How often do you buy a new steel?

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 20 Feb 2016 1:17 am

Some of us seem to have a new one every few days. Others have 1 or 2 and keep them forever.

I played the green guitar shown in my avatar, as well as a white tide-wood mica MSA, for 25 years. I only sold them after I got my 2 Millenniums, which I expect to keep as long as I live.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 20 Feb 2016 2:32 am

kept and played my last Carter for almost 11 years then got the bug. Sold one, bought three last year. I see the 93 or so Emmons Legrande II as being a keeper for quite some time, maybe like Mike, the rest of the way. The other two, 81 Push Pull and late 70's Sho Bud Pro I, they all get gig action, I like each of them.

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 20 Feb 2016 4:40 am

I have pretty much played a guitar for about 10-12 years before moving to something different. For the past several years the Zum Hybird has been the only guitar I have been playing. Before that it was a 90's Zum D10(which I still have) with a short stint using a Zum S12 Universal.

In the decades before that an Emmons PP, a Sho Bud Pro II, and a Fender 1000.

I still have a Zum SD12 universal to dabble with now and then as like the universal concept except for the missing 9th string.

Over the years I have owned lots of guitars but for the most part only really played the ones mentioned above.

To your question, Not likely I will buy another new guitar, but one should never say never! FWIW, There are like new used guitars which pop up now and then which to me are the deals to be had.

Robert

Ray Mangrum · Post by **Ray Mangrum** » 20 Feb 2016 6:23 am

Over the years, I'd change Guitars quite often, mainly because everything with Pedal Steel was changing and I wanted to be the best I could. I was stuck on the Legrande's for a while progressing through the I, II, &III. But after I tried the Zum, I have bought two, so that I could have one in my practice room, I have only played a Zum, and intend to do so for as long as I play.

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 20 Feb 2016 8:47 am

1974--MSA---5 yrs
1979--MSA---20 yrs
1999--No Steel--Took a Break
2003--Sho-Bud---9 yrs
2012--Williams---3.5 yrs

As Mike P. mentioned above, his MSA's will do it for him. Likewise, with any luck/money, I'll have my next (brand new) MSA Studio Pro later this year! Started out with a new MSA and finish up with MSA

(Famous Last Words! ha)

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 20 Feb 2016 9:25 am

I like Carls format so will try it here... may help me remember...

1973 - Fender 400 4x0, had this for a very short time... couldn’t figure it out
1974 - Sho~Bud Maverick 3x1... the wood bodied one, for a couple of years
1976 - Sho~Bud Pro lll 8x5... Should’ve kept this one, but being a kid couldn’t afford to keep it
1980 - Sho~Bud Pro lll 8x6... Still have it and though a good cleaning is in order, it’s still in pretty good shape.
2009 - Mullen PRP D10 8x7... had till 2014
2014 - Mullen PRP D10 8x8... Jim Lindsey and Mickey Adams steel
pretty sure I’ll always have this guitar no matter what other guitars I
may get... and if I had the money I’d have em ALL, and be getting a
lot more

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 20 Feb 2016 5:02 pm

Seems like every 5 or 6 years. I think I'm about due.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 20 Feb 2016 5:16 pm

Tried Sho-buds & Zums but always come back to Emmons'. Have 2 PPs & 1 LG-2.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 20 Feb 2016 6:29 pm

From December 1999 to December 2004, I played an Emmons GS S-10 with three pedals and one knee, then from December 2004 til April 2010, I played a GFI D-10 with eight pedals, five knees, and I'm now playing my best and favorite steel I've got, my Jackson Blackjack Custom SD-10 with three pedals and four knees with a pad.

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 20 Feb 2016 7:06 pm

Since 2008: 14...Almost averaging 2 a year...

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 20 Feb 2016 9:41 pm

About every 3 or 4 years.... some stick around, and some go. I have a couple of PPs and a couple of Sho~Buds that will probably always be around...

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 21 Feb 2016 6:09 am

I entered the game late in life so I went crazy and bought as many pedal steels as possible and sold off most. Down to 3 and unless I get a wave of inspiration to get another it will stay at the following:

Mullen G2 universal 12 (studio only)

Williams all wood with abalone inlay Universal 12 ((studio only)

Justice (My version of a U-10) with 5 pedals and 6 knee levers (will use to play out)

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 21 Feb 2016 7:43 am

way too friggin' often.... probably 3 a year.. or more... Buy high , sell low... lolbob

Bob Tuttle · Post by **Bob Tuttle** » 21 Feb 2016 9:41 am

I played a Sho-Bud Super Pro for 20 years and traded it off in 1999. Since then I've had 25 different steel guitars, usually only one at a time.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 21 Feb 2016 9:44 am

bought my main steel new 34 years ago. still use it regularly.
picked up 2 push pulls 20 years ago that i also use often. only got them cause the price was right.
#1 free d10 8+7
#2 $700 d10 9+7

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 21 Feb 2016 10:19 am

I guess I'm in the minority here too. I played my new, in 76', RusLer for 27 years until I bought a new U-12 ZumSteel in 03'. When I find something I like, I stck with it.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 21 Feb 2016 10:29 am

I've been through a bunch of pedal steels since I started playing, which was not that many years ago. It's not like you can just go down to a local music store and try some out like you can with a guitar or other 'normal' instrument. And I'm tall enough to need mine lifted at least a couple of inches, so it doesn't do all that much good to try someone else's steel that I can't even get my legs under.

So I got a bunch and traded back and forth until I wound up with my main steels, which are a Zum D10, a Zum U12, and a Franklin D10. I also have a project mid-60s Sho Bud Fingertip that needs the mechanics torn apart, cleaned, and put back together, and a 70s Sho Bud Ext E9 Pro I that I still need to set up for myself. I have been hankering for a Mullen G2 - I tried a few that friends had and thought they were really great - so I have one coming.

I see myself in equilibrium at 3-4 primary modern steels and maybe 1 or 2 cool old vintage steels for a more retro look, feel, and sound. Maybe I would trade out a standard Zum for a hybrid if/when the chance arises. But I have a hard time imagining that anything could be that much better than what I already have. I "need" nothing.

Russell Adkins · Post by **Russell Adkins** » 21 Feb 2016 11:34 am

My first was a msa classic single neck , then I got a wheeler 14 stringer which I knew nothing about traded it for a some jerry byrd model which was total crap then I had bob simmons build me a nice pull release which I sold like a dummy now I have a sho bud super pro which looks like I'm keeping, all this is about 5 years or so well I have some I built also do they count. I'm still thinking I would like a red sierra double neck or any serria , I think I would keep , I love the looks of them .

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 21 Feb 2016 2:20 pm

I've had over 30 guitars. I enjoy the thrill of playing different guitars but usually wind back up with some type Emmons. I keep the Emmons guitars longest, usually couple years. I've had some great guitars that I wish I still had but it's fun.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 22 Feb 2016 7:50 pm

I use the same '76 Emmons D10 that Jimmy Crawford built for me in his basement back then. I bought an MSA Classis S12 a few years back and I keep it set up at home for those late night "I gotta try something" urges. I only keep 10 strings on it because those two lower strings confuse my old brain. It should be an extended E9th but I got it the way it is and when I had all 12 strings on it I couldn't find strings 8, 9 or 10 too well?????
There have been three or four other P/P over the years but I never had over two at one time.

Pat Chong · Post by **Pat Chong** » 22 Feb 2016 9:37 pm

Still learning on the first one I have (Dekley S10) but I have been glancing at the possibility of an S12..... I have had it for a little over 2 years.

............Pat

Daniel J. Cormier · Post by **Daniel J. Cormier** » 23 Feb 2016 6:02 am

A man needs to change guitars as often as the wife will let him. So says the men who buy and sell guitar on this here forum.

when you buy and sell guitar sometime you end up selling a guitar and then regret it weeks later.

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 23 Feb 2016 6:44 am

Still only the MSA Classic S-10 I bought in 1979. Added two pedals and a vertical. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 23 Feb 2016 7:02 am

Bob Tuttle wrote:I played a Sho-Bud Super Pro for 20 years and traded it off in 1999. Since then I’ve had 25 different steel guitars, usually only one at a time.

Bob is my HERO... 25 guitars in 16 years... that would keep anyone young

Jerry Berger · Post by **Jerry Berger** » 23 Feb 2016 8:49 am

My wife says too often!! $:\$

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