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Topic: Senior Downsize? (Pro model to Student model) |
Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 7:09 am |
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Just a thought...or maybe a consideration!
Are there any senior pedal steel players that have downsized
their pro model pedal steel to a student pedal steel...
for a less weight and fewer levers/pedals?
This move would be a sort of an in-between compromise between a pedal steel and a lap steel. You would maintain AB pedals & RKR(Eb) lever, but would require some bar slants for other functions. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 7:26 am
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| That might describe my situation. My 8 x 4 D-10 push/pull has not seen the outside of its case in ages, while my 3 x 1 GS-10 is set up and ready to play. A Princeton Reverb takes the place of the LTD 400. No complaints. |
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John Poston
From:
Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 9:29 am
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| I haven't but know someone who pretty much stopped gigging with his push pull - used it only for recording sessions - and gigged exclusively with a Zum Stage One. He said it sounded good and did about everything he needed. |
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Bobby Martin
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 9:43 am Downsize
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At 73 I get by just fine with my Sho-Bud S-10 Pro I 3x3 and a a R.I. Deluxe Reverb. For a big event I love my Show-Pro LDG and 100 watt Fender Vibrasonic steel amp but they're HEAVY! My forever Pro III never leaves the house, thinking about re-purposing it as an aquarium stand! Then there's my old JBL Twin Reverb, my lower back says never again! Probably part it out before it sinks any deeper into the floor!
_________________
Retired my "Flying Pro III" playin' gigs with the "little bud" in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. |
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Barry Anderson
From:
Nevada City, California, USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 9:46 am
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I wouldn't even limit this consideration to seniors. While I'm neither eligible for discounted movie tickets nor a prolific gigging steeler, I am a believer that more often than not, less is more. Especially when it comes to pedal steel. And when I'm honest with myself about what the songs truly need for the situations in which I am gigging, as compared to what's fun to work out in my house while practicing, I have to admit that a student model would likely do the trick.
I'd even go so far as to suggest that perhaps having a more "limited" setup would facilitate more tasteful playing for those of us where personal skills like restraint are still in development.
Heck, I remember reading that Ben Keith used his GS-10 for his entire career with Neil. Granted, that's not trad country but it sure sounded good to my ears. |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 10:01 am
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I mostly use a keyless Williams single neck now. Lighter, smaller stage footprint, great sound. Fewer effects, too. My reason isn’t infirmity but lack of patience lugging and setting up stuff I won’t use. If I had a road crew, maybe…..
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KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Danelectro, Evans, Fender, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 10:38 am
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| K Maul wrote: |
| I mostly use a keyless Williams single neck now. Lighter, smaller stage footprint, great sound. Fewer effects, too. My reason isn’t infirmity but lack of patience lugging and setting up stuff I won’t use. |
Dittos!
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Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande
There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.
Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 10:41 am
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| John Poston wrote: |
| I haven't but know someone who pretty much stopped gigging with his push pull - used it only for recording sessions - and gigged exclusively with a Zum Stage One. He said it sounded good and did about everything he needed. |
Nashville steel guitarist Leo Grassl has 3 Stage One's. He sounds great!
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Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande
There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.
Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat |
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Jon Jaffe
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 10:50 am
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| I just turned 75. I have been downsizing since the early '80s when I used to schlep two Nashville 400s and play stereo. I have never owned a doubleneck steel. My Klines at 50lbs are heavy enough. I recently bought a new Sierra under 30lbs that leaves the Klines in their cases. Although I have not gone direct, I am close with the TONEX One and an FRFR-powered guitar speaker. My hearing is good, but I must practice more to maintain my dexterity. I have to hit off the old man's tees, but I still walk the front and carry my bag. I still gig weekly. |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 11:13 am
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| K Maul wrote: |
| I mostly use a keyless Williams single neck now... |
Recently I bought a later model Maverick body, refinished it and used spare ShoBud parts and a Miller pull-release changer to make a single 10 with two knee levers, no pedals. I have it in D 13 with top chromatics and use the knees to raise Ds-D# and F#s-G. I have used it for old school Country gigs but may try it for more contemporary Americana styles and rock. I doubt most could tell a difference and my lazy self will probably be fine with it! It weighs less than a sack of potatoes and sets up in 2 min!
In progress:
_________________
KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Danelectro, Evans, Fender, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Jon Irsik
From:
Wichita, KS USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 1:17 pm
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I had laid off of playing steel for the past few decades but had an opportunity to pick up some gigs on steel last year and have been getting more and more calls the past few months, there's not many steel players in my area. The main thing I noticed was how much heavier the gear is now than it used to be!
I've been thinking of going to a smaller and lighter steel for a while now...Discovery, Zum Encore, something along those lines. I also just picked up a Boss Katana last week to see if it is a viable steel amp and it sure seems to me like it will work. |
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Larry Allen
From:
Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 1:58 pm Downsize
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Just turned 81, put my Keyless 40lb Excel 7/5 in the studio..using my 20lb Keyless Excel 4/5 for gigging.. NV112 gets heavier ever year! 
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Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side |
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Marshall Woodall
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 2:32 pm
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| Happy Birthday Larry and Jon! |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 2:49 pm
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 Not really a senior-I'm 43, but I'd downsized steels, mainly because of cerebral palsy in my left hand. From 2004 to 2010 I played a GFI Ultra D-10, and it was a great steel guitar, but then I found out I played more E9th than C6th, and for some reason I felt that the GFI I played wasn't really what I thought it would be, so in 2009, I met Shot Jackson's two sons, David and Harry Jackson and at the time, they were building a steel called the Jackson Madison '63, and after playing a set with the GFI at a steel guitar show in Atlanta, David asked me if I wanted to try out a Jackson pedal steel, and so I tried out the Madison '63 and I loved it because it looked and sounded like the Sho-Bud steel. After the show, I went home and played the GFI again, but I felt that after playing the Jackson, I couldn't convince myself that the GFI could be my main steel guitar. In 2010, I got in touch with David, Harry, and Dawn Jackson, and they built my current steel, a Jackson Blackjack Custom with three pedals, four knees, E9th tuning, standard Emmons setup, and it's my best and favorite steel! It uses the E9th tuning. It's not a student model steel, it's a pro model for all levels
Last edited by Brett Day on 14 Feb 2025 2:28 pm; edited 4 times in total |
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Larry Allen
From:
Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii
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Posted 12 Feb 2025 3:15 pm Bd
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Mahalo Marshall, hope you’re still with the 20LB Excel!!! I just picked up another 20LB Excel.. downsized from 7/5 to 4/5.. Larry 
_________________
Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2025 11:35 am
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I started down sizing about 6 years ago when I turned 75.
My Nashville 400 is now a catch it table. My MSA Classic D10 now lives in Ohio, And MSA S10 now calls Illinois home.
GFI Ultra S12 cased 49lb.
Speaker cabinet, Tone Block 202 25lb.
Now to get a light weight seat. Dump and refill each week so it does not collect weight. |
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