The Steel Guitar Forum

Looking for some input on An SD12 Vs S12. I am ordering a new PSG and
thought I would like the Pad. I have been thinking about it and I am on the short side 5'6" (getting a 25" guitar). I am wondering if I might be to far from
the pedals? My only experience is with a S10.

I'm short myself, and I play as D12, and an SD10.I've
never tried a S10/S12, due to lack of availability.
I like them both,but to each his own.
Rick

Ron,
I have 2 SD-12's with full size pads & 1 SD-12 that has a 1 1/2 wide body with a smaller pad and if I could change the other 2 guitars to the 1 1/2 wide body, I would!
JE:-)>

I have owned both and much prefer the SD-12.... I think alot of what you may prefer depends on what you have played in the past. In my case it was a D-10 and could never get use to the smaller frame and pedal placement. After two years of trying I sold all my single frame guitars and have never looked back.

For me it's a no brainer. The smaller the better. I don't need to lean on a pad. I need my arms free to do what I need to do. It's a single body all the way - no pad. Especially because I play the dobro sitting down. Some stages are pretty thin and the extra room is helpful.

Me belly would get in the way with a paddy.

Arch.

I like both a SD and a one and a half better than a single . To me I feel more at home on a double body. It allows more room for positioning the knee levers. I just can't carry them anymore.

I still like a small one and a half if I have to carry it but that is as small as I want to go. A true single is my last choice .

I agree it is what you are used to . At one time I had a single but find it difficult to go back to one after playing a wider guitar .

I played a double neck years ago and now have a single, no pad. I've never played a steel with a pad but to me (as Dave mentioned above) it seems a pad would just get in the way. Extra weight and resources- no thanks.

My personal experience -
A double wide body sounds better. I've tried both from the same maker. The double resonates more so is acoustically louder which in this case made for better tone.

I've always thought that if you're going to have a wide instrument you might just as well put strings on the second neck and have the option of playing both. You can always lay a pad over the near neck if you want to. I can't understand players who take a D10 and remove the near neck.

I don't like pads. Completely comfortable at my Kline Uni. Why were guitars built with pads anyway? Was Lloyd's the first? He needed something to cover the holes left by the removal of the C6th neck, I guess. Then it may have just become a matter of style. I don't need somewhere to rest my arms or hands. I like being able to get my eyes right over the neck. Just my opinion though.

How is your back? My LDG weights a lot more then my Carter S-12U.

Smaller = lighter & better

I play an S-12 single wide BMI. I had a ShoBud S-12 before that which was a little wider but I like the width of the BMI better. Mainly because I double on other instruments (guitar, mandolin) and I don't have to slide back away from my steel to strap on another instrument as there's room to do that. Also as someone mentioned there's the "Belly" factor which most of us have as we get older.....JH in Va.

When I was playing universals I liked the single frame. The 12 string guitars seem to be wider.

This is just FYI.

I play an SU-12. 8 years plus now. Started on T3 Stringmaster.

I have never had a pad, or wish that I did.

I would guess that a single 12 is lighter, stiffer, case is smaller, etc.

Good Luck in your search. By all means be comfortable!

When I made the decision to change from a D10 to a uni, I thought long and hard about S12 vs SD12. I thought about why I was changing. The primary reason was that I was downsizing on the mass being carried from gig to gig.

I play a little C6 (oops, I mean B6 on my uni), but not enough to justify carrying a double neck guitar.

I decided that for me, the S12 was the way to go. Since weight was the primary factor, I had to go with a single frame. That was back in 2005, and I have yet to regret my decision.

One reason for a double body is if you plan on loading it up with knee levers. It's much easier to add (and use) staggered levers on a wider body.

Well,,,, there are 7 knee levers on my Kline Uni. No problem with them.

Jim Smith wrote:One reason for a double body is if you plan on loading it up with knee levers. It's much easier to add (and use) staggered levers on a wider body.

I thought about that, too. But I had to be honest with myself. I have yet to extract all that I can from 7x5.

I really had no intention in adding more knee levers. Therefore, the decision for me was to go with a single cabinet.

The OP's mileage may vary.

I like my GFI Ultra Uni. w/pad. But after 30yrs of dbl.10
I think I would like the padded neck staggered like a double 10 instead of even. I'm getting used to the 12 strings. But for feel..i would like the neck a little higher. The wider body is great for having the knee levers back on the rear of the guitar!!

just a quick note here.. Billy Robinson has one of coolest looking S12 C6th
non pedal steel's I've ever seen.
He makes it look so easy too...his playing just knocked me out!!

OOPS...MY MISTAKE... BILLY ROBINSON' STEEL IS NOT AN S12.
IT IS A S10... CUSTOM MADE BY DERBY...

I like S-12. I never understood the need for a pad. My arms never get tired while playing, and don't need something to rest on...

Eggs-Ackley Barry. I think this was a style created by Lloyd's need to cover some holes up. I see no good reason for pads. Flame away!