The Steel Guitar Forum

Maybe I am opening a can of worms, but I am curious with all the steel guitars out there, which guitars seem to hold their tuning the best. I played out of Nashville for 12 years and played numerous guitars. Some stayed in tune really well, and others needed constant attention. I played Sho-bud, Emmons, Marlen, Mullen guitars, tried Franklin, Dekley and some other less known guitars. I know there are a lot of variables, but I am wondering what other pickers experiences have been. I will say that the best guitar I ever had for staying in tune was a Pro-II. All the other guitars I have played were decent, but the worst was a Speedy West guitar built by Marlen. I do love the Emmons guitars though, but they have varied in tuning stability too. I might add that I don't have any experience with Zum steels.
(Sorry Tommy Detamore)

Ill have to say that my Derby D10 is excellent for holding a tune. Charlie told me before I bought it that the cabinet drop was almost non existent and that you can tune it once every gig and play all night in tune. He was almost 100% correct. I hardly ever have to touch up the pedals or Levers , they stay in tune.

I am continually impressed by my Sierra Sessions for staying in tune, often right out of the case.

I've been playing a Mullen G2 for around 6 years. Holds tuning great even between gigs. rarely have to tune pedals and levers.

A well set up pushpull is rock-steady when it comes to holding its tuning. I rarely need to do anything more than tweak the tuning keys after set-up.

Ditto Tony's comments.

I have had great results with Emmons push pulls and LeGrande guitars. One important factor is to let the guitar acclimate to room temperature before playing if possible. John Hughey used a hair dryer on his.

I am playing a Sho Bud Super Pro with metal necks that does a great job of staying in tune.

Ditto Derby.

I have had 2 Sierra's, S14 and S12, and tuning was simply checking it for the most part. Only thing that ever really effected them was pretty extreme temperatures. But if I had time to let them sit in the venue, if indoors, they both would come right back into tune. I rarely ever broke a string either. After several weeks I would notice the strings begin to...hard to put in words....it would become more difficult to hit a harmonic...then I knew it was time to change the strings.
I recently acquired 2 EXCEL S12's. They both seem to be pretty much like the Sierra's. I haven't had either of them out on the road yet but gotta say I love em!!!
BTW I should mention that I put the strings thru the paces too. My Sierra's are 8x8 and my EXCEL's are 8x9

My Excel D10 is actually amazing in that regard: I check it every time of course, but rarely have to tweak it:

My push/pull is very stable.

Nothing beats an Anapeg

I would add (I forgot, must be an age thing) that I did have a Derby for a number of years after I moved back from Tennessee. It stayed in tune pretty well, on a par with the Legrandes I have had. Sold it to a friend of mine. Good guitar. I appreciate the replies, and am curious about the Mullen G2 guitars and their tuning stability. Up in this neck of the woods I don't know anyone that has one to try, and what are their experiences with that particular guitar. Thanks everyone.

A number of years ago I bought a Mullen from someone in TX. When he shipped it to me is still had a Michigan address showing on the box and it whet back to that address. They of course shipped it back to TX they then reshipped it to me in KS. When I unpacked the guitar it was still in tune enough to be played. Not saying it was perfect but I was amazed how well it maintained it's tuning through all that shipping.

Dave, the Mullen I had some years ago was a PRP. It held its tuning fairly well, but was about average compared to the other steel guitars I have had. Georg, your Dekley is certainly not "run of the mill" LOL! I have seen some of your posts on modifications you made to it. Thanks for your responses.

My G2 stays in tune amazingly well. I rarely have to tune it. When I do, its just tweaking. Great guitar.

Craig

I've never had a steel that didn't hold the tuning after new strings settle in.

If someone is having problems staying in tune its usually a string problem. Either old worn out strings or crappy new strings.

My Justice Pro Lite is very stable, hardly needs to be tuned at all and I play out once a week.

Ditto Derby and Push/Pull. My Rittenberry also stays in tune very well.

MY guitar stays in tune the best!!

I haven't had the problem, but I can't say as to different brands. (I haven't really owned that many.) However, I do think that a lot of the problems some players have with staying in-tune is with the players themselves, and not with their guitars. I make this observation because amateurs seem to have far more problems with this than the pros, regardless of the brand they're playing.

Donny, I probably should clarify as to what I mean "staying in tune". I am a stickler for playing in tune, so if I have to tweak a string here and there, that is the norm. I have had as I said in earlier posts that some guitars needed more tweaking than others. I do have compensators on my Legrande which help quite a bit. I would say that some amateur players have problems pitching (hearing) and intonation problems.

I've had a ZB, an MSA Classic, Emmons PP, Mullen RP and two Excels, and honestly, I'm surprised that they all never really changed tuning that much.

Maybe with major temp swings, but they always at least stayed in tune with themselves.

Even more incredible, I have a 2008 Martin D-18 Authentic, I literally never tune it. It sits out on a stand, or in the case, or hot or cold in the house.. Humidity? it sounds different, but still in tune.

My Custom Shop Gibson Electrics are always out of tune. No idea why.

But all the steels I've had have been pretty solid.