The Steel Guitar Forum

I recieved my new Stageone guitar today that I ordered from Doug in March. I have to relate a little of my background first because I am going to critique this guitar using the skills I've learned over the years.

At the age of 21, I was discharged from the military after serving 2 years. The first job I did when I got out, was in the cabinet making trade. My father was a "hobbyist woodworker" and working with wood always intrigued me so that is what I decided to do. I worked as a cabinetmaker until I was 31 years old, and I must say it was a satisfying job for the most part. The part of the job that I wasn't happy with were the layoffs almost every Winter. A lot of the construction trades were slow in the Winter months in my part of the country, so when I got to the point of being really frustrated with layoffs, I left the trade to learn a different one.

I went to work in a precision sheet metal shop where I was taught how to operate a press brake. I worked at that machine for 2 years and then I was trained on a punch press which I worked at for 3 years and from there went into being a Quality control inspector which I did for the next 10 years. I was then offered the opportunity to do precision sheet metal layout which I worked at until I retired.

All of the above information explains my reasons for reviewing the Stageone that I received, with a very critical eye. I was a cabinetmaker. I worked in precision sheet metal. I KNOW how the combination of a cabinet and precision metal parts should look and perform together. Well folks, my Stageone is FLAWLESS. My sincerest thanks go to Mr. Doug Earnest. I have gone over this guitar from inside to outside and I cannot find even the smallest of things to be concerned about. The pedals, knee levers and changer work very smoothly and the cabinet is awesome!!! Doug is a Master Craftsman! Thank you Doug for all the skill and love you put into this guitar.

At a later date, I will update my avatar to include me and my Stageone. (When I get my camera fixed.)

Sorry for the long post, but I just had to sing the praises of my new Stageone and Doug's expertise and competence.

Now, if I can only learn how to work this machine to make music like you folks do, I will be one happy man. I'm going to go now and work on my right hand alpha, or maybe my "Wright" hand whichever comes first.

Best regards to all,
John

I've been cranking away at the Stage One for the better part of a year now, and it is built solid. Not only was it able to suffer through my initial ape-like maneuvering, once I got a little more graceful, the tone started actually getting richer. It wasn't just my playing either. Tuning on this guitar was easy from day one, and I knew how to work the bar ok from taking a stab at the lap steel, but all the vibrating and action have really seasoned this guitar into something special. I agree,great engineering, fabrication, and construction.

hey John

what color did you get , mine is black

HI, Just wandering, Are you guys talking about the "Stage One" or the "Encore" ?? Thanks, Im thinking about ordering an Encore

the stage one

Calvin...I got the red one and it is a beautiful deep red. It really looks and sounds stunning!

i had an early version of the stage one that was red
I liked the red also . but man Doug has made a ton of improvements from my older one.
don't get me wrong the old stage one was a good beginers guitar but the new stage one is a great guitar for anyone beginner or pro
as long as you don't want or need to change the copendant.
I think there are really very few that really need a changeable copendant or even double and triple raises and lowers
I guess it all depends on what type of music you play ...but with that said
this guitar plays extremely well

Hey, not-John McLaughlin! I'm not-Dave Mason either! I'll introduce you to my friend Paul McCarthy if I can find him.

[Hey, not-John McLaughlin! I'm not-Dave Mason either! I'll introduce you to my friend Paul McCarthy if I can find him.]

HUH?????

I don't need to, and I wouldn't want to change anything about this guitar. It's just right for and older guy like me.

[quote="Calvin Walley" mine is black[/quote]

yes, I like the black one , too.

I have my invisibility cloak on here....

Daniel...how kewl. Great photo! I like the stickers on there too.

Daniel,
Does the Laney amp sound pretty good with your steel?

George

Thank you for your very kind words Mr. John McGlaughlin. While "master craftsman" may be a bit of an overstatement, I do try to build the best guitars possible for the price charged while still making a fair profit. Maybe I can help some people out along the way.

The real credit should go to Bruce Zumsteg for his fine designs and for creating the fixtures and jigs necessary to be able to produce the instruments.

Everybody wants quality and everybody wants a bargain. Stage One has no peer out there for the combination of both. $949.00 for a superb modern steel that is used by pros??!! It's unheard of.

Doug said :

"I do try to build the best guitars possible for the price charged while still making a fair profit. Maybe I can help some people out along the way."


how can anyone ask for more than that !!!

George Buechley wrote:Daniel,
Does the Laney amp sound pretty good with your steel?

George

This one really does. It's a discontinued model, the GC-50C. Solid state with a clean and drive channel. Disregard the drive channel. But the thing I like about the clean channel is the gain setting. I can crank the amp all the way and put the gain on just a little and it sounds fantastic. Sustain for days. I'm not sure if it will be loud enough for a big club or anything, but I am on the lookout for it's big brother the GC-120, which has the same gain configuration. I like this one better than the Peaveys I tried. Not going to mention which ones, but the two I tried are very popular around here.

John McLaughlin said..."Daniel...how kewl. Great photo! I like the stickers on there too."