Wanted: Basic starter steel (or better)

RD Bennett · Post by **RD Bennett** » 5 Jul 2009 3:57 pm

Putting feelers out to see what comes up here.

Budget is tight but not unreasonably / irresponsibly so. edit: Please, no guitars over $1000.

3 pedals and 4 knees minimum; SD10 > S10. Carter Starters have already been ruled out (sorry!).

I would love to get started on a double 10 but I suspect it's probably asking too much for what I can currently spend unless someone is feeling oddly generous.

Need a case.

Hoping to buy the right axe in the next 1-4 weeks.

Thanks... please email me with what you have!

Bobby D. Reed · Post by **Bobby D. Reed** » 6 Jul 2009 8:45 am

I have a S10 BMI black with 3 & 4, a 12 string BMI with 4&4 on extended frame with pad. Both are in very good condition with hardshell cases. Priced at $1175 and $1350. Thanks....Bobby 615 824 4187.
P.S. I have a couple of LDG's in excellent condition if you want to move up some.

RD Bennett · Post by **RD Bennett** » 6 Jul 2009 9:15 am

Thanks Bobby. Four digits is the very top of my range right now.

Ronald Smith · Post by **Ronald Smith** » 6 Jul 2009 1:58 pm

RD,

I sent you a PM eith some pictures of one.

Thanks and God bless you and yours,

Ron

RD Bennett · Post by **RD Bennett** » 6 Jul 2009 2:13 pm

Just FYI, thanks for all the responses, and I realize I was (purposely) vague about my (explicitly) "tight" budget, but since it seems a clarification is necessary from the surprising number of $3000 axes in my inbox: I am not interested in guitars over $1000 right now.

I am actually hoping to spend well under that. I'm after a solid starter or entry level pro.

winston · Post by **winston** » 6 Jul 2009 7:00 pm

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/msg/1249966473.html

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 6 Jul 2009 7:06 pm

You can't go wrong with a Zumsteel Stage One. Doug might even have one ready to go. Check out the link listed below:

http://www.stageonesteelguitars.com/

RD Bennett · Post by **RD Bennett** » 6 Jul 2009 7:08 pm

winston wrote:http://tulsa.craigslist.org/msg/1249966473.html

Thanks. I've already seen this and been in contact with the seller, then sent some pics of this to Chet Wilcox to ask him if he can help date it. The steel's date of birth is a total mystery at this point, and it sounds like maybe Chet's later instruments are a bit more in the ballpark of what I'm looking for... still waiting to hear back from him, hopefully will soon.

RD Bennett · Post by **RD Bennett** » 6 Jul 2009 7:24 pm

Rick Barnhart wrote:You can't go wrong with a Zumsteel Stage One. Doug might even have one ready to go. Check out the link listed below:

http://www.stageonesteelguitars.com/

Thanks, Rick. The Stage One is definitely already on the top of my list if I can't find a more suitable used steel in a reasonable interval.

David Winfrey · Post by **David Winfrey** » 7 Jul 2009 2:20 am

RD, you might want to contact Richard McDonald in Broken Arrow, OK. He has the only steel guitar store in Oklahoma and might have something in your price range. Tell him I sent you

His phone number is 918-258-7830.
Regards,
David

RD Bennett · Post by **RD Bennett** » 7 Jul 2009 11:36 am

David Winfrey wrote:RD, you might want to contact

Thanks, David. Actually, I made the drive to Spirit Steel as my first stop a couple of weeks back, and I found Richard very helpful. Unfortunately he's not got much in at the moment and I don't think he is currently able to get me a new steel in my price range. I'll keep checking with him of course.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 7 Jul 2009 11:57 am

If your looking for a NEW steel in that price range I think you only have 2 choices, the Carter Starter and the Stage one. Both are good startup instruments but the stage one is a bit more solid and feel better in my opinion. Next up would be a gfi student model. Call Bobby at steel guitar nashville and talk to him.

The gfi student model is probably the best sounding, and is about $1000, but you will eventually want more knee levers, they are about 100$ apeice added, so for about 1200 you can have a new higher quality 3pedals and 3 knee lever steel.

You say you ruled out the carter starter, so that really leaves 2 if you want new. I had a carter starter and traded it in for 400$ on my gfi d10. later I realised that having a "beater" guitar to lug to practice and ghetto shows would be nice.So I regret trading in my starter.

So the moral is, get the best student one you can get, and later when you upgrade you will have one for the house and one for the road. personally I would splurge on the gfi student and extra 2levers, as it will be a keeper that you can develope on, and keep using later.

I have also played on a friends zum starter and found it to be a good instrument to learn on. It is a great deal for the money.

RD Bennett · Post by **RD Bennett** » 7 Jul 2009 12:11 pm

Steve Norman wrote:If your looking for a NEW steel in that price range

Thanks for all your advice, Steve. I'd come to many similar conclusions about the new-market offerings after lurking here in the forums for a few months. But don't let my comments to David above re: Richard's current used inventory mislead anyone-- I'm actually just fine with a used steel and hoping the right one will turn up with this ad!

David Winfrey · Post by **David Winfrey** » 7 Jul 2009 12:36 pm

RD, there is also the Carpsteel - an entry level steel made by Gary Carpenter of Rains Steel Guitars. I don't know much about them but I think Richard has one of those. You might have seen it already.

Here's a link:

http://www.rainssteelguitars.com/carpsteel.html

Good luck,
David

RD Bennett · Post by **RD Bennett** » 7 Jul 2009 2:23 pm

David Winfrey wrote:RD, there is also the Carpsteel - an entry level steel made by Gary Carpenter of Rains Steel Guitars.

David - Yes, he has those, but unfortunately they are significantly out of my price range.

Michael Maddex · Post by **Michael Maddex** » 7 Jul 2009 3:59 pm

RD, have you had a look at the Genesis PSG (3+4) from Bob Simmons?

http://www.genesissteelguitars.com/index.htm

I don't have any personal experience with them, but these guitars have been getting some rave reviews in the Pedal Steel section on the Forum.

HTH.

RD Bennett · Post by **RD Bennett** » 7 Jul 2009 5:15 pm

Michael Maddex wrote:RD, have you had a look at the Genesis PSG (3+4) from Bob Simmons?

Hi Michael, and thanks for the heads up. Yeah, the Simmons is also at the top of my short list of possible new steels if I end up buying new. Still hoping to find something used first and avoid that eventual resale hit.

James Carpenter · Post by **James Carpenter** » 8 Jul 2009 5:30 pm

RD,

Have you checked out Rains Steel guitars? They have a new "Carpsteel" That sounds amazing and looks great too for a reasonable price. This sounds like exactly what you are looking for. I also know that you wont take the resell hit on it since they are of limited quantity. Call Gary at 817-560-2277 or go to their website at www.rainssteelguitars.com and check them out. Gary also did several youtube videos on one of these so that you can hear it.[/quote]

James Carpenter · Post by **James Carpenter** » 8 Jul 2009 5:31 pm

RD,

Have you checked out Rains Steel guitars? They have a new "Carpsteel" That sounds amazing and looks great too for a reasonable price. This sounds like exactly what you are looking for. I also know that you wont take the resell hit on it since they are of limited quantity. Call Gary at 817-560-2277 or go to their website at www.rainssteelguitars.com and check them out. Gary also did several youtube videos on one of these so that you can hear it.

RD Bennett · Post by **RD Bennett** » 8 Jul 2009 9:10 pm

James Carpenter wrote:Have you checked out Rains Steel guitars? They have a new "Carpsteel"

Hi James, thanks. As I mentioned to David above, the Carpsteel is not in the running. It is way out of my budget and, in my humble opinion, also flat-out too expensive for a student steel at $1400 (my local dealer wants full MSRP).

Still looking for suitable used instruments. I do appreciate all the new-instrument recommendations from everyone-- but that wasn't quite the purpose of starting this thread!

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 9 Jul 2009 4:49 pm

RD Meet Rocky!

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=

Ray Thomas · Post by **Ray Thomas** » 9 Jul 2009 5:53 pm

RD, did you see the GFI Student Model that went on the forum today for 850, I would check it out.

RD Bennett · Post by **RD Bennett** » 9 Jul 2009 7:41 pm

Thanks for the heads up, Steve and Ray (and Howie too!). I've been refreshing the instruments for sale listings once an hour, but apparently I still need some new glasses. Rocky's not too far off, either...

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