Keyless PSGs

Mike Vallandigham · From: Martinez, CA

Nice. That's the one that came with my 2008 S-12. I love the aluminum handles.

I think the Excel changer has the ability for a tuning lock just as they come. It's just a matter of putting in the lever to actuate it. The E9/C6 is more due to the right knee levers, which have to change function with the lock lever. Mitsuo is a mechanical genius, it's so slick. I started out on D-10s, so the ability to have two full 12 string tunings in this small body it is great. I love them. Can you tell?

Enjoy that axe, they are special!

Johnie King · From: Tennessee, USA

Thanks!!

John Larson · From: Pennsyltucky, USA

What's a list of current builders still making keyless pedal steel guitars in 2024?
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Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Give praise to the Lord with the harp, chant unto Him with the ten-stringed psaltery. Sing unto Him a new song, chant well unto Him with jubilation. For the word of the Lord is true, and all His works are in faithfulness. The Lord loveth mercy and judgement; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
- Psalm 33:1-5

Hans Holzherr · From: Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland

Ross Shafer · From: Petaluma, California

sierra also only keyless

Bruce Derr · From: Lee, New Hampshire, USA

Optional on Williams and GFI Ultra.

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

...and still Excel of course. The one I bought back in 2018 is still going strong as my gig guitar. The tuning stability remains awesome.

I notice that the very first response I got to this thread from Sonny mentioned Excel and Williams and I ended up with one of each! Both excellent but impossible to compare.
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Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs

Mark Hariman · From: Melbourne, Australia

John Larson · From: Pennsyltucky, USA

Mark Hariman · From: Melbourne, Australia

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

I have the same Alumitone pickup on both guitars. This was quite deliberate so that I could compare them.
They are very different designs. The Excel is Al-framed and innovative, the Williams is a very traditional maple box, and I make much the same sound on each - evidence that tone comes largely from the player.
The one slight difference is that the Excel, being long-scale, can cut through a loud band slightly better, but that is all.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs

John Larson · From: Pennsyltucky, USA

Ian, what is the scale length differences between the Excel and Williams?
_________________
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Give praise to the Lord with the harp, chant unto Him with the ten-stringed psaltery. Sing unto Him a new song, chant well unto Him with jubilation. For the word of the Lord is true, and all His works are in faithfulness. The Lord loveth mercy and judgement; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
- Psalm 33:1-5

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

I had been on the hunt for a new Universal 12 keyless and during covid so many companies were really having a rough time so after 3 failed attempts to order a new one, this gem popped up. A mid 90's Pedalmaster. Thinking about converting it to D13th

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

John, the Williams is 24¼", which seems to be quite a common length these days, and the Excel is 25½", which makes finding a strong enough 3rd string a bit of a challenge. But once you get one to hold it stays in one piece.

Excel also make a regular scale. I didn't specify that when I ordered and Mitsuo built it long, presumably to give more definition to the bottom strings.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

Doesn't Excel charge just a little more for the long scale?
I bet that 25.5. inch scale would rock with D13th tuning. Those low strings would sound great

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

Daniel, I don't recall now how the invoice was calculated, but I do recall not asking for it and being surprised when I measured it. Maybe Mitsuo builds all his 12-strings long-scale. Anyway, no regrets. I can't comment on D13, but the low strings are less "flubby" than on other steels I've played.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

Ian, you have a good point. I could see the 12’s being done long scale unless otherwise requested. The longer scale does help. I love every single thing about GFI except the shorter scale. If they offered a keyless in 24.5 or 25 I’d order one tomorrow !

J D Sauser · From: Wellington, Florida

there is a looooong history of "keyHEADless" steel guitars, dating back to some non pedal steels.
Gene Field's Fender PS210 may have been the first keyless in the maybe about in time with Kline.

I long tried to get Carter into considering building a keyless option. John was somewhat open to it, but Bud felt one "couldn't control the overtones" on a keyless steel. He never explained to me what he meant with it.

BE, said many times that he felt his best C6th tone came off the Sierra keyless he had in the 90's. Other find that his best tone in post-pushpull and ShoBud years was on the MCI and later EMCI.

I feel that yes, keyless guitars loose even more of the "musical instrument"-look they inherently already tend to lack, to looking even more like strange machines. But I feel that the fact that it gives us an easy extra inch of scale length with even so, lower string tension on E9th's pesky high G# or C6th E below D, quicker action, less string hysterisis issues, which keyless is a good way to go.

... J-D.
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Was it JFK who said: Ask Not What TAB Can Do For You - Rather Ask Yourself "What Would B.B. King Do?"

A Little Mental Health Warning:

Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.

I say it humorously, but I mean it.

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