Single Neck Steels!!!

John Rickard · Post by **John Rickard** » 30 Aug 2015 3:39 pm

I wish more manufacturers would make "Regular Size Single Neck Steels"! Many of us don't need to rest our arms on a 8 inch wide pad (8 inch pad sarcasm). Or carry around all the extra weight. Anyone else feel the same about this? I know there is a cost factor in retooling.

John Palumbo · Post by **John Palumbo** » 30 Aug 2015 4:12 pm

I agree

Tom Cooper · Post by **Tom Cooper** » 30 Aug 2015 5:15 pm

I am currently playing a little Emmons student model push/pull that a friend found at an estate sale. It is single neck and only 3x1 but I am finding it to be liberating. Most of stuff I do for locals I can get away with 3x1. I will upgrade to 3x3 next year but till then I am kinda proud of this little thing. Feather light and push/pull tone. I am having a carpenter friend make me a walnut burled wooden neck for it to make it more professional looking. I traded a 300$ Squier telecaster for it! Leave my D10 Legrande and MSA U12 at home. Just so damn heavy to drag around week after week. The Stage One and some specific other student models is a low cost option I suppose. I would have thought that manufacturers would be more focused on single neck steels as the sacred steel movement has become so popular. I love C6 to death and could live in a situation that called for it, but my jazz chops are just not there yet. You can always hit E lower and play non pedal style if you have to. I am only 8 years into this so lots to learn. Single neck does make a lot of sense if you are playing a lot. That said will never sell my D10. Just taking a break from it! Why drag it out if only using 3 pedals anyway. One day hope to be back on D10. Who knows. Surprised to hear single necks not as popular. I guess its the SD10 you are referring to. I wouldnt want extra mass or weight either. Keep it lean and mean. Especially with some of the tiny stages around here.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 30 Aug 2015 5:26 pm

John Rickard wrote:I wish more manufacturers would make "Regular Size Single Neck Steels"! Many of us don't need to rest our arms on a 8 inch wide pad.

An S10 or S12 with an 8" wide pad?!? Who in the world makes that?

Anyhow, even if most makers don't make them anymore, there are plenty of single-neck (padless) steels on ebay right now. The tally goes as follows:

18 - without a pad
5 - with a pad

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 30 Aug 2015 7:28 pm

We just discussed this in two separate threads in the last week or so:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=288903
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=288975

There are some makers who don't seem to be doing them, but plenty still do. And there are some of us, especially taller, bigger guys, for whom a narrow S10 is just uncomfortable. And that includes me.

John Rickard · Post by **John Rickard** » 30 Aug 2015 10:29 pm

An S10 or S12 with an 8" wide pad?!? Who in the world makes that?

Everyone makes them, SD-10's and wide bodys, that's the point of this post. The 8 inch pad was supposed to be sarcastic. I know better than to try that again.

And: I wish more manufacturers would make "Regular Size Single Neck Steels"! (I'm not looking for used or beginner/budget models.)

John Rickard · Post by **John Rickard** » 30 Aug 2015 10:30 pm

Thanks for the links Dave, I'll check them out.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 31 Aug 2015 3:23 am

John, nobody makes them with an EIGHT INCH PAD. they're a tad over 4. That's what he was questioning

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 31 Aug 2015 5:51 am

I've heard some people believe a wider steel guitar sounds better. I have both a padded wide single neck steel and a narrow pad-less one and both sound good to me. There are many factors that contribute to good tone.
I'll admit a wider guitar with a lot of changes, like a universal 12, is easier to work on.
As for the pad benefiting ergonomics, I kinda doubt it. My arms and hands are quite active. it's not like we're typing on a pedal steel with our wrists planted.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 31 Aug 2015 9:28 am

My weak back and skinny arms love my two S-10's!

John Rickard · Post by **John Rickard** » 31 Aug 2015 10:42 am

Wish list for single neck steels.
Hey, I'm allowed to dream!

Mullen G2
Williams

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 31 Aug 2015 10:55 am

Often times at Conventions, you can play identicle S10-D10 Steels that are set up in the show-rooms.
Maybe some can do this in St.Louis?
When I did this in the Emmons room years back, I thought the S10 sounded better than the D10 (LeGrande's).

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 31 Aug 2015 10:59 am

Hey John, I can build you a nice "S10~Pro" and have all the customer service right here is your back yard.

John Rickard · Post by **John Rickard** » 31 Aug 2015 11:17 am

When can I stop by Fred?

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 31 Aug 2015 11:39 am

John Rickard, I agree with you as to preferring S-10s rather than
SD-10s as they are more comfortable for me to sit at and play and are less weight. None of U-12s or single 10s I own have pads.

Fortunately there are a number of makers who still make S-10s and one can also find second-hand S-10s as well. steve

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 31 Aug 2015 12:12 pm

John, anytime Monday thru Friday 8 to 5
Or Saturday 8 till noon. Give me a heads-up call if you can.
Just so happens I have a S10~Pro demo guitar here.

John Rickard · Post by **John Rickard** » 31 Aug 2015 12:37 pm

Maybe tomorrow!

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 31 Aug 2015 12:40 pm

I'll be here

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 31 Aug 2015 4:15 pm

Can't go wrong with one of Fred's guitars, they are great. Mullen also makes a single neck pro guitar, the Discovery, also great guitars.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 31 Aug 2015 4:43 pm

Bill Rudolph at Wlliams is still making them.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 31 Aug 2015 9:18 pm

I've never felt the need for a pad. If you address the guitar correctly, you don't need one!

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 1 Sep 2015 12:09 am

Promat makes brand new push pull single necks

Pro model

and economy model (little less chrome, but same tone)

John Rickard · Post by **John Rickard** » 1 Sep 2015 12:44 am

The Williams is a so called "Wide Body".

James Sission · Post by **James Sission** » 1 Sep 2015 3:24 am

I had one of Fred's single 10's. I loved it, but I just like an SD better. So I have one on order with Fred now, but if you live close to him, you would be making a mistake not going over there and playing the S10. I am 6 foot 5 and I just like the feel of a wider guitar better, but his S10 played so good, the original owner bought it back....James

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 1 Sep 2015 4:49 am

Fred made me a Universal 10 with 5 pedals and 6 knee levers on a single body. Nice and light with a split case.

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