The Steel Guitar Forum

Hello all, I'm thinking about a U-12, something light weight like the GFI ultra, any suggestions?

Williams keyless

John Turbeville wrote:Hello all, I'm thinking about a U-12, something light weight like the GFI ultra, any suggestions?

My Carter S-10 5x5, weighs 29 1/2 lbs. (without the case). Guitar and the case weigh 48 1/2 lbs. together. A slightly wider body, and 2 or 3 more pedals, shouldn't add too much more weight, I'd think. Good hunting!
-Jake-

I'm with CrowBear, Williams keyless is the way to go. I have seven and five on mine and it's still light. Larry

I have a U-12 ZumSteel, that, weighs in around 29-30 lbs. It's a 7/5 set up.

My Zum U-12 is 7+8 and weighs 30 lbs.

Excel U-12 .....a lotta steel for the $$$

Split Cases are the ticket for a light a weight 12 String.
I have an Emmons and a Carter both fit in my one set of Hatton cases.

Be careful what you ask for. I play a Zum SD-12, weighs about 38 lbs. --to me that's a perfect weight. I had a GFI S-12 uni that was a single body and weighed close to 30 lbs. That guitar was too light--the B to Bb lower jerked the guitar too hard to the right. I adjusted it as well as I could but the jerking was a problem. After selling it, I bought a Sierra SD-12 uni that doesn't have that problem--if anything it's too heavy. It weighs about 52 lbs. and travels in split cases. The Sierra pedal board with pedals weighs 9 lbs. It travels in a tripod case along with the rods. The Sierra legs fold into the guitar so its a chore to remove those to carry separately. The Zum rides in a cordura nylon keyboard case--no need to separate the pedals or legs--it's an easy carry.

MSA

Ha!

Its good everybody doesn't like the same thing or we'd be back in the Model T days. I have pretty typical taste in pedal steels--I like my Zumsteel, also like Emmons, Williams, Mullen--whatever I hear someone playing that sounds good. For acoustics I like Martins, Taylors, Gibsons etc. but I have this strange affection for Ovation guitars. I bought one a few years ago, a classical, and it's the one that stays next to me all day and gets played the most. Nerdy, I guess but I don't care. As to the weight, it's a little heavy actually. But after you strap it on you forget about the weight and just enjoy. Same with my recently acquired Sierra. It's sturdy to a fault, weighs 52 lbs. but I consider it part of my weight training and phys-ed regimen. After you get it in place, tune it up and plug in, you forget about the struggle to get it there--it's all pleasure. Sorta like getting that Lincoln Town Car out on the highway. It's a chore in traffic but out on the road it's sweet.

Kline. Go the split-case route.

Hi John, I've been playing Carter U12 for 8 yrs. It weighs 48 lb in the case and I've never had a lick of trouble with it.. Stays in tune and I've never had to touch the nylon tuners that tune the pedals and knees since I bought it. Can't goong with Carter. Ed Prosser

Hey Ed!
I played my Kline for 20 years, 5/7 nights a week, and some studio calls every week. The ONLY TIME I touched the changer tuners was when I got a mislabeled string. Cabinet drop? Not even noticeable. I know there are other great guitars,,,,, but ask a Kline owner!