The Steel Guitar Forum

It is too early to tell about the production of a 8 or 10 string model, and yes you are correct that those types of designs would require a higher price tag. Right now, we are testing the waters with the six string model.

Once again, I applaud Hartley Peavey for taking a chance. I've seen many models at the St. Louis and
Texas shows that are priced in the hundreds of dollars, but a big investment like that would scare me away if I was a newbie to steel guitar and I know that a lap steel is probably harder to sell than a six string guitar should I become disinterested in it. The bottom line is that the PEAVEY POWER SLIDE was introduced for those six string players who have always wanted to try a lap style of guitar without "breaking the bank" to purchase one.

There is no consideration for an 8 or 10 string model at this time.

Steinar, you've got the right idea about the 50 pieces. It would not be a profitable venture. By the way, there are no board of directors here at Peavey as Hartley Peavey is the sole owner.

Mike Brown wrote: Steinar, you've got the right idea about the 50 pieces. It would not be a profitable venture. By the way, there are no board of directors here at Peavey as Hartley Peavey is the sole owner.

Oh sh*t, another job opportunity gone....

Steinar

Mike Brown wrote:
There is no consideration for an 8 or 10 string model at this time.

Thank you for this info.

Thanks for your questions and interest.

I'm impressed with the Peavey. I can definitely see there being a market there. I know tons of guys who play lap steel who would never think of playing country or hawaiian music. Most of their inspiration comes from Pink Floyd.

Now when is Hartley going to reissue the T-60?

The bottom line is that the PEAVEY POWER SLIDE was introduced for those six string players who have always wanted to try a lap style of guitar without "breaking the bank" to purchase one.

I think this is an extremely wise marketing move, and I also think we here who already are lapsteel and PGS players should be raising our hands and saying HALLELUJAH! to Peavey for trying to bring in new steel players to the fold.

Most 6-string players I know want to TRY either lapsteel and/or "slide" guitar, but don't want to spend a lot of money. Sure, they can buy a cheapo $59 lapsteel to try to learn, but they'll quickly give up because they're so crappy.

I think Peavey's on the mark here. Aim for the younger, rocker set with an instrument that one can play in the traditional 'over the shoulder' way with a bottleneck, or, put it on one's lap and play with a steel bar. Most will opt for the former style, but many will be curious to try that "other weird way." Of course, as we all know, once that hook is set, there's no turning 'em back.



Hopefully, there will be some models that are painted in a more tradional color scheme, too, for those who want? A solid color like all black or all white, I'd consider getting one for playing lap style blues standing up and walking around.

For What It's Worth -
I think this is an excellent move on Peavey's part, and should be especially good for the world of Steel.

So here's my 2¢ from the point of view of someone from the 'target' demographic -
I've been playing music since I was 10, professionally since I was about 19 (Guitar, Sax, Keys, Ukulele). For many years I was curious about getting into steel guitar, but never really had a good opportunity to buy one or experiment with one at length.
A few years ago I bought a "Vineyard" brand Weissenborn copy at a local music store. They gave me a deal on it for around $320, which was a little more than I wanted to spend on something to "fool around" with, but I'm glad I did. That was my start into the world of steel, I was hooked and there's been no turning back.
Had it been an 8 or 10 string guitar, I would have been reluctant to get it for my first steel. Too much to take on at once.
But I'm sure that if I'd found a 6 string that was reasonably built and sounded good for around $200, I would have gotten into steel a lot sooner!
And if this does well for Peavey, I bet some of the other makers will jump back into the market.

On top of all this I'm probably still going to buy a Peavey powerslide when they're available too!

I hope they'll come out in solid colors as well. The "Harlequin" scheme is a bit much.

Now I'm torn about ordering one of those $100 Rondo Music SX LG1 lap steels that everyone is writing about, as well.

Hey Mike Brown, relay the enthusiasm and interest to your associates!

About those "speed pots." Are those made only by Duesenberg?

I couldn't find anything else like it after some google-ing.

I'd love to try one of those, but it'd be it be a little pricey to buy them in Euros and have them shipped to the US from Germany.

Hey Guys and Gals,
For about three years now, Hartley Peavey has asked whether I thought a "stand up" type of steel would sell. For the past two years, my answer to him was "no, I don't think that there would be many sold". However, in 2007, he asked me the same question and for some reason I felt that the time was right for this type of guitar. Now, I do not take credit for the design or the idea behind the Power Slide, although HP and I had discussed it's design previously.

I'm glad that he went ahead and made the move as I understand that the Power Slide was a big hit at the NAMM show. I've heard Hartley state numerous times that in order to be good, you have to be different. Well, the Power Slide is just that, DIFFERENT.................and just what the doctor ordered.

And, with a new instrument came new ideas about colors and color designs. Please be patient until these are in production and thanks for your enthusiasm!

Turquoise Blue and Salmon Pink would be nice!

We'll stick with the basic colors right now. Thx.

Tell Hartley that a loyal peavey customer wants him to reissue the T-60.

No shortage of cheap used T-60s in the world, but if Peavey does reissue them...make the necks wider.

A question for Mike Brown, or anyone who has "trialed" this guitar:

When I play a dobro standing up, I will sometimes anchor my picking hand on the palm rest to give stability so that the guitar doesn't shift.

How about some sort of pickup cover for this new Peavey which will enable one to stabilize the instrument, or by having two attachments on the tail piece does this take car of that potential problem?

T-60's are widely available on eBay for around $200.

Harry Dietrich wrote:Ali said:

They said they were looking at a price somewhere in the high $1,000 to low $2,000 range.

For that price you can get a fairly good pedal steel, and work everything with your feet and legs.

Harry

While this is true the addional weight and the cost of chiroprctic services which accompany PSG's makes them different very different instruments.

A $200 Peavey sounds like a great opportunity. I can not build a nice lap steel for $200 and make a living.

Then again I always suggest to people that express an interest in learning lap Steel to get a cheap S8 with a C6 tuning to start out with. I explicitly recommend against starting with a 6-string lap steel.

I explicitly recommend against starting with a 6-string lap steel.

Why? There's a lot of great music in six strings. Given the relative scarcity of eight string instruments vs. six string instruments, I'd like to know your reasoning behind that recommendation.

Brad Bechtel wrote:

I explicitly recommend against starting with a 6-string lap steel.

Why? There's a lot of great music in six strings. Given the relative scarcity of eight string instruments vs. six string instruments, I'd like to know your reasoning behind that recommendation.

I'll echo Brad's question. I used to bellyache about my National console being a 6-string instead of an 8-string. But then I started to realize how many great lap steel parts are done on 6-string guitars.

You don't need 8 strings, six are enough. Most of the melody work is done on the top 3 strings.

Ok, I'll admit... you can get some really fat sounding chords with two lower strings, but many times in a live setting with a full electric band with drums, electric bass etc. those lower notes get lost in the mud.

"those lower notes get lost in the mud."
Or, help create the mud! Sometimes ya just gotta stay in a certain sonic space.

Brad & Chris; I concur that their is a lot of great music played on 6-string lap steels. However when you are starting out having the extra couple of strings (in a C6 tuning) makes it a lot easier to play the minor chords.

The 8-string C6 tuning is the tuning that most of my favorite instructional material is written for. So part of my reason has to do with the instructional materials that I favor.

If a 6-strings is what you have to learn on then that is what you will use. I contend that most beginning players will seek out an inexpensive used instrument. While 8-string basic models are scarcer than the 6-string basic-models; 8-string student models on eBay can be had for about the same money as the 6's. So why not start out with at least the option of using 6,7, or 8 string tunings.

But having the option to use a wider variety of instructional materials is reason enough for me to recommend against starting with a 6-string lap steel.

I do not think that the lower notes get lost in the mud. At the extremes: the bass-side of the 6-string Dobro A-tuning is only 1 octave higher than the bass-side of the C6 tuning (8 string).

If $200 will buy a new (with warrantee) 6-string from Peavey; that will be a note-worthy option which does not exist in the current market. But the instructional material limitation will still exist.

I will be bringing two of the Power Slide guitars to the upcoming TSGJ in Irving, Texas on March 13th through the 16th. I invite you to drop by and play the instrument. New ideas is what is needed in order to keep steel and lap steel alive, but remember that this instrument can be played standing up. See you there.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

So Mike, they are close to being put up for public sale then? When they are, where can I get one? I would like one, but I can't make it to Texas.

Well maybe I should have waited for Duesenberg to bring out that steel rather than getting my one done:


Hope the Peaveys make it to the UK!

And I hope the peavey will make it to France too !
Bernard