Cadillac of pedal steels?

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 16 Jan 2003 11:17 pm

Appearance-wise, what would fellow forumites say is the Cadillac of pedal steels? I always thought the Sho-Bud Pro series were the nicest looking steels, but there are a few other brands out there that give S-B some stiff competition.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 17 Jan 2003 12:30 am

Rolls Royce: Annapeg

MSA MIllenium(?)
Bentleys: JCH Zum Franklin Fulawaka Weisner
Cadillacs: Emmons Mullen Fessenden Derby Williams
Lincoln: Carter Sierra
Vintage Classics: Bigsby ShoBud
Play Now<->Pay Later

No Money Down !
[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 17 January 2003 at 12:31 AM.]

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 17 Jan 2003 12:31 am

Well Lets see, and this is just my opinion..

My Pro III might be a Cadillac, but it's had a hard life. If it were a car, it'd be a Cadillac alright, but a Beater.

The Sho~Bud Fingertip posted here in a small vid clip not too long ago was a real charmer.

Old Ones? S~B, Dekley, ZB, Emmons and MSA in that order.

New ones? I Like the Fessys, Williamses, Carters And the new MSA looks pretty swanky and solid.

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 17 Jan 2003 6:34 am

I love them all, but I will never get over the time I saw 3 black Emmons guitars, side by side, on the GOO!

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 17 Jan 2003 7:26 am

I have no idea what the cadilac of all steels is. But I DO know what the Rolls-Royce is. And that of course is the Anapeg built by Noel Anstead in Australia.

Simply an incredibly fine PSG. The wood alone is unmatched in steel guitardom. And the underneath is awesome. It is one of only two PSG's (currently made) that does NOT break strings. Noel is a genious and epitomizes the "old world" crafstman that are fast becoming a dying breed.

May God richly bless this man for what he does.

carl

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 17 Jan 2003 7:44 am

Would the GTO be the GFI?[This message was edited by Larry Miller on 17 January 2003 at 07:44 AM.]

John Fabian · Post by **John Fabian** » 17 Jan 2003 7:50 am

Hello from The NAMM Show.

We appreciate being named in Crowbear's automotive comparisons.

However (as we have told many people in the past) in a world where most steels can readily be compared to luxury cars, the Carter is really equivalent to a Dodge Viper or a Corvette. We see the Carter as a high-perfomance sports car rather than a luxury car. Our new LE models continue that concept moving it up to a Ferrari or Lamborghini level.

John Fabian

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 17 Jan 2003 8:13 am

I would argue to include ZB Custom among the "Vintage Classics"... maybe a '66 Chrysler Imperial!?

http://www.imperialclub.com/YearbyYear/1966/index.htm [This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 17 January 2003 at 08:13 AM.][This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 17 January 2003 at 08:15 AM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 17 Jan 2003 8:53 am

Yes Dave ZB in the Vintage Classics

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 17 Jan 2003 9:19 am

To John FABIAN
Hi John."LE" models.What's that???
Thanks.
JS (Happy Carter owner)[This message was edited by John Sluszny on 17 January 2003 at 09:21 AM.]

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 17 Jan 2003 12:08 pm

is Carter Starter the '67 VW Beetle?

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 17 Jan 2003 12:33 pm

Bodywise, anything with a Mark Giles lacquer body is pretty much at the top of the heap...

Post by **Joey Ace** » 17 Jan 2003 12:35 pm

JF's probably too busy recruiting Trade Show Models now, so I'll respond..

Carter LE are their new Limited Edition Custom Shop guitars.

Here's a link to their
1000th Carter with photos of
the same Old Growth Wood (as the LE models will be made of).

I'd compare it to a Bently, due to the wood.
[This message was edited by Joey Ace on 18 January 2003 at 06:58 PM.]

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 17 Jan 2003 12:53 pm

Gotta go with DVA on this one. ZB Custom, the tailfins are a shoe in for the '59 Cadillac.

Greg

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 17 Jan 2003 6:57 pm

where's the Mercedes Benz ?
Bugatti: Bigsby
(RoadRunner was a hip short

)
you better hope that you don't run outta Gas !

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 18 Jan 2003 12:59 am

WEll just thumb through this page and take your pick...it's a NO BRainER!!

John P. Phillips · Post by **John P. Phillips** » 18 Jan 2003 6:36 am

Well, whatever you wanna call it, mine goes to the very bottom of the list. THE V L C Maybe the edsel of steel guitars. (but no collectors value)
OBTW Carl, mine doesn't break strings either so there are three now ! why ? you ask ? Cause I can't even play the damned piece of junk !!!

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JUST 'CAUSE I STEEL, DON'T MAKE ME A THIEF

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 18 Jan 2003 7:19 am

DroopyPawn · Post by **DroopyPawn** » 18 Jan 2003 3:54 pm

I don't know about the best looking one, but the ugliest has to be the zebra lookin zum Jeff Newman plays on most of his videos.

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Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 21 Jan 2003 5:16 am

I think my blue lacquer D10 Mullen with a cross inlaid on the front is the prettiest guitar I've ever seen. I call it "The Blue Angel". The guitar stays 24/7 on the stage at church as I use it in the praise band "Judah".

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings

www.thenightshiftband.net

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 21 Jan 2003 1:51 pm

No one mentioned Excels.Perhaps because they are an import I would have to say that they are the Lexus of steels.I recently took possesion of a brand new top-of-the-line tricked out keyless U-12 "Superb" model and it's right up there with Sierra,Zum and Williams in terms of workmanship,design and tone.I would have to say tho,that Anapeg steels are the most well made I've ever seen in terms of fit and finish,and have a revolutionary changer,but If I owned one I would probably have to try some different pickups.The Excel is every bit as advanced in it's mechanics(it has the best anti-detuning gadget so far)and only slightly second to the Anapeg in changer design and fit/finish but it's tone sounds very close to a Zum. The Excel is also the lightest guitar I have ever owned - and much lighter than an Anapeg. Now Emmons PPs - I would characterize them as the Harley of steel guitars

-MJ-

Winnie Winston · Post by **Winnie Winston** » 21 Jan 2003 3:30 pm

It is interesting seeing the analogies to autos. I'd concur that the Anapeg is probably the Rolls.
But which one was the analogy of the Citroen DS-19? The one with the single spoked steeing wheel, the button for the brake pedal, and the hyraulic suspension? It was "the car of the future" when it first came out, and 20 years later, it still was.
I'd suggest two candidates here-- the Fender PS-210 which was so advanced that few could figure it out, and the Howard I saw at one of Scotty's shows in the mid 70s-- full body length helper springs, and a bunch of other most bizarre features. It had the softest action I've ever felt, but even after looking at the underneath for about a half hour, I really felt that some details were eluding me.

Then, there was Zane Beck's one (the pic in my book of him has him playing it) with a changer that pulled absolutely evenly so everything started and stopped at the same time...
Even his present keyless models, with the charger on both ends are pretty far out.

JW

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 21 Jan 2003 5:29 pm

I like that Harley of steels being the Emmons p/p. I've seen a few guitars in the last 20 years and still I'd have to say the Emmons p/p has the best tone like the Harleys have that unmistakeable sound. I always thought of mine as the workhorse of steel guitars.

Sam White · Post by **Sam White** » 21 Jan 2003 5:50 pm

Well now let me see here. Seeing I'm a retired Ford mechanic I do have to say that Linclon has it all over Cadillac so I guess The Fessenden would have to be the Linclon of all Steel Guitars. Thank you very much I had to put my five cents in on this one.I own a great Fessenden.
Sam White

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 21 Jan 2003 5:51 pm

I found this interesting website. An interiew with Tom Brumley who now plays an ANAPEG.
http://www.pedalprouniversal.com/folder-index/folder-layout-mie/folder-0005-mie/interview03-mie.html