The Steel Guitar Forum

I think I heard that someone even had four steel pedal guitars!
I am still just working on trying to get my first!
It must be an awesome hobby if you have to have four of them!!!

Dave

Anybody who plays out a lot really needs a working guitar and a backup. Pedal steels are mechanical, and eventually all of them need to be put in the shop for servicing. And it is nice to have one for experimenting with new changes, while keeping a working guitar with the copedent you are use to. Also, people who are really into steel like to have at least one old vintage axe for old times sake, and also like to try the new models. Most advanced musicians have several instruments - it's part of the fun of playing music. Pedal steels are not as expensive as pro model saxaphones, violins, or mandolins, not to mention pianos.

But the extra guitars are a luxury. One good reliable instrument with what you consider a standard copedent will get you a long way.

Yes - some even more.

I agree with DD - if one is gigging, a backup steel is important. I also like to leave one set up at home so when my multi-tasked world gives me only short breaks for practicing, I don't have to go fooling around setting one up - that just cuts into my playing time. So I think 3 is a good number in that situation. Of course, a nice vintage steel and maybe a testbed steel may be reasonable too, space and $$$ permitting. So it's not so hard to wind up with 4 or 5.

But I also agree that it's most important to have one really good and playable steel, especially when starting. This instrument is a lot easier to learn when you're not fighting the mechanics.

I only have one D-10. I have had as many as three at a clip but quite frankly never played the other two. So..off they went....

I'm thinking that for the most part modern era Steels are very robust and can take a lot. The only real maintenance I do is clean it and change strings 3 and 5 if I am playing out every weekend.

When I change the entire string set, maybe every 3 months, that is when I do a complete cleaning/lube of the bridge and roller.

but..

I am considering getting an S10 /3 + 5 as a second Steel more so to take it on business trips with me . ( I drive ) TV in Hotel rooms is the worst. I would rather practice.

just my take

tp

I have three. (1970 Emmons, 1999 Carter, 2006 GFI)
Used to have four, but discovered one was not being used. Three is a good number for me, for the same reasons DD stated above.

They are all my favorites, for different reasons.

This doesn't belong in ELECTRONICS. I'm moving it to PEDAL STEEL.

I think every picker should have 4 steel guitars.

Make that required to have 4.

I have 3. One for the house, one for the studio in the basement, and one stored in the garage at the bottom of the hill, to take when I play out.

I live on an incline, and can reach my house from both above and below, but either way, there are stairs involved. Not good when you have to carry a heavy steel.

Logically, the Millennium should be the one I keep in the garage, but I can't do that. When I get another, I'll keep one of them there.

I've only had one at a time and it's never been an issue. Unlike some, I was never in a financial position to be able to afford more than one. However, if I were picking for a living (e.g. a road picker) I would have a backup.

As little (and as poorly!) as I play, I can hardly justify owning one pedal steel guitar.

I have 5. Even as a relative beginner, I have them (just like I've always had many 6-strings, amps, etc) for specific playing qualities, tone, different setups etc. Each is used for different things, and as I start recording more the differences willll become more and more useful.

Just as a 6-stringer may have a Strat, Tele and Les Paul, some steel players recognize the unique qualities of certain instruments and their application.

If you just "play steel guitar" one way and in one style, one instrument MAY be all you need. For some others, it's not sufficient.

I was without a back-up guitar for a while, and it was scary! There were no major problems as my favourite is such a great guitar, but they're mechanical, so there well might have been.

My #1 ("Ebony") is my D10 Emmons LeGrande 111 (8+9) that I got new in 2000, and that's the one that either sits in the case by the door, or is set up at the theatre where I'm currently working.

#2 ("Sapphire") is another LG111 (this one is 8+5, but has more than enough to play the important stuff) and it sits in the music room ready for me to practice. If I go away for a protracted gig or tour, I'll take both.

You never know!!!

Now - six-string guitars... THAT's a different matter; I have way too many (or so I'm told...)

RR

One is the saddest number you will ever use,two can be as sad as one but the loneliest number is the number one.

I think that line was written by the steel player with Three Dog Night.

I have 2 and want to get a third in a few years. Just save your money and think what you want, do I need a D10 or is a S10 OK? Do I really need "custom" work or is a standard guitar good.

The difference between men and boys is by their number of toys!

I have so many musical toys it is scary.

I love em all....and try to keep my wife out of my music room. If she stays in there too long she comes up with something scary like...."isn't that something new? Where and when did you get that? How much did it cost?"

I am very good about keeping her away from my music room!

Really surprised we haven't heard from Erv Niehaus here!!!
David, what about that Marshall?

As Mrs. Lee always says, "You don't need another steel guitar!"

It must be an awesome hobby if you have to have four of them!!!

I collect lots of stuff, far too much to list here. Suffice it to say that 4 of anything (unless it's wives or countries) really isn't very many.

Question: How many do we actually need?

Answer: "Just one more honey."

Steve G.
I got to tell you man!
I have been checking on that Marshall, and I am glad that I did.
It is a JCM8000 model, but was only produced in 86' or 87' I believe. It is an Orginal Classic 2204S Limited Edition and it is called a ministack. The only difference in the JCM8000s are the 2204S is just smaller version. Those models from those two years had both the angled 4 X 12 cabinets and 2 X 12 cabinets. Mine is a 2 x 12.
Steve, I am thinking that I may hold onto it!
I love the sound.
I will let you know what I decide in a few days. I definitely am thinking about holding onto it though.

I have 7 basses, 1 uke, 3 guitars, 1 PSG, 3 amps and now I'm trying to convince my wife I NEED a new PSG.

She doesn't understand

I have one pedal steel guitar ( MCI-D10 ), but I also keep set up a nonpedal triple neck ( triple *8), a beautiful red one made for me by Herb Remington a couple of years ago. I also still have my original 6 string Gibson lap steel which I started on at age 11, And I have a triple 8 nonpedl fender from the 50's. To make everything even more complete I have 4 electric guitars to choose from. I have so many amplifiers that we use them for house decorations. gene jones

I have 4 steels, but they are all very different. A Gibson BR9 lap, a Fender 400, a Emmons D10 P/P and a GFI Ultra S10. Someday I would love a double 8 lap and a S10 Shobud C6 setup.

haha I had to edit because I'd also love to try out a Williams D10 laquer Crossover

I have the '75 D10 Emmons PP… will buy a second one mid year for the same reason stated above… 1 at the studio, 1 at home.
I’d like a modern horn as my second.
I have 15 highly desirable regular guitars (and need another four to round off the collection)…every guitar has been selected carefully and considered for a long time, (some bought in times of extreme poverty)…all of them give a different tone and “personality”. All of them take me to my happy place!
The way I explain it to folks is that you could play a good round of golf with just a sand wedge… but with a full set of clubs you can have a great game.


(Edited for typoman)

Stephen,
Here I am!
I think at last count I have about 20 Pedal steel guitars, not counting the non-pedal.
I have 11 push/pull Emmons alone plus a few Sho~Buds, a couple of Williams, a couple of Rains, a Fulawka, and a Zumsteel.
I thought I had rounded out my push/pulls to an even dozen a while ago but I got stiffed on one on eBay, bummer!

Wow; after Erv's post I'll never feel guilty again about having 5. I'm going to show it to my wife after I buy the 6th.