First Pedal Steel Guitar Purchase
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
- Cameron Mitchell
- Posts: 22
- Joined: 12 Feb 2012 10:57 am
- Location: New York, USA
- Contact:
First Pedal Steel Guitar Purchase
Hello all, first time posting on the forum.
I'm looking to buy my first PSG. The models that interest me most are GFI and ETS. Both S-10's are in the $2k range, which is right about my budget. Does anyone have any insight on which brand they would prefer? Or maybe another option I haven't considered?
BTW, this forum is EXTREMELY helpful. Thanks to everyone for contributing and educating a rookie!
Cameron
I'm looking to buy my first PSG. The models that interest me most are GFI and ETS. Both S-10's are in the $2k range, which is right about my budget. Does anyone have any insight on which brand they would prefer? Or maybe another option I haven't considered?
BTW, this forum is EXTREMELY helpful. Thanks to everyone for contributing and educating a rookie!
Cameron
Both fine guitars. The ETS will feel different, being aluminum body.
I've never played one, but I trust Bud Carter.
GFI? Sure.
Neither would be my first choice (ETS doesn't yet make a D-10 or S-12, and I love my 6th tuning), but I'd be happy to own either.
I've never played one, but I trust Bud Carter.
GFI? Sure.
Neither would be my first choice (ETS doesn't yet make a D-10 or S-12, and I love my 6th tuning), but I'd be happy to own either.
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
- Cameron Mitchell
- Posts: 22
- Joined: 12 Feb 2012 10:57 am
- Location: New York, USA
- Contact:
- Jim Pivarnik
- Posts: 175
- Joined: 17 Feb 2009 5:36 pm
- Location: Port Townsend WA, USA
-
- Posts: 1881
- Joined: 24 Sep 2010 7:18 am
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
- Steve Lipsey
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: 9 May 2011 8:51 pm
- Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
- Contact:
Watch the used for sale section and don't be so hung up in brand...a good used pro steel will serve you better than a new student steel...
I just bought my second GFI, they are well designed, light and lubricated for life, I like the low maintenance aspect for my more portable practice/jam steels...
I just bought my second GFI, they are well designed, light and lubricated for life, I like the low maintenance aspect for my more portable practice/jam steels...
www.facebook.com/swingaliband & a few more....
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham "CooderNator" archtop parlor electric reso w/Fishman & Lollar string-through
Ben Bonham "ResoBorn" deep parlor acoustic reso with Weissenborn neck and Fishman
Ben Bonham Style 3 Tricone., 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor Squareneck
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham "CooderNator" archtop parlor electric reso w/Fishman & Lollar string-through
Ben Bonham "ResoBorn" deep parlor acoustic reso with Weissenborn neck and Fishman
Ben Bonham Style 3 Tricone., 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor Squareneck
-
- Posts: 3296
- Joined: 2 May 2008 3:15 pm
- Location: Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.
Cameron, you will get all kinds of advice, but being a Mullen player, I would check out the new Mullen Discovery. Very capable of taking you to any level of playing, and just a little over 2 grand. Next, check out the Stage One from Doug Earnst down in Branson, Mo. A very pro guitar at a great price.
That's just my 2 cents. Good luck, Larry
That's just my 2 cents. Good luck, Larry
Mullen G2 SD10 3 & 5 The Eagle
NV112 amp===Earnie Ball V.P.
NV112 amp===Earnie Ball V.P.
-
- Posts: 18
- Joined: 29 Nov 2011 1:52 pm
- Location: Virginia, USA
Check out the Justice pro lite. Looks good to me I think its 1995.00. Its an pro machine with pro parts. same pickup as the judge . plus its a SD 10.and to top it off Fred Justice is a great guy and will call you by phone to talk PSG. answer all e mail you send to him ........ Jerry Bailey
Jerry Bailey
- Larry Jamieson
- Posts: 2414
- Joined: 30 Jan 2001 1:01 am
- Location: Walton, NY USA
- Contact:
- Carl Kilmer
- Posts: 2691
- Joined: 7 Aug 2008 1:23 pm
- Location: East Central, Illinois
-
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: 2 Mar 2010 2:31 pm
-
- Posts: 1881
- Joined: 24 Sep 2010 7:18 am
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
- Sandro Rocco
- Posts: 156
- Joined: 7 Feb 2012 8:52 am
- Location: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
- Mike Perlowin
- Posts: 15171
- Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
- Location: Los Angeles CA
- Contact:
Whatever you buy, make sure it has a minimum of 4 knee levers. Don't buy anything with less than that.
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
-
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: 2 Mar 2010 2:31 pm
First steel guitar purchase
Consider calling Bobbe Seymour at Steel Guitar Nashville, or Billy Cooper at Billy Cooper's Steel Guitar in Virginia, or Jim Palenscar at Steel Guitars of North County in San Diego and ask about their prices on GFI S-10's (or other brands). Or bOb and other ETS dealers. All of the other suggestions being posted are excellent as well. When I was in your shoes a few years ago, the new GFI S-10 I bought from Bobbe was well under your $2K budget. Bobbe, Billy, bOb and Jim have been trustworthy in my dealings with them.
Good luck, Cameron.
John
Good luck, Cameron.
John
John Ely (but I'm not THE John Ely who played with Asleep at the Wheel).
-
- Posts: 126
- Joined: 3 Nov 2011 9:11 am
- Location: The Netherlands
- Chris Dorch
- Posts: 489
- Joined: 15 Feb 2010 3:55 pm
- Location: Wisconsin, USA
Another BSG..
I second the BSG.. I have one.. Loves it...
I hear great things about Stage One's as well...
While Mooney played a GFI, I couldn't really get into them...
YMMV
I hear great things about Stage One's as well...
While Mooney played a GFI, I couldn't really get into them...
YMMV
- Cameron Mitchell
- Posts: 22
- Joined: 12 Feb 2012 10:57 am
- Location: New York, USA
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: 2 Mar 2010 2:31 pm
- Mike Perlowin
- Posts: 15171
- Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
- Location: Los Angeles CA
- Contact:
Don't forget to look at the used steels in the classifieds here. There are some real bargains.
Human nature being what it is, everybody is going to recommend the brand they themselves use. I'm no exception. I like MSA.
But speaking as objectively as possible, a used MSA is probably your best bang for the buck. Back in the 70s, MSA was the single largest manufacturer of steel guitars, and there are Lord knows how many out there, still in use. The lack of scarcity means that they are not sought after collectors items, and not worth as much as an Emmons or Sho-Bud from the same time period. It's a buyer's market.
But they are excellent instruments. You've read in an earlier post "I trust Bud Carter." Back then, Bud worked for MSA and designed and built the guitars.
The guitars are built like tanks. It has been said that in the event of a worldwide nuclear holocaust, the only survivors will be insects and MSA steel guitars. That may be an exaggeration, but it indicated just how well those guitars were made.
Check out the "show us your MSA" thread to see just how many of those old guitars are still being played today, and what people are saying out them.
Human nature being what it is, everybody is going to recommend the brand they themselves use. I'm no exception. I like MSA.
But speaking as objectively as possible, a used MSA is probably your best bang for the buck. Back in the 70s, MSA was the single largest manufacturer of steel guitars, and there are Lord knows how many out there, still in use. The lack of scarcity means that they are not sought after collectors items, and not worth as much as an Emmons or Sho-Bud from the same time period. It's a buyer's market.
But they are excellent instruments. You've read in an earlier post "I trust Bud Carter." Back then, Bud worked for MSA and designed and built the guitars.
The guitars are built like tanks. It has been said that in the event of a worldwide nuclear holocaust, the only survivors will be insects and MSA steel guitars. That may be an exaggeration, but it indicated just how well those guitars were made.
Check out the "show us your MSA" thread to see just how many of those old guitars are still being played today, and what people are saying out them.
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
Mike, truth be told, two things account for the reduced price: not just the quantity out there, but the HEFT.
Were they as light as modern guitars, I'd wager 2-400 bucks would appear in their price.
I love my MSA Classic (choosing to play it and lend my Zum to my student), and my "one that got away" was a lacquered natural S-12 Universal. But geez, they're heavy.
Were they as light as modern guitars, I'd wager 2-400 bucks would appear in their price.
I love my MSA Classic (choosing to play it and lend my Zum to my student), and my "one that got away" was a lacquered natural S-12 Universal. But geez, they're heavy.
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
- CrowBear Schmitt
- Posts: 11624
- Joined: 8 Apr 2000 12:01 am
- Location: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
- Contact:
The Justice Pro Lite is a pro model
well built & reliable
good bang 4 $ if you plan on buyin' a new one
3 pedals, 4 levers & case : 1995 $
http://www.fredjusticemusic.com/id28.html
the Mullen Discovery is a Pro model as well
3 pedals & 4 levers : 1520 $
http://www.mullenguitars.com/Econo.htm
well built & reliable
good bang 4 $ if you plan on buyin' a new one
3 pedals, 4 levers & case : 1995 $
http://www.fredjusticemusic.com/id28.html
the Mullen Discovery is a Pro model as well
3 pedals & 4 levers : 1520 $
http://www.mullenguitars.com/Econo.htm