GFI Expo are they really that bad looking?

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 18 Sep 2012 3:25 pm

I recently bought an Expo and am very pleased with it. The only thing I don't like is t he fretboard. I put a white MSA fretboard over the standard one.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 18 Sep 2012 4:33 pm

They just have an "industrial" design style.
Lapsing into Jeopardy mode...

A: GFI

Q: What kind of steel guitar would Devo buy, Alex.

I've played 'em. I like 'em, but the design is different

Jack Wilson · Post by **Jack Wilson** » 18 Sep 2012 5:37 pm

I like the modern look of the GFI and ETS. But what I like most is when I see one on Jay Leno's Tonight show, I don't have to wait until the camera shows a closeup of the front of the guitar to know what brand it is. Some shows I watch they never show the steel player up close and the Emmons clone can never be determined. But Iam like other people, I think the 1966 Ford Mustang fastback is the best looking car ever designed.

Norbert Dengler · Post by **Norbert Dengler** » 19 Sep 2012 2:56 am

ugly?

:

Quentin Hickey · Post by **Quentin Hickey** » 19 Sep 2012 3:34 am

No, she'a beaty, and the GFI aint bad either

Had to get that one in before anyone else did Norbert

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 19 Sep 2012 8:26 am

I like the look of the GFI. I don't care for the gray finish on the aluminum parts on the later guitars, but it's growing on me. The older one's that came in the colors were pretty cool looking, especially the blue. I would be proud to own one.

Dale Hansen · Post by **Dale Hansen** » 19 Sep 2012 11:17 am

The first GFI that I ever saw up-close, was backstage at the Opry, in 2000'. I thought that it was the ugliest guitar I ever saw...
In 2007, I bought a D-10. It's a great playing guitar, but I couldn't quite get used to the 'look', as it was.
I made a few performance mods, and cosmetic improvements, since then.
The front corners are wrapped with 'faux' end-plates, made from polished, 1/8 aluminum angle.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 19 Sep 2012 6:29 pm

Your right, they are the ugliest and tackiest guitars ever made

Tom T Taylor · Post by **Tom T Taylor** » 20 Sep 2012 1:00 am

OUCH!
I thought that perhaps if the ruskies had ever built a PSG it would look like that grey one.

Sure you get some fun out of it though.out there collection,amigo.
TT

Mark Dershaw · Post by **Mark Dershaw** » 20 Sep 2012 4:22 am

I've just obtained a keyless S10 and so far I'm loving it. I've yet to play it at "full volume" on stage so the jury is still out. The guitar operates fantastic and at "livingroom volume" sounds great. I've always been a minimalist kind of guy so the compact design is right up my alley. To me it's really impressive to hear a great player do more with less. Kind of like hearing a great drummer playing on a 5 peice kit! As for the looks of any pedal steel guitar... what does it matter, the girls are looking at the lead guitar player anyway

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 20 Sep 2012 7:38 pm

Wouldn't bother me at all.

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 20 Sep 2012 7:59 pm

I have owned 3 GfI's over the years and the last one i had was the S10 expo. It turned out to be my favorite as it played so well,stayed in tune amd was lite. I really could see no advantge in the 2 ultras i owned. I never liked a pad to rest my arm on. In fact when swing died out and i was forced to play country only i put the E9th on the inside of my MSA to save on sleves. Worked in many bands back then where we wore suits.
But as is said, to each his own. Tracy

BTW. The reason i sold my D10 MSA i played on and off the road for 35 years or so was because as i grew older it kept gaining weight.

Tracy

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 20 Sep 2012 8:08 pm

I got my MSA volume pedal with the steel. I still have it but don't play any longer. It got so beat up over the years Reece suggested i paint it which i did. I painted it black which i should have done when it was new. Man it sure helped the tone.

Tracy

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 24 Oct 2012 10:46 am

I just got a brand new GFI Expo in August 2012. The mechanics are awesome but I couldn't get used to the looks.It had that aweful brown kitchen cabinet look. I had a friend recover it in red and silver sparkle. I dipped the black neck and the black keyhead in paint stripper and then sent them to Buds Polishing in Nashville. Here are the after picures and the before pictures.

AFTER

Here is a link to the before picture as i bought it

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GFI-pedal-steel ... true&rt=nc

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 24 Oct 2012 11:13 am

The only 'Expo' model that I take exception with is the 'X1'. Whoever thought that screwing what appears to be a section of scrap metal to the center of the cabinet was a sound idea perhaps should reconsider his thinking. Now that is an UGLY guitar IMO!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 24 Oct 2012 11:40 am

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 24 Oct 2012 11:42 am

obviously personal opinion.

bryan...good job! you improved the looks alot. it was mainly the horizontal trim in the middle of the front that i never cared for. that looks good now.

Chuck Blake · Post by **Chuck Blake** » 24 Oct 2012 12:10 pm

Even a Mother with ugly children has gotta luv em'

Love my Ultra's

Norbert Dengler · Post by **Norbert Dengler** » 24 Oct 2012 1:43 pm

by the way the looks of the player are more important than subtle differences on a steel guitar body.
i`d say there`s a lot of headroom to improve for many

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 24 Oct 2012 4:50 pm

I like that Industrial type of design, as well. I think it presents a sharp contrast to a lot of what has gone before and what is out there now. you know what it is right away. I think the color choices are pretty cool, too. I love the way Mooney's sounds on his record with Gene Davis. It's got a tone you can chew on.

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 25 Oct 2012 7:38 am

I forgot to mention that I had the pedalboard covered with silver sparkle - it is one piece with a chess piece logo on the middle. Also It has a nice white fretboard now

Jeff Scott Brown · Post by **Jeff Scott Brown** » 25 Oct 2012 12:50 pm

Matthew Jackson wrote:Ok I have taken some ribbing about the way my beloved Expo looks, I have been told by two people that it is kinda "homely" one even said it is "ugly"

I see a number of posts where folks report that they think the Expo is ugly. What is it that some of you take issue with? Is it the design of the main surface area you see from the front of the guitar? The fretboard? Something else?

JSB

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 25 Oct 2012 3:00 pm

I think it's the stripe.
But it makes me wanna crank up the Devo and early Cars....

Jeff Scott Brown · Post by **Jeff Scott Brown** » 25 Oct 2012 4:15 pm

Lane Gray wrote:I think it's the stripe.

Maybe that is it. I have seen some pictures of Expos that have funky half and half color scheme thing but that seems more a function of color choices than the guitar itself being ugly.

There are differences between these 2 but nothing in either that strike me as aesthetically offensive...

This one on the other hand, is not my cup o' psg...

Eye of the beholder, indeed.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 1 Nov 2012 4:30 pm

I rest my case!

The Steel Guitar Forum

GFI Expo are they really that bad looking?

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Re: GFI Expo are they really that bad looking?