ETS vs GFI

Anders Eriksson · Post by **Anders Eriksson** » 2 Feb 2012 12:40 am

I see that b0b is selling a new Pedal Steel Guitar called ETS. Looks good, sounds good, nice price.

Has anyone compared the ETS with say a GFI?

// Anders

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 2 Feb 2012 2:37 am

ISTR that ETS is Bud Carter's new line. That's enough for me to trust it.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 2 Feb 2012 8:47 am

The ETS is an aluminum body guitar. What is the comparable GFI made of?

Richard Damron · Post by **Richard Damron** » 2 Feb 2012 8:59 am

An aluminum body with a maple die board top.

Frank Montmarquet · Post by **Frank Montmarquet** » 2 Feb 2012 9:32 am

Will ETS make a U-12?

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 2 Feb 2012 12:08 pm

Their website doesn't list one, but their website, steelguitaruniverse.com is beyond rudimentary.

Considering Bud plays the Bb6 universal tuning, and quite well, it wouldn't surprise me.
On the flip side of the argument, they designed it to keep costs down. They might have skipped making a 12-string body

admin · Post by **b0b** » 2 Feb 2012 12:46 pm

As far as I know, ETS hasn't even tooled a D-10 body yet. The S-10 is the only model.

The guitar is exceptionally easy to work on. It's designed for expandability to 5+5, which is the most that an S-10 should have IMHO.

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 2 Feb 2012 2:26 pm

From what I can tell, the GFI Expo is the comparable model and it costs about $350.00 more than the ETS and it weighs a couple of pounds more. Is the case included with either of these? I haven't seen or played either, so I'd like to hear feedback from anyone who's played them. I am saving up for another S-10 and I'm keeping my eyes open. From what I understand Bob can set the ETS up anyway you like. For me it would be a C6 tuning. Don't know if GFI could do that or not.

Michael Belkin · Post by **Michael Belkin** » 2 Feb 2012 9:36 pm

I've got both an ETS and a GFI Ultra SD10. No comparison, completely different animals.

ETS sound is unique, nice definition, distinct bass when hitting high/low harmony riffs on different strings. Highs are also bright. Aluminum body seems to have nice natural resonance. Mechanically it is a featherweight, not built like a tank at all.

GFI is more mellow, less punchy. Less individual string projection. Mechanical build is more substantial. I think there is more tone lurking in the GFI than I'm getting. I'm thinking of updating the pickup from GFI2 to tonealigner or alumitone. Anyone have any experience with changing to those pickups on a GFI?

Norbert Dengler · Post by **Norbert Dengler** » 3 Feb 2012 12:47 am

as far as i know the ETS has an E66 humbucker mounted which is similar but a tad brighter than the GFI 2 you have on your guitar. i play as S 10 ultra and have changed to a wallace truetone recently, which means a little hum but a noticably nicer tone to me.

Norbert Dengler · Post by **Norbert Dengler** » 3 Feb 2012 12:54 am

here`s a picture

Richard Damron · Post by **Richard Damron** » 3 Feb 2012 6:40 am

Michael Belkin -

Don't think twice about it. Change the GFI II to an Alumitone. There's a world of positive improvement to it. Contact me for mounting instructions.

Richard

Clark Doughty · Post by **Clark Doughty** » 3 Feb 2012 7:21 am

How does the BMI Axius fit in this mix?

http://www.beckmusicalinstruments.com/BMI-Axius.html