The Steel Guitar Forum

I just ordered one of these units. Looks like fun....any suggestions on tunings to get started?

Kind of depends on the type of music, etc. I tune my lap steels to Dobro tuning (GBDGBD) for a couple of reasons. The first is I'm not smart enough to keep up with different tunings and I've played a lot of dobro. If you're into swing type tunings then there are some cool 6th tunings, but usually I'd prefer an 8 string if I was heading down that road.

Lots of blues and rock guys go with an E or E7 tuning. I had the good fortune to work at the Allman Brothers studio (Capricorn in Macon GA) in the 70s and most all of those guys tuned either open E or in some cases tuned like a regular guitar but of course they were playing upright so that wouldn't apply in your case.

len;
Where did you order it from?
And how long did it take to get it?

Thanks
Dom

Dom:

I ordered the Power Slide from Mullen Music in Swansea, MA and was told it should take a few weeks for it to arrive.

David, thanks for the info. I will probably start with an E tuning and experiment from there.

Thanks,

Lenny

Corner Music in Nashville promised me one in a week 6 months ago.. still waiting. Good luck!

I got one on ebay a while back. Very cool but string spacing seems wide compare to my dobro. Nice tone for the price.

All I keep hearing about the powerslide is how hard it is to get one!

I would really like to try it out before I buy it, but so far no music stores around here have any, and don't expect any soon! What's the holdup Peavey?

Dom

I was at Mullen Music and they called Peavey while I was there and they said 2 weeks. Let's hope so?

Lenny

Dom, I'm told they have one down at Apple Music in downtown Portland. Although I haven't checked it out myself, another local dobro playing friend said he played it.
Not sure if it's still there, but fyi.

I played one today at KK's music in Manchester, TN. Pretty neat little axe.

Len Amaral wrote:I was at Mullen Music and they called Peavey while I was there and they said 2 weeks. Let's hope so?

Lenny

I'm generally near Swansea (Mansfield.) Tell me about Mullen. Any steels on hand?

Mullen Music is family owned music store and a Peavey dealer. I have been dong business with Mark & Scott Mullen for many years and they have managed to stay afloat with experience, good service and knowledge.

However, they are not a steel guitar store.

Can someone post some pictures or a link with info?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=peavey+power+slide

Seriously, we've discussed these guitars on the forum since they were announced.

I played one of these at the Peavey Room at the ISGA last year and thought it was amazing!!! I've had my 10 string Melobar for almost 15 years and it has some issues.

I enjoyed playing the Powerslide, but it looks like only 6 strings are available. I don't know if they have any 8 or 10 string options available, but for MSRP of $249.99 how can you go wrong?

Who wants to buy me one? LOL!!!

God Bless,
Michael T.

I just bought the one at APPLE Music in Portland.... Thanks for the tip Pete!

I just got it home and I am trying out new strings now. I'll let you all know how it does in my tests.

It's very light weight, and won't kill my shoulders. I bought it mostly for the stand up feature.
Dom

I got the red one just like in the above picture.

Here is my review:
1. Great value, plays fine right out of the box.
2. Very cool finish looks like a million bucks
3. Light weight it won't hurt shoulders or back
4. Adjustable strap and body shape really work to hold position, it took some adjustments to get it right but it is comfortable.
5. Tone is ok but I may explore new pickup options.
More to come.
Lacks some sustain, I may modify bridges.

Overall 9 out of ten as I see it.
Dom

I put down a $40 deposit in Feb of 2008. It arrived today July 27,2009. Plays well with E tuning right from the box. I am 6'3" so the strap needed a little length added, but overall I will be gigging with it by next month.

Compared to all my other steels, The Powerslide seems to lack sustain. I am hesitant to modify such a nice looking instrument. But I am going to try replacing the bridge with a solid steel bar.
It's just a peice of thin sheet metal and I don't think it makes enough contact with the body to resonate the wood. A more invasive procedure I may have to perform, would be drilling holes for a string through bridge. If I am tricky enough, I can do this in a way that replacing the original bridge would cover up any holes I make. (from the top view that is)

Dom

Have any of you modified yours in any way? (changed the nut or bridge to add sustain or get a different tone, added a neck pick-up, added a Hipshot)I just bought one and waiting for it to come in. I'll be using it mostly for distortion applications and I want to know what kind of results other people have gotten.

Just bought Bobbe's last one.
Man they went fast!! Cant wait!!

Do you suppose Peavey will have one in St Louis? Hopefully I can try one out there.

Yes, we delivered number 10 and should have another 10 next week, low prices? You bet. Can't see why anyone is having trouble getting them, just pick up the phone or email me.

Bobbe

Bobbe, what colors do you have on order? Are they going so fast that you need to start a waiting list? Can a deposit hold one or do you need all the money up front to order? You may email me privately since this is not the "for sale" section.

I guess the real question was about tunings. I am very curious to try one of these again. Depending on the scale length and string gauges, I would probably try an A6 or C6 tuning. It looks like it has several strap buttons so you could possibly play it vertically like a guitar and horizonally like a dobro. So maybe a good E or D tuning would be cool too!

My Melobar is a ten string and I use a modified A6 or G6 tuning. Think E9 with A&B pedals down.

I have a 6 string Supro and a D-8 National so I think I need a Power Slide too!

I wish this thing was available with 8 strings! Maybe later if it sells good.