Considering First Pedal Steel

Mark F Wayne · From: Connecticut, USA

Looking for information on getting my first pedal steel. Live in New England so not much here. Is the LS King slide with levers a good alternative? What about GFI student models? Other suggestions?

Thanks!

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

Surprised that no one has jumped on this so I'll take a brief stab, especially since I recommended you come over to the SGF.

There are a bunch of makers building "entry level" steels. GFI is certainly one. Others are Stage One, Encore, Mullen Discovery and a few others. The minimum config would be 3 pedals and 4 knees these days to follow most instruction material.

Where in the northeast are you? I know a few players around Boston and I'm aware of a RI club.

There's a significant used market out there and you'll see all kinds of well maintained instruments sold here on the forum.

For a LOT more detail and hundreds of posts on "1st pedal steels" you can use the search function here (upper right corner) and you'll be reading for hours.

If you're coming from the dobro world drop me a line privately. I have jotted down an article that covers my transition from dobro to psg.

If not useful it might be entertaining.

cheers,

hp
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Howard Parker

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Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I would definitely add the Justice Jr., which is a brand new single 10 string pedal steel with a 3-raise/3-lower all-pull changer that starts at $995 for 2 pedals and 1 lever, and you can add pedals and levers for $150 each - http://www.justicesteelguitars.com/S10%20Jr.html - and of course, cruise the forum for good deals on used instruments. Steels like older BMI, Dekley, MSA, and others can be good guitars for reasonable $$. I think one needs to be a bit more careful with used guitars, however.

If you do a forum search for first pedal steel and another search for starter pedal steel, you will get so many relevant threads about starting on pedal steel that it will take you a long time to sort through and read/digest them. This topic comes up very frequently. Just today, this - https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=379539

I'm from Boston/Amherst MA, and spent most of the 80s in New Haven in grad school. You're right that pedal steels are not exactly plentiful in New England. If you do a member search for Connecticut or CT, you will find a lot of members from CT, including John Widgren and Bill Lowe, who I believe are both in Fairfield County and quite active pedal steel players on here. And RI and Western MA are quite close too - another very experienced player and active member here is Doug Beaumier in Northampton MA.

Andrew Goulet · Posted 22 Mar 2022 4:38 am

Western MA steel player here.

I almost never see pedal steels in the wild out here. There was a GFI at a local shop for awhile. Have you tried calling around to the music stores in CT and MA? I'm not sure you'd find one, but it might be worth it, if it means a chance to sit down behind a real pedal steel and get more familiar with how it works, even if you don't intend on buying it. When I was in the market for a new steel I sat down with the GFI and realized it was much too light for me. That was a valuable experience which guided the rest of my search.

For a first pedal steel, I'm more and more convinced one should go with a Justice (or another current manufacturer, like Sierra, if you've got the dough!) A modern guitar will give you basic changes you need without a lot of maintenance trouble (although there's always some maintenance needed). You can wait for a good clean vintage guitar to pop up here, but they tend to sell fast and even the clean ones usually need some TLC. I started out on a basketcase Fender which had to be rebuilt with hardware store parts. It ended up as a great guitar that I used for many years, but looking back I would have progressed faster with a modern guitar that need less care and feeding.
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Chris Brooks · From: Providence, Rhode Island

I'll jump in here too since I live in S New England. (And I once bought MY first PSG!)

1. Get in touch with Doug Baumier in Northampton, MA, John Widgren (Danbury), or Tommy Cass up in Baldwinville, MA. The latter two are master restorers/repairmen and may have a pro steel ready to go--and be able to modify it to your body ergonomics. I am a tall guy and ordered my (new) Carter jacked up 2". Proper playing position makes a big difference.

2. Yes, as Howard notes, there is a RISGA: we're having a meeting/jam Sat April 2 as a matter of fact in Tiverton, RI. Come on by!

3. Shop for an available steel near you that is a modern steel rather than holding out for a "beginner" steel. What's the best steel guitar? The one you have. Doug, Tommy, or John may have, say, a Fessenden, Carter, Derby, GFI or any other fine brand ready for sale.

Finally, where are you located?

Chris

Jim Pollard · From: Cedar Park, Texas, USA

Beginner PSG'er here (less than a month) but have played lap for a few years. I have to put in a plug for the Justice S10Jr. Ron was great to work with, kept me up to date on progress and turned out a wonderful instrument much more quickly than I had anticipated. Mine is currently a 3x2 and although my instruction hasn't required them yet I'm already wishing I'd coughed up the extra $300 for the right knee levers. Nevertheless, having a BALL!

John Drury · From: Gallatin, Tn USA

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

Mike Holder · Posted 22 Mar 2022 8:23 am

I don’t recommend buying an “ entry level” pedal steel because if you happen to take to this instrument you’ll need to upgrade in less than 6 months and the resale market isn’t good and few people or companies allow trades therefore a semi pro single neck is better for resale. Pedal Steels are just as much a machine as they are an instrument and the entry level steels lack in the machine portion of the equation.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I disagree on poor resale/value of the good modern entry level pedal steels. For example, I see Stage Ones and Encores selling used for as much as, or even sometimes more, than the list price new, just so someone can get one without a wait. And I haven't seen a Justice Jr. for sale used yet, but as far as it being not a complete machine - a 3+3 all-pull changer isn't a complete machine? Similarly with the Mullen Discovery. And there are players using these guitars professionally, especially as travel guitars, because as well as being light and portable, they play and sound good.

Now, if you're talking about Red Barons, Sidekicks, Mavericks, Carter Starters, and so on, I agree on the 'not a complete machine' part. But as far as resale goes, they seem to me to get snatched up for pretty good money these days, considering what they are.

John Drury · From: Gallatin, Tn USA

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