Bring me up to snuff on Excel guitars

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

I was at the Dallas show a couple years ago and looked at the Excel guitar display. I was pretty impressed with what I saw. Since then, I have heard a few good sound clips and some good reviews. I am toying with the idea of getting an S-10, partly due to their light weigbt. I know nothing about the Excel, really, except they are made by a guy in Japan by a guy named Mitsuo, or something like that. I have read about changer design changes. Are some of their models more desirable than others? Do they have some that would be more of a student model? What year did the changer design happen? What about keyless? I had a Kline keyless and have had 3 keyed guitars. I liked the keyless best. All guitars go through a development period, so should I only be interested in one's made after a certain year?

I am interested in anything I should consider, good or bad, from you guys that have one or have had one.

Thanks,

George

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Good question, I'm curious, too. Following. I saw an amazing aqua beauty at last year's Dallas show, glad I'd left my credit cards in the hotel room! And had the will power to leave them there. Very Happy

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Nicholas Scott · From: Norfolk, VA USA

I own an Excel D10 8x5 built around 2009. It's not the Keyless model but I've heard great things about those too. I love my Excel. Light weight, stays in tune, smooth pedal action and easy to work on. I've owned a BMI, GFI, Carter, Sho Bud and this Excel. The Excel is definitely my favorite so far. I included a pic of my changer to give you some what of a reference. It's a 5 raise, 3 lower. I've only owned it for a little over a year but I gig a couple of times a week and it's never let me down. Mitsuo is pretty good at answering questions on a timely basis too despite being in Japan. I'm currently shopping mine because I'm thinking about snagging that killer Rittenberry Jim Hollingsworth has listed but that doesn't have anything to do with the quality of my Excel. I'd definitely recommend Excel.

Here is the link to their website: http://fuzzypsg.com/int/

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Rittenberry D10 Prestige, Peavey Nashville 112, Quilter Steelaire, Telonics VP And Sarno Black Box, Walker Steel Seat

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

Nicholas, what is the height from the floor to the top of your guitar, not including the neck? My Zum is 31" , due to longer rods and legs. I would need at least 30" . Are the pedal rods standard 5/32" so I can use a lift kit?

David Ball · From: North Carolina High Country

I have a U12 Superb long scale, 8 and 5 with the keyless tuners on the changer side. I believe it is the guitar in this thread: https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=314403

If not, it is identical. It plays great, sounds great, stays in tune, doesn't break strings and doesn't break your back. Probably my favorite PSG I have owned.

Dave

Ron Pruter · From: Arizona, USA

Split screws and plenty of room in the changer for split rods. I like that because split rods always seem to need less adjusting than split screws. RP
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Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

I have a 2018 model which looks like this

The changer is 7 up 4 down, and the keyless tuner is now very compact. The mechanism is a miracle of neatness. The threads are all metric so the pedal rods are 5mm, which is the same pitch as #10-32 but a different profile; but Mitsuo will make the height whatever you wish.

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Here's my S-12 with E9th and C6th tunings. Ultra light, extremely smooth action, small footprint, light case, positive pedal stops and even pull pressure through the entire pedal travel. The guitar's not perfect and there are some trade-offs with knee lever adjustments and placement. Also very limited space underneath. I added 3 knee levers myself and increased the guitar height by 1".

The scale is 24 1/4"

The lock lever is very precise in switching back and forth between E9 and C6. I recorded all 21 samples below on both tunings without re-tuning any open strings, pedals or knees over a period of two days.

String spacing is 3.37"

Pickup resistance is 21.4 kohms

The main body measures 27.5" by 8.25"

Height from the floor to the strings is 29 3/8"

Height from the floor to the back apron is 25 3/8"

Height from the floor to the bottom of the vertical knee lever is 23 3/4"

Guitar weight is 25.8 pounds (my 12 string Williams keyless weighs 26.9 pounds)

Case weight is 12.1 pounds! (the Williams case weighed 31.1 pounds)

The guitar and the case combined total weight is a minimal 37.9 pounds

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

Greg's is the standard scale. I thought mine was too until it turned up and I discovered it was 25½"! But I like it so I said nothing Smile

I also have a Williams which is just as light, but also in a heavier case - and it's not the heavy-duty one! (But it does have wheels.)
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Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs

K Maul · From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL

Mitsuo made me a custom S-11 Keyless. Good price, finished ahead of schedule. It sounds fantastic. Weighs 37lbs in the case. I put it in the overhead on a plane, no hassle.
His half stops are really smooth and well defined.

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George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

David, please check your email.

Thanks,

George

Ron Hogan · From: Nashville, TN, usa

George, I know Steel Guitar Nashville had a few in stock and the builder would stop by there now and then during his visits to the USA.

I played one there and was impressed. Light weight to and all good quality.

Ron

Glenn Demichele · From: (20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA

I have a keyless superb D10, 8 x 5 and it's amazing. I never have to tune it - always comes out of the case dead on. I play sloppier on my Franklin for some unknown reason. I use the Excel on 8 out of 10 gigs.
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Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5. Both amazing guitars! Homemade buffer/overdrive with adjustable 700Hz "Fender" scoop., Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x TDA7294 80W class AB amps, or 2x BAM200 for stereo. TT12 and BW1501 each in its own closed back wedge. Also NV400 etc. etc...

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

+1 with the tuning, or lack of it.
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Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

I would expect a keyless guitar to be much more likely to come out of the case in tune. Unlike keys, there is nothing to get turned.

I have a possible trade, locally, for a keyless 25-1/2"
scale U-12. I would be trading my 1982 D-10 Zum, which is worth considerably more. Going to be a tough trade.

I think the longer scale might have a little more sustain but the trade off is the string would have to be tighter, which might break easier.

I will be getting together with the Excel owner next week, so I have to make a big decision. I had a universal once and would like to go back. But I love my Zum. Decisions, decisions.......

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

I like the long scale because of the extra tension. It feels good if I have to dig in a little playing with a loud band. My Williams is 24¼" and generally stays at home where its subtlety can be appreciated. That's not to say the Excel doesn't sound sweet when you want it to.
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Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs

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