How many Keyless 12 string players out there?

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 24 Sep 2008 1:40 pm

Just curious how many of you are playig a 12 string keyless steel these days?

Terry Wood

Glyn Bone · Post by **Glyn Bone** » 24 Sep 2008 2:13 pm

I would if`n I could afford one

$:\$

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 24 Sep 2008 4:44 pm

here!

Ivan Funk · Post by **Ivan Funk** » 24 Sep 2008 5:16 pm

I am.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 24 Sep 2008 6:14 pm

I bought an Excel 12 string keyless off the For Sale section the other day just to tinker with and see what it was like. It is a nice guitar, used to be U12 but now is extended E9 with 8/5. I will probably sell it after I mess around with it some. I really like the compactness of it and the weight.

Larry Lorows · Post by **Larry Lorows** » 24 Sep 2008 7:07 pm

I have a keyless Williams U12 and would advise any one to buy one. It's as good as any I've ever owned, and I've had quite a few in the last 30 years. Larry

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 24 Sep 2008 7:38 pm

I got an Excel Superb keyless U12 w/8+9. It's all the guitar I'll ever need. Fantastic in every way.

Ivan Posa · Post by **Ivan Posa** » 24 Sep 2008 8:16 pm

Anapeg 12 string Ext E9 5P & 6K.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 24 Sep 2008 11:54 pm

Two keyless Williams U12s here.

ed packard · Post by **ed packard** » 25 Sep 2008 7:48 am

Just a whole bunch of Sierra Session series 14 stringers, keyless/gearless...does that count
?

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 25 Sep 2008 11:25 am

Sierra Session uni 12.... love it

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 25 Sep 2008 12:35 pm

Paul Redmond · Post by **Paul Redmond** » 27 Sep 2008 2:38 am

Since 1985...Jeff Newman threw me over the top. I have since been able to find 95% of the '6th stuff' I've been looking for on the A6th side of the E9th tuning and have opted for a 10-string setup with the KL's very strategically placed to accommodate just that. I have referred to it on the Forum at various times as the 'short Uni' tuning basically pioneered by Bill Goddard of Canada back in the 1980's. Am presently building a Whitney S-10 with 4 FP's and 7 KL's and an all-aluminum neck featuring a maple inlay with ebony fret markers for 'eye candy'.
But the main 'workhorse' is a S-12 Whitney E9/B6/A6/SS Uni and has been for 23 years.
PRR

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 27 Sep 2008 6:00 am

My Excel Superb 8+5 is keyless and so is my Kline 8+5 .......Lovem both !!...Jim

Gary McVay · Post by **Gary McVay** » 27 Sep 2008 6:24 pm

Here's a picture of the BMI Keyless that Zane built for me in 1982. I was playing in Little Rock at the time. I still have the guitar and play it every day in my studio in Pigeon Forge, TN.
Gary McVay

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 28 Sep 2008 2:48 am

WOW !!....An 82 BMI keyless ....That must have been rarer than hens teeth back in the day ....It has taken so long for the keyless technology to catch on , and is STILL not really widely accepted .... I'm wondering who actually developed the keyless technology and who put it out to the pedal steel marketplace ? ... Interesting stuff here ...Jim

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 28 Sep 2008 3:16 am

Was the Gene Fields designed Fender the first pedal steel with a keyless tuner ?

Scott Howard · Post by **Scott Howard** » 28 Sep 2008 3:18 am

My MSA I converted

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 28 Sep 2008 6:37 am

Me too. Sierra key less 12 converted from uni to extended E9. I currently lust after an Excel Superb but a Williams looks good as well.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 28 Sep 2008 7:05 am

I am STILL fond of the Sierra keyless steels that I have owned in the past .... ...Especially the 25 inch scale and the removable pickup system ....The machining is 2nd to none ... Jim

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 28 Sep 2008 9:25 am

Although he does not post here, B.J. Cole plays a Kline 12 string keyless.

I tried out a Sierra with a keyless 25 inch scale and liked it a lot. If MSA would make a similar setup, I would retrofit my Millennium with one. (Hint to Reece and Kyle.)

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 28 Sep 2008 9:40 am

Mike ,
What was it you liked about the Sierra that you would like on your MSA ? ...Thanks, Jim

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 28 Sep 2008 9:53 am

James Quackenbush wrote:Mike ,
What was it you liked about the Sierra that you would like on your MSA ? ...Thanks, Jim

Jim, I liked the 25 inch scale. It made it easier to intonate correctly as you sent up the neck.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 28 Sep 2008 10:10 am

Mike ,
Thanks for the reply ...The biggest thing I notice on the longer scales is that you have more sustain on a keyless setup, and the lower strings are not mush ....They are more pronounced and tighter with more punch to them ....I really never looked into the intonation ....Just another benefit !!....Thanks, Jim

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 28 Sep 2008 11:30 am

James Quackenbush wrote:Mike ,
Thanks for the reply ...The biggest thing I notice on the longer scales is that you have more sustain on a keyless setup, and the lower strings are not mush ....They are more pronounced and tighter with more punch to them ....I really never looked into the intonation ....Just another benefit !!....Thanks, Jim

Jim, the lower strings on my Millennium have that punch. There is a very pronounced difference in the way they sound on the Milly and the way they sound on my other 2 guitars.

Maybe a 25 inch gearless neck would improve that. Unless MSA decides to offer such a neck (I'm told at present they have no plans to do so) we'll never know.