The Steel Guitar Forum

Okay Folks... It's been awhile since we've been on here, but we have a technical question and we know where to ask it! Right here!

Joey had the Fender 1000. He had the E9 set up on the neck next to his body- He was VERY comfortable! Never played the C6... Now he has purchased a nice GFI Ultra D-10, 8 pedals, 5 knees. The E9 is on the neck away from the body. He does not like it over there at all!!! He would like to be able to expand his playing to the C6 some day, BUT feels like he would be much more comfortable with the E9 next to his body, as that is where he would do most of his playing... SO here's the question... Is there any reason why we should not switch the necks? Will there be any affect on the playing or versatility of the instrument if we simply switch all of the strings and the raises and lowers?

You guys are the most knowledgeable and helpful group of people we have come across... we are hoping you can help us out!

Michelle and Joey

MY first store bought pedal steel was a fender 1000.
Over the years i owned many brands of steels and always put the C6th on the outside. I also owned a GFI ultra before retiring .
I also put the C 6th on the outside and the 9th on the inside.The C6th has always been my favorite but when western swing died out playing for a living had to use the 9th most of the time. Having it on the inside sure saves on shirt and coat sleeves.

Never made any difference to the playing ability of the steel.I am aware many people have weird notions about steels. Set it up to your liking as you will be the one playing it. Tracy

Thanks Tracy! That is exactly what Joey was waiting to hear! If you have any more time to give your input, especially owning both the instruments we have... What do you think of the GFI? Joey was so comfy with the 1000 but felt the need to improve and expand his playing, so we got the GFI... So far it does not seem more comfortable or a lot better sounding... Not a great big deal of difference or improvement worth the cost, so far... What do you think?

Michelle Durham wrote:Thanks Tracy! That is exactly what Joey was waiting to hear! If you have any more time to give your input, especially owning both the instruments we have... What do you think of the GFI? Joey was so comfy with the 1000 but felt the need to improve and expand his playing, so we got the GFI... So far it does not seem more comfortable or a lot better sounding... Not a great big deal of difference or improvement worth the cost, so far... What do you think?

Michille. This is my personal opinion only. Any time i looked at a n ew steel to buy first thing i looked at was under the hood. Won't to startv another war lol,but you can get about sny tone with the amp.
I am repeating my self here but any one who is fimilliar with Curly Chalker, as i have listened to him play since the early 50s no matter what brand of steel he had he got the same Chalker tone.
IMHO the internet with so much disinformation has caused most of the confusion. See if you can find an old article by Maurice Anderson where many years ago he set up a few steels and had pickers turn thier backs and could not tell one steel from the other.

I am getting off the subject here but forget how some one else has thier pedals setup,strings tuned,ect. What ever steel you own its good as any other steel. The later model steels are about all the same as i can tell. So were most of the older ones. Just some were more easy to change the pedal set up over to the players liking.

I am getting off the subject again but ask your self a question. How did the great steel players back in the old days sound so good and in tune long before electronic tuners?
Sorry also be so long winded but it bugs me to see so many new comers to the steel getting sucked in by (an examle) black steels sound best),ect. Tracy

Michelle Durham wrote:Thanks Tracy! That is exactly what Joey was waiting to hear! If you have any more time to give your input, especially owning both the instruments we have... What do you think of the GFI? Joey was so comfy with the 1000 but felt the need to improve and expand his playing, so we got the GFI... So far it does not seem more comfortable or a lot better sounding... Not a great big deal of difference or improvement worth the cost, so far... What do you think?

Michille. This is my personal opinion only. Any time i looked at a new steel to buy first thing i looked at was under the hood. Won't to start another war lol,but you can get about sny tone with the amp.
I am repeating my self here but any one who is fimilliar with Curly Chalker, as i have listened to him play since the early 50s no matter what brand of steel he had he got the same Chalker tone.
IMHO the internet with so much disinformation has caused most of the confusion. See if you can find an old article by Maurice Anderson where many years ago he set up a few steels and had pickers turn thier backs and could not tell one steel from the other.

I am getting off the subject here but forget how some one else has thier pedals setup,strings tuned,ect. What ever steel you own its good as any other steel. The later model steels are about all the same as i can tell. So were most of the older ones. Just some were more easy to change the pedal set up over to the players liking.

I am getting off the subject again but ask your self a question. How did the great steel players back in the old days sound so good and in tune long before electronic tuners?
Sorry also be so long winded but it bugs me to see so many new comers to the steel getting sucked in by (an example) black steels sound best),ect. Tracy
Now i have to go take spelling lessons.lol

Ralph Mooney plays a GFI and he's always had his E9th neck on the inside.

PRO:

That's what he likes and feels most is comfortable. (Steel is a lot about "being comfortable")


CON:

- You'll need to invest time in switching and set-up.
- Probably will have less re-sale value, as most play a top-neck E9th (unless you switch it back before posting it)

My advice, if he's planning on keeping this guitar for a while, he should do whatever it takes to make playing it enjoyable and relaxing.

Charlie Archer : Steel Player with Loretta Lynn. Photos.

Bucky Baxter : Steel Player with Solal, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle.

Terry Bethel : Steel Player with Mel Tillis.

John Bohlinger : Band Leader for the TV show "Nashville Star". Photo. http://www.johnbohlinger.com/.

Carl Broemel : Guitarist/Steel Player with My Morning Jacket. http://www.mymorningjacket.com/

Mike Cass : Steel Player with Ray Price. Photo.

Buddy Charleton : Hall of Fame member having recorded and toured with Ernest Tubb, Willie Nelson, Jack Green, Cal Thomas, Porter Waggoner, among others (deceased 2011). Photo.

Billy Cooper : Steel instructor and owner of Billy Cooper's Music in Orange, VA. Photo. http://www.billycoopersmusic.com/.

Don Curtis : Steel Player with Commander Cody, (deceased 2010). Photo.

Evan Ehgoetz : Steel Player with Canadian artist Shane Yellowbird, nominee for Canadian steel guitar player of the year.

Pete Finney : Steel Player with Patty Loveless, Michelle Branch.

Mike Fried : Steel Player with Gary Allan. Photo.

Rudy Gabriletto : Virginia steel player. Photo.

Doyle Grisham : Steel Player with Jimmy Buffett. http://www.gulfsteelmusic.ws/page1.htm.

Norm Hamlet : Longtime steel player and band leader for Merle Haggard. Photos.

Don Herron : Steel Player with Bob Dylan and member of the group BR5-49.

Keith Hilton : Ozarks steel player and builder of the Hilton volume pedal.

Bud Isaacs : Steel guitar pioneer and Hall of Fame member. Photos. http://hometown.aol.com/bigisteel1/myhomepage/.

Dan Johnson : Texas steel player. Photos.

Kurt Kowalski : New York steel player. Photos.

Todd Livingston : Dobro and Steel Player with Missy Raines. Photos.

Devin Malone : Steel Player with Holly Williams, Will Hoge. Photo.

Gaylon Mathews : Steel Player with Gretchen Wilson. Photo. http://www.gaylonmathews.com/ .

Ronnie Miller : Steel Player with Charley Pride. Photos.

Mike Mogis : Steel Player with Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk.

Ralph Mooney : Steel guitar legend and Hall of Fame member. Recorded and toured with Wynn Stewart, Buck Owens, Waylon Jennings among many others. Credited with helping to develop the E9th tuning. Photos. Photos with Gold and Vintage Wood D-10.

Fred Newell : Steel Player with Porter Waggoner on the Grand Ole Opry. Photos.

Ernie Pollock : Steel instructor and owner of Ernie's Music in Mt. Savage, Maryland.

Casey Prestwood : Steel Player with Hot Rod Circuit, Rocky Votolato.

Charlie Rose : Steel Player with Johnny Irion and Sarah-Lee Guthrie, Mike Merenda and Ruth Unger.

Pat Severs : Steel Player on the Ralph Emery Show and "Nashville Star" TV shows.

Bobbe Seymour : Longtime Nashville session and touring player. Owner of Steel Guitar Nashville. http://www.bobbeseymour.com/

Mike Sigler : Steel Player with Grand Ole Opry Tour, Holly Dunn. Photo. http://www.freewebs.com/sigler10

Abe Stoklasa : Steel Player with David Nail. Photo.

Blackie Taylor : Steel instructor and owner of Taylor Music in Riverside, CA.

Tim Walker : Steel Player with Jimmy Webb, Pete Yorn, Mini Bar. Photos.

Norm Hamlet: Merle Haggard

No prob, do the mechanics!

Okay... Have made the change... Still a little bit of tweaking to do and he has a new steel!... I was aware of all of all of the professional players who have gone to GFI. That is one of the reasons we chose that brand. We like Mooney in particular. Does anyone know the E9 copedent he is using now?

Norman Boling wrote:Charlie Archer : Steel Player with Loretta Lynn. Photos.

Bucky Baxter : Steel Player with Solal, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle.

Terry Bethel : Steel Player with Mel Tillis.

John Bohlinger : Band Leader for the TV show "Nashville Star". Photo. http://www.johnbohlinger.com/.

Carl Broemel : Guitarist/Steel Player with My Morning Jacket. http://www.mymorningjacket.com/

Mike Cass : Steel Player with Ray Price. Photo.

Buddy Charleton : Hall of Fame member having recorded and toured with Ernest Tubb, Willie Nelson, Jack Green, Cal Thomas, Porter Waggoner, among others (deceased 2011). Photo.

Billy Cooper : Steel instructor and owner of Billy Cooper's Music in Orange, VA. Photo. http://www.billycoopersmusic.com/.

Don Curtis : Steel Player with Commander Cody, (deceased 2010). Photo.

Evan Ehgoetz : Steel Player with Canadian artist Shane Yellowbird, nominee for Canadian steel guitar player of the year.

Pete Finney : Steel Player with Patty Loveless, Michelle Branch.

Mike Fried : Steel Player with Gary Allan. Photo.

Rudy Gabriletto : Virginia steel player. Photo.

Doyle Grisham : Steel Player with Jimmy Buffett. http://www.gulfsteelmusic.ws/page1.htm.

Norm Hamlet : Longtime steel player and band leader for Merle Haggard. Photos.

Don Herron : Steel Player with Bob Dylan and member of the group BR5-49.

Keith Hilton : Ozarks steel player and builder of the Hilton volume pedal.

Bud Isaacs : Steel guitar pioneer and Hall of Fame member. Photos. http://hometown.aol.com/bigisteel1/myhomepage/.

Dan Johnson : Texas steel player. Photos.

Kurt Kowalski : New York steel player. Photos.

Todd Livingston : Dobro and Steel Player with Missy Raines. Photos.

Devin Malone : Steel Player with Holly Williams, Will Hoge. Photo.

Gaylon Mathews : Steel Player with Gretchen Wilson. Photo. http://www.gaylonmathews.com/ .

Ronnie Miller : Steel Player with Charley Pride. Photos.

Mike Mogis : Steel Player with Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk.

Ralph Mooney : Steel guitar legend and Hall of Fame member. Recorded and toured with Wynn Stewart, Buck Owens, Waylon Jennings among many others. Credited with helping to develop the E9th tuning. Photos. Photos with Gold and Vintage Wood D-10.

Fred Newell : Steel Player with Porter Waggoner on the Grand Ole Opry. Photos.

Ernie Pollock : Steel instructor and owner of Ernie's Music in Mt. Savage, Maryland.

Casey Prestwood : Steel Player with Hot Rod Circuit, Rocky Votolato.

Charlie Rose : Steel Player with Johnny Irion and Sarah-Lee Guthrie, Mike Merenda and Ruth Unger.

Pat Severs : Steel Player on the Ralph Emery Show and "Nashville Star" TV shows.

Bobbe Seymour : Longtime Nashville session and touring player. Owner of Steel Guitar Nashville. http://www.bobbeseymour.com/

Mike Sigler : Steel Player with Grand Ole Opry Tour, Holly Dunn. Photo. http://www.freewebs.com/sigler10

Abe Stoklasa : Steel Player with David Nail. Photo.

Blackie Taylor : Steel instructor and owner of Taylor Music in Riverside, CA.

Tim Walker : Steel Player with Jimmy Webb, Pete Yorn, Mini Bar. Photos.

Norm Hamlet: Merle Haggard

Abe Stoklasa is now playin' steel for Billy Currington. He joined Billy's band last October.

Brett

For sure that list is not necessarily current. Gaylon Mathews left Gretchen's band a few years ago, if I remember right. Unless he's back.

I don't know if Terry Bethel recently switched, or just owns a GFI, but the several times I have seen him with Tillis, he has always used a Sho~Bud and then his Bethel guitar.

Also, the several times I have seen Pete Finney play, he always played his Sierra. But then, he may also own a GFI, I just have never seen him play it.

WOW!! You got that whole guitar changed over and working in one day. I'm impressed.

Mooney's E9th is not standard. Unless he has changed it, he only raises 1 string per pedal, like each G# to A on separate pedals.

Terry Bethel now plays a Mullen G2.

[quote="Richard Sinkler"]

WOW!! You got that whole guitar changed over and working in one day. I'm impressed.

[quote]

Haha! To be honest, I only completely set up the E-neck! I still have to replace the rods in the C. But yes, I am THAT good!