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Topic: Advice on pedal steel purchase |
Nathan Sarver
From:
Washington State, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2009 8:44 pm |
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I've been longing to learn the pedal steel for years now, but it was always so cost prohibitive. But I was at my local vintage guitar shop this evening and I was asking the owner if he had any pedal steels, and he introduced me to a friend of his, who owns a 50's Sierra double 10 string that was given to him by a relative and he doesn't know how to play. I asked him how much he'd want for it and he suggested $450, and he could "be flexible." He said it has 10 pedals and no knee levers and one of the bridges needs to be fixed or replaced. He also said he had it evaluated and the person thought it was likely a prototype, judging by the year and serial number.
Does this sound like a good deal? I know Sierra is currently one of the top pedal steel manufacturers, but does anyone know how good their old ones are? Also, I know nothing about the inner-workings of pedal steels, so I don't know if the lack of knee levers would prove to be a hindrance with instruction materials.
Ok. I'm rambling. Any thoughts or advice you guys in the know could provide would be enormously appreciated. |
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Pat Comeau
From:
New Brunswick, Canada
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Posted 16 Jan 2009 11:29 pm
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I'd buy a more recent guitar if i were you... with atleast 3 pedals and 4 knee levers , for what i've heard Sierra are good steel guitars but a 50's  vintage would only be good for a collector...cause it probably would cost more to add Knee levers and such than to buy a good second hand pro model or a good student model.
Nowdays almost all pros steel guitar comes with atleast 3 pedals and 4 knee levers so that you can learn from instructions CD's and tabs.
that's my opinion........................Pat C. 
_________________
Comeau SD10 4x5, Comeau S10 3x5, Peavey Session 500,Fender Telecaster,Fender Stratocaster, Fender Precision,1978 Ovation Viper electric. Alvarez 4 strings Violin electric.
Click the links to listen to my Comeau's Pedal Steel Guitars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIYiaomZx3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2GhZTN_yXI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvDTw2zNriI |
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Joe Gretz
From:
Washington, DC, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2009 11:53 pm
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Mr. Sarver,
I'm sorry that I cannot offer any advise on the Sierra in particular, but I can offer some information from my own experience that you may find helpful.
I, like you and many others long suffered from "steel fever": Desperately wanting to enter the world of the steel guitar, but I too found instruments few, far between, cost prohibitive, and above all- "a mystery".
My first purchase was an early Fender 1000. Very cool, but sorely needing mechanical attention. It seems every time I sat to try to play it, something else broke!  . Never mind the fact that it was a double 8 string with cable drive and no knees. BTW: There isn't a lot of instructional material available for such a set up!
I cannot, as I said offer any advise on the coolness, value or viability of the Sierra, but I would recommend considering a more modern instrument for learning on. My beloved Fender spent the better part of it's time with me being worked on, rather than picked on! That all said, I dearly love that instrument, and wouldn't part with it for love or money! I think of the time we have spent together as a different sort of education...
I guess what I'm trying to impart to you is this: Do you want to PLAY steel guitar, COLLECT steel guitars, OR MAKE AN INVESTMENT? If you want to PLAY, first seek guidance to assist you in selecting an instrument that will suit your needs. A 10 string 3X4 is PLENTY for lots of styles of music, but maybe you'd be happier with a D10, or some universal set up, IDK. You may find a teacher, or someone to mentor or otherwise advise you, unless you already have a good idea of what you want. So prepared, you may well find a great instrument here on the forum! If you are in a position to COLLECT or INVEST, something like the Sierra might be a great piece, again IDK.
What ever you decide, GOOD LUCK! I hope that you can get something of use from this rambling! This forum is a great resource. I'm sure you'll get some other opinions in response to your post too.
Joe |
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Zeke Cory
From:
Hinsdale, New York USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 3:59 am Find a guitar that will work - Long Term.
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| Nathan. As you progress in your learning process, you will find that much of the "sounds" you hear from pedal steel guitar come from the combination of pedals and knee levers. Both Pat's & Joe's advice were right on the money. I too would probably keep looking around until I found a guitar that I could take home and start playing out of the box, and be happy with for the long haul. Depending on what kind of music you want to play, seriously look at a D10, with both E9th and C6th. I first bought a Single E9th on a double body due to cost considerations. If I could do that over again, I would have got a D10. I could have started much sooner on C6th which I have now come to love. Either way, you will eventually need those knee levers if you are to be satisfied with any guitar. You will find this instrument both frustrating and rewarding. The eventual rewards will be better than you can imagine. My best of luck to you in your learning journey. Now I too am done ramblin'. lol. Zeke |
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Michael Douchette
From:
Gallatin, TN (deceased)
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 5:53 am Re: Advice on pedal steel purchase
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| Nathan Sarver wrote: |
| I know Sierra is currently one of the top pedal steel manufacturers, but does anyone know how good their old ones are? Also, I know nothing about the inner-workings of pedal steels... |
Personally, I would never consider Sierra as a "one of the top pedal steel manufacturers". They make a good guitar, but even in their heyday (back in the '70s), they weren't really popular. Now, that "oldie" may be worth that price for a collector or experienced player, but as you have no knowledge of repair and maintenance, it might prove a bad student model. To repair and maintain an older model can take quite a bit of time. So unless you're mechanically inclined, I'd go with something newer. |
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Ronnie Boettcher
From:
Brunswick Ohio, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 9:07 am
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Read what these guys write, and take their advice. If you want to collect the guitar, it might be a good deal. If you want to start playing one, Go buy a decent guitar with a minimum of 3 pedals, and 4 knee levers. Day or Emmons set up, is strictly of your choice. Both setups are great. Just don't buy junk. You will regret it right after you do. Steels are like any other musical instruments, or tools. The better they are, the better they perform. Good luck, Ronnie
_________________
Sho-Bud LDG, Martin D28, Ome trilogy 5 string banjo, Ibanez 4-string bass, dobro, fiddle, and a tubal cain. Life Member of AFM local 142 |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 9:45 am Michael's choice
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| Michael, Which model Jacksone did you order?..I know you had a chance to see them all and I respect your choice as a guideline...also what PU are you going with?...TIA |
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Michael Douchette
From:
Gallatin, TN (deceased)
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 11:27 am Too many choices.
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| Michael, Boy was I ever wrong, I knew you were a Sho-Bud guy, I thought you were going for the Madison. Good luck with your choice. I wish I could have been at the "showing" last week...that must have been a great day. |
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Nathan Sarver
From:
Washington State, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 12:29 pm
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Thanks for the advice, guys, even you if had to crush my hopes  . Regarding Zeke's post that I should think hard about getting a D-10, does anyone make an affordable model? I think the cheapest I've seen is about $2000. Is the consensus then that I ought to buy a new model with a 3x4 minimum? Are you stuck with only the one tuning on a single neck, or can you restring it and tune it for C6?
Thanks again, fellas. |
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Nathan Sarver
From:
Washington State, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 12:41 pm
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Thanks for the advice, guys, even you if had to crush my hopes . Regarding Zeke's post that I should think hard about getting a D-10, does anyone make an affordable model? I think the cheapest I've seen is about $2000. Is the consensus then that I ought to buy a new model with a 3x4 minimum? Are you stuck with only the one tuning on a single neck, or can you restring it and tune it for C6?
Thanks again, fellas. |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 1:02 pm Williams is great
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| Nathan, Do not be fooled, the E9th neck is not what it use to be...with 3 or 4 floor pedals and 6 or seven knee levers you have enough to keep you busy for a life time..you can play country and the pop standards all on this neck...but if you have to have those heavy low tones..you may have to get the D10...good luck...BTW...I love my Williams S10Wide body with the True-Tone PU's |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 4:06 pm
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| Zum Stage One. |
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Casey Lowmiller
From:
Kansas
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 4:43 pm
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WOW!!!
Wish I had a chance to buy a neat old Sierra like that...those things are really cool.
Certainly not great for learning on...but a neat piece to add to the ol'collection!!!
Casey |
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Glen Derksen
From:
Alberta, Canada
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 5:02 pm
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| Nathan, please don't be discouraged. In the past couple of years prices have gone through the roof, but if you're patient, you should be able to find a good pro model for a little more than 1K. MSA's are usually lower priced. |
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A. J. Martinez
From:
Ca.
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Posted 17 Jan 2009 5:10 pm
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| Nathan you should go for a Wilcox. Chet Wilcox makes an excellent guitar. His web site is wilcox steel guitars. The guitar He made me plays and sounds amazing,and the price is very reasonable. A.J. |
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Zeke Cory
From:
Hinsdale, New York USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2009 8:51 am Regarding the D10 perspective
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| While things have come along way with steel guitar mechanics, there are things you can get with a C6th that just are NOT on the E9th.(as is the opposite). I only mentioned that D10 thing so you would think about "future considerations", and not make the same mistake I did. The E9th only tuning will keep you busy for a lifetime, no doubt, and is perfect for country in most cases. But if you ever want to get into the old type pop standards or jazz type of things, you will wish you had a C6th. I am still kickin' myself in the a*s for not getting the double first, even at a little increase in cost. Perhaps we can get one of our great jazz or pop players to chime in here and elaborate with more specifics than I can offer. Also, I bought a Shobud Super Pro in excellent condition, not mark on it, from Ebay a couple years ago for $ 1500.00. You can get into a good model D10 in this range I am sure. Older MSA's, especially the Double 12 stringers, are going at a much cheaper price, I'd guess $800 to $1200. But then you will need Hulk Hogan to carry them from job to job. Once again, my very best to you in whatever choice you make. Zeke |
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Joe Gretz
From:
Washington, DC, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2009 9:10 am Don't be discouraged!!!
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Mr. Sarver,
Please don't get discouraged by what people are posting. Like Glen said, you can easily find an instrument in the 1K range that will be a more viable learning tool than that Seirra may be. Many of us have made purchases while wearing "rose colored glasses" only to find that they weren't what we expected. I can't say that it WILL, but there is a chance that the Sierra will need a lot of money and downtime to become playable. I for one would rather hear that you were picking and grinning than waiting and hoping!
+1 on the MSA recommendation! Many years ago I had an MSA 3X1 S10 that sounded great and was tough as nails! Honestly, I didn't miss the other knees at the time as I was pretty green...I would advise to get a 3X4 if you stick with an S10 though. I see lots of MSA D10s for sale pretty often that are exceptional values! Some people get rid of them cause they tend to be a little heavy...but they're built to last! I regret getting rid of mine!
Please be patient too! You'll find an instrument soon enough! Keep asking questions too. I wish that I had a resource like this forum when I started! I'd be a lot farther along than I am now.
Good Luck!!! |
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Joe Gretz
From:
Washington, DC, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2009 9:20 am Zeke's got it!
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I didn't see Zeke's post before I wrote mine! He's better at saying what I mean than I am!
Those old MSA's are great values! |
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Joe Gretz
From:
Washington, DC, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2009 9:25 am D10!!!
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| +1 on the D10 too!!! These days I drag around an SD10 GFI Expo and the Fender 1000! A D10 would be a lot easier on the back! |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2009 10:28 am
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I agree with the MSA guys,over the years I have had almost every brand of guitar,MOST [not all] were great guitars,for the last few years have been playtng a 74 MSA d-10 Classic,it's the most dependable guitar I've ever had,built like a tank.yes it's HEAVY,i GOT AROUND that by cutting the case down,the case just holds the body,carry the rest in a different case,the only thing I could figure out is why they don't hold the value like an ols Bud or Emmons etc,BUT that is what makes them a great buy,you can buy one without getting a second loan on your house[if you still have a house]This is just my opinion,but I think the old MSA'S were the best guitars ever built. DYKBC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Brick Spieth
From:
San Jose, California, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2009 12:46 pm
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Newbie to newbie, I wouldn't get too hung up on having to have a c6 neck right away. There are so many basic skills you will need to master, mainly blocking, that a one neck guitar with 3x4 will do quite nicely for.
I started with a Stage One, a very reasonable guitar I sold for a very small loss when I moved to my EMCI. There will be a C6 neck in my future, but for now I'm honing my basic skills, a process that will take a few years.
Regarding a heavy guitar, unless you are a natural, your guitar won't be moving around too much for a while. |
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Bobby Snell
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 18 Jan 2009 2:19 pm C6 is fun
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IMHO, there is a lot on the C6 neck that is very accessible to the newbie. Especially tuned with the high G, old timey licks and western swing lay out real nice.
And if those cool sounds from that neck really make your knees weak, you need one. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2009 2:56 pm
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Bobby,I agree 100 percent. DYKBC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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