Vintage Steels

Wally Taylor · Post by **Wally Taylor** » 14 Aug 2006 6:06 pm

I think it would be interesting to know how many steelers are still playing vintage steels on a regular basis and rarely use a modern steel?

Wally Taylor

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 14 Aug 2006 6:56 pm

Randy Rheinhard Still Plays A 1964 D 10 Emmons Wrap around. Sounds Great.Just Ask Bobby Flores.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 14 Aug 2006 7:44 pm

I guess Ricky Davis is still trying to wear out his '73 LDG.

Me?? I'm gonna try to wear out my '70 Shobud Professional that is refurbished head to toe with John Coop's parts. Ask me this same question again in about 35 years. (by then I will be using it for a walker!!

)

Wally Taylor · Post by **Wally Taylor** » 14 Aug 2006 7:48 pm

Thanks Randy, a 1964 Emmons still in use is a testament to the way they were once made and what can be accomplished if guys take good care of their instruments! I intend to let Greg Jones go through my old 70s ZB D-10 and I promise to treat her like the classic baby she is. Trouble is, I need another steel to play while the ZB is "in the shop".
Can anyone top a 64 Emmons?

Wally Taylor

Wally Taylor · Post by **Wally Taylor** » 14 Aug 2006 7:53 pm

Thanks James and well said!!

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 14 Aug 2006 8:10 pm

I play a 1968 restored ZB Custom. It plays accurate and smooth and oh the tone. I've tried the modern guitars. I like my 68.

Jon Hyde · Post by **Jon Hyde** » 14 Aug 2006 8:24 pm

I have a Sho Bud professional and an 80s LDG and I use them both a lot but I tend to favor the Professional. It just sounds good and the mechanics feel comfortable to me. Plus so much of the music that I'm inspired by is recorded on these old guitars - of course they sound good!

Kenny Drake · Post by **Kenny Drake** » 14 Aug 2006 8:36 pm

76 LDG & 85 Super Pro. Bought them both brand new. Still the finest IMHO.
Sho~Bud - when tone, quality and beauty matters. Did I say tone?

Jim Walker · Post by **Jim Walker** » 14 Aug 2006 8:37 pm

I was 3 years old when my Clark Custom was built. It's Vintage and Rare. It plays great and sounds excellent

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Clark Custom D10 8&5
Fender Steel King
B-bender Telecaster
Line 6 Flextone II Plus
www.jimwalkeronline.com
My Space

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 14 Aug 2006 8:53 pm

My main guitar is a early 70's Professional that I rebuilt over a deacade ago. On the rare occasion that I get a session, I'll probably use my '78 Super Pro, that I bought new and I'm planning on rebuilding my '65 wrap-around to use on a regular basis. There have been other occasions when I'll play my '59 Bigsby.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by chas smith on 14 August 2006 at 09:54 PM.]</p></FONT>

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 14 Aug 2006 10:02 pm

My working guitar is an early 70's S10 P/P and at home I play a 69 ZB . Would like to try a modern steel but don't get much chance here in steel unfriendly land of OZ .I would use the ZB on gigs but I would need my personal muscle bound rodie with me .
Brendan

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 15 Aug 2006 4:04 am

still playing a 1980 m.s.a vintage xl d-10
and a 1976 black mica m.s.a d-10 classic.
vintage xl rebuilt by mike cass. also, playing thru a 1975 peavey session 400

p.w

Neil Harms · Post by **Neil Harms** » 15 Aug 2006 4:22 am

I gig with my 76 LDG Sho-Bud. It's the only pedal steel I have. Unless you count the single pedal hanging under my 53 Fender Custom. It goes on gigs too. Tone and great looks on both counts! N.

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76 Sho-Bud LDG, 52 Fender Custom Triple, Fender Vibrasonic "Custom", (plus all that other stuff....)

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 15 Aug 2006 4:24 am

The best guitar I ever owned is the 71 Emmons. I still have it and may take it out this weekend. It's got the Birdseye maple body with alluminum necks 9/8. It weighs a ton but the tone out of that guitar is like none other. The wraparounds are definately the most collectable of the Emmons but to my ears the split tails were the tone machines. I've been playing a Carter the last couple of years and love it for the weight, playability and the tone is great too with the BL 710 p-ups. The only reason I don't play the Emmons more is the weight difference and the playability of the Carter. I think most all of the new guitars made today will hold up to the test of time. One things for sure. The old Sho-Buds, Emmons, ZB's and probably the Rustlers are work horses and will always get the job done if you maintain the guitar like it should be. Then it comes down to tone and that's always subjective. For me the Emmons walks all over everything.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 15 Aug 2006 4:44 am

There are probably at least a dozen of us on the SGF that use a Fender 400 or 1000 as a primary instrument....and maybe 50 or so more that have them and will take them out periodically for a change of pace.

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 15 Aug 2006 4:57 am

Hmmmmm no lap steels yet.

I alternate between a 1949 Gibson CG and
a 1956 Gibson CG.

Does that count?

Blake

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 15 Aug 2006 4:59 am

Up until now I used one of 2 70's MSAs, and I intend to keep both. But I will probably use my new Millennium 99% of the time from now on.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 15 Aug 2006 5:00 am

Depending on a gig I alternate between a -63 Sho Bud and a -63 Bigsby, that's all I have.

Jay Yuskaitis · Post by **Jay Yuskaitis** » 15 Aug 2006 5:10 am

1964 Fender 1000 1952 Gibson Console Grande 1930s Dobros

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Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 15 Aug 2006 5:12 am

I don't know if it's "vintage" but I'm playing a late 81 Franklin that I bought new.

Jack Mansfield · Post by **Jack Mansfield** » 15 Aug 2006 5:51 am

play a 1962 rickenbacker pedal steel model 780. through a rickenbacker m-15 amp.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 15 Aug 2006 6:02 am

Since this post is not limited strictly to pedal steels, I still play a 1937 Gibson upon occasion.

Harry Dietrich · Post by **Harry Dietrich** » 15 Aug 2006 7:05 am

The ONLY steel I have at the present time is my 1938 Gibson EH150. I'm going to have them throw it in my casket when I croak...that's how much I love it.

Harry

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 15 Aug 2006 7:47 am

1973 MSA D12

Dave Zielinski · Post by **Dave Zielinski** » 15 Aug 2006 7:54 am

Dual 8 fender professional, 1953, and an early no-serial number champion. The only modern ones I have is a Chandler RH2 and an Asher.

the dual 8 goes on every gig. everything else stays home. I just prefer the dual 8.

If someone here woudl sell me a Bigsby, I'd have that too..(hint, hint)

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1953 Fender D8, 1960 4x10 Bassman, in search of Bigsby