Has a better guitar made you a better player?

Andrew Waegel · Post by **Andrew Waegel** » 1 Dec 2005 2:19 pm

Hello,

Has anyone found that getting a higher quality guitar has improved their playing and/or motivation?

I'm getting back into my pedal steel and have a nice S10 Emmons PP. I love love love the tone but it's a struggle to keep the thing in tune, change the copedant, adjust the knee lever throws, etc.

Obviously only practice will make me a better player but i wish i was spending less time fussing with the guitar.

Thoughts?

- Handy Andy

David Wren · Post by **David Wren** » 1 Dec 2005 2:21 pm

AS much as I enjoyed playing my '70 MSA D10, the day I got my Carter S12, my playing improved as well as gaining a renewed enthusiam for the instrument. Only way to describe it is "it fit's me like a glove".

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Session500; Hilton Pedal
www.ameechapman.com

Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 1 Dec 2005 3:18 pm

My 73 MSA Clasic has always played very well, but a new Zum kind of helped me out of a rut. I got a new amp,steel,and seat and found new enthusiasm. Going to steel shows has also helped a bunch.

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 1 Dec 2005 4:04 pm

I noticed improvement when I got my new Carter.

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2005 Carter S12U 7x5, Blanton D10 8x4, Peavey Session 400 Limited Wedge, Goodrich L120, Boss ME50 effects pedal

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 1 Dec 2005 4:25 pm

IMHO, these are two entirely different issues. I think a new guitar may make you sound better, but it won't really make you a better player (there's a difference). Good chops can be recognized and appreciated even if a player has poor equipment. On the other hand, the best equipment does little for your sound until you get some chops.

Given a choice, I'd rather hear Buddy playing a cheap ol' Multi-Kord through a Silvertone than hear some flunkie playing an $8,000 guitar through a Standel.

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 1 Dec 2005 5:27 pm

I noticed a lot more improvement when I started practicing my blocking on a lap steel while watching TV than when I got a better guitar.

After 2 or 3 weeks of this, my right hand could find, pick, and block the strings that I WANTED it to.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 1 Dec 2005 5:58 pm

I spent my first few weeks studying the steel on a borrowed Sho-bud maverick with only one knee lever. At one point I read about some of the other knee levers, and as soon as I did, I wanted to use them, and was frustrated at not having them.

So the answer is yes, the day I got my MSA U-12, I was able to start playing things on it that could not be played on the maverick.[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 03 December 2005 at 02:16 AM.]

Sidney Malone · Post by **Sidney Malone** » 1 Dec 2005 6:18 pm

I think for me, a better guitar allows me to concentrate more on what I'm wanting to play. It let's me give 100% to the thought process of playing and not worrying about having to compensate for a particular knee lever/pedal.

When the guitar is right and all the quirks are eliminated, then there's no distractions to deal with while trying to play. Now, if I could just remember to turn the telephone off before setting down......

So, I can't say it makes one a better player, but for me, it certianly allows me to play more comfortably which I think has to make some improvements.

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MSA Millennium S-12U
Walker Stereo Steel
Hilton Pedal

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 1 Dec 2005 6:43 pm

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 1 Dec 2005 6:53 pm

Donnie makes a good point as always. The more comfortable you are. The better you'll play. At least it works that way for me...bb

J Hill · Post by **J Hill** » 1 Dec 2005 7:36 pm

I think it stands to reason that you're a lot more motivated to practice and play when playing on a good guitar. I don't fancy sitting down to play a guitar that won't stay in tune because everything I play sounds bad. When nothing I do makes it stay in tune, I stand up and walk away.

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 1 Dec 2005 7:38 pm

i had a carter starter ...i'm not going to knock them but FOR ME it was just a bad fit when i got a zum the knee levers fit ME much better in the end i would have to say it helped me as much as anything

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ZumSteel

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 1 Dec 2005 9:59 pm

If the new guitar gets some notes you need that the old one didn't, you'll be a better player. If the new guitar plays and stays in tune better, you'll be a better player. If the new guitar doesn't get any more notes, and doesn't play in tune any better, you'll realize the rut you are in is you, and you'll practice more or seek instruction and become a better player.

I've got a push/pull and an all-pull. If it is set up properly, a p/p will play and stay in tune as well as an all-pull. But if it is not setup just right, or goes out of whack for some reason, it can be difficult to get it back to perfection. A modern all-pull is less likely to go out of whack, and easier to fix if it does. And for changing and experimenting with pedals and levers, an all-pull is way easier.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 1 Dec 2005 10:25 pm

I’ll be getting a new PSG shortly and since I live close enough to pick it up in person, some of the knee~lever stops won’t be installed until I sit behind the guitar and make sure that the knee~levers are in exactly the correct spot. That way nothing will have to be moved and everything will fit me just right with no extra screw~holes in the underbody!

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“Big John” Bechtel
Coming Soon: New Burgundy D–10 Derby (w/6 &

,
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence.
Current Equipment

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 2 Dec 2005 12:44 am

Not having to worry with trying to stay in tune or replace broken strings is a real plus for me personally. That's the main reason I like the guitars that CARTER builds in Texas. No problems, lightweight, stays in tune, looks good and is easy to move something around on if you want to try a different change which sometimes I do. There's other guitars on the market that are just as good, I'm sure but I like the Carters. As far as a better guitar making a player a better player, it certainly won't hurt being able to practice on one as opposed to having to work on it everytime you turn around. Been there done that!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 2 Dec 2005 4:02 am

I am of the opinion that Yes, it is possible to play better on a Steel that "FITS" you better .

If you feel comfortable than that is just one less thing taken out of the equation to worry about.

True, you may not play different music but I think that it is possible to play the MUSIC you know smoother and with more expression.

It's about the ENERGY used..not the amount of notes played....

Someone mentioned a Carter Starter as opposed to a Zum....Two totally unrelated levels of Instruments. One is for a PRO the other is for someone who someday wants to be a PRO..

t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 02 December 2005 at 04:05 AM.][This message was edited by Tony Prior on 02 December 2005 at 04:31 AM.]

T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 2 Dec 2005 7:06 am

Reese Anderson has some terrific insight in an area of the MSA website, www.msapedalsteels.com . It's called Reese's Writings. He talks about having a comfortable and consistent playing position. Here is an excerpt that I think relates to having a better quality instrument.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Find a logically based specific direction to ensure all physical alignment with the guitar is consistent. Without consistent alignment, the sight parallax between the eyes and the bar-fret relationship will continuously provide a different perspective of positioning which negatively affects the overall feel of the instrument. Without an overall feel, consistency is compromised, and in some instances eliminated. The right hand will never find a home, the feet will not consistently locate specific pedals as needed and the mind will continually disconnect from the analytical process while trying to search for the feel. In so doing the mind short circuits the critical aspect of musical mental flow as defined within the word "perception."
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
My experience is that when I am comfortable and tone is right, I end up playing more music than licks.
TC

Tyler Hall · Post by **Tyler Hall** » 2 Dec 2005 8:42 am

When I got my Fessenden, I sounded like a different picker. I played better on it, and I even practiced some.

D-10 Fessenden, Nashville 112, Session 500, Goodrich LDR

Willie Crisel · Post by **Willie Crisel** » 2 Dec 2005 9:01 am

My rosewood push pull begs me to play it at least 1 hour per everyday ,i try to play as soon as I walk in the door after work, that way no matter what,,, i have played today,,what has helped me most ,at a little over 3 years,,i played over 80 live gigs last year some paying but most for free,,,i hang out with a friend of mine who is a great player,and has a studio,,,i pick a couple of songs,,then he records me playing, then plays himself,,that's better than playing live to me cause i'm gonna be tense, preasure's on,,'' also trying new picks bending them ect. controling the picks,,pulling my right wrist down and closer toward me,using long picks,i mean at lesat 1/2 inch past the fingertip anyway,,, listing to alot of steel,,Buddy , Bobby ect, but also not worring about alot of things that will come with time,,and having lots of fun playing my way.

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MId seventies Push Pull D10 8 and 4, Peavey LTD Peavey Session 400 Ibanez analog delay

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 2 Dec 2005 9:35 am

I have some great sounding vintage guitars but I always go back to the newer Kline, which is the most stable guitar I've ever owned. I've gone 1 to 2 months with changing strings or tunining it, literally. The pedals are smooth and the stops are solid. This helps me focus on my playing without the distraction of the issues that a lot of guitars have. To me the Kline doesn't sound as good as my old guitars but I've gotten more compliments on the tone of the Kline than any other guitar I've owned mostly by people in the audience.

I'll keep the old Sho-Bud and at least one of the ZBs, and the Fenders but the Kline is the workhorse.

I would say that a new guitar could improve your playing, due to comfort level and less distractions.

DZ[This message was edited by Dave Zirbel on 02 December 2005 at 10:05 AM.]

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 2 Dec 2005 11:28 am

Ulf Edlund · Post by **Ulf Edlund** » 2 Dec 2005 11:39 am

My upgrade from a student model to a pro steel didn't make me a better player, but it has made me play better.

Uffe

Ron Sodos · Post by **Ron Sodos** » 2 Dec 2005 12:16 pm

I think getting a new steel absolutley can make you a better player. If your pedals are sloppy mechanics and your knees are in awkward positions and don't pull smooth you are going to have trouble being accurate. Also this is not to mention the passion getting a pretty Zum or Fessy etc. evokes in the player. After I went from an old double 12 Shobud with 4 knees to a double 10 Zum with 9 knees my practicing went from almost none at all to 3-4 hours a day.....

I can't get enough.[This message was edited by Ron Sodos on 02 December 2005 at 12:19 PM.]

Dave Horch · Post by **Dave Horch** » 3 Dec 2005 2:03 am

I noticed a lot more improvement when I started practicing my blocking on a lap steel while watching TV than when I got a better guitar.

That lap steel and TV combo does work wonders for right hand blocking! Newer players especially should make this a must! I use a cheapo Artisan 6 string lap in an E13 tuning.

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 3 Dec 2005 3:29 am

I had an S10 Emmons bolt on changer that sounded incredible. Tuning and keeping it all working was a pain in the backside. Seems like I was spending too much time tinkering with the guitar and not enough time playing. What I bought next wasn't necesarily a "better" guitar but it was better for me. Got an MSA 12 string Super Slide and the transition has made me a better player. I spend more time playing that lap steel than any steel I've had before. Tunes up in seconds and about 10 pounds in the case. since I play the SS more it has indeed made me a better player.

Rick