Are the looks of SG becoming more important?

Ken Thompson · From: Great Falls, Montana, USA

I have been looking at all the new steel guitar web-sites and have noticed the beautifull styling and finishes that are going into these fine instruments. Does it seem to you that more emphasis is being placed on the overall look of the instrument given that they are all mechanically similar and have excellant sound and tone?

The new Mullens & MSA's with their sunburst finishes are absolutely beautifull. I especially love the purple sunburst out of the black finish on the MSA. I have always thought that Sho-Bud had the nicest looking guitar and then you add to that the finishes that guys like Duane Marrs is putting on them and they become truly an awesome looking guitar.

I have to say it makes my black mica look somewhat simple even though I think it looks great.

Just wondering what everyone else thinks of the efforts that the manufactures are putting into the looks of their guitars and if it really makes any differnce to you.

I am afraid one of them is going to get some of my money one of these days and I have to say that it may be the one that looks the best to me.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I think there have always been beautiful guitars around. Most builders will make you whatever you want -- there are cabinet makers who can use any wood or inlay or trim you want. I consider a well built pedal steel a work of art, even without the fancy stuff. I enjoy the simplicity of black mica and aluminum.

Some people go for sports cars with custom finishes. Others like ornate natural wood furniture and woodwork. It's a 'style thing'. Some guys spend more time polishing them than playing them. My guitars are tools. I like for them to look nice but wouldn't be willing to pay a big premium for an exotic wood or custom finish. I usually don't even pay extra for polished hardware.

My guitars are attractive

but nothing special.

Just my personal preference. I keep my guitars for a long time and don't like for them to get too nasty so I clean them up -- polish the endplates and stuff -- periodically. But I figure they're there to help me make music as a primary purpose, so I don't personally obsess in the looks department.

If I had an exotic wood lacquer guitar or a vintage Bigsby or whatever, that cost me 5-10 grand I'd be afraid to gig with it. That kinda defeats the purpose for me. Guess I'm a player and not a collector. Some folks are both and more power to them, but I just don't have that kind of spare change floating around.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 11 May 2006 at 02:35 PM.]

ed packard · From: Show Low AZ

Ken...that is better than the idea of instrument makers only selling to good looking players so that their instrument is shown off to best advantage....lets see, where did I put my Botox? Oh well, it would not help that much.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

From what I've seen and experienced, a person can get flamed around here for focusing on the looks of a guitar. But I think visual appeal is a very important aspect of a steel guitar. It's not about what others think of your steel; it's how you feel regarding its look. There's a certain amount of pride that goes along with owning a handsome instrument, whether it's a brand new steel or a beat up 50's tele.

I do think more steel players care about visual appeal than they care to admit around here. There are always dissenters in these threads who make it clear that it's shallow to dwell on such nonsense. I asked about a brand's logo style one time, stating I had a preference for the older version. Boy, did the snarls pucker.

Tom Quinn · Posted 11 May 2006 5:35 pm

As long as they are black and say Emmons on the front, they're beautiful!

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Well, To me visual apeal is extremely important. When people hear me play, they say "At least the guitar looks halfway decent!"

Larry, I like the guitar in the middle---that's my favorite look!

George Redmon · From: Muskegon & Detroit Michigan.

A friend of mine, played a Marlin with a formica finish. The drummers cymbal stand with the cymbal on it toppled over after he backed into it setting up. That cymbal cut that formica like a knife into hot butter. My friend sold the guitar. I suggest he have it refinished..nope..he sold it. I have stopped using my Webb amp for playing jobs. Because i am afraid something might happen to it, i cannot replace this amp. So it's going into my studio and staying there. My Whitney the same thing. I am only going to use it for steel shows and special occasions, it to, cannot be replaced. So yes looks do matter. My steels are not tools. They are close personal objects that i use for expression. It's like an expensive sports car, or the yacht that is always docked, and never taken out to sea. I have my dads old sho bud. And he beat that poor old steel to death. I asked him why he didn't polish and clean the cigarette smoke off that poor thing..he told me..why..this way i don't have to worry about putting a scratch or ding on it. I can play it and enjoy it.....go figure

David Doggett · Posted 11 May 2006 9:07 pm

I don't think it's anything new. The old Bigsbys were plain, but the old Fenders had sunbursts, and the Shobuds early on were very fancy and beautiful. Seems like Williams and Fulawkas have always been showpieces. The formica steels can be plain, but Bruce Zumsteg has become an artist in snazzing up his multicolor formica models. I think modern steel makers are following the tradition, and also are reacting to popular demand for instruments that look interesting.

Kelly Hydorn · From: Spokane

Come on guys, Ken is subtle but did you catch the last line of his post, he obviously wants a new pedal steel guitar and he's looking for your approval to get a new guitar since Carol probably said it ain't gonna happen! So go ahead and encourage him because if he does, somewhere along the way I might get a chance to see and possibly play it. Now Ken, my idea would be to sell the bus if you haven't already done that, and then print out all the responses to your post and show them to Carol and just maybe she will relent. Har! Har! If that doesn't work have her call me and I'll give her at least 100 reasons why you should get a new guitar. Kelly

Tommy White · From: Nashville

I agree with Chris and James. I think the steel should be pleasing to the eye. I tend to choose darker colors now though, like my black MSA. I seem to be a bit distracted from playing by bright or busy colors.
I started playing in the 1960's on a Sho-Bud that was a beautiful, ornate work of art and ressembled fine furniture. Somehow the beauty of that guitar inspired me to play. BTW, I still have that guitar.
Then my dad brought a black, bolt-on, push-pull Emmons home. Wow. Did'nt even look like a steel to me, or at least any I had ever seen. It was definately a futuristic machine with it's compact, sleek, somehow sinister look, which I still have a fondness for as well.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

It's funny you say that, Tommy, because I'm making the transition from birds-eye (Sho-Bud) to formica right now. The Carter I'm getting is basic black, and that detail is somehow helping me in the transition with its stark simplicity.

John Cox · From: Texas, USA

I've always loved the Sho-Bud bodies and look. Also thought the Emmons wood-burst was cool too. J.C.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Comparing them to straight guitars, they're very conservative. I'd like to see some rainbow sparkle finishes, flames, or something that's really different. The bland geometric patterns and simple inlays just don't grab your eye like some of the radical rocker's guitars.

Ken Thompson · From: Great Falls, Montana, USA

Kelly, you got me pegged buddy. I have to sell myself first and then I will work on my wife.

Chris, my Carter is identical to yours and I really do like the simple look. However, I am very envious of Mike because I love that purple burst MSA. I can only imagine how that will look with the stage lights reflecting off of it. Good for you Chris, they are beautiful.

Larry, I have always believed that the Sho-Bud "style" and look was the best. It is a classic look and I want one just because of that. Now, that being said, I want lots of them and doubt that is going to happen. It looks like the new Sho-Pro is going to include some of the classic "Bud" look with a little of the newer finishes. A match that will be awesome.

I believe that the next generation of steel players are going to be more concerned about the astetic value of the guitar than the past generation. Now don't flame me, I know that is a broad statetment and doesn't apply to everyone so don't get too excited about it. I just think the kids today will pay more attention to a brighter, more colorful, sometimes different look than we did. With that in mind, I look for the manufacturers to pay more attention to the look than they did thirty years ago. Of course, technology has made that much easier today than it was then.

I still have the bus Kelly, you want to buy it?

Mike Ester · From: New Braunfels, Texas, USA

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

I'll take the yellow w/ black racing stripe.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

My first two steels were ZBs - one was dark red with a maple top,
and the next a dark brown with the same contrasting top. Both were beautiful, with
highly-figured birds-eye everywhere.

Then I went to a Sho-Bud 'Pro 111'. This was highly figured again, but in a grey-blue
colour.

So - when I got my first Emmons (an SD10 in mica) it was a rude shock when I
saw how spartan was its appearance!
My first impression was that it was a little cheap-looking!

I'd grown to love that old-fashioned 'antique furniture' look of my earlier guitars.

Now, though, they both look great! My black Legrande 111 D10, and its new sister,
a '71 'Professional'.....

RR

[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 12 May 2006 at 11:54 AM.]

Duane Dunard · From: Troy, MO. U.S.A.

In my business, when selling new or used steel guitars, appearence counts. A pretty steel will always sell faster then a plain looking steel guitar. Color is also very important regardless of brand. As Johnny Cox told me, "a lot of people hear with their eyes". Sad but true.

Robert Leaman · From: Murphy, North Carolina, USA

Yes ago, I had financial interest in a motorcycle dealership). I asked the guy who ran the shop why he put so many chrome items in the showcase. He told me that people are like crows, if it shines like a mirror, they love it whether it's functional or not. If you want fancy, look at a Lyons & Healey concert harp. You'll feel right at home since the harp has pedals which perform the same function as pedals on a pedal steel. The best harps are covered with gold leaf which is something that pedal steel makers have yet to do.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

f I had the bucks, I'd have several Millenniums decorated with fractal art.

Here are some examples of the kind of art I'm talking about.

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My web site

[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 12 May 2006 at 06:21 PM.]

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Wow! They'd certainly divert attention from the odd 'clam', Mike!

Joe Alterio · From: Irvington, Indiana

I personally think that most steels today look boring, bland and plastic. Unfortunately, very few builders are putting out lacquer guitars that don't cost an arm and a leg....and the ones that put out mostly mica guitars tend to look just exactly like every other guitar being made, save for the logo. A black Fessenden looks just like a black Rains looks just like a black Performance looks just like a black Carter, etc. etc. Hardly anyone is going to be astute enough to note minor changes in the keyhead or endplate design. The apron of the guitar IS the look of the guitar. And plain formica, to me, is just YUCHHH!

Of course, all of those brands are EXCELLENT guitars, and the primary factor in selecting a pedal steel guitar is how it sounds and feels. That is why people continue to buy them. But, how a guitar looks is also a very strong factor, too.....you want to be happy sitting behind your guitar, and I think a guitar that is beautiful to you will definitely have an influence in your playing approach. For me, if I were in the market for a new steel, I would want something that looks appealing, but won't cost me an additional grand or two....

It is worth noting that both Williams and Zumsteel are making a strong effort from keeping things from being "boring" yet still affordable. Zumsteel offers "split" designs on their mica guitars for $100 or so. Williams offers Sho-Bud style lacquer finishes (with inlays) as the same price as mica (most other builders will charge from $700 - $1,000 extra for lacquer).

[This message was edited by Joe Alterio on 12 May 2006 at 07:19 PM.]

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Hey, Mike, back in the 60's they ALL looked like that to me...

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Jim, a lot of stuff STILL looks like that to me.

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My web site

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