Any Advice for a Wannabe Steeler?

[Barry Benton]

I don't want to hear "Don't start this bad habit!"

I have been reading this forum for about 3 years and finally joined the other day. I have a 5-string banjo and a 6-string Dobro that I used to play a lot, but that was years ago. But psg has always fascinated me and I have the bug. So I will be buying one from someone out there.

I want to learn both E9th and a 6th tuning, so either a D-10 or a U-12 is what I am after. There seem to be more deals on D-10's. I have read the forums on the pros and cons of each...I won't be picky on this part.

I will be looking in the $1,750 to $2,350 range. It seems like used GFI, Sierra, Fessy, Mullen, ShoBud, Emmons, Carter seem to be decent units in this range.

Tell me what you know. I would appreciate any advice before I ruin my life. (But what a way to go - behind a PSG!)

Thanks,

Barry Benton
Escondido, CA

[Bill Dobkins]

Just dive in and have fun. Carl Kilmer has an awesome Emmons U12 for sale here on the forum.
Enjoy the new page in your life.
BD

[Kevin Hatton]

You only need one neck for the first five years. Pedals down on the E9th neck IS A6th. Do yourself a favor and get a single neck E9th. There are ways to play it in the 6th mode that you would swear it was a separate 6th neck.

[Zach Keele]

Five years??? I'm just starting to learn the C6 next after 7 months of playing. I don't see why you would want to pigeon hole yourself that way. If you want to learn both why not go ahead and start?

If you've played these other instruments a while it may or may not take you 5 years or 5 months to start working on the other neck, but you're not going to learn it on a S-10.

I'm new at this too, but want to learn both now, and be a pro. It's best to stay optimistic and realistic. Optmistic, I'm going to learn as quick as I can, Realistic- I have to have a D-10 or U-12 to learn the C6th in it's entirety. Just my opinion.

[Calvin Walley]

since i don't like S-10s
i would say go with an SD-10
they just feel better
and give the Simmons a look before you buy

[John Phinney]

Go to Steel Guitars of North County in Oceanside and talk to Jim.

[Rick Schmidt]

If you think you're going to want to eventually play a 6th tuning, absolutely get a double neck or a Uni! Then, always keep all the strings, pedals and knee levers tuned up and ready to go. Sure any one tuning has a lifetime of study, but limiting your options as a newbie is not the way to go IMHO. Do try to get a mechanically modern axe. Just start out finding out the basics first....the open tunings and basic pulls. Don't get too overwhelmed thinking you have to use all the changes at first. In fact, learn as much as you can without feeling you have to always use the pedals...for single lines especially! I can't stress that enough.

Then when you get up to speed, you'll have all the flavoring already there on you instrument. Add to taste, and VOILA...youre a PSG player!

[Mike Vallandigham]

Real men play C6. You're a real man, aren't you?

Get a D-10 or a Uni, you'll be glad you did.


If I could do it over again, I might get a UNI right off the bat, the only drawback being that most instructional material is for D10, you can convert pretty easily, it's just more stuff to figure outinthe beginning, when it seems pretty overwhelming. (which it's totally not)

Have fun!

[Ben Jones]

I like that you know what you want and have a reasonable price range in mind. I'd do a uni if I could do it all over again.

advice (only been playing theree years so take with salt etc), join a band as a steel player asap.
quickest best way to really learn how to play.
being that you are used to fingerpicks you have a HUGE headstart in my opinion. learn from as many differnt people/teachers as you can, they all have something unique to show you it seems

forum advice: banjos are a source of humor on this site...be prepared for some funny banjo comments and dont take em personally, its all in fun.

[Rick Schmidt]

Hi again Barry....I didn't see that you're from Escondido at first...cool!

Yes, you should absolutely go to Jim Palenscar's Steel Guitars of North County in Oceanside the first chance you get! He is most certainly the most important guy you'll ever meet as a new steeler in this region!!! You'll thank me.

If you're ever down at Jim's on a Friday afternoon, stop by my honky-tonk gig at Larry's Beach Club, (formerly McCabes) on the corner of Oceanside Blvd and Tremont St. in Oceanside, 4:30-9pm...every Friday. If I'm not there, there will for sure be a pedal steel player.

I'll be there tomorrow playing 50/50 E9 and C6.

[John Phinney]

What Rick said!

Website is currently being redesigned. Here's the particulars:

Steel Guitars of North County
3375 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 754-2120

[Cal Sharp]

I bought a D-10 as my first steel guitar in 1972 because that's what all the players I admired played. It never even crossed my mind to get a Uni or a single neck - I'd never seen a pro play either one. Six months later I was playing full time and getting money for nothing and the chicks for free. Just my experience.

[Rick Schmidt]

Actually Jim's new improved website is partially up and running.

The link is:

http://www.steelguitars.me/Home_Page.html

[James Mayer]

Actually Jim's new improved website is partially up and running.

The link is:

http://www.steelguitars.me/Home_Page.html

That's an insane number of steels in one place. I've only ever seen one pedal steel for sale in a music store in the the Portland area. A beat up Fender (not a 400 or 1000, looked like a starter steel) with missing pedals and rusty strings.

[Jim Palenscar]

My wife says the same thing about the # of steels here. I either had to curb my acquisition addiction or sell something because I can't afford to keep on enlarging the store to accomodate everything that I want to have in here- and besides- it's not a music store- it's a Steel Guitar Store .

[Gary Preston]

Barry go ahead and pull all your hair out now . Because it will fall out later on trying to master this thing called Pedal Steel !

[Barry Benton]

Thanks for all the good advice. To Rick Schmidt - I was aware that you were playing over in Oceanside. I will get out to hear you one of these Fridays.

To Jim Palenscar - I had heard of your wonderful shop. I actually visited Blackie Taylor's litte shop in Riverside about 12 years ago. I almost walked out of there with a Sierra U-12 that day. I will make it a point to get over there and visit you one day.

To Gary Preston - I don't have any illusions of mastering it...but I will pull a few locks of hair out before I get the guitar for good measure.

You guys are great!

[Rick Winfield]

When I first started,again, (5-2007) I was fascinated, yet intimidated, by the complexity of a UNI. I purchased an older D10. Got tired of making adjustments, sold it and purchased a modern SD10. Desperately miss that C6 sound. After all the time and $$$ spent, I now realize, I should have "followed my dream", and bought a UNI ! So, I say "go for it". Get the Uni now, and save time and $$
When you get past the beginning struggles, you'll enjoy it.
Rick

[pdl20]

jump in and get your feet wet,you are lucky as there are a zillion courses and they come as dvd's cd' and even old style cassetts and vhs tapes.when i started trying to learn pedal steel 40 years ago there wasn't anything out there to learn from .Mickey Adams has a bunch of stuff on you tube to learn from and he is a great guy to deal with,he also has a new book out on the steel .there is tab stuff ,etc,B0B has several links on this site you can check out.Now as you know these guys on here love to jerk a fellows chain from time to time but its all in fun and there isn't a better bunch of steel picken friends anywhere better than these steel forums.so go for it,have fun and learn all you can cause there will be a test.tee hee.lol