| Author |
Topic: Rarest/most valuable pedal steel? |
Andrew Goulet
|
Posted 21 Mar 2021 4:19 pm |
|
Another thread about vintage steels got me wondering: what is the rarest and/or most valuable pedal steel make and model that was in production? I would think maybe the early Bigsby, but I really have no idea. What say you?
_________________
Marlen S12 and a ZT Club |
|
|
 |
Liam Sullins
From:
Brookville, Ohio
|
Posted 21 Mar 2021 4:41 pm
|
|
Just off the top of my head from what I see maybe an Emmons Wraparound? I only know Sho-Buds and Emmons tbh
_________________
'66 Sho~Bud Fingertip, Sho~Bud amps, Fenders, old cars and Tinkerin with steels! |
|
|
|
Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
|
Posted 21 Mar 2021 6:30 pm
|
|
| Franklin. |
|
|
|
Colin Swinney
From:
Wisconsin, USA
|
|
|
|
Bill Fisher
From:
Oklahoma, USA
|
Posted 21 Mar 2021 8:20 pm
|
|
ANAPEG.
Bill |
|
|
|
Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
|
|
|
|
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
|
Posted 22 Mar 2021 12:37 pm The Blade
|
|
This one might rank pretty high on the list:
 |
|
|
|
Tal Herbsman
From:
Wisconsin, USA
|
|
|
|
scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
|
Posted 22 Mar 2021 1:38 pm
|
|
the Emmons wraparound is certainly up there. relatively few were made and they supposedly have the best tone overall.
for people that prefer vintage and all-original guitars, I'd say a Bigsby is up there too.
some of the more valuable steel brands seem to be Franklin, Infinity, Zum, Fulawka, and the new Sierras which cost a pretty penny.
I consider the JCH a rare and valuable instrument too. I think there were only about 200 made in their roughly 25 years of existence and the quality is second to none in my opinion.
_________________
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster |
|
|
|
Bill Fisher
From:
Oklahoma, USA
|
Posted 22 Mar 2021 2:55 pm
|
|
When referring to quantities, only 13 new purchases of the ANAPEG guitar, in the USA, were made. Manufacturing has ceased. Quality is amazing. In my opinion, ANAPEG should go down in history as the "Brumley" guitar. Tom was extremely pleased with this guitar. And, the Anstead family that made them. Another occurrence of this magnitude will, most likely, never happen again.
Bill Fisher |
|
|
|
scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
|
Posted 22 Mar 2021 4:17 pm
|
|
how many years was Anapeg in existence?
I know they are extremely well built, and rare would be an understatement at only 13 made/sold!
anyone know the number of Emmons wraparounds built?
_________________
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster |
|
|
|
Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
|
Posted 22 Mar 2021 5:14 pm
|
|
Oh
_________________
Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com
Last edited by Ricky Davis on 23 Mar 2021 9:55 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
|
Posted 22 Mar 2021 7:53 pm
|
|
| The new Sierra has taken all the best features from the past an improved on them plus added lots of some great out of the box new features!! |
|
|
|
Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
|
Posted 23 Mar 2021 12:49 am
|
|
WOW nice guitar Ricky is sitting behind. !
The question isn't who makes a great guitar, but rather the rarest. I suspect the answer , Pedal Steel - wise, would be one of the earliest Sho Buds or a Bigsby.
The one sitting in the Hall of Fame, maybe Ricky can shed some light on that one. I recall it was one of Loyds. Maybe even the one on his LP cover from way back.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
|
|
|
Cody Stewart
From:
Traverse City Michigan, USA
|
Posted 23 Mar 2021 4:52 am
|
|
This Sho~Bud. The very first LDG made buy Duane Marrs and David Jackson for our beloved Lloyd Green. This first LDG is one of a kind because of it's 24-1/2" scale length and its historical significance. It can be heard on literally thousands of recordings.
_________________
Bolt On’s: Red Belly, Brown Belly, 73 Sho~Bud Pro~II, Fender’s/Peavey’s. If it doesn't sound like 1968, then I probably won’t like it. |
|
|
|
Andrew Goulet
|
|
|
|
Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
|
Posted 23 Mar 2021 6:05 am
|
|
Oooops ok
_________________
Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com
Last edited by Ricky Davis on 23 Mar 2021 9:56 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Andrew Goulet
|
Posted 23 Mar 2021 7:03 am
|
|
Ricky, did you add the additional pedals (other than ABC)? Just curious; I thought Lloyd had his classic and enduring copedent by that point.
_________________
Marlen S12 and a ZT Club |
|
|
|
Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
|
Posted 23 Mar 2021 11:49 am
|
|
Oh
_________________
Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com
Last edited by Ricky Davis on 23 Mar 2021 9:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
John Williamson
From:
Georgia, USA
|
Posted 23 Mar 2021 3:47 pm
|
|
I don't know about the most valuable, but this has to be one of the most rare. It's a one off, custom built by Semie Moseley for Barbara Mandrell. Here is a video of her playing it on the Melody Ranch. She must have been 15 or so at the time. Semie was the founder and builder of Mosrite guitars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjr2uh5OHT4
 |
|
|
|
Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
|
Posted 23 Mar 2021 8:37 pm
|
|
The OP was asking about the most valuable/rare steels that were "in production".
In the vintage/collector circle this means products that were basically standard production items; there might be modified vrsions of the line, but there's still an identifiable, basic product.
Yu could include Bigsby pedal steels; Anapegs, Whitneys, Fender PS210's - these were all limited production line products - like the 2014 Ferrari Sergio. Six were made.
But "in production" doesn't mean celebrity owned guitars, which have value...but aren't necessarily "rare" as far as the actual instrument model goes. Eric Clapton's "Blackie" Stratocaster sold for $959,000 at auction - but it was a celebrity owned instrument; sold for a charity; and built from parts of 6 Strats bought and pieced together. "production" guitar? Sort of, but not ONE unit from the factory.
Sneaky Pete's Fender 400 is one of THE most heard...if not THE most heard...pedal steels in history( because of the amount of studio work he did in the rock and pop markets, which have far larger distribution and airplay than country). But it is a highly customized, one-off guitar - not a production line instrument.
And one-off Custom Shop instruments - special versions of standard line instruments, but fine-tuned and modified by manufacturers to meet the needs of ONE professional payer, are not considered "production items " either.
There haven't been many answers to the OP's question, but a whole bunch of answers to questions he *didn't* ask!
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
|
|
|
John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
|
Posted 24 Mar 2021 4:24 pm
|
|
Andrew, I sat behind Jim Palenscar's uni-12 Anapeg for a few minutes years ago, I was shocked to see the knee lever action was quite stiff compared to my pre-RP Mullen. Couldn't judge tone, it was at a noisy party. It looked great, but to my taste didn't play great. In the hands of Jim, and Tom Brumley, they sound wonderful.
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
|
|
|
Kevin Fix
From:
Michigan, USA
|
Posted 24 Mar 2021 7:38 pm
|
|
| Lloyd Greens Sho Bud and the big "E"s, The Blade.... |
|
|
|
Andrew Goulet
|
Posted 26 Mar 2021 6:54 pm
|
|
Thank you all for your responses! I originally meant rarest "in-production" steels, but I don't ever tie the horses too close to the river, and I've learned so much as a result.
John, that's really interesting to hear. It makes me think of what practical differences there are between a high-end guitar like Anapeg, and my beloved Marlen. I would assume the Anapeg has the highest quality of everything (tuners, electronics, etc...). But on a steel, even the finest fingers will eventually become grooved, right? I really have no interest in any kind of gear-war nonsense, but I'm always fascinated by these out-of-reach instruments and what secrets they hold...
_________________
Marlen S12 and a ZT Club |
|
|
|
Chris Johnson
From:
USA
|
|
|
|
