Rains, Derby, Rittenberry, or new G2. . .which is closest?

[Nick Reed]

Which of these do you think is closest to sounding like a Emmons P/P. My opinion is none of those mentioned. But what do your ears tell you. Many of us already know, the Emmons P/P has been the benchmark of what a Steel Guitar is suppose to sound like. I guess thats why I've stuck with mine all these years. But all the guitars being built nowadays sound good. I don't think they sound like a classic old Emmons. But they have a good sound of their own. If I were ordering a new guitar right now it would be a Williams. I feel they have great quality and craftsmanship, right on the money. But even a Williams don't sound like a Emmons P/P. All of us hear things differently.

[Sonny Priddy]

Nick They Say Rittenberry. I Have One On Order From Bobbe. SONNY.

[Antolina]

Rittenberry all the way. My next steel

[Lee Baucum]

the Emmons P/P has always been the benchmark of what a Steel Guitar is suppose to sound like.

I've often wondered who it was that made that decision.

[Bill Dobkins]

the Emmons P/P has always been the benchmark of what a Steel Guitar is suppose to sound like.

I've often wondered who it was that made that decision.

Lee, I've often wondered the same thing.
A well know Steeler in Nashville told me he could set his Derby and his Emmons side by side and couldn't tell a nickels worth of difference. I know my Derby looks like it has the same changer as an Emmons. I think the Rittenberry sounds more like a P/P than a P/P. It definatley has a sound of its own.
There are so many great Steels out there, between the Derby and the Ritt. I don't what I would buy.

[Lynette Richards]

Are you kidding me. Not to knock other guitars out there, but come on. Have you tried a G2 personally? Every push pull player that I have put one in front of, has not said this..

Curious how you came up with your conclusions.

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

Have you tried a G2 personally?

I have. It was at a private gathering of a few players who got together to show off our steels and try out each other's. There's no question, the G2 is a great guitar, but I think my Millennium sounds better.

There was also a pre-G2 Mullen, an Emmons p-p, and a Zum in the room. They all sounded fine, but different from each other. The owner of the G-2 liked (who also owned and brought the Emmons) liked my Milly enough that he said he was going to get one.

[chris ivey]

you're all wrong...my old acoustic stella with raised nut, de armond pickup and coathangers pulling the strings has the perfect tone!!!

john hugely, bloody emmons and churly caulker all played it and swear it's best!

[Chris LeDrew]

I have never heard so many conflicting reports about a brand of guitar as I have the Emmons Push-Pull. I've had some people tell me they're amazing, others say they're a pain in the ass. Some say they are easy to tune and adjust, others say they should be properly set up and that it's very difficult to do so yourself. Most significantly, I've heard a lot of people say that all PP's are not created equal. So just because you buy any old PP doesn't mean that you'll automatically hear bells go off the world will be a much more beautiful place. Or will it?

All I know is that all the conflicting reports are very confusing. I guess you just have to take the plunge and find out.

[Danny Bates]

Chris... Nothing like a Stella tone but the black Stellas sound the best.

[Scott Hiestand]

I've had some people tell me they're amazing, others say they're a pain in the ass.

These are not mutually exclusive opinions!

Whether or not it should be this way.....will we ever come to terms with the fact the beauty is in the ear of the beholder? PP's are without question great sounding guitars. The benchmark for the rest? You'll never get 100% agreement on that here. Some won't play anything but a PP, others see the "downsides" as enough justification not to play one, still others don't even hear a difference. There is no "right" answer.

(If someone plays a PP in a forest, does it sound as good as an all-pull in the studio)?

[James Quackenbush]

I'd have to say that I can't remember ever hearing a BAD sounding P/P ....They are probably one of the most consistant sounding pedal steels out there ....Is the P/P the end all , be all ?...... ??????.....There are so many other GREAT sounding steels out there today ... They all sound great at one time or another , especially in the hands of such tallented players of today ... I can be thrilled with the pedal steel that I am playing, then buy another brand a bit later, and LOVE the tone of that one too ... It's a good time to be a pedal steel player ....Jim

[Billy Carr]

I tend to look at the effects and amps that were being used in the days of the "P/P's". I would think if a player used the same effects with the exact settings and played through the same type of amps and studio boards (direct), as they did years ago that it would be very hard to tell the difference. Todays guitars are for the most part being played through dufferent amps, settings and so on. I still believe the right player can get most any sound or tone he wants from pretty much any of the guitars on the market today, with the exception of one or two maybe. The guitars mentioned earlier are all fine built guitars. I'd take the all pull over a p/p anyday, due to the easy tuning of all pulls. When your playing in front of 2 or 3 thousands folks somewhere they won't know one from the other anyway.

[Jeff Evans]

So just because you buy any old PP doesn't mean that you'll automatically hear bells go off the world will be a much more beautiful place.

True — they aren't magic tone talismans. EQ them thin enough and they can and do generate weapons grade sounds of sonic destruction (just as any steel guitar can.) Tragically, these same sounds are sometimes known among some members of the community as "those crystal, bell like highs" or, worse, "THE Emmons sound" (as if there is just one and thin and ultra bright is it.)

[Curt Langston]

I can be thrilled with the pedal steel that I am playing, then buy another brand a bit later, and LOVE the tone of that one too ... It's a good time to be a pedal steel player ....Jim

Good point Jim.

Which brings up the question:
Does getting a new guitar or other gear make us salivate with anticipation to the point where we believe that we have found the best tone yet?

Only to realize later when the new wears off, that the so-and-so guitar we used to have, actually sounded better.

I know for myself, a lot of the times I get caught up in the "newness" so much that I think at the time "man, this is the best"............

Yeah, best for now that is...........


GAS

[Jack Dougherty]

Rittenberry.......Why?

This is not a question to cause trouble but more of an inquiry as to the reason a lot of you seem to like this guitar. Gary does have a pedigree if you will as a fine builder of steels. So does Del and Bruce and the Jacksons and so on. So what really sets one guitar above another? Why does the Emmons have to take center stage. Why have so many great players changed from Emmons to other guitars? Mind you, I have nothing against Emmons. Great sounding.
But as a wise man once said...If every body liked Pepsi....no one would drink Sevenup..
So the questions stands....Why?..
Please help me as I am in the market for a new guitar..


JD

[Junior Knight]

Flame this...
I've said it before and I'll say it again;
The best tone on a steel guitar is the tone YOU like! I'm just sayin...

[Daniel J. Cormier]

I've bought and sold almost every brand of guitar out there.I love the tone of the Rittenberry or Nashville LTD that where built by Gary.
But I'll Say it again ,You have to give it to the guy that sits behind the guitar.The right hand has more to do with tone than most of us will give credit for.
JMHO
DJC

[Andy Sandoval]

Which of these do you think is closest to sounding like a Emmons P/P. I'd have to say none of the above.

Sounds like you just answered your own question.

[Tommy Alexander]

Jack,
I think that Jr.Knight said it best!
I have been playing the same Franklin since 1980; no problem with it at anytime; still love the tone.
I recently set down with Jody Cameron (Texas boy) and played on his Rittenberry for three hours.
Got hooked, came home and called Gary, talked with him for the first time, then ordered a new Rittenberry. Find one, play on it and then decide for thyself; great guy to talk with, the guitar plays great and the tone is exceptional.
This my story and I'm stickin' to it....

[Jack Dougherty]

Well...the reason I ask is.....I have my Zum since '84. Positively nothing wrong with the guitar in all ways. Just curious as to the general perception of all these guitars. I happen to agree with Junior. But there is a big thread on the Rittenberry and a lot of players seem to have put in orders and moreover rave about the sound. I have not played it yet but I did speak with Bobbe and to paraphrase, says the best bang for the buck. For me, tactal and auditory response is the only way to really tell what works. Soooo I am at square one with the guitar choices. The simple way for me to solve the problem is to ask the builder one simple question. Why should I buy yours and not the other guys?

Now the journey beguins....

[Brad Malone]

Tommy Alexander, You are confusing me, I thought you had to order the Rittenberry through SGN.

[Cal Sharp]

The sound of an Emmons P/P is the sound that inspired me to play. That's the sound I want. I don't want something that's the closest. I want the original sound. WTF is the point of buying a guitar that is the closest when you can just get a P/P? Duh.

[Mickey Adams]

My money, and a lot of other players as well are on the Mullen G2...Hands Down!

[Nick Reed]

Great response Cal