what's wrong with the BMI guitars?

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 12 Apr 2004 9:13 am

A few years ago, I was hearing the BMI was a good guitar, but recently I've been hearing just the opposite. just wondering why the change of opinions on the BMI. I noticed an S-10 (like new) on buy and sell for $650.

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TW Sneed

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 12 Apr 2004 11:15 am

I've had my S-12 BMI for about 12 or 13 years and I bought it used in the consignment room at Scotty's for $1200. I play it a lot and when I'm not gigging I try to practice some. Nothing on it has ever come loose, broken, or anything. It stays in tune great and sounds wonderful. My old ShoBud which I loved was bought new and I kept it for around 14 years and it was a total piece of cr@p when I sold it. I haven't heard anything bad about the BMI's from anyone I know.....I'm not sure how old mine is but it's probably one that Zane Beck made himself which is probably why it's a good 'un..........Speaking of that, have a good 'un....JH

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 12 Apr 2004 12:51 pm

Terry, Zane Beck was one of the finest men in the business and one of the brightest inovators and builders. His wife is carrying on with the business and the same guy who was working for Zane still builds the BMI and it is a fine guitar. Nothing is wrong with the BMI.
Jerry

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 12 Apr 2004 3:02 pm

Jerry, I didn't know Zane made the BMI guitars, I thought he just made the ZB.
I've heard nothin but good about Zane Beck.
got to be true, after all, He was a fellow Arkie.

I have a friend, Carl Ramey, who new Zane personally, and Carl thought the world of Zane.
There have only been a few people I've heard say stay away from the BMI guitars. maybe just because they prefer other brands instead of BMI.

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 12 Apr 2004 5:15 pm

Terry, I had a BMI 3 and 3 single ten for a few years, and it was good guitar. I bought it used from Ron Lashley. It had been played a lot, and some parts were wearing out, so I sold it and bought a newer guitar. I always liked the way it played though, and was able to get parts from a Gentleman in Arkansas who still builds BMI. I think he only works part time at the BMI business and is not promoting them..[This message was edited by Larry Jamieson on 12 April 2004 at 06:17 PM.]

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 12 Apr 2004 5:44 pm

I gave the BMI a pretty good examination at the St.Louis convention last year, and I couldn't see a darn thing wrong with it. Well made, well finished, and nice people to visit with. I didn't actually play one myself, but do have a friend who has gotten excellent service for many years out of his.

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Doug Earnest
The only Zum Keyless U12, Fender Cyber Twin

Graham Griffith · Post by **Graham Griffith** » 12 Apr 2004 9:17 pm

Terry,

I play a BMI s-12 keyless with Zane's tuning. I've had this since 1988. It was built by Don Fritsche and it's built like a tank, mechanics-wise ... well built and great design. I abuse hell out of it (don't lubricate it often enough) and it rewards me with a very accurate mechanism that gives me few problems. It looks great also.

Soon I take delivery of an Anapeg keyless ... but I won't be getting rid of the BMI (by the way the BMI is my 3rd).

Graham Griffith

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 12 Apr 2004 10:54 pm

BMI stands for "Beck Musical Instruments"
Zane "Beck"..yep he was da'Man alright.
BMI is a wonderful pedal steel.
Ricky

Ernie Pollock · Post by **Ernie Pollock** » 13 Apr 2004 5:34 am

I had a couple S-10 BMI's, they were fine, they sold a little cheaper years back & were really a great deal for the $$$. There are still many of those around & they were built so good they'll probably outlast most of us!!

Ernie Pollock

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bob drawbaugh · Post by **bob drawbaugh** » 13 Apr 2004 6:09 am

Terry, I bought one for my son a few years back. A black 3X3 with the E66 pickup. This was one great little guitar. It sounded great and played great. I bought it as a student model for my son to learn on, but man the tine was just too good to be true. My son plyed it at a local jam and to me it sounded as good as any guitar their. The BMI is very well built and a good value. I would buy another in a heart beat.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 13 Apr 2004 7:29 am

Thanks for straightening me out guys.
I knew they were perty popular guitars a few years ago. just couldn't figure out why some didn't like em. guess it's kinda like prefering an Emmons over a Sho-Bud.

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TW Sneed

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 13 Apr 2004 11:26 am

I owned a S-12 B.M.I. from 1980 to 1982 Two of the players whom I know that are most knowledgeable in the mechanics of pedal steels, them being Dave Peterson and Paul Redmond-were B.M.I. players

My personal opinion is that the B.M.I. as an instrument has strength in its mechanics(which appeal to those who relate to it's rather "industrial design" especially because of their knowledge as millwrights and machinists) Consequently regarding the three main factors of what I look for in a P.S.G-those being feel,tone,and look-B.M.I. varies considerably from many other guitars (such as a Sho-Bud) which retain more traditional look,feel,and tone-Therefore there will be those who do not like B.M.I. because it has less "warmth" and more "sterility" It can be somewhat connected to the argument of cast vs. milled necks and endplates-the B.M.I. has no castings-it has four individual milled end blocks that fit into the milled endplates and aprons-while we must take each design for its own merits-I believe that guitars made with castings for these parts are better overall tonally than those that are machined of billet stock-of course the later will likely take polishing better for being free of pitting that is sometimes found in metal casting

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 13 Apr 2004 5:51 pm

In my dealings with selling and playing the BMI steel guitar over twenty years, I have never had any problems or disapointments with the tone, dependability, looks, or service on this underated guitar. It could possibly be one of the better guitars on the used market today. I've never seen one "broken". Parts are no problem and I believe they are still being built today. Zane Beck was a wonderful genius and a incredible player. On the scale of used steel guitar values, BMI is a "10".
The only possible fault you may find is that they are built pretty hefty. Strong but a little on the heavy side in the double neck models. But much better guitar than they are given credit for being. Have a chance to buy one? You shouldn't be unhappy with the choice. No, sorry, I don't have one for sale right now.
bobbe[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 13 April 2004 at 06:54 PM.]