Looking for Advice on a First Pedal Steel

[Brayden Doolittle]

Howdy Everbody,

I am looking to get my first pedal steel soon, but I'm having trouble deciding exactly what I want to go for. I'm new to this forum and to pedal steel in general, so any advice will be greatly appreciated.

My uncle kindly let me borrow his GFI Ultra to help me get started, and I have found nothing I don't like about it, so I was originally thinking I would like to get a GFI for my first pedal steel. Then I heard of Fessenden, and did some research on them. I liked what I heard and saw (especially the longhorn steer fret markers , so I decided I would go for either a Fessenden or a GFI. I've been looking for a while now and have yet to find either one of those for sale that I was willing to go for.
Then I found out that I could order a brand new Justice for fairly cheap. I also started considering Mullen guitars. By now I don't know for sure what I want. A couple things I do know: I want it to be a SD-10, and I don't want an entry level steel. I want one that I can keep forever and not feel like I have "outgrown it" sometime down the road. Oh, and right now my budget is only like $3,000.

Anyone have any advice, suggestions, concerns, etc.?

Thanks!
Brayden Doolittle

[Brett Day]

Sho-Bud is back with a new version of the Maverick. The new Sho-Bud Maverick is a pedal steel guitar for players of all levels

[Bill McCloskey]

I would suggest staying away from steels no longer being manufactured like a Fessy, in case you need parts. The new mavericks, Zum Stage one, Mullen discovery, GFI, would all be good choices. The problem is getting one. Every manufacturer is AT LEAST a year waiting list if not more. Which means buying used. (not sure what the turn around time for the Maverick is. Maybe they are less).

I'd get a 3x5 or a 3x4 if you want something you won't outgrow.

[Brett Day]

I would suggest staying away from steels no longer being manufactured like a Fessy, in case you need parts. The new mavericks, Zum Stage one, Mullen discovery, GFI, would all be good choices. The problem is getting one. Every manufacturer is AT LEAST a year waiting list if not more. Which means buying used. (not sure what the turn around time for the Maverick is. Maybe they are less).

I'd get a 3x5 or a 3x4 if you want something you won't outgrow.

The Sho-Bud Website says that the wait time for the new Maverick is twelve weeks, while the Pro V is a few months

[Bill McCloskey]

In my experience, what the website says and what the reality is are two different things. I tried to order a Emmons Resound 65 because the website said 3 months. When I called to order, I was told it was a year. Another manufacturer promised me 17-24 months tops. That soon changed to 3 plus years. Has anyone ordered one recently and gotten it in 3 months?

[J D Sauser]

In my experience, what the website says and what the reality is are two different things. I tried to order a Emmons Resound 65 because the website said 3 months. When I called to order, I was told it was a year. Another manufacturer promised me 17-24 months tops. That soon changed to 3 plus years. Has anyone ordered one recently and gotten it in 3 months?

It's almost unbelievable that in today's ages, with the production capabilities and affordable advanced technology machinery, we're still facing wait times of over a year and up to 3 years, which what it was you had to wait for a Bigsby PSG, even if you played for the Cherokee Cowboys.
When Carter came out in the mid 90's they broke that lamentable "tradition" and even built up and kept a stock of formica "standard"-setup S & D10's. They ordered parts in batches they could build dozens of guitars without holdups.
Given, the market tanked during the first Millennial Decade. And while now most pro-level D10 will command prices $5000.oo on up into the 10-12'000.oo region, it is still today tough to make "money" with these things.
But then, how do you make money when you can't sell to people waving money at you but would like "instant gratification"?

... J-D.

[Bobby D. Jones]

Sorry to say you are about 3 or 4 months late. About 3 months ago there was 3 GFI DS10 Ultra's, Here on the forum in the Steel guitar for Sale section. 1 black and 2 red pads. They went quick.

[Bill McCloskey]

Steel Guitars of ohio has a Zumsteel stage one $1650. I'd move on it if you want a good steel from a great dealer at a great price.

[Bruce Derr]

Consider a Justice steel as well.

[K Maul]

Consider a Justice steel as well.

Yes. Talk to Ron there. Justice is a professional quality build. To my knowledge the lead time is a lot faster than most.

[Bob Watson]

The Stage One Encore is an excellent choice that would be all of the pedal steel you will ever need! They also have great customer service and hold their value really well. Good luck with whatever decision you make, and remember that one of the secrets to becoming a good pedal steel player is perseverance.

[Brayden Doolittle]

Thank you all for your comments! I will keep doing some research and have my eye out. Hopefully I’ll end up with a good one before long.