Speedy West Steel Guitar value

[Jennifer Scott]

Hi. I need help in determing the value of a Speedy West Steel Guitar that was my fathers. He passed away in 2021 and playing his steel guitar was his favorite thing to do. I put it on my local FB marketplace and someone told me to check here first. Any help would be appreciated.

[scott murray]

hi Jennifer, very sorry for your loss.

others will know more than me, but depending on the mechanical condition I'd say it's worth between 2k to 3k. perhaps a bit more as they are fairly rare. looks like it has 4 knee levers, correct?

the Speedy West models were built by Marlen I believe, and aside from putting Speedy's name on the front I'm not sure if it's any different than a regular Marlen steel. everyone I know who has owned or played a Marlen seems to really love them.

whereabouts in NC are you? I'm in Asheville and might know someone who'd be interested

[Jennifer Scott]

Thank you Scott for your reply. I live in Raleigh and my father played the steel a few months before he passed away. I believe it works perfectly. He was a civil engineer so he always took great care of everything he owned.

[J D Sauser]

Unless it was actually certifiably OWNED by Speedy West, they are not traded very high as they had a limiting mechanical system.
Scott's right, they were built by Marlen and it was Marlen's "Pro"-model without any modifications or upgrades besides the cool plastic logo stuck on the front apron.
Except upon special request, they came E9th/C6th, in other words NOT with Speedy's own tuning, which would have been an own version of E9th on the front neck and something one could have called E13th on the rear neck (he called it F#9th, but not related to the prevalent E9th tuning, rather a Swing tuning).
I got a few of these logos which I find extremely cool, because Speedy was my hero. I got one on my Europe based Excel.

But, IF one wanted "The Speedy West"-sound, I would rather try to get it from a late 50's/early 60's Fender PSG... which just do have that sound we all know from his Capitol Records early 60's solo albums with Jimmy Bryant.

Today, this would rather be an entry-level solid guitar for a beginner.
Scott's valuation sounds realistically possible for a clean solid and mechanically ready to go instrument like yours.

Maybe worth trying at $2900 on the Buy-Sell section and see if you get some offers.

Sorry for your loss... J-D.

[Jennifer Scott]

Thank you for your response. I do know the model number is SW10D. I was probably bought back in the 60's or 70's. Def not previously owned by Speedy West.

[Ricky Davis]

Leonard and Marvin that owned and built ALL Marlen's; did an endorsement with Speedy West in late 60's just for a few years it lasted; therefore the "Speedy West" was just a Model of the Marlen; and ONLY had the "Speedy West" Logo on front apron; they were a CUSTOM shop and would always build the pedal steel to the customer's set up request.....not to any other set up; ONLY the customers request.....
"Value" currently a good mechanical functioning D-10, 8ped, 3 to 4 knee pedal steel in these Modern times; goes for 1800.00 to 2200.00 dollars._ish...ha...lol.
Ricky