Harry,
They said they were looking at a price somewhere in the high $1,000 to low $2,000 range. Duesenberg are very high end guitars, so that's in line with their price range. It was built like a tank and had a real solid feel.
The man who designed them is a pedal steel player and had a good understanding of both lap and pedal steel guitars and the demands of each instrument.
I also played the Peavey at the NAMM show. It had a fat rock and blues sound with it's humbucking pickup configuration, though I didn't really have time to experiment with all the settings. But it was very cool, if a bit bizarre at first look. The "gut curve" body design was definitely comfortable for me! That being said, I'm probably also going to grab one of these when they are available! Especially if they can come out for around $200. Heck that's less than I paid for the *legs* on my Stringmaster
When I first saw a rendering of the Peavey Power Slide, I said, Whoa! It's cool! It's different than anything that I've seen. This past weekend I got to sit down with the Power Slide proto and it sounded different, which is good. I personally own an old Vega lap steel and it sounded nothing like the Vega, which is good.
For the past two or three years, Hartley has asked if I thought that we could sell a "stand up" type of steel and for the last two years, my answer was "no, I don't think that the steel guitar market is ready for a change nor is large enough to support it". So, early last year he asked me the same question, and for some reason I felt that the time might be right for a change. Thus, the Power Slide. I take no credit for the idea or design though. It was Hartley's and an engineer's design.
Dan Tyack's thoughts about the Power Slide was also what I thought when I first saw it. This guitar is designed to attract the six string rock guitarist, who should easily adapt to the six string stand up configuration. The wild shape enhances the purpose of the instrument in my opinion(standing up). It sounds great and hopefully I can bring a few of these guitars to Texas.
Did anyone get to see/hear/play one of these Breedlove Weissen(cough)(choke) erhm, Hawaiian guitars? Can't tell if that's curly koa or myrtle. Looks like it's part of their regular line, and doesn't have the partial frets of the Gerhard custom model (shown with Ed).
Hey Dan,
The Duesenbergs that were there didn't have legs, or flanges on the bottom for legs. But they were prototypes, so who knows.
BTW, the video plays ok for me without asking for a password.
Love the idea of the Powerslide, but it seems to me I remember that name from somewhere. Hmmm, could have sworn I saw that name on a stand up steel before.
Mike Brown wrote:
This guitar is designed to attract the six string rock guitarist, who should easily adapt to the six string stand up configuration. The wild shape enhances the purpose of the instrument in my opinion(standing up). It sounds great and hopefully I can bring a few of these guitars to Texas.
Hope to see you there.
Mike Brown
Peavey USA
Why limit the emphasis of the design to "rock guitarist"??? Sure they are a big segment of the guitar market, but if you want to sell lap steels, should you not also consider selling them to the guys already in the lap steel market and maybe incorporate some design features that the folks who already play lap steel would want and therefore purchase.
The instrument is very nice looking and all, but you have eliminated the interest for a lot of lap players by using just 6 strings. If you would introduce an 8 or a 10 string guitar at an attractive price point you would sell a ton of them to lap players. A 12 string version at a good price would be an instant hit as there are NONE availiable at all in affordable price ranges.
The lap steel market is not just blues adn rock guys playing old 6 string guitars. Maybe Hartley could come on this section of the forum and ask what lap steel players would like to see on one of his next designs.
There are no limitations on the Power Slide as far as application......................just like any other product that is introduced. It can certainly be used in a "lap position", or a "stand up" position. However, the unique cosmetic design would most likely appeal to the younger generation, but I feel that there are exceptions here to for the longtime lap players as well.
I have no problem with it being a 6 string. I personally do not care for humbucking pickups, though, as they seem geared towards aggressive rock tones. I see that the tone control changes the sound but I'll have to hear one to see if that would work for me.
Overall, I am not crazy about the look of them and wouldn't mind a design that was a bit more "classic". I don't really like pointy guitars, either. That being said, I definitely plan to check one out when they are released.
I just viewed the video with no problems or passwords.
It looks like the machine i've been dreaming about lately.
I have a telecaster with a G and B-bender which I play lap style on a stand.
It's very limiting in it's configuration. Have been looking at maybe a 10 string Pedal too. But this will definitely bridge the gap for my rock and blues habit!
Bring it on!
I think some of the forum members are Peavey dealers. If so, let us know when you can get them.
My SX lap and stand is due in today so I'll be playing a bit. I've never played with a guitar on a stand. Maybe I'll sound better? Well at least the guitar will be closer so I can see as well as hear my mistakes.
Dave
Mike Brown wrote:There are no limitations on the Power Slide as far as application......................just like any other product that is introduced. It can certainly be used in a "lap position", or a "stand up" position. However, the unique cosmetic design would most likely appeal to the younger generation, but I feel that there are exceptions here to for the longtime lap players as well.
Anyone can purchase one of these guitars.
So no consideration for an 8 or 10 or 12 string model????
The statement,"geared towards aggressive rock tones" is the catagory that most six string players fall into these days. So, the Power Slide will appeal to those young rockers and old rockers alike. But, it opens up another possiblity to those who don't play steel at all, and with the six string version it should easily adapt to six string guitarists.
There have been many players that have mentioned that the steel market needs a change(not needs to change, but a change). Hopefully, this guitar will generate the interest among the younger market and add to the pedal steel market for the years to come.
Your points are well taken. Given the addictive nature of lap steel, I could easily see the Powerslide as a way to get more people into lap steel and potentially inspire more "new" lap steels to be designed and marketed. I also acknowledge that it may play and sound great for other styles besides rock & blues. I guess we'll see.
Mike Brown wrote:
There have been many players that have mentioned that the steel market needs a change(not needs to change, but a change). Hopefully, this guitar will generate the interest among the younger market and add to the pedal steel market for the years to come.
Again, any consideration for an 8 10 or 12 string model.
I friend of mine overheard discussions at NAMM on the Peavey. Apparently the list price wandered about from $189 to $249 depending on who was offering pricing suggestions at the time. Maybe it will be released as a "custom" at $3K.
Bill Hatcher wrote:
Again, any consideration for an 8 10 or 12 string model.
Just a wild guess from me - the whole design of this lap steel is so obviously made to appeal to a younger, more rock oriented group of players that they probably don't consider it worth the extra costs to make 8, 10 and 12 string models.
Those players are usually considered more traditional/conservative in their tastes, and any version with more than 6 strings would perhaps sell 50 pieces on a worldwide basis.
But then I'm not a member of Peavey's board of directors (lucky for them!), so what do I know..
Also don't forget - 6-string pickups are widely available for regular guitars; if they built an 8- or 10-string version, they'd have to design/build a special pickup for that, or get one from some other source, and there's no way they could sell that guitar at the low prices mentioned above then...
