The Steel Guitar Forum

what Tommy said...

Dave,
I agree with you and Tommy, but,,,,, mother of invention and all that,,,,,,, Some guys really feel more comfortable with the pad. I do not like them. I'm 6'2", and my posture, my stance, just does not like, nor need, a pad. I have no reason to reach across one. But,, that's me.

One thing I didn't see mentioned is for "future growth". i.e., I just bought my D-10 from Gary Carpenter at Rains, and at first, I wasn't sure how much $$ I wanted to invest. Gary pointed out to me I could purchase one with a single neck (E9, with D-10 body, pad installed) and if I decided I wanted to also work on the C6, all he had to do was lift the pad, drill a few holes and install the second neck! Made perfect sense to me. Anyway, I thought what the hey, and went on and got em both anyway! Now, I'm glad I did.

I played an S10 until 2004, when I sold it and got an Emmons LGII D10. The knee levers were mounted very close to the front of the guitar, which made them hard to reach – on my S10, they were very close to the rear apron. The Emmons never felt right to play, but the deeper body felt more comfortable in other ways.

So when I decided I wouldn't have time to learn C6 and ordered a Zum SD10 a couple of years later, I made sure the knee levers were mounted as close to the rear apron as possible, which turned out perfectly. Now I have the comfort of the pad, the wood mass and stability of a D10 and the playing comfort of my old S10 – with added rubber patches on the pedals it's even OK to play without shoes.

James Marlowe wrote:I've been playing double body guitars for most of my so called pickin' career.
Recently I bought an S10 as a second guitar to leave set up at church. Well, I struggled with that guitar from day one. And the reason I found is because the levers were too far away. When I got close enough to use the levers, I was all over the pedals. My ankles aren't what they use to be and don't flex very well. Between that handicap and my big feet, I had to give up the S body idea.

This is the main difference, Pedal / Lever location and largely depends on what you are used to...
I don't like it when say the RKR is way forward and you have to reach up in there for it, Double or Single because I am not used to it.
Some people are used to it.
Every body gets used to what they are used to, right or wrong and I don't think there is a right or wrong, just preferences.
Sound and Tone, No comment, as we all know...It is in the eye of the Beer Holder.
If you are uncomfortable playing a steel it is hard to get a good tone as your technique will be some what off.
I like the RKR and LKL at the rear apron and the center levers slightly forward in a sort of circular shape the way the knees move.
No pad for me, I like the lighter weight

I took my first PSG lesson from Larry Chung this week. I highly recommend him. He's a brilliant instructor! What I did notice was what Bob was saying about the knee levers in respect to the floor pedals. I'm just a nubie, but it also seemed to me like I was too "fenced in" with the S-10. I may end up with a SD-10 for this reason.

Stable, Allows you to set you forearms for easier blocking, got more room to put stuff on it, and they look so dang good!