The Steel Guitar Forum

As I continue to pursue buying a PSG I have noticed some things:

1. Many photographs of used/for sale instruments are outside. I usually don't care to see instruments outside in the dirt/grass/garage. A well-lit room and maybe a flash is all that's needed for a good photo.

2. When legs are being removed from a steel it is place upside down. Is it a good idea to place the entire weight of a PSG directly on the strings/bridge/nut? Is there usually a hidden support when this is done?

I may end up with a Carter Starter for the first few years, but am still open to alternatives.

Steels are ususlly setup and torn down in the case. It has the spports to protect it.

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Playing For JESUS,LC. WILLIAMS U12, SHO-BUD PRO1,CARVIN TL60

This reminds me of a question that I have been meaning to ask. How do you guys get your steel out of the case once it is set up. I have been lifting it by 2 side legs and then setting it on end before getting it into playing position. How do you guys do it?

There are supports built in the case that the steel rests on when disassembled.

This slide show will show you a good way to take your steel out of the case.
http://www.steelguitarinfo.com/assembly/assyslideshow/assyindex.html

John Fabian

Jesse, what most of us do, or what I do in any event, is bend at the knees, pick it up from the front of the case, with one hand grasping a front leg of the steel and another the rear leg on the opposite side, carry it upside-down to where you want to place it, and then bend forward and sort of "roll" it over onto its legs. Once the front legs are on the floor, you no longer need to be lifting it yourself, and you just gently tip it into place.

Paul,

Steel guitars are usually polished to a briliant shine, making it dificult to take a good flash picture without the flash reflecting back into the camera. It's just easier to haul it outside in the natural light.

Winnie Winston does a great job of addresing setting up, etc., of the steel in his book. I highly recomend it.

Take care,

Les

Great info, everyone. If I end up with the "Starter" I'm way ahead of the game. With some care and advice like this I should be fine.

Or you can do the NO NO that I have been doing lately..which I know I'm not alone in doing..All of you can fess up now...

My Steel is always setup..My music room is just above my garage, I carry my Steel, fully assembled, and just plain put it in the back of my van, strap it down, cover it up ,and off I go..I get to the gig..I just take the dang thing out of the back of the van and put it down where I am to set up.

When I get back home, I bring it back up to the music room and put it back in it's spot where it generally lives under it's cover anyway. It never stays in the Van overnight. Now there is obviously risk involved so you need to cover it well and strap it down better than your kids !

I suppose if someone hits my Van in the rear when I'm on my way to a gig, I guess I'll just be playing the Tele' that night , that is , if I survive..and the Tele' survives...

have fun

tp
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 26 June 2003 at 02:27 AM.]</p></FONT>

<SMALL>Many photographs of used/for sale instruments are outside. I usually don't care to see instruments outside in the dirt/grass/garage.</SMALL>

no worse than an outside gig, heck, Jay Ganz plays for cows! <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Larry Miller on 26 June 2003 at 03:36 AM.]</p></FONT>

Hey, Jesse. The guy in the Winnie Winston book is wearing a KILLER suit. It's worth the buy just for the classic pictures

What makes me nervous is seeing the steel upside down on a floor, even if there is carpet on it. I've heard it's okay to put it face down on carpeting, but for me it doesn't inspire confidence. Uncarpeted floor, though, is a DEFINITE red flag. From what I understand that will leave nasty marks in the changer.

Nicholas is exactly right, many a used pedal steel has string gouges in the changer from some know-nothing turning it over on a table to work on it. A thick carpet might be okay, but supports keeping the changer and keys clear would be better (the case has these).

For gigging and practicing around town I do exactly what Tony does. I just put my S12U in the tailgate of my minivan. I don't even need to strap it in. It wedges snuggly between the back seat and the door. I only bring a cover if it looks like rain. And I would never leave any kind of guitar in a parked car, in or out of a case (well, okay, maybe that Squire I got for my kids to play around with).

I don't think Joe Turner's gutar will even COME apart, he always uses the Prior method.
And come to think of it, why should any of us worry about taking the guitar down? Too hard to go practice!

With a D10 you can:

Take the back legs off. Carrying it around by the body, and not have the legs stick out and snag stuff.

Usually they will fit well in a large trunk, van or pickup with the amp laid down and the legs/rods/pedal rack on top of the amp, leaving it between the pedals and the body. put a nice piece of carpet over the amp. Preferrably not one that holds a lot of dirt or dust easily. A briefcase and/or pillow make a good shield behind the whole works in case you get bumped or it slides back due to accelleration. Mind you fold up the knee levers when you put the pedal rack over the amp.

Lock that tailgate on a pickup.

( I carry mine that way in my Camry wagon). Very neat, and with padding, very safe.)

Of course it's "not perfect". I often omit the carpet, and it's scarred the PV Nv400 I've played it thru for 10 years, just like it did the Session 5 I got in 79, and still play through.

Seriously, taking it down and putting it in a case every day is increasing the "wear factor" about as much if yo "gig" a lot.

I wore my Show Bud case out in 10 years from using it to sit on.

If you turn it upside down to work on it, and have to fiddle with the topside too, a big overstuffed couch works good. NEVER put it on a hard surface or carry it upside down on a carpeted floor. It'll screw up your tuners, nut rollers, and changers.

EJL

Handling a D-10 in its case, loading it in and out of the car trunk, and on and off a dolly has been a problem for me.
I recently bought some 2-inch wide nylon web strapping at a sporting goods store and made two closed loops by sewing the ends together. The loops are made large enough to go around the case twice with just enough slack to slip them over the end of the guitar case.
I place such a double loop near each end of the case, and I can lift the case with two hands by grasping one turn of each loop. The other turn of each loop draws tight around the case and keeps it from shifting.
This allows me to handle the case with the large face upward, and move it conveniently from the trunk to the dolly, which has been placed flat on the pavement.
The double loop is somewhat inconvenient to install and remove. A single loop with a buckle would be more convenient if the strap could be permanently attached to the case to keep it from shifting. I had trouble locating a satisfactory buckle that would take the stress.
Note that when assembling the double loop, a full twist must be given to one end before splicing to avoid having a twist in the installed loop. Experiment before sewing the loop together....
The guitar is now much easier handled.

I'll "fess up". I use the Prior method. If I ever get called to Nashville, Branson or Austin I'll probably have to put it in the case. I tho't I was the only one that did this, so I'm relieved to see others do it also.

Regards, Earl

Zum D-10
ZB D-10 ( Boy this thing is heavy )

I used to pick mine up (assembled) and walk down the road to the bar with it. Someone hauled my amp (a small Gibson) and my wife usually picked up the stool. I could usually make it home the same way. Of course, this worked fine on a small island on the Maine coast -- might not work so well in some major metropolitan areas....

Everybody's making apologies for carrying their guitars to a gig set up. A couple of years ago Buddy Emmons said he did the same thing. Can't be TOO wrong.

I must admit I've never done that. I had a buddy haul his old MSA SS in the back of his pickup just a block or two without securing it very well and it fell out the back. Busted the apron up, but it still played fine. I'm not taking any chances with either of my guitars, but that's just me.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

I had an old Marlen Case (built like a steam locomotive) that was spare here in the studio. I took the top off, added 2 inches of foam rubber in the bottom, plus 2 each. 3inch casters on the bottom of the case at each end, handles on each end, and 2 bungee cords to size...place the guitar in the case, add a bungee cord completely around the guitar and case, and take off. It's a little top heavy with a couple of my axes, but easy to mobile around in a wagon, pickup or mini-van. Protects the guitar well also. Just my .02 worth.

Fred

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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real

So, Fred, you mean you flip the guitar over and transport it upside down in the case with the legs sticking up?

I will never forget about 15 years ago in Cinncinatti,Ohio Bobbee seymour said excuse me folks let me show him how to carry that steel correctly before he tears it up.He picked it up gently in the center on a forty five degree angle from the body and carried it to the stage.I have carried it right ever since tnen.

I've been packing my Db.-10 Emmons over my shoulder since 1984. Altho' I'm now on my second conversion van where I merely sit it in the rear door, cushioned against the fold up queen sized bed and a large pillow against the door. I also carried it fully set-up, along with my Peavy Session 400 and LA-400, Pack-Seat and ProFex II. This was in the back of my 1980 Datsun T-280Z; the small one. It fit nice and snug in the rear with the rear seat folded forward. It also cut down on moochers wanting a free ride home after the gig. I've only had it in the case, perhaps a dozen times since 1972, usually when I moved to a new place to live.

I put two handles on my case so I can just bend over and pick it up with both hands. It's a little easier on the shoulders, elbows, lower back, etc. I also have wheels on one end of my case and a handle on the other.

That said, I'm still jealous of Fred, who can probably tuck that light-weight new MSA under one arm and stroll into the gig without even breathing heavy

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GFI S-12 extended E9

Here is a perfect example of what I don't like to see. Notice the picture of the guitar upside-down in the grass.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2561130142&category=33039

hey paul. i have a carter starter that has served me well for a while. ive played out with her a few times including the tractor and the sunset. you are welcome to come over and give her a test drive anytime you like.
I also dont like to see guitars in the dirt, but mabye its like a reunion with nature or something...
brian