Vintage or New Pedal Steel Guitar

[John Billings]

Sound is another important consideration. I assembled Performance Guitars for my late friend Jerry Brightman We sometimes commented on the fact that many new guitars pretty much sound the same. I'm into restoring old Shobuds now. They're gorgeous, and they have a distinctive sound. And they work great! Contact Jim Palenscar, he just bought a nice S=10.

[Richard Alderson]

You already have received enough advice here, but I cast my vote for the newest guitar you possibly can. You don't want problems and worn out parts, you want to sit down and play and not have to worry about extraneous problems. Older guitars can potentially have serious issues. Especially if you are new to the instrument, a newer guitar can simplify your life. A veteran player knows what to look for, how to spot issues, and how to trouble shoot. A new comer to the instrument will find things greatly simplified by purchasing the newest and most pristine instrument that the budget will allow. Think of the technological and qualitative advances in other aspects of life. Is older really better? Mostly not !!

[chris ivey]

current builders will probably like your point of view.

[Tom Quinn]

Actually old is almost always better. Including me.

The mechanics of a pedal steel with the exception of a push pull are pretty simple. They rarely wear out because 95 percent of them end up in back bedrooms and are played maybe five hours a month...

[Lane Gray]

Push-pull is even simpler....

[Dustin Rhodes]

Steels are the opposite of guitars. Whereas a new Tele or Strat can't even begin to compare to an old one, a steel is a mechanical device, & the newer the steel the more advanced & sophisticated the mechanisms have become. Go with new.

I've had my hands on tons of great playing and sounding new teles and strats and some old ones that were absolute dogs.

[Stu Schulman]

I would have to go with a new guitar,There are a few great guitars being built these days Justice,Desert Rose,Show-Pro,Mullen,Infinity,GFI,MSA etc.

[Lane Gray]

Tom, most pedal steels that need work aren't worn out, but are just badly adjusted. But a newbie shouldn't have to learn to wrench on them.

[chris ivey]

a novice skydiver shouldn't learn to pack his own chute?

[Lane Gray]

Inappropriate metaphor.
Novice skydiver shouldn't have to stitch up his/her chute.
Folding chute is akin to putting the guitar together and hooking up the cables.

[chris ivey]

yer takin' yer life in yer own hands gettin' involved with that thar steel gittar, boy!

[Charley Bond]

Hey there Ben.... maybe if you get to know some of these folks, they will direct you to the brand of guitar you might like to have.

Then you can move onto the model you might like.... & on & on & on

Then one or two guys can find a guitar, check it out & send it over.

You could put a few bucks in Bobby's bank as an escrow... then you'd be assured to get a good guitar, from the guys at the Steel Guitar Forum.

[Charley Bond]

Hello again Ben... do you want a single neck (with pad), double neck, 10 string, 12 string, Universal or what...?

What do you know about music...? about playing music..?

[Jim Pitman]

It's hard to wear out a pedal steel. The better reason to buy new might be because PSG mechanics may have advanced. You have features available now like bearings in the changer, nylon stops to reduce noise, raise helper springs, tunable halfstop and splits.... and so on. I would especially recommend new if you are going with an all pull changer for this reason.
Kinda depends on what copedent you will wind up with. The busier, the better to buy new in my opinion. (not to say I don't crave a vintage Kline)

[Ian Rae]

I own a "vintage" 60s pull-release D10 which sounds great and is mechanically flawless as it appears to be low-mileage and I've replaced all the linkage anyway.

I don't use it any more because I can't lift it, but it was a perfect beginner's instrument because it's simple to tune and stays rock solid. So if it sounds a bit off, it's you!

[Steve Spitz]

I'd go new. less risk.

[Damir Besic]

how much money do you have? if new $6000 Mullen is out of question, $1700 nice used BMI will do just fine...

[Ben Morine]

Thanks for all your input guys much appreciated.

I have got myself a new used guitar. It is a carter S10 3X5. It actually turned out the guys lived 20 minutes away from my house, which was awesome!

The guy I bought it off had not had it out of the house for years. It is in really great condition and sounds great.

Thanks again everyone for your advice. I am so thrilled right now with the Carter it is great.

[Herb Steiner]

Congratulations! You found one of the best and most reliable guitars in the used steel market. Now get to playing!

[Charley Bond]

That is fantastic, you will enjoy that guitar

[Lee Dassow]

Ben, That's a fine guitar and they don't weigh a ton.
Good luck with it. Tennessee Lee

[chris ivey]

great choice!