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Topic: BMI vs GFI starter guitars |
John Turbeville
From:
Carlsbad, ca
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Posted 1 Apr 2011 1:12 pm |
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Hey how do these compare? I am a novice,
i'm thinking its better to buy an older used better quality guitar vs one of these newer models.....any suggestions??? |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 1 Apr 2011 1:18 pm
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Mullen has a new entry model coming out very soon...I would wait for that. 
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Mike Schwartzman
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 1 Apr 2011 2:24 pm
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| Quote: |
| i'm thinking its better to buy an older used better quality guitar vs one of these newer models |
I was thinking the same thing about 3 1/2 yrs. ago when I began to play steel. On the advise of some more experienced players here on the forum, I chose to go with the older used guitar which happened to be a BMI late 70's - early 80's model. I wasn't comparing it to a GFI student model at the time, but that BMI will be around longer than me. Built like a tank and sounds great...no comparison in the build and materials to another brand of student model I had checked out at the time.
I was able to check out the GFI's (expo and ultra) about a year later,and found out that they make a terrific guitar. If the weight of the guitar is an issue for you, the older BMI's are pretty hefty.
My advise...In your neighborhood, take a short ride over to Oceanside and talk to Jim Palenscar...sit behind some guitars (older and modern) and check 'em out personally.
_________________
Emmons Push Pull, BMI, Session 400, Home of the Slimcaster Tele. |
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Larry Baker
From:
Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.
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Posted 1 Apr 2011 3:01 pm
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I know that with the Mullen team behind a student model, it will be a good one, or they wouldn't put it on the market. Can't go wrong with a Mullen
_________________
Mullen G2 SD10 3 & 5 The Eagle
NV112 amp===Earnie Ball V.P. |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 1 Apr 2011 4:50 pm
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The most important thing in a student guitar is that it has a minimum of 10 strings, 3 pedals, and 4 knee levers.
It doesn't really matter much what the brand is. They all will serve your purpose.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 1 Apr 2011 5:20 pm
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The Mullen will have 3 pedals and 5 knees from what I remember.
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 1 Apr 2011 8:03 pm
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Not to be left out is the Stage One guitar,I've heard that they are excellent.
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 1 Apr 2011 9:10 pm
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BMIs are full professional grade. They've never made a student instrument as such. But they can often be had for close to what some student models go for. Worth pursuing.
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"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Ned McIntosh
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 2 Apr 2011 2:16 am
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Hi John,
Keep in mind there are some excellent value S10 professional steels that crop up in the forum for sale section adn make great instruments for someone starting out. They'll have better re-sale value as well if you decide to upgrade later on. My advice to anyone wanting to star pedal-steel is buy a pro instrument. And yes, some of the Pros are using Stage Ones these days. Basically, you can't make a bad steel and stay in business. For what is essentially a "boutique-manufacture" product, the market is very competitive.
BTW, Mike Perlowin's advice is purest gold. 10 strings, 3 pedals and 4 knee-levers is a lifetime's worth of music.
_________________
The steel guitar is a hard mistress. She will obsess you, bemuse and bewitch you. She will dash your hopes on what seems to be whim, only to tease you into renewing the relationship once more so she can do it to you all over again...and yet, if you somehow manage to touch her in that certain magic way, she will yield up a sound which has so much soul, raw emotion and heartfelt depth to it that she will pierce you to the very core of your being. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 2 Apr 2011 3:51 am
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I have a BMI S-10 3+4 - it's fully professional in the sense that its an all-pull design whose setup can be altered at will, it's well built, and plays and sounds good, to my tastes. An S-10 3+3 just sold for $800 + shipping - that is a screaming deal if it's in good shape. There are student model guitars out there that cost more than this.
I think there are some good student models out there now like the Stage One and GFI. Two issues I would check out before buying any guitar, especially a student model:
1. Is it designed to be reconfigurable in the normal sense, where you can simply unhook pull-rods, move them around, and set it up differently?
2. Is it a modern all-pull changer or pull-release?
I don't say that there's anything wrong with pull-release, and many people just love the sound of them. But I think that design is somewhat more limited and more touchy/less intuitive than a modern all-pull changer. But I've heard some that did sound great - old pull-release Marlens, for example, really do sound great. So pull-release is not necessarily a show-stopper. But I think most people prefer all-pull, and that not only affects its usability but also resale value.
Another option is a student-model push-pull Emmons - I think a 3+1 can be had for reasonable money and another lever or two added for not insane amounts of money. One can certainly learn on a 3+2 or 3+3, and I don't think one will lose money on such a guitar if it's bought within the normal price range - I would think one could rig up a 3+2 or 3+3 for around a grand or maybe 1200. Like a pull-release, I think most people consider push-pull not as straightforward and intuitive as a modern all-pull changer, but they do sound great and many will have nothing else.
So with that said, personally, I'd go for a used BMI, Dekley, older MSA, or something like that for a starter model if I could find one in good shape, appropriately configured, in the around a $1000 range. Solid, all-pull changer, reconfigurable, sound good. I have the BMI still, have had an MSA, and have played a few Dekleys. My take, with my reasoning. |
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