Show us your Excel Pedal Steels

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

I've really taken an interest in these guitars and now I just want to see as many as I can of them. Underside pics too please.

Thanks!!
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RETIRED

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Dustin Rhodes · From: Owasso OK

Definitely interested in this.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Here are a couple of, before and after, pictures of my Excel
I changed the mica from black to white. Excels have a unique form of construction so it really wasn't that big of a deal.

Here's a look under the hood:

Mark Hershey · From: New York, USA

I've taken an interest in these and have been doing some research. I've read nothing but amazing things about them. Erv how does this steel measure up to your other steels?

Thanks.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i like the black one best.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Mark,
I think they are a great guitar and very easy to work on. They have a unique construction, basically an aluminum cabinet with mica cover. There is a rib in the middle that extends from the bottom of the guitar to the top so very little cabinet drop.

Dale Foreman · From: Crowley Louisiana, USA

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

The design on the black one was cool. I'm expecting delivery of one tomorrow. Pretty fired up.
_________________
RETIRED

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

I've had this U12 since 2004 and haven't played anything else since. 5 raises & 4 lowers and lotsa unique engineering that you just have to see to believe. I can't imagine any other guitar that can do what this one can. I have 8+9 and a lever lock on there and a Wallace 17.5 Truetone single coil.Very light and packs up into what looks like a tenor sax case that could actually go into an overhead bin on an airplane at 38 lbs tho I've never tried that. Even in a flight case it's still under 50 lbs. Here I am playing it at Sneaky Pete's memorial w/his famous Burrito Bros Shirt behind me.

Here's Jay Dee taking a stab at it with Mitsuo looking on.

Mark Hershey · From: New York, USA

Mark Hershey · From: New York, USA

Mike Vallandigham · From: Martinez, CA

Oh boy, don't get me started.

Mitsuo is an incredibly nice fellow, and his level of mechanical wizardry is un-paralleled.

Here's my E9th/C6th 12 string, it's about 7 years old. I love it, and it sounds and plays ridiculously well. It's infinitely adjustable, and the long scale really sings.

It's a full 12 string E9th, then throw the lever, and you have a full C6th. The right knee levers change what pulls they make when you throw the lever.

Think about that for a while.

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

Mike, that's the one I'm dreaming of.
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RETIRED

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

Mark I got a keyed one from Damir.
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RETIRED

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

Dale, I just noticed ur question. I traded the Ritt last year for a D10 because Gary was booked up and I would have had to wait a year to get another guitar from him.
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RETIRED

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Here's a link to a great post from Mike V. about the underside mechanics of the Excel 12 string changeover:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=275999&highlight=excel+lock+lever

Check out the changer end plate photo showing all the tuning adjustments!!!!!

Dustin Rhodes · From: Owasso OK

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

Thanks Greg!! I really enjoyed reading that.
_________________
RETIRED

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Mike Vallandigham · From: Martinez, CA

Marty,
They're even better now, but Mitsuo develops things so quickly, I never know what's going on.

Last I saw, he had gotten rid of the keyless head tuners, and moved them onto the changer fingers. So you anchor the strings at the peghead, then lock AND tune them at the fingers, with thumb wheels. Super cool.

One cool thing my guitar does, is that when you do a lower, the whole finger just moves forward to effect the lower, the finger does not rotate. This eliminates hysteresis on return. I can't really explain how it's done, but there's basically another pivot point inside the finger, separate from the main pivot point of the large axle that holds the fingers.

Mark Hershey · From: New York, USA

I recently found out about these steels when I bought my Excel Frying Pan which is amazing.

Then I heard about these gain when I was listing to an album with some great steel and found it was a player I never heard of named Leo Leblanc. Researched him on this forum and saw that he played an Excel from the 80's in an unusual tuning.

Reading this thread is getting me more interested in them.

A few questions, how's the tone? I've heard it compared to a brighter steel like an emmons. Is that accurate?

How's the sustain? Last, what's the advantage of a 25.5 scale?

Marty, would love to hear some feedback on your new axe when you get a chance to play it for a while.

Dale Foreman · From: Crowley Louisiana, USA

Mike Vallandigham · From: Martinez, CA

They're great on the sustain end of things. I think the 25.5" scale helps that.

Larry Allen · From: Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii

Hey Marty..here's my Excel collection, 2000 S10 Ext E9, 2010 S10 Ext E9 and 1962 D8...Great guitars. Just ordered a new one from Mitsuo...Larry

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Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

Larry those are cool. Mine should be waiting when I get back home. Pretty excited.
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RETIRED

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Larry Allen · From: Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii

Marty...great guitars, never break strings, always in tune, cabinet drop is nil, super easy to work on and change copedants..I've got a BL710 in one and Telonics in the other...super sounds..I'll be off the road Dec 18th..email me if you still need parts..Larry Smile

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Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side

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