Why so light steels????

A. J. Schobert · From: Cincinnati, Ohio,

Now a days new guitars are getting lighter and lighter soon we will be under 25 pounds (if not already) for a d10, there is something about a heavier guitar that a lighter one just can't match, Sure the mechanical improvements are second to none but I want to see some beef added! The only plus I see that a lighter PSG has is carrying it, heck I would get a dolly in a second.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

A.J. You must not be an old worn out geezer like me.I need a d-10 made out of balsa wood,to replace my MSA-d-10 classic.

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

I tend to agree with A.J.

I have both kinds. My modern 30-pound SD-10 wiggles more than I like when I hit the knee levers. When I hit the vertical it sometimes lifts the left rear leg off the ground. It plays easy and sounds pretty good, but I'm never quite comfortable because it feels so shaky. My 70s LDG is as stable as a rock.

Tonewise, I think there are far too many variables to generalize about weight and tone.

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

i have had a couple of the lightweights and the problem is you hit a knee lever and chase the strings ....they can keep em

i had much much rather have a steel with enough weight to keep the dang thing in one place.
my Mullen SD-10 is just heavy enough to stay still while i play without needing a forklift to move
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proud parent of a sailor

Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!

Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

My D-10 Franklin is relatively light as all the metal parts are aluminum, except the legs. It doesn't move around and the knee lever action is such that you don't have to use a lot of force to make them work.

I've played other "lightweight" guitars and didn't notice any movement on them. However, I've seen people that apply more "knee pressure" or "pedal pressure" than actually is needed when playing.

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

I have had people sit down and try and play my steel. Some would nearly stomp the pedals. The pedal and knee lever action should be just as smooth as the bar and picking hand is. I have never tried one of the lightweight guitars but I could see where it would move when playing. I would have to give some serious thought in buying one.

Larry Phleger · From: DuBois, PA

I have a Carter U12. I have never had a problem with it moving around on me. Like Paul said, the way one is used to mashing the pedals may cause this to happen, especially if you are used to playing a steel with a stiff action.

Sonny Priddy · From: Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA, R.I.P.

I Have A SD-10 GFI & A SD-10 Magnum Never Had Eather One To Move While Playing. SONNY.

Larry Phleger · From: DuBois, PA

I have a Carter U12. I have never had a problem with it moving around on me. Like Paul said, the way one is used to mashing the pedals may cause this to happen, especially if you are used to playing a steel with a stiff action.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

My GFI Ultra is very light and it doesn't move around at all. Properly set up, it shouldn't even be an issue. I would think that most movement of light steels would either be due to overly tight tension on levers or just nailing them too hard with the knee.

To me a light steel is not only easier to carry, it seems more tonally responsive, more "alive". The heavy platforms (like my old MSA and one Shobud I had) just sounded dead.
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

My Professional shobud sure ain't "dead"! I can feel it resonate through the floor! And it stays in place just fine.

Alot of that moving around on the light weight guitars is really a matter of setup and finesse. A soft touch should keep the guitar in place.

Charles Pompe · From: Illinois, USA

I was told when I bought my Carter D10, That I would probably "overplay" it. Duane was right on. Shocked

After 20 years on a P/P D10, The Carter succumbs to finess not power. As I adjust my style, the Carter stopped jumping and moving. The P/P still sounds great, but the new axe does too. AND MY BACK is SOOOOOOOOO grateful.

Charlie
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2005 Carter D-10,2009 Rains D-10, Session 500,Nashville 400,Nashville 112,1965 Vega Scruggs 5-String Banjo, Martin D-40, Gibson J-50

Charles Pompe · From: Illinois, USA

I was told when I bought my Carter D10, That I would probably "overplay" it. Duane was right on. Shocked

After 20 years on a P/P D10, The Carter succumbs to finess not power. As I adjust my style, the Carter stopped jumping and moving. The P/P still sounds great, but the new axe does too. AND MY BACK is SOOOOOOOOO grateful.

Charlie
_________________
2005 Carter D-10,2009 Rains D-10, Session 500,Nashville 400,Nashville 112,1965 Vega Scruggs 5-String Banjo, Martin D-40, Gibson J-50

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

I love to play my Mullen and usually do, but there are times I can't manage the weight due to arthritis in my spine. On those occasions I play my old red Carter, and it never gives me any problems, never moves or jumps around. Plus I get many compliments on the sound. Maybe I'm too lazy to overplay?

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

I'm going to look at the two piece case idea---legs and pedal bar in one, body in the other. I use a foldup dolly when I can.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

There was a Dekley D-12 that was the subject of some chatter a while ago. I wonder how much it weighs in a case?
My D-10 doesn't budge, in fact it leaves dents in the hardwood floor... Smile

Ted Solesky · From: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA

James was right. If you have have the legs adjusted properly, it'll stay like it should. I do have a light geetar because of my lower back problems. I used to use a BMI - I got a great sound from it but it was overbuilt. Bud Carter told me sometime back when he made some adjustments on it for me, 'I can make 2 guitars out of this one'. I've had my light guitar for over 10 years and never had a problem with it and I used it hard and I've gotten quite a few compliments on my tone. And I've always used good 'steel' amps. That's another subject.

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

Maybe it's a matter of degree. I have a hard time believing those who are saying their guitars don't move at all. I think they're just not bothered by what movement they have. Even my LDG moves a little, if I really look at it, just not enough to bother me.

I guess I'm being defensive, but I'm not sure the problem is heavy knee technique. On some of my guitars I half-pedal the 6th string F# lower lever without a half-stop. As I said, the action on my lightweight guitar (it's a GFI SD-10) is very smooth and easy. I always make sure all four legs of whatever steel are in firm contact with the floor. And the GFI is the only guitar I have this complaint with--not Sho-Buds, Mullen, my friend's Fessenden, etc.

While I don't advocate bashing on an instrument, I don't think you should have to worry about handling it delicately either.

A. J. Schobert · From: Cincinnati, Ohio,

I have a new d10 and there is a learning curve when playing a new lighter guitar you have to have a lighter touch, even more so when it comes to the knees, however it plays fine and it doesn't move, just don't be aggresive but I do think heavier guitars are special.

Sonny Priddy · From: Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA, R.I.P.

I Have A Sd-10 GFI & A SD-10 Magnum Never Have A Problem Whith Them Moveing. SONNY.

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

One more self-defense and then I'll shut up. I used the GFI as my only axe for two or three years. Should take care of the learning curve. Just now, today, I set it up, making sure, as usual, that all its feet were firmly planted, and checked it out critically. This guitar came from the factory, via Bobbe Seymour's shop, and I haven't messed with the mechanical setup, because it seemed great from the start. The levers offer very little resistance. (One note--red flag alert--it's a keyless.)

The guitar moves sideways a little--I'm talking about structural flex, not movement of the whole thing on the floor--as soon as a lever begins to be pressed, and when the lever hits the stop, no matter how gently (and in the light of this thread I made many tests so that I was consciously barely contacting the stop), it jiggles. That simply doesn't happen with the LDG, which, incidentally, is much more new to me and has pedal and lever action even lighter than the GFI. (I said before that even the LDG moves, but I checked that out, too, and effectively it really doesn't.)

Again, maybe it's a matter of degree, and the amount of movement wouldn't bother others.

Maybe it's not the weight. Maybe it's the structural design, or the rigidity chatacteristics of the materials used. Maybe the rubber feet are softer. But I don't see that it's me, because I'm just as much of a hack on either instrument.

David Kurrasch · From: Royse City, Texas, USA

I've owned both heavy and light guitars, and I prefer the feel of a heavier guitar. For me, it's worth hauling around a few more pounds, to have a guitar that won't jump around when I play it. I agree with A.J., that the trend toward lighter guitars is not necessarily a good thing. I do like to have a light guitar for fly dates though, as anything over 50 pounds can be very expensive to take on a plane.

A. J. Schobert · From: Cincinnati, Ohio,

Thanks david the heavier guitars seem so solid its like driving a new chevy impala versues an older impala it is just solid! Now I will always look for mechanical improvements when I shop and I do give the mechanical improvements the nod if the guitar is heavy no big deal. My next guitar will be made out of granite!Thank for your feed back!!

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Weight is really a non-issue anymore. There are very light guitars made today , and very heavy ones too!

If you can't afford a new one, many things can be done to change the characteristics either way on the one you already have.

E-mail me if you need suggestions.

basilh · From: United Kingdom

Would HEAVIER strings affect the weight ?

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