The Steel Guitar Forum

OK..Had my chance of looking over and trying out the GFI ULTRA series this past Sat...I played the s-10P with keys and the s-10 with keyless...great sound for aluminum frame and maple dieboard top...several were detailed and ready to be test driven..one beautiful d10 keyless met you when you wn=ent thru store entrance. We did a sound comparison with my nash 400 (amp I always take with me when I go shoppin in steel guitar country) playing the s10 keyless..Using no effects and going through a dr5 to my nash 400 (no mod mine or stores) still had very nice sustain and clarity..I was very much impressed with sound of the small keyless. Retailer also had adverb III in his hookup..this may have added to store GFI sound which was some more pronouced than mine. In another room there was a s-10P GFI ultra keyed demo going into two smaller Peavey 12" amps and a dr5 (just read dr5 screen and pick you out a song you know, take off and play along)I enjoyed this and it help sales because I watched a beautiful wood grain s-10P ultra go out the door while I was there. Although I consider myself no expert or pro, I was impressed with the simple things...like clear sound through the whole spectrum, changing front colors with removeable color strips (to suit your mood), compactness of keyless, craftmanship, short pedal travel especially on keyless etc....some small differences I seen where smaller than standard leg radius with screw out height adjustments and some pedal noise which was minor and probably could be dampened out, aluminum neck height is smaller than Carter, black changer fram etc. These are small compared to such a great looking and sounding guitar and now I'm looking at my credit card debt, checking my piggy bank and being extra good to the misses because I may very well switch to this brand. IMHO, this is a great ax with a voice all of its own.

If you buy a GFI, you will be joining a growing list of professional players that have already done so. This is a guitar that grows on you, The most under rated guitar on the market today, in my opinion, try it , you'll like it!

Bobbe

Another thing you will notice about the Ultra model is "0" cabinet drop. I have had a Ultra S10 W/Pad for over a year now, and I swear there IS no cabinet drop on that thing. I just traded my Ultra for my new Evans SE150 this weekend, have a GFI U12 (older model) and I never have checked for cab drop, and if it does, not noticable. I can't wait til I can pick up a Ultra S12.

GFI keyless system is one of the best....no
wrench needed for tuning. Gene was there before most with keyless ideas!! I've had 3..
2 D10s & a S10. Got to get to Hendersonville
and try an Ultra D10 soon !

Hey Bobbe a pleasure to hear from you...you probably already guessed where I saw all these ultras under one roof..I only live about 60 miles from this gentleman and his lovly wife, he stocks new and used 50 to 75+...I'f I lived a little closer to you I would frequent you often..its been a treat to cross cyber paths with you..nice talking with you...Dennis

Yeah Doug, you can change a string in 30 seconds and all you need is an phillips head screwdriver and side cutters to wack off the excess string. Gene's keyless is something else, I would never play anything else on stage.

B,
It's amazing how often you say what I'm thinking but can't get up the guts to actually write.


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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro

What kind of pickups in Gene putting on his new steels?

check address gfimusicalproducts.com all the answers should be there...You can change the color to suit your mood before you go out or you can change the front color between sets...I't can grow on you like my first guitar "maverick" did me.

Mr. B. My U12 has George L E66, my S10 Ultra had one that said like GFI II. I think Blackie Taylor told me that it was made by George L special for Gene. BTW, that was second hand info from a guy that is close to Gene so I tend to believe it.

Ugly????? My GFI SD-10 Ultra is a thing of beauty. Black w/ black chrome and it does not have all that unecessary and ugly metal to weigh it down. Mr. Fields doesn't need to change a thing. And I concur with Steven, the new pickups are George L made for Gene Fields. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

You boys behave now, Gene Fields is now a member of the Forum!

I want to apologize for taking so long to respond to some past threads and to thank everyone for the kind words about me and GFI, both after the surgery and after the other threads. I do not watch the forum as a rule as I don't have the time to respond to the many items that I would want to comment on. I want to thank Dennis Yager for his nice comments with one exception. Our legs are 7/8 inch diameter, the same as the traditional leg. They only look smaller because of the missing clutch cap. There is over a 3/16 inch wall creating a more rigid yet lighter leg than the old style.
The string height is one inch above the body instead of 1 1/2 inches as is traditionally used. This lower profile adds 50% more resistance to body drop. To have the same playing clearance, the necks must be thinner. This plus the die board and the through body center support offer a very rigid body.
The GFI II pickups are a more powerful version of the E-66. They are made by George "L" for us to our specifications. I chose this construction because the stainless steel creates less distortion and better note separation than the iron core pickups. The GFI I is a lighter version of the same thing.
The appearance of the GFI Pedal Steel Guitars is a matter of opinion. For every negative comment I have had, dozens more have complimented us on breaking tradition and daring to be different. The Fender PS 210 Keyless in 1969 was my first attempt at breaking tradition.
Thanks again for all your comments.

I've known Blackie Taylor for over 20 years, during which time I've seen him switch brands more than once. Owning a store as he does, he has the luxury of being able to try out many different brands and pick and choose whatever he wants for himself.

He is now playing a GFI and recently told me that he thinks it is the best sounding guitar he's ever played.

geez, these comments make me feel real good...considering I'm picking up a s-12 ultra this weekend fit to my tuning specifications. Can't wait to lay my paws on her.

This is a quote from Blackie: The GFI S10 is probablby the best guitar on the market today. I would have to include the U12 in that also. Blackie has a couple of Double's in there also, and I have to say, they all ARE a thing of beauty. Thanks Gene, you are doing a great job, keep up the good work and I hope you are feeling well these days. Blackie promised that if I ever get to a convention, I'd get to meet you.

Gene-Thank you for posting.I know you are busy.

If that GFI Ultra is as well built and engineered as your Fender PS-210 was, you got a winner! I played one of those in 1972. Another great guitar.

Thanks for breaking tradition and moving the steel guitar into the 21st. century...al

Al Markus, Nice statment,"thanks for breaking tradition and moving steel guitar into the 21st century", Wow Al, I loved this statement! Very well put! I agree.
We have sold many GFI guitars this year so I feel many other folks agree with you!

Bobbe

I own a GFI student model with 3 pedals and 1 knee lever and it's got everything on it to keep me busy for a lifetime. It sounds great and is great for the road because it's so light and easy to carry. I would like to commend Gene and all the people on his staff for their engeneering skills and expertise on makeing a great sounding, easy to carry and afordable pedal steel that I believe most pros would appreciate. I would also like to thank Bobbe Seymour for takeing the time and showing me what a great steel the GFI is. When I first saw one I thought it was so light and wondered how it would feel and sound, but after playing it and hearing how nice it sounded I was sold.

Gene, I REALLY appreciate you explaining the difference between the E-66, 10-1 & the GFI 1 & 2's. For me, the Ultra with GFI 2's is a WONDERFUL sound. Thanx for your time!

Just because something (or someone) doesn't look like what you are accustomed to seeing doesn't mean it's ugly. Sometimes you just have to look a little deeper or from a different angle to find the beauty. I kinda like Mr. Fields design, it shows new thinking and we certainly need that. OK, I'm through. Thanks.


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Doug Earnest
Zum2000U12,Sierra12,Sho-Bud ProII D10 PV DPC 750 ProFex 112E, Fender Cyber Twin

Maybe I'm just not used to way they look, I guess I could get used to it. But I heard Billy Cooper play one down at his shop and the dang thing sounded great!! and that's taking into consideration that anything Billy plays is going to sound good cause he has the tone is his hands.

I honestly cannot believe it has taken this long for the great GFI pedal steels to catch on, those of you with the older model D-10's may want to reverse the pickups, put the GFI II on the E9th neck, & the GFI I on the back neck, My E9th sounds so much better since I did this.

Ernie http://www.hereintown.net/~shobud75