The Steel Guitar Forum

While reading the "Is tone really in the hands" thread it was discussed how different 6 string guitars like Teles and Les Pauls have a tone unique to their application for country and rock.

That being said, what are the forum's opinions on how steel guitars compare. What is the "Tele" or "Les Paul" of steels? Not only in terms of tone but in overall quality as well.

I play a Fessenden that I am going to dub the "B.C. Rich Mockingbird" of steels.

Shaan

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The Pickin' Paniolo

Funny, I tend to think of my Fessy as more of a G&L ASAT with Seymour Duncans.

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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 Dobro

Le Grande = Strat!

Kinda generic, not super interesting, but a good high quality, dependable instrument.

-Greg Vincent
Emmmons Legrande II, III

Yeh but Greg,the Strat is not generic..it set the reference and trend for the rest to follow...like the Tele and the Les Paul...

"All the rest are just imitations "

Tone is so stinkin' subjective, especially when a player is very familiar with what the Instrument can offer..and how to work the sweet spots..

Lets talk Robben Ford..forever playing on a Humbucker guitar, first the 335's then the Fender RF Artist series..then a Tele'...
His tone shines on each, some you can't even tell which guitar he is using..He has got it down....regardless of which guitar he uses....

I personally would have no idea how to compare Steels to each other based on the Tele' / Les Paul criterea. Those two guitars are so opposite each other in every way..the only thing they have in common is they have a body, a neck , a couple of pickups and 6 strings. Oh yea..and they are both still made of wood..at least for now...

I've always thought that Steel players were all trying to capture a similar very full tone with a range that accentuates Highs to Lows..all thru one stinkin' speaker . And then once we get it close we change it all to sound like Buddy !

..I'm ramblin now..

good song though..

"I caught this Ramblin Fever long ago.."

thanks Merle

tp

...nonpedal Fender steel guitar for rock (you have to have the high staccato sound to cut through the "bang" and "thud" of drums and electric bass, unless you play outside all of the time).

...pedal guitars for country;___take your pick.

Rick

Shaan - at least you're not dealing with the infamous B.C. Rich "Bich" or the even more dreaded "Warlock"! ha ha
http://www.bcrich.com/guitars/nj/warlock/nj_warlock.htm

I've heard that MSA's have a deeper tone that one might associate with the Gibson family of 6-strings, but that's the only analogy I've heard.

My Mullen sounds like a 50-pound Tele that I can't play yet!

I think the Sho-Bud Maverick should be dubbed the Kramer "Focus" or Fender "Squire" of steels.

When I think of guitars (which is more often than I'd care to admit) it seems that most well known brands and models have found their niche in certain genres and styles of music because of their construction and tone. You rarely see a hot chicken picker playing a Gibson Explorer or a 80's shred demon playing Fender Jazz Master. I'm just trying to find out if the steel guitar world has shaken itself out that way.

Granted, there is probably 1 steel maanufacturer for every 10 6 string maker out there.

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The Pickin' Paniolo