Transport a pedal steel without tearing down?

James Holland · From: Alabama, USA

This came up on the thread about how to justify the time to setup and tear down for an open-mic. How many of you just tote your guitar fully assembled? Any issues or risks?

Brendan Mitchell · From: Melbourne Australia

I usually pull it apart (S10) and set it up every time but I have carried my D10 ZB upside down and assembled in its case in the back of my car . I find a case adds so much weight to an already heavy guitar .

Mike Wilkerson · From: Luther Oklahoma

After time of not tearing down your steel and transporting in a proper case the screws and brackets will loosen and after so many times of tightening the screws the hole will strip out.. There is a reason the steel has a case as said for any instrument. I cant justify nor understand why a lot of players don't use the case as it is intended for. not only that not casing the instrument mars the finish. If a person has or will spend X amount of hard earned money on there dream steel common sense tells me to use the case.Just my 2 cents. Slim
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S12 MSA Classic Nashville 400 with fox mods amp 1 volume pedal 1 Lil Izzy and 3 cords

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

This topic has been discussed many times here on the Forum.

Have you ever sat down behind a steel and everything was wobbly? The legs were loose in the endplates and the cabinet moved within the endplates? This is a result of holes and threads being wallowed out by constant movement and friction, like what occurs when an assembled guitar is carried in a vehicle for a period of time.
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My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

I always put mine in the case before going to play at church or steel guitar shows. Since my Jackson Blackjack Custom is my best and favorite steel, I can't let it be set up on the way to play at church or a steel guitar show

Mike Wilkerson · From: Luther Oklahoma

Henry Matthews · From: Texarkana, Ark USA

I know most frown on transporting set up but that's the only way I every carry my steel unless I'm on a long trip. I've got a Jeep Wrangler now and my steel, amp and seat wil fit in with not problem.. I bungee my steel against the cloth part of back seat folded up and it doesn't move.amp and seat sit on floor wth room to spare. I wouldn't disassemble and reassemble one for nothing on short runs I make. I can be in and set up in five minutes ready to go and beached and out in five minutes. I think ther is less wear and tear this way also. I don't evne have to tune. Just set up and play. yMMV. I realize that in an accident that it would probably sustain damage but worth thr risk for me.
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.

Ernie Renn · From: Brainerd, Minnesota USA

Buddy drove into Nashville Now one night in the little Benz. Popped the trunk and took the steel guitar out of the trunk. The rear legs were off and he leaned the guitar against his legs and screwed in the back legs and carried it into the studio.

To do some sessions in Nashville he had a Suburban type truck that had velcro strips attached to the wall so he could sit the guitar up next to the it and wrap the velcro around the legs to hold it in place.

I'm not sure how long he did these things...
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My best,
Ernie

www.BuddyEmmons.com

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

This is not a commentary, just a photo.

Picture is dated by the Dodge in the background.
Maybe the lesson is: just carry it.
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Those that say don't know; those that know don't say.--Buddy Emmons

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

I did this for years, , well over a decade...Behind the driver seat in my van, the Steel was strapped down. Carter D10, 3 of them and Sho Bud S10, never had any issues. As long as you don't have a wreck things should be ok ! Smile

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Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Bob Simons · From: Kansas City, Mo, USA

I put my steel behind the back seats in my Honda Element with a mover's quilt over it. It stays put with no risk. I also use a one plug for everything Telonics combo with rack mounted effects and power source for the Telonics volume pedal. Combination makes lugging steel guitar rigs almost palatable! Cant imagine taking my 9/6 MSA U12 apart for every 15 minute trip!
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Zumsteel U12 8-5, MSA M3 U12 9-7, MSA SS 10-string, 1930 National Resonophonic, Telonics Combo, Webb 614e, Fender Steel King, Mesa Boogie T-Verb.

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

although there are plenty of stories of those who do, i'm not one of them ..
I keep a steel set up at home and one in the case to travel.

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

I usually just play local gigs and I just put the guitar on its side on a blanket(so it has nowhere to fall) and have not noticed anything loosening up ever.

Charley Bond · From: Inola, OK, USA

I used to own a nice van. I had a nice cushy rug in the back, so I would swing open the back door & lay my steel face down, lay a gear bag over the pedal bar & away we would go.

I never had any trouble, but then again, I'm a good driver.

This was in the Seattle area.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

If your vehicle has a cushy ride you might be OK.
I had a Â¾Ton van that I did that to my Zum. Within six months, every important screw was loose.
Herb is right.
Henry, by binding it top and bottom, might have an effective answer. Not sure it saves time and effort.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Henry Matthews · From: Texarkana, Ark USA

It's really not the right way to carry a steel but as I said above, I just absolutely hate putting one together and tearing it down. I still think they get just as much or more wear by repetitively taking apart and putting back together. When I put in vehicle, I just make sure my legs are tight and bungi it so it wont move and I'm off. I use two little plastic coaster and when I load, I just set back legs in coasters and slide right to back of seat and taking out same way, no trouble at all. Also, I rarely have to tune, just a touch up.
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.

Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

I have been carrying my old S-10 MSA set up for at least 10 years, my van has a nice rug & I made a nice cover that is also padded in the front, so when I lay it down. I have never had a problem, but who knows right. Hell I'm in my 70's & it makes it a lot a lot better for me to do it that way, it weighs a ton in the case! God forbid something would happen, if it did, I would retire from playing.

Ernie Pollock Rolling Eyes

Tom Quinn · Posted 12 Sep 2015 9:35 am

I have enough time in my life that I can tear down and set up my guitar. I do it out of respect for the instrument and the folks who built it.

You ride around with a guitar set up in the pickup truck sooner or later you will ruin the sockets as mentioned above plus all of the screws holding the guitar together...
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I need an Emmons!

Charley Bond · From: Inola, OK, USA

Differences, differences, differences...

Aren't you folks glad they make Chocolate & Vanilla

We all appreciate our fellow Steelers giving us an insight into what they do & why.

Good Luck to all

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Not really an option for me, most of my gigs the guitar rides with a bunch of other band gear in a trailer.

However, when I do carry it in my vehicle, I always put it in a case. Just seems like the right thing to do to me and I use setup time to look things over. Pilots would call it a pre-flight walkaround I guess.
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Lost Pines Studio
"I'm nuts about bolts"

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I tear down and set up at every gig. The being in tune thing is not really a deal breaker in my book. My Carter, I can take it out of the case after and hour drive, and it will pretty much be in tune. In fact, I have played gigs where I didn't have time to tune, and nobody knew the difference, even me. Sometimes the very minute touch-ups we do, are maybe sometimes not really necessary. Stuff shows up on a tuner that you can't hear.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

I have no problem transporting my Sierra in my van, fully set up, for local gigging (usually within 10-20min from home).
I prop it behind the passenger seat, with a thick horse-blanket over the steel.
I have the back-seat directly behind the passenger seat removed most of the time, for easy side door loading.
fwiw, the Sierra brand does not use threads to secure the legs to the body (they clamp), and the body is aluminum, covered with mica, so there is little risk to damage like with a wood/lacquer body.
I break it down for longer trips where I need more space for other members and their stuff.

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

It's not good for the guitar, but I do it all the time. I've also put it in the case (upside down) with the legs/pedalboard still attached and put it in the back of the truck for short trips.
I too have seen Buddy do the same thing in his Tahoe/Suburban. he just opened the door and grabbed it.
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Emmons/Sho~Bud/Blanton, Fender/Peavey.
Telonics pedal

Steve Spitz · From: New Orleans, LA, USA

I prefer to keep it in the case. One thing that would concern me is walking from the car to the stage carrying a set up steel. Drunken foot traffic, cars , and getting through the door while both hands are carrying my axe. Once inside, making my way through dancers, more people, tables and chairs, maybe the previous act is exiting etc....all while I'm carrying my set up steel?

I'd rather not expose my steel to all that potential hassle. Maybe the joints I play are more hazardous than most in that regard. It's New Orleans. People are drinking . A lot.

Over time, My steel has never been damaged while in the case , or in the car. It has been damaged while set up in the club, on and off the band stand.

Stephen Williams · From: from Wales now in Berkeley,Ca, USA

I did go to a party on the bus with the steel assembled. The bus driver closed the door and sheared the legs off. True.

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