-10 Expo. I don't think I need more functionality than the student model, which is limited to E9 Emmons. But I was wondering if the Expo has any advantages in terms of construction, tone, the feel? Has anyone played both, who can comment on their playability or anything else of note? Thanks in advance for any insight! |
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Jon Voth
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 18 Dec 2020 8:54 pm
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Hi Sheila,
I play an Expo (D10) all day every day. Rarely played anything else and haven't played a student model (I'm new). I really like mine.
If you are somewhat serious, I would go with an expo. I feel it is a pro-level guitar and if you upgrade you'll have a better time selling it I would think. It would be about a grand more in cost than the student model looking at their site.
As a career professional musician (on another inst.), this is my advice on gear. You being in Virginia, are you able to visit Billy Cooper? He deals with GFI.
Jon |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 3:11 am
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| I had an Expo S-10 and it played and sounded as good as the GFI Ultra I have now. Mechanically the Expo and Ultra share same parts. The student model is not an all pull changer and has less options for knee levers. I would suggest the Expo, even if the initial cost is more. |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 5:40 am
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Definitely the Expo is the superior choice.
_________________
KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Jack Hargraves
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 9:18 am
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I play an Expo S 10 with pad, 3 floors and 4 knees. It plays and sounds as good as any I have played. You would be better off with the Expo than the student model, in my humble opinion.
_________________
GFI Expo SD10, Nashville 112, Steelers choice Pak-a- seat, Carter vol. pedal, Stage one vol. pedal, Peavey Deltafex. Goodrich volume pedal. |
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John Sluszny
From:
Brussels, Belgium
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 10:07 am
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| EXPO !!! ðŸ‘😉 |
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Sheila Markazi
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 10:39 am
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| Wow lots of strong advocates for the Expo! I have a follow-up question. I see that the GFI legs, even on the Expo, are non-adjustable. I'm thinking I may need to get short legs. Is there a way to figure out whether I want 1" shorter or 2"(besides trying in person)? I'm 5'4", about 20" to the top of the thigh when I'm sitting without boots on. My wrist, at horizontal, is about 26" from the floor. |
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Ken Mizell
From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 10:44 am
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If you can manage to get over to Billy Coopers Steel Guitar Shop in person, it would be a big plus for you. Billy and Wanda Cooper are good people. Here is a link:
http://www.billycooperssteelguitar.com/
_________________
Steeless. |
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Sheila Markazi
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 11:24 am
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| Thanks for the Cooper suggestions. I've messaged them over social media, and they've been very responsive. |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 12:03 pm
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GFI legs are adjustable.
_________________
KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 1:42 pm
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| K Maul wrote: |
| GFI legs are adjustable. |
What Kevin wrote.
And one can order for any of the models of a new GFI custom length legs and pedal rods if you don't fit the typical size. I'm 6'2" and when I purchased a GFI Ultra S-10 a number of years ago, my legs were feeling a little cramped under the guitar, and sometime back a fellow forumite was selling a GFI leg set and rods that were an inch longer than the standard length from the factory so I bought them and it solved my problem.
These are the the available options from the GFI website:
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NOTE ON SIZING:
Standard height is 26 1/4†from the floor to the bottom of the back rail that the knee must fit under. We offer leg sets (including pedal rods) that are 1 or 2 inches taller or shorter than the standard height.
There is no charge for a non-standard height leg set at the time of a factory order. See prices page for pricing on non-standard leg sets and pedal rods for an existing GFI pedal steel guitar. |
And oh yeah - if you can swing the money - go for the Expo.
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Mark |
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John Talbott
From:
Castle Rock, Colorado, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 1:57 pm GFI SM vs EXPO - Add'l Leg info from GFI website
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How can I change the height of a GFI pedal steel guitar?
Our leg design is different than the microphone stand style legs used by most other manufacturers. The front legs are not adjustable and the back legs can be adjusted about plus or minus about 1/2 inch to level the guitar (just one back leg is adjustable on the Student model). To accommodate different sized players, we make leg sets and pedal rods 1 or 2 inches taller or shorter than the standard height (26 1/4" from the floor to the bottom of the back rail). There is no charge for a non-standard height leg set at the time of a new order. Non-standard height leg sets for existing GFI pedal steels are available and will include the appropriate-sized pedal rods.
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Emmons LLG II
Mullen D10
EMCI RX D10
GFI Ultra D10
L120, L10k & StageOne Volume pedals
PV Spcl 130, NV112, NV400 & LTD400
Alesis Q-Verb/GT
PV TranstubeFex
Match-Bro |
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Sheila Markazi
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 2:15 pm
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| Yep I see everyone's points. But I guess my question really was... How do I know if I should get 1" shorter or 2"? Should I ask if I can get 3" shorter custom made? |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 3:57 pm
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| No way I would expect you to need more than 1†short. To belabor a previous theme, if you go sit behind one at Billy Cooper’s, you’ll have a pretty good idea how it fits. |
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Sheila Markazi
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 4:48 pm
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| Thanks!! |
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Pat Moore
From:
Virginia USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2020 5:05 pm
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Expo from Billy Cooper. You wont regret it! Go there, call first! 540-854-5940!
He and Wanda will help you & treat ya right!
Tues-Fri till 4:30 & Sat till noon!
GREAT folks!! |
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