The Steel Guitar Forum

Stu Schulman wrote: I've never heard that an S-10 is better for your technique...Besides my guitar is inbetween an S and an SD.

Well Stu, I guess you just weren't available that day...and had you been, the vote might have swung the other way and now I'd have an SD-10 - or like yours, a sorta SD-10!

Mark,No telling what this guitar is gonna become when it grows up.

I have had two standard double necks E/9 and C/6. I have had one S-10 and one SD -10. I have tried them all, and to me, it doesn't matter that much. You just get used to whatever you are playing. If I found a guitar that I really liked, I would not turn down purchasing it because of S10 vs. SD10 vs. pad or no pad. Two of the guitars I have had were 12 strings and two were 10 strings. I adjusted to both of them. The SD10 might be a little steader because of the wider leg spread and a little more weight. The back neck or pad is nice to rest your arms on, but not necessary in my opinion. Think about this: If you have a double neck steel and you are playing the back C-6th neck, you have nothing to rest your arms on, just like an S-10. So the one's that play the back neck should have no problem playing an S-10. Everything being equal, I would get a wider guitar with a pad, but, I certainly would not turn down a guitar that played and sounded great just because it was an S10. The S10 would be smaller and lighter to move around, and those are big plus's. So my advice for go for either one is probably of no help at all, but I felt like throwing in my 2 cents since I have had both.

"I've never heard that an S-10 is better for your technique."

I'm not sure it would improve technique. But I do think it gives you better posture, and that could, I suppose, have some slight effect on technique. Don't really know. I do like having my elbows closer to my sides.

There is a company that makes an a pro model guitar, S-12, 24 1/4 scale, keyless, that is about 29" in length, and weighs in at about 29 lbs.
It's on MY wish list!
Rick

I am playing an SD10 for the first time... not an issue at all...

I have a Jackson Steel that has a little "half pad" which I think is a great way to go.....

I do like all the room under the belly with the SD10 though.. knees are in a good place.. plenty of room to work with.

SD-10 seems to be more stable to me.Very comfortable to play,looks good, lots of room for knee levers. whats not to like??

...beautiful guitar.