Opinions of the Excel Japanese made steel

Jimmy Gibson · Post by **Jimmy Gibson** » 16 Nov 2004 2:41 am

I have a beautifull D10 Excel steel that IMHO has to be one of the finest made steels i have had, {and i`v had a few }and i would like to know what others think of this brand, {and the pro`s and cons if any}.It seems they have got hold of a good quality steel and improved on it.

God bless.JG....

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 16 Nov 2004 6:32 am

Jimmy,

My wife got into my computer awhile back and printed out a spec I had written titled "My Dream Guitar" and had Mitsuo Fugii build an Excel Superb (his top model) for me. Mitsuo delivered it at the 2004 St. Louis convention as a surprise gift for my 75th birthday. I had specified everything: scale length, string spacing, pickup impedance, leg length, etc. -- and I had specified EXCEL SUPERB. My choice of brands was based on a very careful study of Bill Stafford's new 14-string Excel. There are many excellent steels available in today's market, but to me the engineering and workmanship in the Excel are outstanding -- and mine stays in tune even in varying temperatures. I have not owned or played most other brands, but I am completely satisfied with my Excel and have no desire for anything different.

Carlos Polidura · Post by **Carlos Polidura** » 16 Nov 2004 8:54 am

jimmy...
i've never seen nor played one of these guitars but for what i've learned, these are very good guitars. after doing my own research i've come to the conclusion that this would be my next brand new guitar.

roy...
congratulations to you with your new guitar.
carlos

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 16 Nov 2004 9:36 am

Hi Roy, Just cureous about your string spacing. what dimension did you specify?
Awhile back even Buddy Emmons stated that the current string spacing on a psg is too close.

Roger

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 16 Nov 2004 9:53 am

Roy mentioned his EXCELL above, so here is a picture of it that I took at the ISGC 2004.

<img height=229 width=301.5 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/new_pa18.jpg>

www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 16 November 2004 at 09:59 AM.]

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 16 Nov 2004 10:42 am

Gene-Thanks for the Picture of Roy and his Excel .Roy is looking good there and don't look 75. That excel looks like a "Lean and Mean" Machine.....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 16 Nov 2004 12:06 pm

Seems I remember the string spacing thread & it seems most brands are the same with the ShoBud being the exception and a bit wider. I would agree with that idea. I also recall the Stringmaster builder, Roy Thomas, mentioning one time he had kept the string spacing the same at the bridge & the nut?! on his keyless design.

Ron Sodos · Post by **Ron Sodos** » 16 Nov 2004 1:52 pm

Just a note. The word Jap is an insult to Japanese people. Please refrain from using racially insulting words in this forum. Thanx
Ron Sodos

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 16 Nov 2004 3:22 pm

To Roger Shackelton:
I specified the same string spacing as that on my Sierra, simply because it was the spacing to which I was accustomed: 3 inches across all 10 strings at the changer and 2 1/2 inches across all 10 strings at the roller nut. This may or may not be the spacing Mitsuo uses as his standard; I specified the spacing to be certain that it would be that to which I was accustomed.

I also specified a 25 1/4 inch or 25 1/2 inch scale length, leaving the choice up to Mitsuo. I think it wound up being 25 1/2 inches.

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To Gene Jones:
Thanks for posting the picture -- bur you really should get that camera fixed. It makes me look like an old man.

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Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book.

Jimmy Gibson · Post by **Jimmy Gibson** » 17 Nov 2004 2:45 am

Hi guy`s,thanks for your input to my topic,but i have only had one reply to my request of what others think of the Excel steel guitar.This seems to happen in many other topics ,please don`t think im being grumpy,but it would be nice to stick to the original topic somtimes.
Sorry Ron i did not mean any disrespect towards the Japenese people and i am very sorry if i put it the wrong way,but i have gone over my topic and i can`t see the word Jap in any of the replys.
God bless JG.[This message was edited by Jimmy Gibson on 17 November 2004 at 02:50 AM.][This message was edited by Jimmy Gibson on 17 November 2004 at 03:01 AM.] Sysop note: I changed the word "Jap" to "Japanese" in the title of the topic. Sorry if I caused any confusion. -b0b- [This message was edited by b0b on 20 November 2004 at 10:32 AM.]

tom anderson · Post by **tom anderson** » 18 Nov 2004 8:21 pm

I also have an Excel keyless Superb U-12 & it is without a doubt the finest made pedal steel I have ever owned. No cabinet drop, stays in tune very well, is easy to tune when it doesn't, & is a very precise machine. The tone is also wonderful. I don't know what kind of pickup it has, whatever came with the guitar. Don't even worry about buying one, just do it.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 18 Nov 2004 8:50 pm

Scotty's has a nice black D10 Superb with the 25½" scale on his site. Anyone know what the tone is like on this guitar?

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 19 Nov 2004 12:57 am

I also play an Excel Superb keyless U-12 w/8+9 and a TrueTone pickup. I can't imagine a better sounding,better playing guitar. If you want the Ferrari of pedal steels - this is it.

Jimmy Gibson · Post by **Jimmy Gibson** » 19 Nov 2004 6:49 am

Thanks guys,i couldn`t agree more the Excel i have is a real nice guitar in every dept,if i knew how to send a pic on the forum i would love you to have a look.As i said in a previous post this guitar is not the same as all of the other Excels with tuning keys i have seen,it is the only one i have seen with a headstock that is made from a single casting,what i mean is all the others i have seen have had the two piece keyhead suports the same as the MSA use.
i think it may be a older model,but still has the same underccariage as the later models and plays and sounds superb,and the only way i would part with it would be for a 12 string universal 8x5 as a swap.

God bless JG.

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 19 Nov 2004 7:26 am

Here are the pics of Jimmy's Excel:

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 19 Nov 2004 8:35 am

some one probaly get upset,but wondering does it have that twang sound built in it?
farris

Klaus Caprani · Post by **Klaus Caprani** » 19 Nov 2004 8:58 am

It sure looks "twangy" enough to me. Very nice indeed!

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Klaus Caprani

MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com

[This message was edited by Klaus Caprani on 19 November 2004 at 08:58 AM.]

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 19 Nov 2004 9:13 am

It's a twangler. Especially with a single coil pickup. The 25.5" scale also provides tons o' twang. I'll say this - there's nothing generic about it.It's right up there with the toneful few: Buds,Emmons,ZBs Fenders,Klines & maybe a couple others.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 20 Nov 2004 6:34 am

I did get a chance to look at Mr Staffords Excell at Saluda and, the craftsmanship is superb, good tone,all around beautifull instrument.

Also might add, Mr Bill was very inthusiastic(sp) about his guitar, and a very gracious person the talk to.(and he plays pretty good too)

Bill

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 20 Nov 2004 7:01 am

no harm intended,but can't we keep anything U.S.A.? built with >50C an hour labor,first thing will put every builder in United States out of bussiness!! farris

Jimmy Gibson · Post by **Jimmy Gibson** » 20 Nov 2004 9:49 am

Sorry Farris,i don`t agree with your cheap labour reply,if it`s built well it will sell,i bet a lot of the good people of the USA drive a Japanese car because they are good cars and don`t think how much the labour cost,and it is good IMHO to have competition thats is why things get better for us to buy.Sorry if iv gone off the topic myself now but i don`t think the subject of cheap labour should have been brought up in this topic,and if you think im wrong to say this Farris, after all it`s a steel guitar forum and there was no need to insult the people of Japan in implying they work for cheap labour.Sorry bOb if you think i am wrong in my reply you can delete this i don`t want to offend anyone but it was in IMHO Nothing to do with the PSG.

JG.

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 20 Nov 2004 10:08 am

Jimmy i don't think i was insulting the Japanese people one bit.we preach buy AMERICAN over here all the time.Didn't say one thing about the guitar not being good.So much of our labor jobs have been sent to other countries.many bussiness in U S A,have closed because can not compete.Ask anyone in this country,yes we buy cloths,cars,ect.I'm not saying another word about this topic,except not knocking no one but we need to wake up. farris

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 20 Nov 2004 10:48 am

People can certainly "buy American" as a matter of principal, but I seriously doubt that any American jobs are being lost by the presence of Excel steel guitars in the marketplace. All pedal steel builders have long waiting lists, and none have more than a handful of employees.

The Fuzzy company has been making high quality Excel pedal steels for over 30 years. Today their instruments are regarded as among the best in the world. The new keyless models have an innovative changer design that is not available anywhere else. They are not a cheap knock-off of some American product. Mitsuo Fujii is a mechanical genius who has advanced the art of steel guitar construction. Let's give credit where credit is due!

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Jimmy Gibson · Post by **Jimmy Gibson** » 20 Nov 2004 11:02 am

Thanks Bobby,i wish i had put it like that but i`m not to clever with diplomacy and speak before i think somtimes,and Farris i do agree with some of your reply, but as i said before it has nothing to do with my request about the Excel steel so lets talk steel guitar and keep other isues out of the forum that has nothing to do with the PSG please.

God bless JG.[This message was edited by Jimmy Gibson on 20 November 2004 at 11:05 AM.][This message was edited by Jimmy Gibson on 20 November 2004 at 11:08 AM.]

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 20 Nov 2004 4:04 pm

My only experience with the Excel was at the ISGC, where Bill Stafford played one. In his hands, that guitar sounded great. One of the best tones at the show, in my opinion, although I'm sure it has a lot to do with his playing, not just the guitar. I looked at them underneath and I was really impressed. Lots of neat stuff going on, and I really like how Mitsuo is trying to innovate. Another great guitar.

-Travis