The Steel Guitar Forum

HELLO OUT THERE!!!!!! There seems to be a very strong interest by Steelers in GFI Guitars. I see and here more of them. Any GFI owners that would like to coment, please do so. I sure would appreciate your thoughts. (Staying in tune, pedal action, how quite and is the guitar stable while playing etc.)

I owned a S-10 GFI that was a fine guitar.
Very well made,light weight, smooth pedal action,and stayed in tune,and sounded good to my ear!.....What was I thinking when I sold it? I would surely buy one again.And
if thier good enough for Norm Hamlet.......

Well, its solidly and cleanly put together, light, stays in tune, has smooth pedal and lever action. I started out with a GFI SD-10, and now have U-12 keyless. I think the keyless setup is spot-on. For a new guitar I think they are a great value. Also, you don't have to wait forever to get one. Gene Fields makes a good number of them every year and Bobbe Seymour always has a few in stock. For my tastes, if I want a lightweight mica guitar I'll buy aother GFI. If I wanted a lacquer finished wood body, I'll get a Fessenden. In fact I am saving-up right now for a Fessy. These seem to me to be two of the best values out there.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Del Rangel on 03 April 2004 at 02:39 PM.]</p></FONT>

Check your e-mail.

I have a GFI d-10 keyless 8 and 7. Very well santisfied. there are a few minor thing that could be better but over all it is a exceptional value.

I have only best to say about guitars and people at the GFI company.Great guitars for a great price built by a great people who provide a great support.I`ll get another one some day soon.

I agree with everything that's been said here. And, the service is second to absolutely nobody in the business. Gene and Bob are winners, like their guitar.

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GFI S-10

I have a 6mth old GFI S10 with pad that plays and sounds exceptional. It took me 1 hour to change it over from Day to Emmons never having even seen the bottom of one. Super design,light and sounds great. JimP

I've only been playing PSG for 3 months. So for what my newbie opinion is worth, here it is. When I bought my guitar, I decided to go right for the GFI S10 Ultra keyless with the pad. From what Gene told me at the show I saw him at, the student models are very close to the Ultra's also. He in fact seemed to be steering me to the more economical student model. After some thinking though, I ended up with the Ultra. I've been very impressed with the support I've had from GFI. Not being familiar with any other PSG's, I don't know how adjustable certain things are on others, but I've been very happy with easy adjustments I've been able to make to knee lever "play" for a more comfortable fit and moving pedals just a bit. The guitar stays in tune well, and now that I'm used to it, changing strings is easy. The GFI pedals seem very smooth and sure to me. And, if I say this correctly, I think that cabinet drop basically does not occur.

Bob P.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Robert Porri on 04 April 2004 at 11:19 AM.]</p></FONT>

I did buy the GFI student model from Bobbe last month. I wanted one to keep in Atlanta and be able to practice when I was not at home.
It is very light and is a dream to keep tuned once you get use to the all pull tuning having had only a push pull up to now.
Personally I think that it is a great little guitar at a vey good price. The pedal action and the knee levers is quick and smooth. Very quiet.

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T.C.
Emmons S-10
G.F.I. S-10

I had a used GFI D-10 at one time , and I needed a paddle for one of the knee levers ..I called Gene at GFI and told him what I needed, and without any hesitation , he sent me a knee lever with a paddle on it , and never even charged me !!...Now you can't beat service like that !!...He stands behind his steel, and I will NEVER forget that !!..They're a great bang for the buck steel ..Jim

Thanks again to all !!!!!, I appreicate your time, knowledge, effort and comments.
Herb

I bought the GFI SD-10 from Del Rangel that he mentioned above and found it to be a great guitar. It is lightweight, stays in tune good, well built, easy to work on, and as a bonus it also has great tone. I also needed a part and called Gene Fields and he sent it to me at no charge. Great guitar, great value, and great service, a combination thats hard to beat.

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I've got the SM-10 Student model which plays ands sounds great. I'm probably gonna take a look for a S-10 or SD-10 Ultra to upgrade to pretty soon. Good folks, and fine products!!

Dollar for dollar, pound for pound, there ain't a much better steel around!

I have played everything around, and this little machine is the ticket.. Tone to the bone, good solid cabnet and stays in tune great!
I have used mine on the Grand Ole Opry many times.. and look forward to having another GFI in the future.
MS

Del and folks using the keyless models:

I'm about to make the jump to a SD-10 Ultra and think I should go ahead and get it with the Keyless tuners. How would you rate this system? Is it worth the added (small) cost?

Thanks a bunch for the input!

Scotty

Funny you should ask, as I just pulled my GFI put from the bottom of the pile and played it on a couple of saloon gigs.
I really liked it.
The tone is very pure and clear. In some strange way I feel like the tone jumps out at me with less effort than on my other steels (Zum, Franklin, Sho-Bud).
There is less cabinet drop, and more consistent pitch on the raises, than on my other steels.

On the downside:
1. A knee lever that lowers 3 strings (with a half stop on 2 of them) is very long and stiff, and I haven't got the whole tone lowers to be consistently in tune. The problem is apparently in the lower-return springs, which (unlike all my other steels) are not adjustable, and are too short. If I could use a longer spring, it would not get so much stiffer toward the end a long pull.
2. Lowering to a rasied pitch comes back sharp. For eaxmple on string 5 of E9, raise B to D and let it lower back to C#. The pitch is sharp. In fairness, all my other steels have this same problem except Franklin.

Your experience may differ, as my GFI is not like the current models. It was Gene's personal guitar and may be about 15 years old. It's a double neck: 12-string steel, and 8-string fretted neck, not keyless, with way too many knee levers.

I think I'll take it to the Viva Cantina this week on Thursday and Friday.

You won't believe how many we sell and how happy everyone is with them, Doyle Grisham(Jimmy Buffet steeler), Charlie just bought one,(with the "Loretta Lynn" band), Norm Hamlet,(Merle Haggard),Mike Fried(Gary Allen,)Fred Newell,(Porter Waggner),Ronnie Miller,(Charlie Pride), Ralph Mooney(happily unemployeed at the moment),are only a few great players that have chosen the GFI to make their living on.
As I have said before, Good tone, light, small, strong,very durable, very easy to change a set-up on, parts and service are ledgendary. Yes, a very well priced modern steel guitar, I don't know how you can beat these qualities. This guitar isn't a compromise, it's the best of everything. Including delivery after ordering one,as we keep them in stock at all times. Seriously, check them out, you won't be sorry.
This is the guitar of the present And future, This isn't the only guitar in the world, but it is one of the best.
bobbe

Scotty, mine is a keyless ultra, the system works flawlessly, stays in tune, weighs next to nothing, is stable. Keyless is a matter of choice, I bought mine used, and would have liked it either configuration. You don't have to wind the string, but you have to fuss a little bit to hook the string around the screwhead, but it is simple, and sounds GREAT!

Fellow Steelers its great to hear reply from all of you, from the guys that have only played a few months to the LEGENDS! who still entertain us your all the best!!!!! Long Live Steel Guitar.
Thanks,
Herb

I havent heard or played one in person but I have been very impressed with what I have heard from Pat Seavers on the Nashville live talent contest great great tone Jeff

many manufacters even some that make them say the keyless guitars done sound as good since we are talking GFI here what do you all think about this I would love to go keyless Jeff

GFI has great tone, great looks and the man that makes em is a 'real' great fellow, you know, Gene Fields. His guitar is the future for pedal steel tone!! Never seen or heard a bad GFI, ever!!

Ernie

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Scotty,
I like the keyless setup that Gene Fields has designed. He seems to take a lot of time to develop well constructed and practical parts for his steels. The keyless head is simple, strong, works well and tunes easily. After you change a couple of strings you get the hang of it. With a phillips screwdrive, loosen the approriate anchor screw, remove the old string, bring the tuning lever in, one clockwise wrap of the string around the anchor screw, tighten the screw, snip with diags, and tune it up. I can do it in less than 2 minutes without rushing--and I am a hack. If you are playing out, its a real joy compared to all the turning that has to go down with a regular keyed guitar--particularly on those thin strings. Without a doubt, you can change a string very quickly--much faster than you would be able to normally. I have to add however, that I have yet to break a string on this guitar. I change strings out every 2-3 months. Is it worth it? To me it is.