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Topic: what fender might this have been |
John Hyland
From:
South Australia
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Posted 8 Sep 2021 10:09 pm |
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Reaching into my dim dark past - my first PSG in about 1974 was a secondhand sunburst Fender - 8 string (I think) - cable pull changers and a small number of pedals. I notice most catalogues show 4 pedals but when I traded in the guitar for a shobud which had 3 it didn't seem a downgrade.
Is that enough clues for the model number - for old times sake?
I keep reading that the fenders were good - but the bud was light years better, stayed in tune and actually had sustain above the 12th fret. a pretty good upgrade for just $200 including the shobud volume pedal. The shop made a mistake on the value of the fender.
Maybe my fender was a lemon I dont know.
After dissing the fender I have to say that it was Al Perkins playing a raunchy fender on a song called Devil in Disguise for the Flying Burrito Brothers live album which I just listened to over and over again and made me realise all the music I listened to had pedal steel on it. |
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Oliver Samland
From:
Hamburg, Germany
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Posted 9 Sep 2021 1:32 am
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Hey John,
your first PSG was a Fender 400 then. That's about the only 8 string model PSG Fender ever build. Great sounding guitars!
Ollie |
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Gary Newcomb
From:
AustinTexas, USA
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Posted 9 Sep 2021 1:39 am
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My first was a fender 400 too. Unreal great tone but a headache mechanically and I sure wish I still had it!
_________________
Sierra Session U12, Milkman 1/2, Goodrich Omni, Divine Noise Cables, BJS, Solid cosmic gold, baby 👶🻠|
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John Hyland
From:
South Australia
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Posted 9 Sep 2021 2:25 am
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| Thanks fellas. I can’t say I’m no sorry to have traded it in for a shobud |
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Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Posted 10 Sep 2021 12:03 am Re: what fender might this have been
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| John Hyland wrote: |
After dissing the fender I have to say that it was Al Perkins playing a raunchy fender on a song called Devil in Disguise for the Flying Burrito Brothers live album which I just listened to over and over again and made me realise all the music I listened to had pedal steel on it. |
And, of course, Sneaky Pete played a Fender 400 on the original (although with added knee levers and more pedals).
I used to have a 1000 (the double neck version) and the only thing I really didn';t like about it was the weight. I sold it and bought a Sho~Bud S10 but still miss it a bit. The best thing about it was how easy it was to change around the copedent to experiment with it. It sounded great too. |
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John Hyland
From:
South Australia
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Posted 10 Sep 2021 12:05 am
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| Everyone says they sounded great but mine would die above the 12t fret. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 10 Sep 2021 4:53 am
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| Quote: |
| I keep reading that the fenders were good - but the bud was light years better, stayed in tune... |
The "tuning problem" that many experienced with the Fender cable steels was caused by having the cables too tight; which pulled them away from the stop, leaving the opens "floating" against spring pressure. But in fact, those old Fenders were among the most stable ever made, and they had ZERO cabinet drop. |
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Michael Sawyer
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2021 5:06 pm Fender 400
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Properly cleaned and lubed,correct tension on cables,correct string guages- plays like butter.
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Mark Perrodin
From:
Tucson Arizona, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2021 6:27 pm 400
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| great pic Michael. 400’s are awesome guitars. i love all 3 of mine. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 18 Sep 2021 4:07 pm
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| Chris Templeton wrote: |
| Good post, Donny. |
'Ya mean like...one in a thousand? 
Having played a Fender 1000 for almost nine years (and touring with it) I guess I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for the old cable Fenders. |
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Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
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Posted 18 Sep 2021 8:42 pm
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I love my Fender cable pedal steels. If cleaned, lubed and adjusted properly, they stay in tune as good as any pedal steel.
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps |
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Ronnie Boettcher
From:
Brunswick Ohio, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2021 6:46 am
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My first steel was a used Fender 400. tuned the strings to E9, like the top 8 strings on a 10 string. Had it a few months, and was in Nashville recording. LLoyd Green was our steel player, and we talked some. He showed me a few things on his LDG, and very soon I bought one. Sold the Fender to a woman, and she was elated to have the 400.
_________________
Sho-Bud LDG, Martin D28, Ome trilogy 5 string banjo, Ibanez 4-string bass, dobro, fiddle, and a tubal cain. Life Member of AFM local 142 |
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Brendan Mitchell
From:
Melbourne Australia
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Posted 26 Sep 2021 11:36 pm
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What gauges do you use on a long scale 400 for E9 ?
Guessing they are different for D9 ? |
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Steve Spitz
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2021 2:31 pm
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I bought one from a thrift store , no case, for $100. In the late 90s. A really solid slab of wood, wrapped in heavy metal.
The changer was frozen up, and it was a workout. I got it working, but stiff action.
Traded for a fender custom ( tripleneck 8, non pedal. )
I can see why some folks like them. I don’t regret the trade, but I wouldn’t mind having one some day. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2021 7:50 pm
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Brendn, you can use the Ernie Ball or D'Addario gage charts and adjust up or down a thousandth or two for feel/tone. Gage preferences vary among players like crazy.
As far as whether players like them or not - we have over 700 members in the Facebook Fender Pedal Steel group!
_________________
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 |
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