steel rating

Ben Godard · Post by **Ben Godard** » 4 May 2007 8:03 pm

These are some of the top notchers from what I can see here on the forum. I would like to know everyone's opinion by ranking these guitars in order, what order would they be in from best to just good (can't say worst because all of these guitars don't deserve that word)

By the way let this be just for all pulls:

Franklin
Zum
Emmons
MSA
Fesseden
Carter
Rains
GFI
Derby

You can add any suggested others

Thanks

Ben

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 4 May 2007 9:09 pm

There is probably just a hand full of guys that honestly spent some time with all those brands to say who is better. I only have a carter and a sho-bud after that I can only give you my opinion.

Tommy Young · Post by **Tommy Young** » 4 May 2007 9:21 pm

BEN DIDN'T CHECK TO SEE HOW LONG U BEEN HERE BUT I CANT BELIEVE U DIDN'T PUT THE TOP RANKED MULLEN ON THERE but just what kind of ranking are U looking for

TONE
playability
durability
beauty
weight
JUST what are YOU wanting us to RANK they all have their good and not so good attributes so hope U will be more specific with this ranking stuff there is no way even the builders could rank each other here tell me so i can think about it TOMMY

PS: could be other stuff to rank as well some don't even smell good hahaha

Moon in Alaska · Post by **Moon in Alaska** » 4 May 2007 10:09 pm

Hi, Ben...
I don't think there is a real answer to your questions. There is probably 10 + professional
Pedal steel builders out there that make very good instruments.
Now, you might get some of the guys to tell you which
brand they like the best ...
Moon

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 4 May 2007 10:38 pm

I don't know the brand of this one, but it's definately the cream of the crop

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 5 May 2007 4:20 am

Richard, look away, it's hideous!

What about SIERRA? With its mechanical design advantages, one would expect it to be at the top, with Excel and Anapeg.

Sonny Priddy · Post by **Sonny Priddy** » 5 May 2007 4:33 am

What About Magnum And Rittenberry? Fine Guitars. SONNY.

Ernie Pollock · Post by **Ernie Pollock** » 5 May 2007 4:36 am

I would go with:

GFI
EMMONS
FRANKLIN
DERBY

AND THE REST OF EM THAT ARE NOT ON HERE!!

Ernie Pollock

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 5 May 2007 5:28 am

Richard B. A new set of strings, and your ready to gig!!

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 5 May 2007 5:30 am

That is what is meant by "old school"

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 5 May 2007 5:49 am

There's no answer to your question.

Just about every steel player has their favorite brand or one that they feel is the best.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 5 May 2007 6:03 am

Ben, not to try and discourage you, but there really is no "best" guitar. What's best depends on the player, and what he's looking for, and even most of the very top players (the ones who seldom post here) all play different brands.

Luckily, there's no "duds" out there now. Any pro-level guitar made today (there's at least 25 brands) will play better than you or I ever could, it's that simple. No guitar made will make you a star, no guitar made will keep you from being a star.

Nobody hires a guitar, they hire the player.

The player makes the music, and the player makes it sound good - not the guitar! The guitar is nothing more than a tool, and once you have a good one...the rest is up to you.

Players here constantly say..."Well, if I have the best guitar, I'll probably play better." That's bullhockey. If I took a guy out of a Chevrolet or a Dodge, and gave him a Rolls Royce or a Bentley, would that make him a better driver?

Nope, sorry. It don't work that way.

john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 5 May 2007 6:25 am

There's no good can come of this....

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 5 May 2007 6:42 am

Don't leave out Pedalmaster. Jody.

Ben Godard · Post by **Ben Godard** » 5 May 2007 8:09 am

I guess you are right fellas. Thanks for the advice. I wish that I could go try a few out but the only one close to me is Emmons(3hrs away). I know they are good but I still would like to hear and play some other psg's. I am just gonna have to take a leap of faith in choosing one, either that or planning a trip to a convention.

I cant believe I forgot to put Mullen on the list. Oh well there are probrably others I missed too.

I've only played steel for about 10 yrs and I just joined the forum a couple months ago. I honor you veteran players as there was no forum back then in your days. No tutor CD's or talk tapes or anything at all. MAybe a book or two. Nope. Just iron will and determination and love of the instrument is what made the sound we love. So many people right here on the forum have met the greatest steel players, and some of the greatest are right here on the forum!
WOW. I think this forum that B0B has created has been the best thing a steel guitarist could ask for.

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 5 May 2007 8:17 am

Ben rent a car and plan a trip, visit some of the steel shop's we talk about, billy cooper etc.. I know they are not local but do it plan a trip!

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 5 May 2007 8:24 am

The Show Pro is pretty nice.

Ben Godard · Post by **Ben Godard** » 5 May 2007 8:32 am

I guess the main qualities I'm looking for is.

1.Tone I like the sound of Paul Franklins steel
a lot. His playing after all is what
inspired me to even start playing.
His sound to me seems more modern
and just is smooth and clean. Of course his
hands have a lot to do with it too.

2.Playablity This is a big one for me. I am still playing a Marlen S10 and it's playability isn't the best althought he tone is pretty good. I like playing a lot of the fast stuff, not to say I don't play slow stuff too. But pedal/lever action is extremely important to me. Another thing is that I have lots of pulls. My set-up is pretty much like PF's set-up.

3. Durability This one is pretty impoertant too. I want a good rugged guitar that stays in tune with very little cab drop. The extra weight doesn't bother me too bad.

4. Beauty I hate to be spoil but this one is impoetant to me. I like a cool looking guitar. It doesn't have to be detailed all over with inlays but I like a decent amount of chrome. I like the traditional keyed tuner look too.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 5 May 2007 8:34 am

"Coop" Sho-Bud
Franklin
Zum
Show-Pro

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 5 May 2007 9:10 am

So many factors are completely subjective. How do you measure tone or appearance?

But one factor that's objective is weight. I live on an incline and have to climb about 15 stairs to get from my front door to the street. I'd be happy playing any of the major brands, but I got an MSA Millennium because wanted the lightest steel possible.

Now my back thanks me every time I take the guitar out of the house.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 5 May 2007 1:17 pm

No way to answer this.

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 5 May 2007 1:31 pm

That Show-Pro is a beauty!

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 5 May 2007 1:45 pm

I don't look at the brand, I look at who's sitting behind it playing. The one thing that I do look for in a PSG is what it sounds like w/o any effects other than a little reverb. Same way with a player, just a guitar and amp. Everybody's building good products.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 5 May 2007 2:41 pm

I have found, in the 12 or so all-pulls I've had in the last 8 years, that there are definitely differences between makes. But I think what is "best" depends entirely on an individual player's very subjective weighting of what's most important in an instrument. That said, I agree with Donny and others that I haven't played a modern pedal steel that I didn't think was a fine instrument. We should consider ourselves lucky - obviously PSG building is a labor of love, and it shows. No ranking needed, let's leave that for the academics - yes I'm a college teacher, I give grades all the time, and even I wouldn't attempt this here.

BTW, I'd add BMI to the list. I've got a Zane Beck creation, and it's arguably as "good" as anything I've played.

All IMO, of course.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 6 May 2007 7:12 am

Richard B., I find guitars like that very interesting. I have a 1938 or 9 Gibson Grande Console D-7, that had some sort of homemade pullers on the inside neck. Most of the mechanism was gone when I got it, but steelers back then did some interesting things to put pedals on non-pedal guitars!
And I would add Performance Steel Guitars to the list.
JB
http://steelguitaramericas.com/

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