The weight of different brands of U12 Pedal Steel Guitars

Melody Freeman · Post by **Melody Freeman** » 5 Jul 2024 5:43 am

Hi, what is the weight of the different brands of the U12 pedal steel guitars (not counting the case weight) with all the pedals, and no arm rest?

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 5 Jul 2024 6:21 am

How many pedals. How many levers? I think your question might be better phrased: Which is the lightest universal? Excel has a reputation of being one of the lightest steels.

Melody Freeman · Post by **Melody Freeman** » 5 Jul 2024 6:36 am

Bill, you are right. I would be more interested in a U12 with 6 knee levers and 8 pedals. What brand is the lightest U12?

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 5 Jul 2024 8:10 am

I'm guessing GFI or Exel? Williams maybe next?

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 6 Jul 2024 7:40 pm

A GFI S12 Ultra Keyed head with 7p/5kl weighs 49 lb. in case.

Melody Freeman · Post by **Melody Freeman** » 6 Jul 2024 9:14 pm

Bobby, thank you. Do you know what it weighs excluding the case?

Melody Freeman · Post by **Melody Freeman** » 6 Jul 2024 9:15 pm

Dennis, thank you for the info.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 7 Jul 2024 8:02 am

The Williams website lists the weights of all their guitars on the price page. I imagine other companies do something similar.
https://www.williamsguitarcompany.com/prices.html

Melody Freeman · Post by **Melody Freeman** » 7 Jul 2024 10:36 am

Fred, thank you for the info.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 8 Jul 2024 12:16 am

The Excel and Williams are two of the lightest, which is why I have one of each. I weighed them both at some point but I've lost the results.
The Excel is built from aluminium, but the Williams is a traditional maple box design, so more of an achievement - although it has a heavier and larger case. I keep it set up at home and gig the Excel.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 8 Jul 2024 7:44 am

If you're transporting the guitar in a case you need to consider the vast weight differences between different manufacturer's cases.

Excel 12 string D-13:

Guitar in the case weighs 38.8 pounds, case weighs 12.2 pounds and the guitar weights 26.6 pounds

Sierra S-12:

Guitar in the case weighs 40.5 pounds, case weighs 9.8 pounds and the guitar weights 30.7 pounds.

Williams 700 series S-12:

weighs 26.9 pounds and the case weighs 31.1 pounds.

Excel Superb with changeover lever:

Guitar weight is 25.8 pounds (my 12 string Williams keyless weighs 26.9 pounds)
Case weight is 12.1 pounds! (the Williams case weighed 31.1 pounds)
The guitar and the case combined total weight is a minimal 37.9 pounds

Links with more details:

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Excel%20D13 ... yless.html

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Sierra%20Si ... yless.html

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Williams%20 ... yless.html

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Excel%2012% ... yless.html

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 8 Jul 2024 8:14 am

The case for my Williams 700 S12 weighs 23lb.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 8 Jul 2024 8:15 am

Williams 700 series S-12:

weighs 26.9 pounds and the case weighs 31.1 pounds.

Wow! Really Greg? Is this a road case?

How about yours Fred?

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 8 Jul 2024 8:44 am

I think Greg’s info on the Williams must be outdated. 23 pounds is still a lot, but it’s not 31. And it is a good solid road-worthy case on wheels that I am very happy with. The only thing I don’t like about it is the fuzzy covering. Whoever thought up that idea has never done an outdoor gig.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 8 Jul 2024 10:20 am

According to the GFI website, the U-12 weighs 30 lbs. (guitar only).

I have a GFI S-10 Ultra keyless, which as I recall weighs 26 lbs., so an additional four lbs. for the U-12 sounds about right.

Melody Freeman · Post by **Melody Freeman** » 8 Jul 2024 6:43 pm

Thank you all for the info! Much appreciated!

Douglas Schuch · Post by **Douglas Schuch** » 10 Jul 2024 4:55 am

I made a chart almost 11 years ago listing the weights of various pedal steels that I could find info on - both reported here on the forum, or from websites. It's no doubt a bit dated now, but still worth a look. Go to this post and scroll to the bottom of the first page:

viewtopic.php?t=235666&highlight=weight

Melody Freeman · Post by **Melody Freeman** » 10 Jul 2024 5:24 am

Wow Douglas, thank you for the info! It is nice to have a list to compare the steels.

Richard Alderson · Post by **Richard Alderson** » 10 Jul 2024 7:15 am

There's a nice 12 string GFI on sale right now if you are in a hurry - immaculate condition ! If were in your position and I had time to wait, I would check out a new Excel !

Melody Freeman · Post by **Melody Freeman** » 10 Jul 2024 7:24 am

Richard, thank you. I just bought an old MSA Universal to see if I’m a 12’er. If I end up liking that, I might sell it and buy a newer U12.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 10 Jul 2024 10:32 am

The older maple body MSA's are excellent guitars mechanically and tone. It's just heavier than most newer guitars. I have a 1975 with X12 pickup and a 1976 with 427 pickup. I wouldn't trade either one for a new one. I just have to sacrifice the weight factor. My cases have wheels and a handle.

Melody Freeman · Post by **Melody Freeman** » 10 Jul 2024 5:57 pm

Dennis, do you know how heavy your MSA is when it is all set up without the case?

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 10 Jul 2024 7:44 pm

I'm not sure how much it weighs? My bathroom scale is digital and quit working.