Help me identifying this strange Pedal Steel

[Peter Moller]

Hi Guys.
I'm totally new to this forum.
Is anybody familiar with this strange pedal steel? D10 - 8x2 copedent.
A seller here in Denmark will sell for around 700$, including a Peavey Session 400.
The steel is called Klimus Champion. But I'm really not sure what to make of it. I have googled my a** of, and have no clue at all still.
Mechanics look ok judging from the pictures, and the seller says its a well-playing instrument.
Do you guys know anything?
All the best greetings from Peter

[W. Van Horn]

Interesting. The undercarriage looks like a push pull or pull release to me but it's hard to tell. The pull rods look substantial

[Lane Gray]

Looks well done. Can't beat the price.

[Dustin Rhodes]

Looks well done. Can't beat the price.

Yeah, not the worst looking undercarriage I've ever seen for sure.

[Peter Moller]

Yeah? I was close to buying a Dekley sm-10 on ebay, but found this on our local craiglist. I thought it was ridiculously cheap. But then again, gotta try it before I buy it. Seems like it's build like a tank.
The only thing coming up when i search google is very vague - Klimus was supposedly a East German manufacturer. So a Communist Pedal Steel?? What are the odds. Haha.
Thanks for replies! Keep up the good work. Any germans around here?
All the best from Peter

PS. - gotta share this wonderful contemporary link. Joni Mitchell's A Day In The Garden, with lots of wonderful Pedal Steel glory, trompets and strange guitar tunings - just my taste! (sorry if I'm a little off topic).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjZjCjJZ0Yk

I'll post some more pictures when I fetch the instrument

[Chris Lucker]

The only thing I don't think was done well is the key head casting -- no stair steps to keep tuning keys parallel. The pedals are fine-- it appears there are flat springs under the pedals to keep pedal rod ends in place. The case looks heavy but very well made. Velvet straps. Is that a compartment in the lid of the case over the pickups?

[Andy Eder]

Never heard of it but I'd grab it asap at that price!

[Joachim Kettner]

The peedal rack looks very similar to the ones ABM used.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRLEY-PPi34

[Peter Moller]

So exited! I have made the deal. Fetching it tomorrow!
Can anybody clarify what sort of pulling system is used from the pictures?
It indeed looks a lot like the ABM custom in the clip. Well spotted!

[Peter Moller]

Very simular to this german build framus. I think we almost have match!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUXV0fQ9Hy8

[chris ivey]

hard to say with those pics.
no matter what, if it kinda does the job, it's a super deal for getting into steel guitar. get all you can out of it for awhile. down the road you'll gain more info and progress from there.

[Tom Voessing]

Hi Peter,

Heiko Aehle maybe can help you some. He started playing the PSG in East Germany during the time of the iron curtain. He is a forum member here I believe. His website is: http://www.steelguitar.de/

Hope it helps
Tom

[Lane Gray]

That strap hiding the guts make it hard to say.
As does the lack of endplate pics.

[chris ivey]

the more i look at it, the more i think you got a professionally built d10 for about $400!
could be the deal of the year!

[Drew Pierce]

Interesting beast. 8/2, with the right knees apparently changing the E's on the E9 and doing something else I'm not sure about on the C6. Screamin' deal though.

[richard burton]

It looks like a Framus to me

[Tom Voessing]

Here an interview which seems to shed some light on the question:
http://www.pedalpro.co.uk/folderIndex/f ... aum01.html

[Peter Moller]

You guys are amazing! Thanks for all the responses! WHat a fine thing this forum is! Love, Peter

[Richard Sinkler]

Here an interview which seems to shed some light on the question:
http://www.pedalpro.co.uk/folderIndex/f ... aum01.html

Interesting tunings Frank used.

[Stephen Williams]

Peter, thanks for the link to Joni Mitchell. first song from Hejira a great album. If you can learn some chords eg 1,4,5 and relative minor you can just play along to the whole concert. Sometimes just playing chords on pedal steel along to some guitar or other instrument sounds great because not all the strings and notes are the same.
btw i like her playing guitar, it all falls apart when she's not driving so to speak

[Peter Moller]

@Stephen: yeah! That sounds like a fun approach to begin with. Im a piano and synth player with good ears, but have only played a little bit of lapsteel and strangely tuned guitars. I've always been very interested in the music between the notes you know, and as a piano player theres not a whole lot of that going on.
What else can I say? Is there a particular book to aim for?
As mentioned i have all the theory of music from studying jazz and classical piano, and making a living as a musician and composer.
I have listened lot to Paul Franklin (big dire straits fan btw) and Daniel Lanois, and I find those guys very inspiring, though they are very different. Starting to get more into all the traditional stuff also

[Peter Moller]

the deal is done!!!! I'm so happy right now, on my way home by train with a real heavy axe and amp. The sellers father was the original owner. Its in great shape, no issues! Ill post pictures as soon as im back. 700$ for the d-10 and peavey session 400!!! Wow!

[Joachim Kettner]

on my way home by train

Wow Peter! You must be a very strong man. Enjoy your guitar.

[Lane Gray]

Session 400 Limited.
Still a good, no, great, deal.

[Tom Gorr]

A couple of new ICs in the 400 and should be golden. ..Great deal! Congrats.