Never buy a ................. pedal steel

Andy Alford · Post by **Andy Alford** » 7 Mar 2002 12:58 pm

What pedal steel would you advise friends to never purchase and why?Is there a brand that was a lemon for you?What was wrong with it?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 7 Mar 2002 1:38 pm

...uh...oh...look out!

Pat Burns · Post by **Pat Burns** » 7 Mar 2002 1:51 pm

...fill in the blank...never buy a ____________ pedal steel...

..broken..
..purple..
..3-legged..
..acoustic..
..350 lb..
..water-cooled..
..plate-glass..
..stolen..
..child-size..
[This message was edited by Pat Burns on 07 March 2002 at 01:54 PM.]

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 7 Mar 2002 2:10 pm

...left-handed ...

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 7 Mar 2002 3:10 pm

"left-handed" - very good advice!

I think that the old student models (Maverick, Red Baron, etc.) aren't good for beginners today. I tell people to steer clear of them.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 7 Mar 2002 3:12 pm

...(n) atonal...

Graham · Post by **Graham** » 7 Mar 2002 5:18 pm

UH-OH!!! Guess I really screwed up, I have 2 "left-handed" steels!

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Rebel™
ICQ 614585

http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/steel.html

Bob Carlson · Post by **Bob Carlson** » 7 Mar 2002 8:12 pm

Graham...you really messed up. I suppose you only have one left hand to go with them there steels also.

I don't think I would tell anyone not to buy one brand of steel guitars. Just because I don't like it don't mean someone else wouldn't.

Bob.[This message was edited by Bob Carlson on 07 March 2002 at 08:13 PM.]

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 7 Mar 2002 9:24 pm

Nope, I'm not goin' to. :>)

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 7 Mar 2002 10:04 pm

Never buy a pedal steel guitar WITH LESS THAN TEN STRINGS, THREE PEDALS AND THREE KNEE LEVERS!!!!!!!!

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 7 Mar 2002 10:08 pm

Left handed bar...the blunt end keeps diggin' into my strings....(drum roll)

Tom

Chuck Martin · Post by **Chuck Martin** » 7 Mar 2002 10:14 pm

...A steel that's not setup properly unless they either have experience working on that brand or know someone locally who can straighten it out for them if they screw it up. The best brands out there won't help you if they're not setup properly. My experience with learning steel is that everything has to be right to make real progress. That includes the height of the instrument, seat, pedal & knee lever configuration and a changer that functions properly so the strings stays in tune. You won't get any of these guys to name brand names and I won't either because its largely personal preference. Just make sure you check out the guitar before you hand over your cash.

[This message was edited by Chuck Martin on 07 March 2002 at 10:17 PM.]

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 8 Mar 2002 5:21 am

Stolen

Andy Alford · Post by **Andy Alford** » 8 Mar 2002 5:46 am

If there are no brands that have produced lemons,has anyone bought a steel that was less than what the builder had promised?What was the problem? Did the steel soon go out of production?Did others have the same problem?[This message was edited by Andy Alford on 08 March 2002 at 05:48 AM.]

Ed Naylor · Post by **Ed Naylor** » 8 Mar 2002 6:07 am

Even though I will get slammed my opinion is this--Many 'NEWBEE" players don't have much money or are reluctant to spend a lot to start.With a Maverick etc. they at least have a "Hands On" experience to learn how to hold the bar-What a pedal does- and what knee levers do.The main idea is to get them "INTERESTED" in Steel Guitar.There are many out there that started simply and are now playing the"Big Name deluxe" guitars.Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 8 Mar 2002 6:33 am

I gotta go w/ Ed on this one.
On 2nd thought,I think Andy said it,all,in his opening statement. (thread title)

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©¿© ars longa,
mm vita brevis
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[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 08 March 2002 at 06:43 AM.]

Chuck Norris · Post by **Chuck Norris** » 8 Mar 2002 6:54 am

Andy, let it be said, all the Steel maker`s are steel player`s, therefore our brother`s. They are all doing there best to make a Cadallac product, even the begginer model`s are designed to get the most for the least. They are all human being`s therefore there is no perfection, some guitar`s are less perfect than other`s every builder can tell fish storie`s of there best, and that one that they finally file13n`d. No problem with the question but I applaud all the steel player`s for there answer or none answer. THE OFFICIAL BROTHERHOOD OF STEEL PLAYER`S, WAA LAA!
Chuck Norris NFM

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 8 Mar 2002 7:01 am

I don't go with Ed or Smiley on this matter.
Because by the time you go through 2 or 3 beginner type Steel Guitars as you progress,the cost is far more than whan it would be if you had bit the bullet and gotten a good used pro model to begin with.

Anything with at least 3 pedals and 4 knee levers is a good start. I don't advocate a certain brand over another because givin' todays technologies, it really seems to be a personal preference (as to sound,feel,etc,etc).

I looked at a few beginner PSG's a while back. One in pertickular(sp) was shameful. This unit has been pushed (and is still) via several vendors as a great first PSG. The store selling this PSG was asking $750.00 for it. Now as (IMHO) the thing is a total disgrace to the PSG family, I wonder if the manufacturer hasn't done itself more harm than good to put this thing out to the PSG community.

My advice is:
Get a good used pro model from a reliable dealer. You will think yourself in the long run.

Andy Alford · Post by **Andy Alford** » 8 Mar 2002 7:32 am

In the brotherhood what should we watch out for in buying a new steel that might not be a good deal?

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 8 Mar 2002 7:33 am

plywood

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 8 Mar 2002 8:18 am

all the Steel maker`s are steel player`s

I think you'll find that's not really true. Paul Franklin, Sr. is not a player (although I understand his wife gave birth to one

) and there may be other examples.

Just a thought.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro

[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 08 March 2002 at 08:19 AM.]

Ed Naylor · Post by **Ed Naylor** » 8 Mar 2002 8:35 am

I talk to thousands of players each year.The secret is BASIC INFO at time of purchase. I explain what to look for and how to progress. Probably half my 800# phone bill related to people that bought this 8/4 Pro model off the internet or a pawn shop and they call me to ask how to put it in the case. Also they ask"what,s this knee thing do/" and "What are those little white Nylon things on the back. A recent E-Mail asked if I "Have the thing that fits in the "HOOTER" Ed

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 8 Mar 2002 10:42 am

Well I guess I don't agree with Ed or Bill on this one. I watch e-bay from time to time and people are paying $500+ plus for Mavericks when there are often student model steels available right here for the same $'s. I haven't spent any time with the Carter or GFI student models but I have with the Zum and I can tell you that other than the looks and the ability to change pulls it does everything a pro model does very well and there is really nothing to go out of adjustment. I have to think that the GFI or Carter would be just as good and therefor a great instrument to get started on.

Ron Shepard · Post by **Ron Shepard** » 11 Mar 2002 2:01 pm

My first steel was a low end model, I paid
about $300.00 for it, began to learn how to play it and then sold it later getting my money back for it. When I sold it to him I told him what I paid for it, he still agreed to the sale.

gene brown · Post by **gene brown** » 11 Mar 2002 5:10 pm

Hi. I am new to the forum also,just a little over a year. When I got my first steel,I looked in buy and sell every day. I have seen some very good Pedal steels at very cheap prices on here. There is enough people on this forum that will help you. Get one in good condition,take some one with you that has played steel,and let them look at it for you. I found a package deal,and got every thing I needed to get started.Don't get in a hurry,and buy the first thing you see. Once you get one,buy a good tuner,and call Jeff Newman. Get all the instruction you can afford. Gene.