I'm not one to start any $$$$ but . . . well maybe a little!

[Redd V]

I know there are a lot of steel players that play bass or started on bass,
so now the playing field just got bigger.
A friend sent me this photo, so I don't know who makes them or any dirt
I just though it was pretty interesting, so don't shoot the messenger!!

Redd

[Stephen Cowell]

Took me about a minute of looking at the funny bridge to realize... that thing's got pedals!

[Dickie Whitley]

...looks like four nylon tuners, wonder if they raise or lower, or just one function for each string. Would be interesting to know what each did and the underlying thoughts behind it.

[Jon Light]

I believe this is a clue (combined with something I heard from someone at NAMM).

[Redd V]

I think thats where he took the photo.

[Chris Bauer]

Yep - six, seven, and (maybe) eight string lap steels available with the same changer as well. Had a couple of resos set up with the same system.

[Dickie Whitley]

...I know how the pedals tend to feel on the larger gauges of strings on the PSG, I'm just wondering how stiff these pedals might be, or I'm I mis-thinking here.

[Mark Eaton]

A new website is underway and you can see photos here of the other instruments here, it is not yet complete:

http://steelinstruments.com/

Rex Thomas started a similar thread, here is his post:

Whoowee!! Okay, just got back from Summer NAMM, & of all going on, the following blew me away:

I'm coming down the last isle with lead gtrs. screaming left/right, then I happen on this incredible sight at a corner booth. Behold; a dobro, with pedals. A BASS, (set up as steel) with pedals, both 6 & 7 string lap steel shaped pedal steels. Yes, they were all "stand up" insts. Now if that wasn't a enough of a cool drink of water, on the 6 str. & bass steel was Zane King & Lonnie Bennett absolutely TAKING NO PRISONERS. Then they traded off; Lonnie went to the 6 str., Zane to the bass. Relentlessly HOT. One reason I couldn't figure out where to put this thread is the hot playing from the players or the innovative pedal insts.

Well to start, there it is folks, pedal dobro. How many guys on here have been pining for one of those? Now I fiddled with this one a little. It was in 'E', A/B pedals same as E9. And it has the same pull system as the steels, so tuning & pedal setup is up to your imagination. So there it is, the Jackson family have done it again, search no more.

Now I think Zane has a video with this new 6 stringer called the SlideKing. But I did get a close look, & it's quality all the way. Roller bridge saddles, p'ups sounded sweet. Zane worked it hard, & it's a stable inst., didn't flounce around on him at all. All I can really say about the 4-str. bass pedal steel is it was over the top, & both Lonnie & Zane WORKED IT.

I'm seriously coveting the red 7-stringer they had. I've wanted something of a "Don Warden" type steel, but the advantage with these is from what Zane shared with me is that they're AFFORDABLE, so that I can get one of these & have $$ left over for a D-10 or SD-10 with KL's out the bing bang so I don't have some builder saying I can't do this or I can't do that as I was trying to get a pedal steel to do double duty; stand AND sit. Well hey, fire out.

And to top that off, David, Harry, & Dawn were there, warm & welcoming, answered ALL my questions, & were glad to see me every time I passed by which was quite a few times.

Here's the website folks. When it opens, it's the 2nd/3rd/4th pages that show the SlideKing, Bass, & Dobro that I'm speaking of.
http://steelinstruments.com

I'm sure Zane will be on here to answer any further questions one may have.

David, Harry, Dawn, Zane, Lonnie; WAY TO RIP!!

What is interesting is though these new instruments are designed by Jackson, they are going to be manufactured by Roman Guitars, which I assume is Roman Guitars of Las Vegas, founded by the late Ed Roman.

Premier Guitar Magazine's comments below about the bass:

"... Jackson Steel Guitar blew a lot of minds at #SummerNAMM with what very well may be the world's first pedal-steel electric bass. Fashioned out of hard-rock maple, it uses a wide-frequency single-coil and four pitch-changing pedals to unleash harmonically rich tones that are like a cross between Western steel and an incredibly bell-like fretless bass. Street price will be around $2,000."

[Lynn Fargo]

Cool! Might even be able to get some work with one of these.

[David Mason]

What kind of strings? There's had to have been some pretty serious experimenting to get to something workable - it's hard to imagine normal stuff, like Rotosound roundwounds or D'Addario or Fender flats putting up with much whole-step or step-and-a-half stretching. Great way to increase the sales on bass strings! Not to mention chest and head armor, cause popping those things is going to be an event.

[Lane Gray]

Those of you with Facebook, have a look at Zane's page
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10 ... 42&fref=nf

[Zane King]

Good morning friends! I just jumped on the Forum here. I sort of figured there might be some news out here by now about what I was doing last week in Nashville's Summer NAMM show! LOL. I'm about to post a quick video on another thread here. Check it out.

Oh yeah, my world is getting interesting! Having fun is an understatement for me right now.

[Alan Brookes]

That looks very interesting and has possibilities. I would love to hear a sample of its sound, and I shall be following its progress with interest.