what brand would you buy

Jack Shrader Sr · From: Columbus In. U.S.A.

I have been playing steel for over 35 yrs and have allways said I would never buy one with out playing it well my health won't let me travel so I am asking you all what brand would you consider..who is the best company. thanks for the help...Jack

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Hello Jack! man this should be good!!everyone
has there own opinion!Put them in a sack and
shake them up!what have you been playing?
good luck!
farris

Sidney Malone · From: Buna, TX

You might want to narrow the field a little by answering a couple of questions.

Are you looking for new or used? Do you have a price range? Then how long you have to wait on a new one could be a factor also.

There's a lot of great guitars being built and even more opinions on which one is best.

Good luck and I'm sure you will get plenty of opinions!!

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MSA Millennium S-12U
Fessy S-12U
Walker Stereo Steel, Hilton Pedal

Grant Johnson · From: Nashville TN

I'll Jump in!
I have done my learning time on a Wheeler student model E9, and have been playing a Marlen S-10 for a while. If finances are better next year, I am planning to get a new U-12 or D-10. I have been very impressed with the Desert Rose Guitars out of Tucson. Also a local player has a beautiful Carter D-10 (Laquered Maple with Abalone Trim) and I swear it is the best sounding steel in the Seattle Area. So I am considering one of those two companies...

David Doggett · Posted 23 Sep 2004 7:34 am

Jack, you need to narrow your question some for us. Any of the several top selling brands, and also a bunch of the boutique brands will be very good these days new. REcent make used steels are a real bargain. Older used pedal steels are dicey, some great, some not. The differences between new and late model used steels are small things that will depend on personal preferences. What are your personal preferences?

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Jack, if you're talking about a new guitar, I think any of the major brands would be fine. I don't know of any of the major manufacturers that make a "bad" guitar anymore, or a bad sounding guitar, for that matter. Mullen, MSA, Emmons, Carter, Zum, Williams, Fulawka, GFI, Derby...they're all good sounding guitars!

Marco Schouten · From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

If we're talking about a new guitar I would take a look at Promat, Performance or Williams.
I haven't tried any of them, so could easily be something else.

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Steelin' Greetings
Marco Schouten
Sho-Bud LLG; Guyatone 6 string lap steel; John Pearse bar; Emmons bar; Evans SE200 amp

Joe Alterio · From: Irvington, Indiana

There's just too many builders (about 30!) that you can choose from to get a good answer here. If you even narrow those builders down to the ones most talked about here as being great guitars, you'd still have about 15! You're best bet is to narrow down to a handful of builders and do searches on them here on the Forum. See what people in the past have said about their guitars....

Here's some of your choices for a new steel:

Zum
Carter
BMI
MSA
Emmons
JCH
Performance
Excel
Mullen
Derby
Williams
Fessenden
Fulawka
Franklin
GFI
Remington
Wilcox
Promat
Pedalmaster
Rayline
Anapeg
Desert Rose
Nikaro
Rains
Sierra
Lamar
Kline
LaGarrett
Nashville LTD

Not counting the steels that are no longer being manufactured by:

Dekley
MCI/EMCI
Sho-Bud
Fender
ZB
Cougar
Mooney

BTW, Jack.....do you not have the Super Pro anymore?

Joe

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

I'm in a similar position where I'm a million miles away from the States so I can't get to try out new guitars. I recently was planning on buying a brand new guitar after playing my MCI for the last 20 odd years, but I got side-tracked by a near new ZUM which was priced just right, with all the pedals and knees I needed. Since I had never seen a Zum in the flesh I had to rely on reputation and other peoples advice. Short story is I bought the guitar sight unseen and it turned out to be an absolute cracker !!! Fabulous guitar. So you could probably buy any of the top guitars available and be perfectly satisified. I will probably still go ahead and order that new guitar I was originally going to buy - I just have to scratch together some more cash - hahaha !!

Bill Simmons · From: Keller, Texas/Birmingham, AL, R.I.P.

So many great sounding steels to chose from today! However,based on being at Scotty's and trying so many models, my #1 choice: Zum "Hybrid" D-10; Black mica -- #2 Williams D-10; Blue Lacquer But then again, I'd also love to have a....

Jimmie Martin · From: Ohio, USA

i don't know

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I just bought a Williams. mmmmm....

mike nolan · From: Forest Hills, NY USA

My new Williams just arrived Monday. I have owned a lot of different brands, and this is up there with the best of them.... and it is great to get a brand new guitar that is set up the way you want from the start.

Travis Bernhardt · From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

I'll ditto what Bill just said, except: swap out the tens for twelves, put the Williams first and give it the crossover mechanism. Then drool like Homer Simpson.

-Travis

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

I have tried each of these and would not hesitate to buy one new or used if money wasn't an object.
Actually if that were the case one of EACH without question.

Zum
Solid workhorses, I have played more of these than anything else. Not a problem. They all sounded good, and made me sound good.

Carter
I have played several and give much the same impression as Zum. I played one and then Doug Jernigan played his set on it, An even more favorible impression was had. And the Fabians are good people to deal with.

MSA
Arguably the most advanced steel around, and many, many likable things going for it, but price isn't one. StillI like the sound and the sense of precision. I have played several and was smitten each time. If I had the scratch...

Emmons
The old PP's are really sweet, I played several in one sitting , and if properly maintained are great.
Dicky Overby was other worldly on his at ISGC.
I haven't tried the new ones, the one LaGrande I tried was a very nice steel, solid, smooth and great sound. But it was under poor listening conditions.

Mullen
Very nice pedal / lever action in general quite smooth and flexible, I have played one, but liked it. Made me think Sho-Bud a bit too.

Derby
Tried a very old S-12 Derby not at all clean and almost bought it.
I didn't, but not because I didn't find it good enough, I bought a mexicanTele instead.

Fessenden
I have tried 2 and liked them a lot, and have heard some of my favorite recordings done on them too. Jerry is a hoot, and runs a good shop, from all reports. Again I thought Sho-Bud, but new machinery.

Williams
I tried two, but only under poor conditioons, the pedals felt great and they seemed very well made, It was too noisy to give a tone opinion with the only sound option I had.

Fulawka Very Sho-Bud ish with newer mechanics. Played two and felt right at home, owning a Bud myself. I really loved the ones I tried. Ed is a real character and makes a great barbicue spice mix too.

GFI
Nice, light steels, but still good sounding,
and a great on the road.. dang I gotta carry this critter steel. In other hands they have sounded very good. But I didn't have an amp at the time.

Promat
There is only one here I know of ; Damir's, but I did get my mits on it and it is very cool.
What a sound, if you like push pull sound, I do, among others.
A very unique and very well made steel.
Perfect for the pushpull fanatic. I saw a video of one well known picker running out of supurlatives, and I heard he has bought one for himself.
One negative.. well sort of, but not for me here,
it is made in Europe, so not as parts friendlty or cheap to call from the states.
Also limited production.. even by PSG standards.

Now I am FAR from an expert, but I know what I liked, and why.
The majority that I HAVE tried several examples of, would be great if you only had one to get just once.

Really no weak sisters, just differences.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 26 September 2004 at 07:33 AM.]

Jack Shrader Sr · From: Columbus In. U.S.A.

Still need info Jack

GARYPHILLIPS · From: SOMERSET, OHIO ,PERRY

I have a new D-10 8/5 Desert Rose steel guitar comin real soon.

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Gary Phillips
JUST-N-CASE PLUS
D-10 8/5 Desert Rose Steel Guitar

Jack Shrader Sr · From: Columbus In. U.S.A.

for youall's info I purchased a Emmons Lagrande 11 thanks for the replies Jack

Damir Besic · From: Nashville,TN.

Hi David,I had a great time talking with you,thank you for a kind words about my guitar and I`m sorry that you had a such a bad time at the Station Inn Sunday.I realy enjoyed your CD too.Thanks.Hope to see you seting up your recording studio in Nashville soon.

David "Thousand chords" Donald

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chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

I just bought a '65 Emmons wrap-around to go with the Professional and the Bigsbys. I don't need to buy any more guitars.

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Damir, thank you for the kind words. It was a pleasure to meet you also

"Thousand Chords"... Am I now the Lon Chaney of Steel? Dubious at best!
For lack of picking technique, but having a wide harmonic ear,
being a chord maven seem the 1st logical step.

No clue on if I relocate at this point.
One never knows do one?

Chas, I can see your point!

Jack have a great time with the LaGrande!

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 26 September 2004 at 07:43 AM.]

Gary Preston · From: Columbus, Ohio, USA

Wow this is a hard question ! I like so many that if i was interested in a new one i would be very confused about the brand name . I bought a new Sho-Bud Pro-II Custom
in 1977 and it is still like new (almost
) I have a new Williams that is a year old and it sounds great ,( it's not a Sho-Bud ) ! But it is one of the eaisiest guitars that i have ever seen to work on . I added a new change on it and it took me about 15 minutes to do it . So good luck on making you decision my friend . Best regards,,,Gary .

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