The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi Karen, You could consign the Sho-Bud pedal-steel to Al Brisco's Steel Guitars of Canada shop and have him sell it for you. His shop is located in Colborne Ontario, about a one hour drive east of you. Al is a world class player and a first class steel guitar builder and technician. It is quite lik...

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1712/14016_Al_and_his_GFI_promosepia1_1.jpg Hello from Al Kirby in eastern Ontario. I've been playing steel for about 40 years. My focus is performing and recording with independent singer/songwriters and my music preferences are eclectic fusions of folk, jazz...

I hesitate to post any advice because so many talented and knowledgeable players on this forum know much more about the pedal steel than I do. I am a no-name musician, but I have had reasonable success in studio work and thought my philosophy might be useful to some folks. I am a totally self taught...

I currently own two GFI guitars, a SD-10 Ultra and a S-10 Expo-X1. I bought the Expo-X1, new, several years ago and the Ultra, used, a couple of months ago. They are great guitars. The S-10 Expo X1 is now my main gigging guitar and I really like it. In terms of current value, knowing what I paid, I ...

It looks to be a Sho-Bud Professional, model 6139. It has a round-front, which indicates that it was likely built around 1972-1973. The serial number indicates the same. I have a round-front 6139, which I gig with. These are very reliable guitars with exceptional tone. I can not offer much informati...

My 1974 Sho-Bud model 6139 has seen a lot of gigs. It has some bruises and lacquer cracks, but it still looks and sounds good. It originally came with one knee lever; two were added later. It is now a 3x3, which is all I really need.

My 1974 Sho-Bud model 6139 came originally with 3 pedals and 1 lever. Two more levers were added a few years later. As you can see in the photo, the added levers do not have the teardrop design that the original lever had, but they work well and I do not intend to change them. My Bud is a solid 3x3 ...

Hello Richard, What an interesting topic for your Master's thesis! I am long-time working pedal steel player with an academic background. My PhD (Canadian Studies) thesis focused on the history of rural Canadian folk music. I continue to have an interest in academic research concerning music history...

I have played both pedal steel and banjo for many years. I find them compatible from a playing perspective. I am comfortable playing anything from bluegrass to swing to jazz on the banjo and country to swing to jazz on the steel. I have done a multitude of recording sessions with each. I work regula...

I am in my 70s and have been playing steel since the mid 1960s. There is now a resurgence of classic country music where I live in eastern Ontario, with a plethera of jamborees, festivals, and monthly gatherings. I played a lot of Classic Country in my time and enjoyed it. I remember when the bars w...

I own and play three S-10s, with no pads. I owned two SD-10s, with pads, in the past, but sold them. I was never comfortable with the pad, I found it awkward to play reaching across the pad, which in warm conditions, would rub and stick to my forearms. I feel I am a better player with the neck close...

As mentioned by Doug, the concept of having a second guitar is not a bad idea. I have a few guitars but generally use my GFI S-10 for indoor gigs. However, like Doug, for outdoor gigs, which may have hot, sunny, dusty, windy, wet, damp, cool, or even snowy conditions, I use another guitar. It is an ...

In the 1970s and early 1980s, it was cool to have a D-10, because it looked serious on stage, especially if you were playing in a country band. I owned two D-10s during that period yet I was playing the E9th neck almost exclusively. I just felt I had to have the big guitar for people to take me seri...

I believe the steel player is Doug Johnson from Brantford, Ontario.

My 1974 model Sho-Bud has the plastic (dust-collector) board screwed to the body. I like it being secure. I also like the fact that the board is easier to see in dimmer light because it is not glossy. I dust it regularly with a large soft paint-brush. http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1504/14016...

I now have three single neck guitars and I wouldn't have it any other way because of size and weight. Finding good single neck guitars is not easy since the demand is higher than for double necks. (Al Brisco told me this on my last visit to Steel Guitars of Canada.) I had two SD guitars (Sho-bud and...

RKL

I gig regularly with my 1974 Sho-Bud 6139. That is why I own it. It is a solid, reliable, gigging guitar and has a consistent sound. It has acquired some significant bruises as a result of gigging, which just gives it more character. I have other guitars but the Sho-Bud is the "go to" inst...

My refinished Emmons GS-10 push/pull.

When I first responded to this thread, I only talked about the mechanical feel of the two guitars because I, like Paul, was transitioning from a Fulawka, which became too heavy for me to move. I have a push/pull GS-10 Emmons and a model 6139 Sho-Bud. I play both guitars through a Fender amp and real...

Hi Paul, I played a Fulawka SD-10 for many years, but sold it a couple of years ago simply because it had become too big and heavy for me to handle as I got older. I now have a push/pull single neck Emmons and a single neck Sho-Bud. The Emmons was in rough shape when I got it. Al Brisco refurbished ...

Bob, Don't get discouraged regarding the Maverick. I respectfully disagree with Lane. I do agree with him that 3x4 is the best set-up, however, I also feel a lot can be done with a Maverick and the 3x1 arrangement. On occasion, when space and weight are an issue, I will play a gig with my Emmons GS-...

Does anyone know the identity of the steel player in the recent Netflix Keith Richards documentary "Under the Influence"?

He takes a nice solo as the final credits are rolling, but all you see is his hands.

I enjoy Daniel Lanois playing pedal steel. His style is so different and creative. However, if you read the comments on the following video, you will see the diverse reactions to Daniel's playing. It seems people either love his style or hate it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q3gAYHv7pc

I feel that buying new is the best option. I have three pedal-steels, one new and two that are forty years old. The new one works well all the time and does not require the maintenance and constant tinkering that the older ones need. As well, the tone is quite comparable and it is not as heavy.