Learning the pedal steel on a D10?

Patrick Borgen · From: New York, USA

Hi everybody,

I am in the market for my first pedal steel guitar. I am very confident in my commitment to the instrument and have dreamt about playing one for a long time. My question is, why get a starter single-neck three pedal guitar for all of that money if for not that much more, relatively speaking, you can go for a double neck, 8 pedal, which you are very confident you'll want down the road anyway? Is it fine to take up learning on a D10, since one of the necks and its respective pedals are just the same as a starter model you'd play? I guess my issue with the starter too is that I have the money and I'm in the market now, and you never know how money's gonna go. I also don't have space for two pedal steels.

Thanks,

Patrick

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

D-10 for starter? Not a problem, but keep in mind that if you start out w/ a D-10:

---It's heavier and more complicated to set up for impromptu jams

---You'll probably want to spend a year or two on E9th before tackling C6th (some never do)

---A D-10 may be more difficult (a more expensive proposition) to sell, should you decide that another guitar is more desirable

---to some a D-10 is intimidating (but cooler looking)

I started out on a ShoBud 6139 D-10 (Lucky Oceans" original guitar) and moved to a ZB D-10 within 18 months......never regretted it.

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

misfire!

Ransom Beers · Posted 17 Feb 2012 7:10 am

A D-10 is going to be the same as a S-10 as far as the E9th neck is concerned,the reason for 2 necks is the tunings,front neck is usually tuned to E9th & the back neck is tuned to C6th but the pedals are the same on a starter as a pro. model guitar,some have 5 knee levers whether pro. or student,it really depends on the guitar & what the player prefers.If you're looking for a pro. model single I would suggest the Stage One or like I have a BSG.There are several to choose from & the guys on this forum can give you some specifics.They are also all in a wide range of price.Look on the "For Sale" section of this forum for a good deal.

Bud Angelotti · From: Larryville, NJ, USA

You can only start from scratch once. What everyone has said so far is right on. Maybe consider a s-12. Has different tunings and set-ups, Basically the e9 with some extra lower strings and notes.

Patrick Borgen · From: New York, USA

I've found a Pedalmaster D10 guitar I'm fond of and I can afford it. I've done the research and it seems like a great guitar. Even if I have some dead limbs for awhile I see now there are no clear set backs to learning to play on a double neck. Focus on the e9 neck and its respective pedals, then eventually branch out. and while I'm tackling e9 maybe use the other neck to come up with some strange tunings of my own and have fun with it. thank you all for your help. from now on i'll be contributing to this forum in better ways than shopping advice, hopefully!

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

If you wish to play C6, by all means get the doubleneck.
Most stone beginner instructional material is for E9, all C6 stuff I've seen presupposes knowledge of how to work bars, pedals, et c., so it'll probably be a few months before you'll tackle the back neck.
But I see no earthly reason to shop twice for a guitar; I HATE shopping.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I started with a D-10, way back in 71'. My advice is this: Put in the same amount of time on each neck when practicing. For me, I've always thought of the E9th neck, as a totally different concept, as in the same with the C6th neck. Two different tunings. Down the road, being familiar with both necks will be an advantage, if you ever decide to go to a U-12 set up. Lowering your E's on the U-12 will put you in the back neck tuning. Just back one fret to B6th instead of C6th. Go for it!

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

I wouldn't buy a starter anything - steel guitar, drum kit, Auto Zone starter (stranded me at a gig one time at 2am), parachute…

You know you own something that's not as good as it could be, which can be deleterious to your progress, but if you do make progress you're going to want a real steel guitar after a while and then you have to get in the market again and try to get your money back on the starter. If you decide steel guitar's just not for you, then you still have to try to get your money back on the starter, and starter anythings often have a low resale value.

I started on a D-10 and the only reason I learned E9th first is because that was what was required for the bands I was working in.
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Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
Custom Made Covers for Steel Guitars & Amps at Sharp Covers Nashville

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

yeah cal, i hate having to return those defective walmart parachutes the next day!

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

I say by all means go for the D-10, and give some time to the C6th right off the bat so it is familiar to you. There is no reason to hold off as some people do - in fact, from my own experience that just made it seem unduly difficult and mysterious.

Larry Robbins · From: Fort Edward, New York

There is no reason you cant learn both necks at once...many folks shy away from the C6 neck but it really isn't all that hard...in fact in some ways its easier and a whole lot of fun.....can be a nice break from E9 when you get frustrated as most of us do from time to time Winking

...plus all of the reasons that Cal Sharp stated above! Very Happy

good luck in your steel adventure and remember to enjoy the ride!
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Twang to the bone!

Dave O'Brien · From: Florida and New Jersey

Patrick - If that's the old blonde maple Pedalmaster D-10 8 & 0 (with "Custom made for Paul Wheat" written on the case) that I started out with I'd look elsewhere. It's not the same Pedalmaster as was made by the great Roy Thomas. I sold it in NJ a long time ago. That said I'd still suggest you start with a D-10 or U-12. I think many players miss out on a lot of fun and music playing only E9.
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Dave O'Brien
Emmons D-10, CMI D-10, Fender Deluxe Reverb, PV 112, Fender Pro Reverb
www.myspace.com/daveobrienband

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

I know a guy who bought a starter a couple years ago. He recently bought a real steel and now he can't sell the starter for what he paid for it. Rolling Eyes

_________________
C#
Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
Custom Made Covers for Steel Guitars & Amps at Sharp Covers Nashville

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

my first psg was a D10 that i got 11 years ago
don't regret it, never looked back
since i knew some E9, i got down on C6
thanx to Buddy's " Basic C6 " & a few recommendations from the fo'bros, i've had a ball
guess it might depend on what kind of musik one wants to play
in my case, since i've always been into chords, i found C6 to be right up my alley
i find C6 much more versatile than E9
don't get me wrong, there's versatility on E9 too, but you've got to look for it & play "outside of the box "
price wise a D10 is a better bargain since you get that 2nd neck "cheap"
& as many know " two necks are better than one " Winking

Patrick Borgen · From: New York, USA

Thank you all so much for your advice and encouragement. I can't wait to get started.

Patrick Borgen · From: New York, USA

Thank you all so much for your advice and encouragement. I can't wait to get started.

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

On second thought, If I was just starting out, I'd go with a S-12 Universal 7+5. You have the benefits of both a single neck and double neck.

The E9th and B6th tunings relate to each other more directly than E9th and C6th. That should facilitate learning the both tunings.........plus it's lighter!

Pete Ethridge · From: Mississippi, USA

dear patrick there is a usde MSA on the forum for sate at a good price look under jim parker i think this will be something you can learn on and also use for a long time these guitars are built very well it a doudle neck and i won't lie it is heavy
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i use a ZUM SINGLE ON a double frame, no effects,and a nashville 400 that is it

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

There are so many pedal steel guitars on the market these days...that even a knowledgeable musician has to be extremely careful so as not to get burned!

If you know very little (or nothing) about the workings, the strong points and/or short comings of the beast, I couldn't encourage you more, to do nothing UNTIL........ you find a truly experienced
pedal steel musician.

Some of the early pedal mechanisms thro' wear/tear have been badly worn; others have been abused, while others were of poor design.

If you find a good one and it checks out, you likely can recover your investment at a future date. There are lots of obscure/home-made brands floating around outthere like Crocadiles waiting to snap you up.

I stay on the side of a wary buyer than an motional one.

Jim Robbins · From: Ontario, Canada

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