The Steel Guitar Forum

Larry Phleger wrote:Sho Bud crossover. A real piece of junk. It never stayed in tune. The rack and barrel system was horrible, and the shift lever never did work as it should. If I remember correctly, Bobbie Seymour once sold one of these beasts for a dollar a pound just to get rid of it.

I had one that worked fine. I just didn't like the sound of it. I sold it to a friend who likes it. I'm not really much of a Sho-Bud guy.

I wasn't fond of the ZB Custom S-10 or the Fender 1000. The ZB was too hard to work on, and the Fender was just too big for me. They weren't bad instruments - just not right for me.

Somebody email'd me about the Electraharp. It was basically a Multi-Kord with a fancy cabinet and knobs. But it was the first time I could push a pedal and make an A chord out of an E chord.

I would have to say my first which was a New 2017 GFI S10 Student Model. The pedals were noisey when pressed, did not stay in tune. Sound was not that great. I was playing it through a Peavey Nashville 112. After a month I sold it at a significant loss, and ordered a Mullen Discovery from Mullen Steel Guitars. I love the Discovery.

For sure a Sho-Bud Crossover. I had it for 2 days - broke into somebody's garage and left it.

Having a super pro is Not such a big deal i paid through the nose for the one i got it came to me with cracked paint all over the top of it cross rods were out of their brackets , tiny knee levers hurt my legs when i pushed on them ,Never again they seen me coming on that guitar . For almost 3 grand you would think id got a better deal .

I guess me least favorite would be my first guitar a MSA Sidekick which would drift out of tune all the time no matter what I used on the set screws. Our little three piece group won a regional talent contest which included some recording at the CBC studios in Regina. The engineer could hear it drifting at various times and he patiently let me adjust and re-tune a couple of times

1. Pierce 2. older Excell 3. Carter starter.

My first steel, an early ZB Custom Double 10. Sounded ok, but an elephant couldn't push the pedals down. I did buy it used. Sent it in to ZB, came back playing even worse. Was told it would cost a bundle to make it right, i sold it through Scotty's.

That would be my Sho-Bud Maverick, the later version with the vinyl covering. Not too bad, a bit more string breaking that my other guitars, but it got me started. Just not as good as my later guitars.

My first pedal steel was a "Little Buddy" made by USA guitar. I picked it up used in the early 80's for something like $50. Yeah, I guess it was worth that..... Functionally similar to a mica Maverick. Oh, and it had a very awkward 4th pedal connected to a volume pot. The body was incredibly wobbly. I eventually mounted the pedals to a new board that was about 10" high and attached with 2 wing nuts on each leg. (I was working in a Formica shop at the time and was able to match the mica) That stabilized it a bit. The only good thing I can say about the guitar is that it was an affordable way to try out pedal steel.....an option that is pretty hard to find these days.

Of the modern guitars I have owned a D10, 8+6 Franklin and a U12 Carter were the worst sounding . They both played ok but the sound sucked.

I've really never had a guitar I hated except one. It was one of the major brands double ten, beautiful and in great shape. You couldn't make that thing sound decent with any amp or any pickup. I tried everything and finally gave up on it and sold it. It may have been one of those lemons as someone mentioned. I wanted to play it and keep it because it played so easy but the sound just wasn't there. Thought it was just me so had others try it and they agreed with me. It was just dead. The person that bought it loves it so go figure, lol. I told them about the way I felt about the tone of it before I sold it also but they still love it.

I bought my first PSG in 1985. I have owned a Sho-Bud D-10 Pro III, (2) MSA S-10 Semi-Classic's, (1) MSA S-10 Classic, (1) Carter U-12, (2) Zum StageOne's, still have one, (1) Mullen Discovery, and a new one on order, and I have never had one I didn't love. At 42 the Sho-Bud was fine, but at 62 it became to heavy, right now, at 76, I find the Discovery to be one outstanding guitar all around. I'm sure the Encore would be the same. However, I'm not in any band, I just play in a bedroom, converted to a music room, soon to be changed back to a bedroom, to raise another grand child, or should I say a great grand child. Not by choice.

Just so no one gets the wrong idea. I have raised four of our own children, then three that were not mine and not as foster parents, then 4 grand children. It's a very long story. Thanks for all you guys here.

Jim Reynolds wrote:Just so no one gets the wrong idea. I have raised four of our own children, then three that were not mine and not as foster parents, then 4 grand children. It's a very long story. Thanks for all you guys here.

I'm sure your selfless parenting has made a very meaningful impact on those children through the years. God bless you.

Bill Moran wrote:Of the modern guitars I have owned a D10, 8+6 Franklin and a U12 Carter were the worst sounding . They both played ok but the sound sucked.

I never seen anyone dis the sound of a Franklin before! What pickup was in it?

I've only played one Franklin when I lived in.A. I subbed for Dan Tyack one night in Long Beach with a band and Dan was nice enough to leave his Franklin guitar and it sounded great,I also liked the spiderweb fret markers.

Sierra Timberwolf

It's a toss up between my '65 wraparound and my '89 Franklin, both sounded like a**. Kept them both for as long as it took to get rid of them. Traded one for a Sho-Bud Pro ll with two hole pullers but that was terrible too. Managed to unload that in a deal for a Carter starter and a Maverick. Traded the Maverick for a Red Baron, put the Carter out on the curb. Now I'm happy., the Red Baron's "growl" is second to none!

I have owned over 30 pedal steels in my lifetime. Most have been superb after a bit of setting up. The worst one was a make beginning with M. The tone was horrendous and I just couldn't get any warmth out of it despite endless hours of tweaking the knobs on my amp. I sold it and the eventual buyer was very happy I hear. It looked the business, but the tone would make your eyes bleed.

WOW! I can't believe it's the M, I'm thinking. It sure can't be.

Cartwright Thompson wrote:It's a toss up between my '65 wraparound and my '89 Franklin, both sounded like a**. Kept them both for as long as it took to get rid of them. Traded one for a Sho-Bud Pro ll with two hole pullers but that was terrible too. Managed to unload that in a deal for a Carter starter and a Maverick. Traded the Maverick for a Red Baron, put the Carter out on the curb. Now I'm happy., the Red Baron's "growl" is second to none!

No offense intended, but you need professional counseling.

Blasphemy, Herb, blasphemy! I feel your pain.

But you have to admire those contact paper Mavericks.

Herb Steiner wrote:

Cartwright Thompson wrote:It's a toss up between my '65 wraparound and my '89 Franklin, both sounded like a**. Kept them both for as long as it took to get rid of them. Traded one for a Sho-Bud Pro ll with two hole pullers but that was terrible too. Managed to unload that in a deal for a Carter starter and a Maverick. Traded the Maverick for a Red Baron, put the Carter out on the curb. Now I'm happy., the Red Baron's "growl" is second to none!

No offense intended, but you need professional counseling.

I think Mr Thompson is having a wind-up of everyone here. Not many have taken the bait. He almost had us with his trade upwards of a '65 wraparound and Franklin to an MSA Red Baron and Carter Starter until he said that the RB had "growl" when we all know it has "meow".

I never seen anyone dis the sound of a Franklin before! What pickup was in it?

710's b0b.