The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum and darn glad to be here...this place is like Disney World for steel players!

I was hoping you kind folks could give me some good advice on 2 seperate steel questions:

1. I recently bought a carter starter to learn the PSG. I did so primarily to find out whether I would actually be able to learn/enjoy playing. So far, I have taken to it like a fish to water! I all but refuse to even look at my collection of 6 strings anymore, and am playing for hours every day. I've played it with my band and in the studio with great results (well...great for a noob). That said, should I make the investment in a more professional-grade psg? I mean, will I really notice a big difference?

2. Amplification. I have been told that I really need a powerful, clean amp with a 15" speaker in order to get the most out of a psg. Should I retro-fit one of the countless 12" cabs i have and maybe use a black-face fender twin head? Or does it simply make more sense to buy a Nashville 1000 or similar?

Thanks again folks...I look forward to hearing from you!

Finn Walling

I'm not an expert Finn, been playing about two years, Im just a bored guy who posts way too much but:

1. since you are sure you like the instrument and since you can get good resale value from your starter why not upgrade to a used or new pro model? You will be able to notice a differnce.
2. depends on your taste , your bank and your back.
some can only tolerate tube amps. some need lightweight over tone. some plug straight into guitar amps with or without 15 inch speakers and sound great. getting a good steel dedicated amp has been the hardest thing to obtain for me and I am still looking for the right tube head. lightweight and inexpensive 15 inch cabs can be had. Marrs ulatrlight and a neo speaker for example. lightweight and inexpensive tube heads are a bit harder to find. The nashville 1000 and 112 are solid state. I have heard many a player make em sound fantastic tho. I think its a personal preference ...for me, I prefer tube amplification.

my 2 cents as a relative newb.
people who actually know what they are talking about will come by shortly with some real insight into your questions hopefully.
best of luck

For your steel question absolutely get yourself a pro level steel.

For amps:

I prefer 12" speakers myself. I wouldn't worry about it. Most old guitar amps sound much better than new steel amps anyway. I have been sent home to go get one of my old fenders by producers when I tried to track with a new steel guitar amp. Skip hacking up an amp or investing in something new till a particular need arrives down the road.

Ben
Has made a lot of good suggestions.
Here's one I can make if you have nothing to do on the 9th next week. Come and check out our Florida Steel Guitar Club and you will see several brands and amps up close and talk to the players.
You should be able to make a better choice after seeing what's out there up close and hearing them.
You can find our info in the Events section under the heading of the FSGC mtg/Jam.
We are only about an hour north of Tampa off of I-75.
You'll find a map on our web site.
Don
http://www.floridasteelguitarclub.com/

Hi, I don't know how long you've been playing, but I would just keep practising.
Buy another steel once you've reached the limits of the Carter and really need more changes etc.
Same goes for the amp, (almost) any amp will do. There will be a moment that you're playing is at a certain level, that you will notice and benefit from a different amp.
For now, just learn to play .

That's my opinion of course.

Welcome Finn,from Alabama,a lot of good pickers down that way,happy picking.DYKBC.

Welcome and as Don has suggested, come up to Lake Panasoffkee and talk to the Steeler's there.

You don't "need" a amp with a 15" speaker, the Peavey Nashville 112 amp will more than serve your needs (at our club the Nashville 112 is used by more Steeler's than any other amp).

Don Sulesky has a lot of instructional material and tabs - check those out (and Don usually has his material on sale at the club jams).

Though most might disagree, if you're very new to it (less than 2 years), I'd stick with what you have for awhile.

I generally abhor guitar/steel comparisons, but here's something that you might be able to relate to...

Say you normally play an Epiphone Les Paul copy (around $600), and I take it away and hand you a brand-new Gibson Les Paul (costing over 2 grand).

How much would it actually improve your playing?

Ah...that does make sense...thanks for the input!

If you already have a BF Twin, by all means use that!

12"... 15"... I personally prefer a 15, but I also play trhu a 2x12 cabinet and like that as well.

Donny's analogy of les paul copy vs brand name is vivid but I believe flawed (sorry Donny), in that economy steels are generally "mechanically challenged" in some way in comparison with a pro model steel guitar. The les pauls are more similar than they are different, chunks of wood with strings and a Pickup.
Steels have a whole nother level of complexity in the undercarriage, fit and finish and such.


I would say a better analogy would be going from a compact rental car and getting upgraded to a lexus. Both will get you to the grocery store. but the comfort of the trip is the key...

But Donny asks a valid question as to how much your playing would improve!
that part is NOT the quality of the guitar.

I'm not saying you couldn't continue to practice and learn a whole lot on your current guitar. But if you are addicted to pedal steel as it seems you are...wouldn't hurt to see what's out there...