The Steel Guitar Forum

Posted: **17 Jun 2005 12:05 pm**

My first was an MSA Semi-Classic, 3 pedals, one knee lever. It was the first steel I had ever seen for sale in a music store in Binghamton, NY.

You know, I always knew I'd find a kindred spirit if I hung around long enough. An SCS-10 was my first as well, bought at Ed Bentley's in Buffalo circa 1975.

Posted: **17 Jun 2005 3:45 pm**

Well, I'm still a newbie here but I'll venture a response. I bought a used Pedal Master steel after doing a search of the archives and seeing all the nice things everyone has to say about these guitars and thier maker. Let me add that I wasn't disappointed! This guitar makes me want to practice for hours!
Regards,
Joe[This message was edited by Joseph Carlson on 17 June 2005 at 04:47 PM.]

Posted: **17 Jun 2005 8:31 pm**

I had a Sho-Bud single ten which I liked, but my ex hated it so I sold it. An MSA U-12 which lost me completely, but had a nice sound, and two Pedalba****d SD-10's. I got tired of fighting the PB's to keep them in tune, and trying to correct the 10 cents cabinet drop. I happened to play Jerry Newberry's Mullen SD-10. It knocked me out, the smoothness of it all. And the way it stayed in tune really floored me. My Mullen D-10 is going to save me a bunch of headaches. This one is staying with me forever. No more buying the off brand because I can save a few bucks. You get what you pay for. Stay with the name brands. Watch what the pros play. Their instruments have to be made right or they go into the nearest trash can.

Posted: **17 Jun 2005 9:50 pm**

After 33 years of buying, straightening up the works, and playing, ShoBuds, Emmons,& Mullen, my last 2 have been Carters.

They offer the very best buying experience of anyone I've ever dealt with, whether factory or music store.

Great tone, great support, in a world that often give less product for more money Carter finds ways to add value to the product they sell.

All my best
Ron c

Posted: **18 Jun 2005 5:08 am**

Why did you buy the brand steel you did?

considerin' the budget i had, i got lucky & got my Zum off ebay

so i got it 'cause the price was right !

Posted: **18 Jun 2005 2:57 pm**

had a carter starter. sold it because it was not a good fit for me , bought a zum. it fits me great and at least to me it plays better . also because Bobby Bowman recommended it to me . so for me its zum or nothing

Posted: **18 Jun 2005 3:29 pm**

I finally settled on a nice GFI Ultra S10 with pad, 4 & 5. Kinda like me (nothing fancy) but a very sturdy well-built, great playing & sounding instrument. The fact that it probably weighs less than half of what my old BMI D-10 did was a pretty attractive feature for me, as well. My motto: keep it simple!

Posted: **19 Jun 2005 9:33 pm**

I bought my Zum after John Hughey tested it and recommended it to me. I figured if John Hughey said it was good that's all that mattered, no better recommendation than that!! I just wish he would've left a few of his licks on it.

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John Parker
Zumsteel SD10 3x5
Peavey Session 400

Posted: **20 Jun 2005 1:32 am**

This MCI RangeXpander was there at exactly the right time and the right price.
It's a great instrument too, as I discovered.

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Klaus Caprani

MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com

Posted: **20 Jun 2005 4:42 am**

I was hoping it played better than I do.

Posted: **21 Jun 2005 3:18 am**

I bought mine because of PBS. Yeah, that's right. They televised the Grand Ole Opry in the early 70s and when I saw 3 Emmons guitars, side by each, on the stage, I figured that I could get by with one of 'em.
Have for 28 years, or so.

Posted: **21 Jun 2005 8:00 am**

One comment, and one question:

Dave, after hearing the tale of your lost little red Sho~Bud I cheked out the picture... your right, it is a very nice sort burnt-umber shade... really looks nice with the checkerboard border. I love tales like this, I have a 40's Magantone that I had seen in the same Carson City pawn shop for several years, just leaning against the corner, in the front window, gathering dust... my wife finally broke, and had it shipped to me... (thank you my darling). BTW, were you at the Western States Fair expo in Reno last January? I breifly talked to a Sho~Bud owner, but was distracted, as we were just starting?

b0b, this is a quick question on your Williams crossover.... I see it is a D-12, does the crossover mechanism add much weight?

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Session500; Hilton Pedal
www.ameechapman.com

Posted: **21 Jun 2005 8:09 am**

When I decided to move up to two necks I wanted to get away from the rigors of P/P technology, but I didn't have much experience with other guitars, and the feel of all-pulls was quite different than what I was used to, so it was hard to tell which I would like in the long run. I'm 6'2" and some of my psg buddies are a bit shorter, so trying out their guitars wasn't very helpful

I asked around and figured I couldn't go too far wrong, if only on resale value, with some of the big names, so when Emmons didn't return my calls I called Bruce Zumsteg and placed an order that day. It's a very impressive guitar, with craftsmanship second to none.

Then last year I won the Newman raffle held in St. Louis, and took delivery of a Carter S-10 the day before my wedding. Having studied for a week with Jeff when I first started I felt this was a special gift, and the timing was eerie.

It's a great little guitar, light as a feather and with as much tone as the Zum, I must say. If I could find someone to build me a backpack case for it I'd be in heaven.

Posted: **21 Jun 2005 8:39 am**

*[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 03 April 2006 at 06:21 AM.]

Posted: **25 Jun 2005 1:11 pm**

About 25 years ago I just had a gut feeling about the Franklin Guitar so I went to St Louis during the Steel show and went right to the One on display and played it for about 20 minutes and told Mr Paul Franlin Sr that I wanted him to build me on,which he did in 6 weeks.Back then you could get them a little faster...Loved it ever since...RS

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Franklin Guitars

Posted: **25 Jun 2005 5:41 pm**

I bought my Fessenden D-10 on impulse early one morning right after it was listed for sale by Jim Cohen. That particular guitar, of course, was legendary for its Acceptable Tone, so I knew that if it didn't sound good it wasn't going to be the guitar's fault! Loved it immediately in all kinds of ways and I still do - I don't think any other guitar I ever had, including my other Fessy, felt comfortable to me so immediately. I acquired a new S-10 from Jerry Fessenden about a year ago so my west coast guitar matched my home guitar a little better.

Posted: **25 Jun 2005 6:14 pm**

Because I didnt know any better.
Maverick

Posted: **26 Jun 2005 7:59 am**

tone....

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"Promat"
~when tone matters~
http://hometown.aol.com/damirzanne2/PROMAT.html

Posted: **26 Jun 2005 10:12 am**

i bought my 2ND.
new Emmons in 1982.(legrande shorty )The only thing I ever done to it was changed the strings and clean it up a little. Due to hip problem I bought the black one the Ron had at the conv. in 04. Only because of the hip problem,I had to go to a single. Why fix it if it isn't broken is my way of thinking. By the way, the shorty is still in perfect condition and is now retired to the music room.

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Posted: **26 Jun 2005 1:23 pm**

After owning 4 of the major brands, I settled on Zum. Sound, Quality, Ease of play, Reputation, beauty and among other things, the service provided by Bruce is exemplary.

Posted: **27 Jun 2005 5:42 am**

I had a gorgeous sho-bud and I went over and heard Fred Amendola's Carter. I though..man does that guitar sound good! Then I bought a used MSA as a backup guitar and when I saw the mechanics of the action. I thought I've got to try a Carter. Well to make a long story short the sho-bud and the MSA are gone and I have two Carters.

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2003 Carter D10, 8x5 Black and 1998 Carter D10 9x5

Posted: **27 Jun 2005 7:32 am**

ZUM....

1983...At the suggestion of George Edwards...
Sounded great then and better today..
" If it ain't broke...don't fix it!"

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There is no such thing as too many steels!! Zum D10 8/8
Electronics.. constant state of flux

Posted: **27 Jun 2005 8:57 am**

My 1st PSG was payment for designing the first transistorized tremolo for in clusion in a tube amp (VEGA corp in Boston ... only one that they ever made).

The next one was a Sierra 12 string Uni. pPicked it out from a maze of PSGs at Blackie Taylors stote in Orange county Ca. ... liked the mechanical construction best re all the others.

Next was a Sho Bud professional. A friend needed cash.

The last is the BEAST. It is Sierra Session series hardware with the PST integrated changer/tuner, and a bunch of other things (see other BEAST threads/posts). The Sierra was most able to be adapted to all the changes.

Posted: **27 Jun 2005 2:38 pm**

I got my first guitar from Ralph Henzil (sp) in West Allis Wisc. He played and sold Shobuds. Got a gorgeous D-10, and played it for many years. Never had tuning problems, and I made two more knee-levers, slavishly, and laboriously copying the teardrop shape.
Moved to Ohio, and my drummer said he knew someone who had a Kline U-12 for sale. I had heard of them, as has every player in northern Ohio, but had never even been close to one. I wanted those two low strings for fuller-sounding rhythm possibilities in a small band. I sat down behind that guitar and was stunned. Couldn't pay for it fast enough. Mine forever!
Of course, now I want and old Shobud too! JB

Posted: **27 Jun 2005 3:01 pm**

i messed with sho~buds..yuk..i still own one..it's still under my bed in the case..just waiting untill the price goes up just a wee bit higher..so i can clear 5 times what paid for it..next was ZB...i don't even want to talk about that one...but i did get a fair price for the elephant i bought to push the pedals for me...I met a fella named Paul Redmond..{No Relation}, just an all around nice guy, master machinist, master builder, great steel player, who had new ideas, new concepts, and was willing to build it "MY" way...it's the greatest steel on the planet bar none...i had a Forum member e mail me and offer me $5,500 for my guitar..i respectfully laughed at him. I was asked what steels i like from the companies that are out there now..it has to be without any question either Williams or GFI for Keyless...and MSA for keyed! Just great guitars. Not only do they play sound, and stay in tune better then any other out there..but here again..it's the innovation of the builders..Gene, Bill, and Reece are all innovators..look what Reece is doing with just the same ole 10 strings and pedals...

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Whitney Single 12 8FL & 5 KN,keyless, dual changers Extended C6th, Webb Amp, Line6 PodXT, Goodrich Curly Chalker Volume Pedal, Match Bro, BJS Bar..I was keyless....when keyless wasn't cool....
edited for spelling

[This message was edited by George Redmon on 27 June 2005 at 04:17 PM.][This message was edited by George Redmon on 27 June 2005 at 04:26 PM.]