1. Looks: Well, you be the judge. I think my GFI is a thing of beauty -- simple and elegant. I happen to love the black-on-black treatment, reminds me of a Steinway grand piano. Even the pedals get that special treatment. I put some pictures on my website for you to see:
http://www.skobrien.com/gfi/gfi.htm
2. Sound: This subject is so personal that I won't try to make any grand statements. I love the sound. I find that it's a little mellower than a lot of steels (like my dearly-loved MCI, for example). But for my taste, I prefer that mellower kind of sound. I'm sure a different choice of pickup could give it a different sound. One thing I did notice, however, is that those pickups are HOT. My amp sounds twice as loud than it does with either my MCI or Sho-Bud.
3. Under the Hood: I took a few shots of underneath so you can see for yourself what a beautiful work of engineering this guitar is. This has to be the easiest-to-setup steel I've seen. The bell cranks are so well designed and all the cross shafts have mid-body supports to prevent deflection in the shaft.
4. Legs: I wouldn't usually single out legs for attention, but the GFI's legs are not only unique, they are really great. They are so light, but more than strong enough. The front legs are not adjustable, the rear ones do adjust a little for those who prefer a slight tilt in their steel. I took the standard size leg, which fits my 6 foot frame just fine. GFI recommends that you specify your leg length in advance if you don't want the standard size.
5. Pedals and Knee levers: They are very smooth, as you would probably find on any modern steel, and I found the knee levers are particularly comfortable.
6. Light but not flimsy: My MCI is light, but I think the GFI is a bit lighter, which is just fine with me. Yet, it's so smooth and stable when played. I think that's due to the light action of the pedals and knee levers.
After staring at it, trying to come up with negatives, I can't think of any. I'm sure there are others who can help me out here.
All in all, I'd have to say that the GFI is a steel that anyone who is in the market should take a look at. By the way, I happen to have gotten mine from Bobbe Seymour, who's service certainly is in line with the fine quality of this instrument.
I'll me more than happy to answer any questions you might like to ask, either here on the forum or by email.
