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Topic: Derby SD-10. Good Buy For The Money?? |
Avery Bradshaw
From:
Danville, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 20 May 2015 4:41 am |
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I am about to purchase a Derby SD-10 and a matching color steelers choice seat for $2000. Is this a pretty good buy? I haven't gotten a chance to play the guitar yet but I will before I make my decision. The fellow says that it's around a 2004 model. I will attach pictures. Let me know what you think experts!
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Rick Barnhart
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 20 May 2015 5:17 am
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Looks like an excellent deal.
_________________
Clinesmith consoles D-8/6 5 pedal, D-8 3 pedal & A25 Frypan, Pettingill Teardrop, & P8 Deluxe. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 20 May 2015 5:26 am
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I don't think they have anything to distinguish them from the other modern all-pull guitars. Well made. Decent price for a good guitar.
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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 |
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Jim Cooley
From:
The 'Ville, Texas, USA
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Posted 20 May 2015 6:09 am
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| Mine plays very smoothly, has great pedal action, stays in tune well. If the guitar is in good mechanical condition, this looks like a good deal. |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 20 May 2015 7:02 am
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That's a great deal.
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A.K.A Chappy. |
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Dick Sexton
From:
Greenville, Ohio
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Posted 20 May 2015 7:22 am Derby...
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My SD10 plays much better then I do. Sounds much better and is a whole lot prettier, too.
I can chunk a rock and hit a half dozen Derby players here in Ohio. Charlie Stepp, the builder, had a patent on his changer. Quick and responsive. I work on mine and a couple other players Derbys around here. As well made as any and if it had more then, 4 hole bell cranks and three up, two down changer. Better then most. I've heard them called a poor mans Emmons. Also have heard BE had some input in its design.
They, SD10s, can be had often for about $1800, so the Derby steel and a Steeler's Choice seat with a backrest, puts it just about in that ballpark. If you can pick it up and not pay shipping, it is a very good deal on a very good steel, given it is in good shape. Just my opinion of course... |
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Bill Moore
From:
Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 20 May 2015 7:31 am
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| I've had two Derby guitars, still own one of them. In my opinion, they are among the best. Very good sounding, very high quality construction, really good steel guitars. |
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Lee Warren
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 20 May 2015 7:47 am
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Hi Avery,
I recently acquired a Derby SD-10 (with 4 and 5) and love it.
It compares very favorably, in my opinion, with my Emmons LL D-10.
That looks like a nice guitar and seat package for the price.
Lee
p.s.
Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone have a Derby rodding chart they could share? |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 20 May 2015 9:06 am
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| Also own both an SD-10 Derby and SKH Legrande. in my opinion also, the Derby plays and sounds very much like the Emmons...FWIW: Replacing the existing pickup (appears to be a BL 910) with a Wallace Truetone (wound to around 18K) will make that guitar come alive! Substituted a Truetone for the stock George L E-66 in mine and noticed a considerable improvement in tone. |
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Ronald Sikes
From:
Corsicana, Tx
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Posted 20 May 2015 12:15 pm
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I've owned three Derbys in the past. Excellent craftsmanship. I'll probably catch some flack over this , but I was told by more than one that they are built better than an Emmons. But , my Show Pros are built a lot better than a Sho Bud.
I have a friend that always liked True Tone pups in his. Wound to 17.5. I always liked the E-66
_________________
Show Pro #26 & #83,BJS bars,Stereo Steel,Tommy Huff cabs loaded with JBL D130's, Wampler pedals,NV112,NV400, Steelers Choice Seats |
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Andy Eder
From:
North Florida, USA
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Posted 20 May 2015 12:23 pm
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| Great deal especially if all the accessories are included shown in the pix. |
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John Peay
From:
Cumming, Georgia USA
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Posted 20 May 2015 12:29 pm
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| David Nugent wrote: |
| FWIW: Substituted a Truetone for the stock George L E-66 in mine and noticed a considerable improvement in tone. |
| Ronald Sikes wrote: |
| I have a friend that always liked True Tone pups in his. Wound to 17.5. I always liked the E-66 |
Arghh! My Derby SD-10 4x5 has a Trutone in it, but I was thinking of trying an E-66! Oh well, I think it’d be hard to make this guitar sound too bad regardless (other than with me playing it!).
I’ve owned my Derby about 4 years and love it. Pedal action is just what I like…smooth, but not so smooth that I can’t feel it (YMMV of course!). And mine is from about the same time as the one you're looking at… |
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Lee Warren
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 20 May 2015 12:38 pm
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Mine came with the E-66 and I'm very pleased with the sound ... bright and clear, to my ears, at least.  |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 20 May 2015 1:56 pm
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My problem with the E-66 isn't the tone, but its responsiveness. It suppresses soul, personality and attack. Much prefer the Tonealigner if you need a humbucker.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Lee Warren
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 20 May 2015 3:38 pm
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Hi Lane,
Perhaps the E-66 provides the perfect balance to my abundance of soul, personality and attack (?!). 
Just kidding, of course!
I've never tried a tonealigner, but feel pretty sure that it would be worth a go.
Your advice, YT videos and general input on the forum are always very helpful and come from the right place ... your heart and the years of experience you have under your belt.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Lee |
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Avery Bradshaw
From:
Danville, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 20 May 2015 5:00 pm
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| I appreciate all of the responses guys. Seems like there are more than a few people who love their derby steels. I am going to try my best to pull the trigger on this one this coming week. It is located in my state so I won't have to pay shipping charges. Thats a big plus. Hopefully it will all work out! |
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Joseph Napolitano
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 20 May 2015 6:15 pm
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| I love my Derby. Don't want to play anything else . Once you hear that one , you're probably gonna want it. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 20 May 2015 6:52 pm
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| I've played two. They were both excellent in every way. If that one was in my neck of the woods and it played/sounded as good as the two I played, I would have already beat you to the punchline. But I do confess that I'm a sucker for that shade of green. |
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Drew Pierce
From:
Arkansas, USA
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Posted 21 May 2015 6:02 am
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Here's Buddy playing a Derby at ISGA. I always assumed the name was a reference to his trademark head gear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOiizSMGFDk
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Drew Pierce
Emmons D10 Fatback, S10 bolt-on, Zum D10, Evans RE500, Hilton volume and delay pedals. |
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Lee Warren
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 21 May 2015 6:31 am
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"I always assumed the name was a reference to his trademark head gear"
I heard that too, but also heard it was a reference to the Kentucky Derby. |
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Lonnie Portwood
From:
Jacksonville, fl. USA
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Posted 21 May 2015 6:39 pm
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Charlie Stepp worked for Emmons for about ten years. He told me He thought He could build em' better and started His own brand. His background was in the body and fender (Collision repair) and is why His wood bodies always looked so good. We became good friends at the annual shows in St. Louis, one year He gave a "Derby" cap to me. I went into the Fulawka room next door (where Chet Gibson and I hung out every year) and scribbled "Fulawka" on a scrap of paper, stuck on top of the Derby cap and went back into the Derby room. When Charlie saw it He laughed so hard I thought He would pee in His pants. The whole room cracked up! We had some great times and I miss Charlie Stepp.
I told Charlie if I ever ordered another steel, it'd be a Derby. They are as good as it gets! Lonnie
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Music is probably the most "spiritual of mankinds emotions, and when practised with a pure heart, can lead one into the presence of God, who invented it. Lonnie Portwood |
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Bill Moore
From:
Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 22 May 2015 5:19 am
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| About pickups; both of my Derbys used the E-66 pickup. It sounded excellent on them. I've used different pickups on other guitars, but I'm very pleased the the E-66 on the Derby. I liked it so much that I put one on my Rittenberry too. Also have one on my Justice S-10. |
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Lee Warren
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 22 May 2015 5:38 am
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More insight into the origins of the Derby name:
July 27, 2007
Jaynette Mondie
Posted 13 Jul 2007 11:25 am .. L_POST_SUBJECT}: -->
I am very proud to say Charles Stepp is my father. I just want to clarify how Derby got its name and symbols. My parents lived fairly close to Churchill Downs where the Derby is ran. Since they lived in Louisville they picked the name Derby but could not use horses. He tried using the hats but then decided to use crowns to represent the Derby since it is the first leg of the Triple Crown. My father did not work for Emmons but he was a dealer for them and made several trips there. Then he decided to build his own and the rest as they say is history!
I found this within an earlier thread that includes interesting input from folks like Buddy Emmons and Jack Strayhorn!
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=165192
Lee |
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Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
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Ron Pruter
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 25 May 2015 6:34 pm
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Ever hear,"if you've owned a Derby, you've owned an Emmons"? I have. The Derby, IMHO, has a lot of features the Emmons doesn't. I'm an Emmons owner who just worked on a Derby. Again, IMHO, Derby's better. RP
PS.I'm braced and ready to stand by what I said.
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Emmons SKH Le Grande, '73 Fender P/J bass, Tick tack bass, Regal high strung, USA Nashville 112. |
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