Looking for a new pedal steel

Drew McGrath · From: Kentucky, USA

Hey everyone. I just recently sold my Sho-Bud Maverick as it took me a year to explore and inevitably acknowledge the limitations of that particular model. With that, I'm on the hunt again and I could use a little help. As far as make and model, I'm lost. A local player recommended I look into Williams and their keyless model. What do you all think about keyless steels? I'm still new to the instrument but I want room to grow. I'm content on sticking with E9 and not getting too far ahead of myself by adding in C9. As always, I appreciate everyone's time and feedback!

Cheers!

K Maul · From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL

I have a couple vintage ShoBuds but also a GFI and EXCEL. I've had Williams keyless, too and loved it. You can't go wrong with any of those. The good thing about GFI is that there are knurled knobs for open tuning so you don't need to grab your tuning tool for a quick tweak. They all sound great,are mechanically solid. Bill Rudolph of Williams is especially good with customer service.
My EXCEL and GFI
Picture file

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Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

Every single time the question of 'what steel' is asked (dozens of times) the answers become a bunch of people naming the steel that they play because....it's the steel that they play. Simply, there is not a single steel being manufactured today that is not very good with the exception of one brand that starts with 'B' that is simply not to be even considered (and I am NOT talking about BMI, the only other 'B' name I can think of). If you need clarity on this, PM me.
But I don't think you can go wrong with any current make. Williams is great. I have never had a keyless guitar so I can't comment on that.

Adam Tracksler · From: Maine, USA

I just got a Moyo that is beautiful and plays great.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Richard Alderson · From: Illinois, USA

If you are going to buy a new guitar, congratulations. All I have got to say about that is that most of the top players here on the forum have done exactly that for their most cherished and important instruments at one time or another. Any of the existing manufacturers make outstanding products - Williams, MSA, Mullen, GFI, Sho Pro, etc; So its a question of taste and budget. (And weight if you start gigging out !) Your biggest choice is Universal 12 string vs 10 string single neck, given that you say you dont want a double neck. If you want a single neck you should have at least 3 x 5; 3 pedals and 5 knee levers. Also there are choices such as lacquer on natural wood vs. mica and how it looks. Keyless vs. keyed; A universal presents more learning challenges now, but more opportunities later, so thatâ€™s a big choice. A majority of players have a single 10 string E9th neck or SD 10, one neck on a double frame, with a minimum of 3 x 4 pedals and levers.
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Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

Try out as many as you can find and then decide. If you can attend the steel show in Texas this March, a lot of manufacturers have displays you can try. Plus you can hear and see the best players on earth. It's an experience like no other. I don't know your location but a few dealers have multiple units at their shop for sale. There is steel shows all over the nation that you will benefit from, check the Event announcements.

Michael Meader · From: Michigan, USA

I bought a used William's keyless about a year ago. I thought it was very nice, held tune well, smooth playability. I'm still in my newbie stage, but I was impressed enough that I wanted to purchase a brand new William's. I chose a keyed head, but couldnt be happier about the guitar.

I'm sure there a several other builders that are very nice aswell, I just happen to choose William's.

Drew McGrath · From: Kentucky, USA

Thanks guys. Since I can still play the newb card, I ask: I see that a lot of the SD 10's have only 3 pedals and several knee levers. I know that not all copedents are the same, but are there any that serve well for the "modern player"? By that, I'm referring to playing style. I like playing anything from country to simple, modern leads like that of Ryan Adams and The Cardinals that you hear on the 'Cold Roses' record. I'm only assuming that when I see guys playing the single necks, that if they have more than 3 pedals and knee levers, it has been modified. Sorry for the loaded reply. I am 30 minutes south of Cincinnati Ohio in California, Kentucky. I'm only 5 hours north of Nashville and pretty centrally located in the midwestern region. I will have to keep a lookout for steel shows in the region..Since selling my Sho Bud, I'm itching to get back on another pedal steel and continue learning.

*Thanks for sharing the pictures Michael and K Maul*

Johnie King · From: Tennessee, USA

Offering this on the forum for sale.

Johnie King · From: Tennessee, USA

Offering this on the forum for sale.

Johnie King · From: Tennessee, USA

Hereâ€™s a steel that just came up for sale on the forum that I would consider!

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Do you want to play rock? If so, you might want to get a 12 string, which will let you play power chords. If not 10 strings will suffice.

As has been said by others, everybody (except thr B brand referred to earlier) makes fine steels thesedays, and you're going to get a good one no matter which one you choose. It's a matter if finding the one that appeals to you the most.

The best thing to do is attend the show in Dallas and check out all the different ones.

There are also some good used ones for sale here on the forum.
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Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Of course many will reply with all sorts of recommendations.

How about start with "How much you gonna spend " ?

Are U buying a Ferrari or a Kia because they are both very functional cars !

Very Happy

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Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Drew McGrath · From: Kentucky, USA

Great point, Tony! I'm looking to stay under $3000 preferably.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

George Crickmore · From: Myrtle Beach South Carolina, USA

Dustin Kleingartner · From: Saint Paul MN, USA

If you like Cold Roses, you don't even need pedals. That's all Cindy Cashdollar on a D8 non-pedal
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Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

As has previously been mentioned, everybody will recommend whatever they play. I play an MSA.

I suggest the Zum Encore. It has everything you will ever need. The more expensive guitars have a lot if bells and whistles, but not a lot of essentials. It will serve you for at least 10 years, and I believe they only cost about $1,500 although I could be wrong about that.
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Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

IMO, ignore advice to the effect that "You should buy this specific brand/model/year/whatever guitar." There are a lot of variables that any player - and especially any new player - should think about before pulling the trigger on any pedal steel. One size does NOT fit all, not by a long shot.

This is a topic that comes up once or twice a week - there are probably tens or even hundreds of thousands of words written on this forum over the last two decades about what guitar to buy under various circumstances. You should carefully search the forum for relevant threads - the forum search is OK but a google search for relevant search terms (in quotes if you get too many results) with the added tag site:steelguitarforum.com will give you a lot of fodder. For example, the search tags (no quotes)

pedal steel buying advice site:steelguitarforum.com

gives 764 results, and looking some over, many are very relevant. Changing search terms will undoubtedly give other distinct results.

Here are a few recent ones:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=353398

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=351993

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=337773

One of the most important things that I think gets overlooked in many discussions about what steel to buy is ergonomics. This can be especially vexing if you're outside the normal height range, either taller or shorter. If that's an issue for you, here are a few threads on that subject that I would strongly recommend you chew on before making decisions:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=354285

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=347958

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=347979

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

Modern steels in general usually go for a smaller body size so if your tall take this into consideration. Keyless can get really short. Not all company websites actually get too deep into the dimensions so do some homework first.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Drew,There are a whole bunch of good steel guitar makers out there these days,I'm about to get my first Keyless guitar,been at it forever...in no particular order
Mullen,MSA Desert Rose,Justice,Williams,Sho-Pro,Rittenberry,Excel,Jackson,Fessenden,
Good luck!!
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scott murray · From: Asheville, NC

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Hey Drew.

Any chance you can attend the Dallas steel guitar show in March? Nothing like being able to sit on a few different makes to see how they fit you as well as their sonic differences.

I would recommend recent makes that are still building and offer support. Some of these are Mullen, Justice, Williams, Show-Pro, BMI, Jackson, MSA, GFI. Zum licensed Stage One entry level and upgraded Encore models.

I owned a Williams keyless guitar a few years back. Great guitars. The keyless feature allows for a shorter, lighter body. It's easy to get used to stringing up too. Some like keyless, some don't. I've had both and would say the keyhead feature would probably be the last thing I'd discriminate on. I can play either just fine.

I would also suggest a good complement of pedals and levers.

If you start out with 4 pedals and 5 levers, you will have a guitar that will let you do just about anything you hear on recordings.

I wouldn't rule out a modern used model like Carter, Derby etc. but you need to make friends with some knowledgeable players in your area to help you ferret out future problems and condition of anything you are considering. Do your homework and try, hard as it is, to be patient finding one that suits your needs.

Some of those older 30 and 40 year old guitars can have mechanical and playability issues that might not be apparent on first look.

There are several players in the northern Ky, Cincy, Lexington region.

Best of luck.

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