I frequent a few different instrument forums, and it’s not uncommon that I see relatively novice players say they don’t feel “worthy†of an expensive instrument – even if the budget they give isn’t exactly high-end. I frequently tell these folks that nobody actually judges them for the instruments they own. For most of us, music is a hobby, and there’s nothing wrong with getting enjoyment from the best instrument you can afford.
That said, for about ten seconds when I first opened the case, I felt I wasn’t worthy of this steel. I got over it, of course, but the sight of the birdseye maple and aluminum trying to outshine each other was a pleasant shock even though Todd had sent me pictures before it shipped. It’s a pretty standard Clinesmith console, the only upgrade being the raised-graphic necks. The workmanship is absolutely flawless, and the attention to detail is superb.
But I didn’t order this steel just to look at it. I tried it out at rehearsal last weekend and put it through its paces at a show last night. The sound of these Bigsby-designed pickups is a perfect marriage of warmth and clarity; there’s enough mid-range to produce a thick clean sound but enough treble to keep it from mudding out with distortion. The instrument sustains beautifully, but there’s still enough attack to distinguish each note. And, while I typically prefer to use a keyboard stand with a console steel, this one’s quite stable on legs.
Wow that is gorgeous!
