The Steel Guitar Forum

Has anybody heard of a steel guitar called a little buddy? If so, is it a peddle steel?

That was my first guitar. It was ok. The Sho Bud Maverick was a better student model.

Tony

It's a pedal steel generally regarded as the second worst one ever inflicted on the market.

Tony Dingus wrote:That was my first guitar. It was ok. The Sho Bud Maverick was a better student model.

Tony

Man, you beat me by just a minute or two. Lol.

Ditto, Tony....this was my 1st Pedal Steel Guitar, also. It was pretty low end, to say the least. But, was better than nothing! Got my 1st Emmons, SD-10...about a month or so later. My Dad rented it for me from Sam Ash Music, in L.I.

I think it had only 1 or 2 knees. 3 pedals. It had a built in volume pedal, which was just another pedal, on the pedal board...that controlled a volume pot.

I have a picture, from 1975. I'll try to post it. I'm on my iPhone now.

David, mine had 3 pedals and 1 knee and a built in volume pedal like you're talking about. It was better than nothing. I later traded it for a Maverick.

Tony

Tony,

I'll post a pic of me & the steel, later tonight. It wouldn't load it to the forum, on my iPhone 5s.

It's pretty laughable. From 1975!

Here's the "Little Buddy" & me. 1975.




yikes!

Thanks for all the input fellas. A friend of mine was just asking if I knew anything about them and I told him I didn't, but I knew where to look. And, as always you guys came through. Thanks.

I have sat down at one and it was the worst pedal steel I have ever played. Stay away unless it is priced at or below $100 and will be played by a rank beginner with no other option for a steel. I have unfortunately seen them sell for several hundreds dollars.

Was it coincidence or a clever marketing strategy that this abomination was named the Little 'Buddy'?

A very good friend of mine and an accomplished steel player was passing through Modesto about 15 years ago and stopped by my house and dumped one of those "Little Buddy" steels on me and said "it's time you learned to play the steel". At the time Barry Thomas was still building steels here in Modesto so I stopped by his shop and told him about my acquisition. He looked at me and made an awful facial gesture and said, "boy you must want to learn to play really bad". I didn't know how bad it really was until a few years later I was able to acquire one of barry's steels. But if you want to learn to play really bad it will get you going.
Good Luck

Anyone remember the child version, had six strings with three pedals but no changer, therefore the pedals were strictly for show. According to the ads. there were intended to teach the student foot placement.

Nice Dave. Mine was blue.

Tony

The Little Buddy was my first steel and I quickly moved up and traded it for a MSA Sidekick which I found to be a lot better but still needed to move on as soon as I could afford it......never regretted trading them both!

Tony Dingus wrote:David, mine had 3 pedals and 1 knee and a built in volume pedal like you're talking about. It was better than nothing. I later traded it for a Maverick.

Tony

They are only marginally better than nothing!

David Nugent wrote:Was it coincidence or a clever marketing strategy that this abomination was named the Little 'Buddy'?

I always thought it was the brand of steel played by Alan Hale

My first "steel"...$125 from a pawn shop....learned string grips and basic AB pedal and open chords/notes/sounds.....lasted about a month before I got a StageOne....sold the Buddy for $125 .....that was 14 months ago

Tony Dingus wrote:Nice Dave. Mine was blue.

Tony

Thanks, Tony! I've never seen any others, except for 1 on eBay, last week. It was WAY overpriced!! I THINK, around $800. They've been drinkin the Kool-Aid!!

I Didn't think it was a very good guitar when my friend asked me about it, that's why I wanted to check it out for him. I told him what you guys all said and he was grateful. It kept him from getting a bad deal, so thanks again fellas.