The Steel Guitar Forum

In the Robert Randolph thread, somebody mentioned that his purple Fessy needed repairs on several occasions. It was pointed out in the same thread that lacquer finishes are more frafile than mica.

What do you all think is the strongest, most durable steel that can best survive the rigors of road work and general abuse.

Fender

Sho~Buds and Emmons' have taken a licking and kept on ticking down through the years.

I haven't done much traveling with my Dekley, but have played it for the last 20 years and never spent a dime on repairs. Buddy Cage's D-12 is the same vintage and basically the same model as mine and is still going strong.

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Jim Smith jimsmith94@charter.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden Ext. E9/U-13 8&8=-

I've got a guitar whose name will remain private that shoots #3 across the room every week or two. One of these days I am going to kick it down the stairs. When I do, I will let you know how it holds up.

...not sure Mike; but I believe the Bic, throw-away was the least durable steel of all.

Rick

I would guess the old MSA Classics. Though it was not the most popular in the sound department, nothing that I've ever seen comes close in the engineering department.

Things like 3/8" solid stainless steel crossrods (with a center support on the doubles) made it the strongest, and heaviest ax out there.

all I know is for a worst case scenario,I beat the living cr@p out of my MSA D10 for 25 years with virtually no maintenance and it still plays easily, holds tune etc...it ain't purty, but it works.

I will say I've treated my Zum much nicer.

I agree with Donny, and I'll add an observation. I'm currently rebuilding an old MSA Semi-Classic and I'm still amazed at the precision of the MSA's. The fit of all the parts is as near perfect as any steel I've ever seen. I am a Mechanical Engineer and I appreciate these things.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Hey Jim, I actually had a chance to look at the undercarriage of Buddy Cage´s guitar when I met him in Holland last month, and it was amazingly clean. You wouldn´t guess that it´s already more than 20 years old. It sure looks like a precision instrument. I think you can say that Larry created a masterpiece with that one. Guess I´m gonna keep my Dekley, too, even if S-12 on a D-12 body is a configuration I don´t particularly care for.
As for ShoBuds and Emmons´, IMO they will last a lifetime if they are treated well. I´ve seen a number of them that unfortunately were in sad condition. Some people just have no respect for the instrument...
Regards, Joe H. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Joe Henry on 18 April 2002 at 09:46 AM.]</p></FONT>

Judging from the number of them still on the market, the most durable steel must be the Sho-Bud Maverick!

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Seriously, I think that the Emmons push-pull is a real contender. The parts are all strong and heavy, everything fits together tightly, and the formica finishes doesn't damage easily.

The Sierra pro models stand up pretty well, too. I have no qualms about carrying mine around without the case or letting by 3-year-old grandbaby bang on it. The thing can take a lot of abuse without any ill effects.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Ditto on that Dekley Jim!!

Mine is over 20 yrs old, I'm at least the third owner, and it still works just fine. Bud Hall has blessed this guitar with hundreds of hours of his masterful playing back in the mid and late 80's.

My mentor owns a D-10 Dekley and absolutely refuses to part with it, even though he's a died-in-the-wool Emmons man.

As with any quality instrument, regular maintenance will usually insure a lifetime of service, without a great deal of expense.

Tony

The most durable steel comes from Pittsburg or Gary In. That Tokyo steel just isn't as dependable. Seriously tho, My mid 50's Airline from Wards was pretty dependable mechanically.

Sturdy? It's a shame Joe doesn't build the Kline guitar any more. Now that's sturdy.
Jim Miller I'D RATHER BE STEELIN'

All things considered I would have to go along with the Fender 400 and 1000's.

The ONLY weak spot I know of on these is where the cable loops were soldered to the cable. And while many NEVER had a problem, a few came loose at this point.

Outside this, these were like Sherman Tanks and built like the proverbial.....

May God bless Leo Fender,

carl

What About A DERBY? SONNY.

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SONNYPRIDDY

MSA


Wayne

Well,yeah, Cage's guitar has really held up under some real adverse conditions-such as the case being mostly ductape for a few years-But as for the clean undercarriage-well, just before he went to Europe he was at Emmons for a cleaning and some repairs-so that might have helped a little. The switch from E9 to C6 blew out about a year ago, and Dick jerryrigged it for him but it needed full attention.

JB

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Mullen Royal Precision D-10 8 & 5
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

How important is this? Is this why you would buy a steel? All steels would last a lifetime with reasonable care, but I wouldn't if I had to carry or listen to a lot of them. All guitars will hold up fine! Get one that SOUNDS GOOD! That way you won't mind if it lasts a lifetime!

Maybe not so important anymore with the demise of live music in Honky Tonks. The knock-down-drag-outs don't happen so much now. At least where I play. But, when you get really ticked off at some jerk for leaning on your guitar, and you stand up and pop him on the chin and accidently knock your guitar forward and it falls on the floor off a six inch band stand, or higher, you really hope that thing is still going to perform when you set it back up.
Of coarse, getting older has a tendency to calm your temper quite a bit too. Jimmy
I'D RATHER BE STEELIN'

Jimmy, you are killin' me! I never thought of being in the trenches in a war zone with a steel, but I 'spose that if you are playing in this environment, this dependability factor may be very important!
What kind of clubs are you working in now?
Don't answer this post if you have been killed in the line of duty!

Sgt. Browning J.Thirtycaliber

I was mowed down one night in a bar fight while sitting behind an old Sho-Bud, one of the rounded body styles. These two guys just came right through me and I never seen it coming. I had to re-adjust one of the legs on that guitar but it was still in tune and played fine until the day I sold it. That's pretty darn tough! I like the formica Emmons P/P guitars now for tone and durability but I'd have another Sho-Bud like the one I had back then.

I've got to vote for Dekley too. I've had mine for almost 20 years, it still stays in tune better than any guitar I've had and sounds fabulous. And that's after many journeys in the belly of the bus as well as just sitting neglected from time to time too.
Just keeps on tickin. It's a keeper.

Bobbe, Thank the Good Lord I'm playing the "animal clubs" and fraternities now. But, the case in point was mid 80's at a road house near Spencer, W.Va. I allready had my mind made up that if he got up, I was gonna run. Well, some good ole' boys came over and escorted him to the bar and that was that. I picked my guitar up off the floor and every thing was fine. You rascal, you would have probably laughed at me then too. Naw! You would have helped me, Huh?
Hey, I know you've been there and done that too. Jim Miller I'D RATHER BE STEELIN'