The Steel Guitar Forum

I've owned the same steel for 35 years; I'm getting the money together to buy a new one. What should I buy? In 1974 everybody said, "Get an MSA."

Is there any place in the Northeast where I could play several different brands? I'm tempted by the Williams and by the Fessenden, but I've never played either. Can't afford the new MSA's. Fessenden lives relatively nearby, and I could play one of his before making the downpayment.

I want something that sounds good (I like mellow fat tone more than screaming sharp treble) with a reliable mechanism and pedals that stay tuned/are easily tuned like the MSA. Any suggestions?

Hey Barry,

I have a '77 MSA, and I have been looking to buy a new steel as well. But, the more I look, the more I appreciate the MSA I have. It's still modern. The mechanics are as good as anytrhing I've tried, and it's construction is flawless. It's just bigger and heavier than the new ones.

The tone you describe is a Fessenden with TrueTones @ say 18.2

Barry Hyman wrote:I've owned the same steel for 35 years; I'm getting the money together to buy a new one. What should I buy?

Barry
You will get a whole host of recommendations to your question from those players who support different manufacturers. You really do need to sit behind as many different guitars as you can and see what suits you tone wise and playability wise. All makes do sound different - some very noticeably and others not so much. Fessenden is one of the better brands being currently produced, and by living in fairly close proximity to the manufacturer you would be well placed to get some back up support should you get any problems with one of their guitars.

Why not just get a New-Old MSA? It will last you another 35 years

I want something that sounds good (I like mellow fat tone more than screaming sharp treble)

Sounds to me that you are describing the tonal character of an old MSA.

with a reliable mechanism and pedals that stay tuned/are easily tuned like the MSA. Any suggestions?

..... A MSA

My 2 cents worth of help,
Chris

You need to go to a steel convention and try'em out. I went to my first convention in Dallas last year and learned so much about all kinds of stuff.
My suggestion would be a carter sd10 for a single neck. They are light weight stay in tune, etc. With Lawrence X16 pickup and Emmons SIT strings you get as close to the push/pull mellow sound as possible. All new steels allow you to use splits. Splits let you pull a string with one pedal while using a knee lever to lower the same string. Example, AB pedal down plus knee(usually the verticle) to lower 5 and 10 to make minor/9th chord is much easier than getting the same thing with pushing B pedal and half of A.
I also play an old MSA D10 and am use to the wide spacing of the C6 pedals.
Most of the new steels have the pedals much closer together. This doesn't matter much on E9 as you don't move around much to push pedals 1,2,3. But C6 with pedals 4,5,,6,7,8 is much different. I couldn't get the right pedal with the new steels because of the narrow spacing.
That is until I got a Desert Rose D10 which has the old MSA spacing. It is also a very fine steel.

I will tell I had a sd-10 and a d-10 Fessenden. I liked them both . they sound great and play very smooth. And He is a great person to deal with. So go and play them I sure it would be worth you while.

Barry, If you'd like to try a new Williams, I have one set up in my music store in Walton, NY, ready to play any time. I am south of Oneonta, East of Binghamton. I also have a fairly recent Zum, although Bruce is not currently taking new orders. If I knew when you were coming, you could also try a new Rittenberry which belongs to Bob Bird here in Walton. He is usually around, and lives about 3 miles from my shop. Larry Jamieson 607 865-5670 days
There are no stores that I know of in the northeast with several in stock guitars. Closest two are Billy Cooper's Music, Orange, Virginia, and Bobbe Seymour's Steel Guitar Nashville, Tenesee...

Barry good offer there by Larry. I would suggest Rittenberry also, had a Nashville LTD and s 10 both were great.And Gary is great to deal with. I have a New sd-10 on Order should be getting it anyday now I hope. I do have a couple Zums Great too , but he is not taking any orders. Mullen is another there are lot of good makers out there today for sure.Be best if you could try them out , that way get your sound and feel of them

Rittenberry all the way. Gary cuts no corners, and if your after tone Ritt's have it.

I think you are making a good choice that you want to test drive before you buy, do this!

Just plan a road trip sometime.

Spent six months wondering, then just ordered a wood body wood neck natural finish Willy. I've never played one, but they look so nice! Truetone pickup... I'll be awfully surprised if it doesn't sound good!

Waiting sixty days is going to be intense. But of course now I can get all sentimental about the old MSA I've been playing for 35 years...

Barry, I play a GFI Ultra D-10 and I love it! GFI also makes great steel guitars.

Brett

Barry,If you want a fat sounding guitar where the treble won't rip yer face off I would check out Desert Rose guitars,Kevin Hatton makes a ZB clone that you might like also.

Spent six months wondering, then just ordered a wood body wood neck natural finish Willy. I've never played one, but they look so nice! Truetone pickup... I'll be awfully surprised if it doesn't sound good!<<

Hey Barry H. You made a good choice IMHO...let us know what you think of it when you get a chance to put it through its paces.

You will not be disapointed with your Willy, After I got mine I sold every other guitar I owned, The willy is one great guitar, the finish will knock your eyes out. And it plays like a dream.

ernie

I have been using the GFI guitars on the road about 6 years now, and really love this guitar, And beleave me i have tryed about everything........ Alot Guys out there are using them ( Norm Hammlett) (Ralph Mooney) and so on..... Just my input... But for sure shop around, and consider the GFI guitars.. Im sure you will be happy with what ever you choose..
MS.