The Steel Guitar Forum

Nice playing Jamie! Good tune!

Jamie Mitchell wrote:i was/am gonna post this elsewhere, but, this whole record was done on an Encore, fwiw

https://kingcardinal.bandcamp.com/track/abraham

j

That sounded real good, Jamie!
Sounded like you could have used a little of this after that session....

Just got a message from Doug. The Encore will be here next week!

The Seat, Amp, Volume Pedal, etc have arrived already so I'll be sure to post pics of the whole setup when it arrives.

Fresh from Doug Earnest in Branson, Missouri My ZumSteel Encore has arrived! The FedEx lady delivered it yesterday and once I got the box open it was surprisingly easy to setup. Just four legs to screw in, two big plastic wingnut'ish things for the foot plate and then 4 rods that were just a hook at one end and a spring loaded snap at the other. I was also surprised at the weight. 43 pounds in it's case if FedEx is to be believed and after lugging around tube bass heads and cabs that's a box o' feathers.

I've not got enough knowledge to judge the quality, but everything seems quite well made and clean. Based on the website...
http://www.stageonesteelguitars.com/pictures
...I was expecting the colored fretboard markers to look a bit more gaudy but in person they're nicely understated. The black textured metal endcaps are also much better in person (though I've seen a couple online that were stripped and polished nicely...) and the silver trim gives the whole package a slightly "vintage" look.

For some reason I was expecting plywood, but the body appears to be made of solid maple or some similar wood. I'm very happy with the teak-pattern mica which looks extremely realistic (much less yellow than the website pics), but from the bottom at least, the woodgrain looks like it could have been quite pretty with a stain. I wonder if maybe it's tradition, or durability and/or an issue making the edges neat that causes Doug to cover them in mica.

I'm jumping right in and I want to do it right so local player Brian Wilkie of the Hoyle Brothers is coming over tomorrow for my first lesson!

On with the obligatory deluge of pictures.

The whole setup. Note the lovely Hilton volume pedal.


The Steel-Geeter

The Headstock appears to be two half pieces. It and the bridge are chrome, the neck is galvanized or brushed on top and polished on the sides.



ZumSteel Baby!

The Undercarriage


Here's the Steelers Choice Sidekick seat:

With my tendency to lose things I have a feeling the accessible-while-seated side compartment will prove very useful. While waiting for the guitar to arrive I've also found it to be a very comfortable seat for playing bass if you sit with good posture.

Last but not least, the Milkman Half and Half. A tube pre and 300 SS powered watts of headroom! Love the 2-tone tolex.

All this to say I'm extremely pleased and very excited to get down to labor of love/frustration of learning this thing.
Thanks Bro!

Nice set up. I especially like the guitar color.

Billy Carr wrote:Nice set up. I especially like the guitar color.

Thanks!
I liked the darker color option too, but was hoping for something with more obvious grain. If I recall, Doug said the "teak" color was the closest to real wood and I think he's right.

Ironically it doesn't look much at all like the red'ish tight strait-grained teak that much of my Grandma's furniture was made of, but I'm still really glad I chose it.

Looks more like some of the pecan mica colors to me. Very calming color there. Maybe a new steel cover from SharpCovers to match it. I know your proud of this little jewel.

Karl you have made a good decision buying an Encore. I have had mine for almost two years now and am still enjoying it. The two things I love about it is the sound and the way it stays in tune. Thanks again to Doug.

Lyle Clary wrote:Karl you have made a good decision buying an Encore. I have had mine for almost two years now and am still enjoying it. The two things I love about it is the sound and the way it stays in tune. Thanks again to Doug.

Good to know! I haven't got anything to judge it against, but it was recommendations like this that led us to the Encore. I have zero desire to mess about with more adjustments then are already present with a PSG.

Billy Carr wrote:Looks more like some of the pecan mica colors to me. Very calming color there. Maybe a new steel cover from SharpCovers to match it. I know your proud of this little jewel.

Thanks, it is indeed nice to look at. I'll look into a cover. I hadn't thought about one, but it will be sitting out all the time and our forced air HVAC uses filters that aren't the best at filtering.

That's a great rig, all you'll likely need for a long time.

Good call on having Brian over to get you started. I met Brian a few years ago at one of those insane '4 bands in 2 hours' kind of things that clubs around Austin seem to think are so wonderful.

He's a great guy, and IMO it's absolutely essential to get somebody to set you up with some good habits (posture, hand position, etc.) that you won't have to unlearn down the road. (Voice of experience speaking). He may remember me, if so, please tell him hey!!

Bill Terry wrote:That's a great rig, all you'll likely need for a long time.

Good call on having Brian over to get you started. I met Brian a few years ago at one of those insane '4 bands in 2 hours' kind of things that clubs around Austin seem to think are so wonderful.

He's a great guy, and IMO it's absolutely essential to get somebody to set you up with some good habits (posture, hand position, etc.) that you won't have to unlearn down the road. (Voice of experience speaking). He may remember me, if so, please tell him hey!!

Bill,
I'll try and remember to mention you. Some stuff came up so my first lesson was moved and will be tomorrow morning. I come from a classical upright bass background, so I'm really glad to hear that he's good at establishing the fundamentals. This looks like a tough enough instrument to learn, without having to later unlearn bad habits.

Rich Upright wrote:I agree with Bill; the Stage or Encore is better than a student model, but not up to the level of a pro guitar. Think of it as an Epiphone or Squier; OK for the living room, but not for the stage. I think the bulk of your kablingy should be spent on the guitar; you can get a used Carter or Sho-Bud D-10 for under 2 large,and many more choices in a pro S-10, and I believe you will be happier playing a pro guitar through a lesser amp, like a Nashville 400 which can be had used for $300-$400. Playing a non pro guitar like Encore or Stage 1 through a Milkman or Quilter amp might sound OK, but I think you will be discouraged by the limitations of the guitar itself. In other words, there is a bigger difference in USABLE quality between an Encore or Stage 1 & a pro guitar, than there is in quality between a Milkman or Peavey. You see many pro steelers playing through Peaveys with pro guitars, than through Milkman with substandard axes. Even the Opry stage is filled with Peaveys.

Remember; it will be awhile before you gig out on steel; any amp will sound good at home volumes, but a non-pro guitar will be discouraging to learn on. I've been a pro gigging steeler for 30 years; play a Mullen & Emmons D-10, but still play through a Peavey or Twin Reverb. So do most of the steelers I know.

Thank you for the advice. My husband has many amps( Fender Blues Deluxe, Fender Prinston, Marshall and others. Amps would probably be no problem. I want to stay around 2 g's or less. (total) I guess I just need to keep looking. I have been noticing a lot of members that sell. I'm hoping that I can get a double steel at that price.

Rich Upright wrote:I agree with Bill; the Stage or Encore is better than a student model, but not up to the level of a pro guitar. Think of it as an Epiphone or Squier; OK for the living room, but not for the stage.

I take exception to that. My Epiphone guitar is certainly stageworthy, and I did a whole album on a Harmony Stella. People need to remember that our brains, not our instruments, are what makes the music. You already have the greatest musical instrument in the universe, made by the greatest maker.

As Bob has said,
There's alot of Epiphones and Mexican Fender's making money on stage for actual players.

That is not to say that professional instruments won't have additional features and more visual bling, but once an instrument reaches a certain level of functionality, it's more than suitable for the stage.

Karen Palmer wrote:

Rich Upright wrote:I agree with Bill; the Stage or Encore is better than a student model, but not up to the level of a pro guitar. Think of it as an Epiphone or Squier; OK for the living room, but not for the stage. I think the bulk of your kablingy should be spent on the guitar; you can get a used Carter or Sho-Bud D-10 for under 2 large,and many more choices in a pro S-10, and I believe you will be happier playing a pro guitar through a lesser amp, like a Nashville 400 which can be had used for $300-$400. Playing a non pro guitar like Encore or Stage 1 through a Milkman or Quilter amp might sound OK, but I think you will be discouraged by the limitations of the guitar itself. In other words, there is a bigger difference in USABLE quality between an Encore or Stage 1 & a pro guitar, than there is in quality between a Milkman or Peavey. You see many pro steelers playing through Peaveys with pro guitars, than through Milkman with substandard axes. Even the Opry stage is filled with Peaveys.

Remember; it will be awhile before you gig out on steel; any amp will sound good at home volumes, but a non-pro guitar will be discouraging to learn on. I've been a pro gigging steeler for 30 years; play a Mullen & Emmons D-10, but still play through a Peavey or Twin Reverb. So do most of the steelers I know.

Thank you for the advice. My husband has many amps( Fender Blues Deluxe, Fender Prinston, Marshall and others. Amps would probably be no problem. I want to stay around 2 g's or less. (total) I guess I just need to keep looking. I have been noticing a lot of members that sell. I'm hoping that I can get a double steel at that price.

You're husband will be fine with the amps he has for some time.

I would add that the idea that Encore is not professional quality is not a widely accepted point of view. Doug has lots of counter-examples listed on the previous page and my teacher has mentioned that he knows of at least one guy around here gigging his.

If you're going to try and get a double steel for under 2g's be aware that even if it's well taken care of, you're likely to get an older steel that may have maintenance issues or complications. Do you live somewhere that has a PSG repairman? I don't and the knowledge that my instrument is much less likely to require service is a huge weight off the mind.

A new single necked steel seems like an ideal way to go for a new player if your budget is 2g's

How did you go with the height of it? I'm 6'2" and I use a 2" lift.

That is one great first rig!

I have had multiple students by those encore guitars. And they are incredibly solid instruments. Always happy when someone has one

Josh Yenne wrote:That is one great first rig!

Thanks! I'm loving it for sure.

Jeremy Threlfall wrote:How did you go with the height of it? I'm 6'2" and I use a 2" lift.

I don't know the exact height of the steel, but I'm 6"3 so I think we went with the lift kit. I have added a couple inches in the front and even more in the back. My teacher is of average height and has to really stretch to use the vertical knee lever.

b0b wrote:

Rich Upright wrote:I agree with Bill; the Stage or Encore is better than a student model, but not up to the level of a pro guitar. Think of it as an Epiphone or Squier; OK for the living room, but not for the stage.

I take exception to that. My Epiphone guitar is certainly stageworthy, and I did a whole album on a Harmony Stella. People need to remember that our brains, not our instruments, are what makes the music. You already have the greatest musical instrument in the universe, made by the greatest maker.

I agree. My Korean neck-through-body tele copy is a better guitar than my Fender. You may recall the late Eric West reviewed it here. Eric said in his review that he wanted to find fault with it, but had to concede that it was a great guitar.

More and more, I'm seeing guys playing Squires as well as knockoffs in clubs, and nobody cares. In fact, nobody even notices except other musicians.

These relatively inexpensive instruments coming out of Asia are a Godsend to musicians who cannot afford to shell out thousands of dollars for a big brand name guitar or bass.

Mike Perlowin wrote: More and more, I'm seeing guys playing Squires as well as knockoffs in clubs, and nobody cares. In fact, nobody even notices except other musicians.

These relatively inexpensive instruments coming out of Asia are a Godsend to musicians who cannot afford to shell out thousands of dollars for a big brand name guitar or bass.

We were having a similar discussion over at talkbass. The upshot was a general feeling that we are really living in the golden age of affordable instruments. Quality has gone way up, variety is way up (compare Squire lines from the 90's and today) and adjusted for inflation, price is generally down.

My brother is a good guitar player. He and I we discussed this and we both agreed that while we prefer to play better instruments there's scarcely a guitar or bass gig we could play that wouldn't go off just fine with one of the current generation of Squire instruments or similar quality low-end instruments.

Bassists do it with Precision.

i would ignore the negative bull that rich u. is feeding you.
the encore is capable of anything you need. you are fortunate to be able to start on $uch quality gear.

#18 still my fav from the stable.

Calling Doug at Stage One on Tuesday to place an order for an Encore which will be my first PSG. Lots of great information in this thread so thanks for that y'all. Beautiful set up Karl, I don't know anything about PSG yet but I do know those Milkman amp are awesome for guitar! Congratulations and enjoy yourself.

I wish Doug would make a 12 string. I'd buy one if he did. He said he would make them if he got 50 orders.