Black Shobud Pro3 8 +4 coming wednesday £1650

[Mark Fulton]

Ideally I was looking for a modern, younger SD10 with a 4 + 5 setup. Maybe somebody has bought into that style of psg already but does not play it very often and wants to sell. I am happy to wait for the right machine. Given my age I am probably only ever going to buy one steel and stick with it. I have not the time or inclination or knowledge to buy and sell again. Because I am a newbie, whatever I'll get will be new to me, so I will learn on whatever I have. I like the sound of the rains machines, the Sheffield and a few others I've heard on you tube, but of course live is a different thing, and sound can be very subjective. I'm sure that amplification and the availability of such a wide variety of effects and digital processing allows much final sound modification. I guess I want something that sounds as nice as possible with little or no processing, I am sure that is a better place to start.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Mark, you will gain little or no advantage, you will just end up paying nearly double the money for the same result. As a newbie you are in a privileged position to be able to start on almost any "Pro" guitar, most of us started on student models, I started on an 8 string "Pierce" and it was rubbish compared to a "Pro" guitar.
If you want 5 knee levers, another one could easily be added to my Shobud but as a Newbie I think 4 would keep you busy enough for the first 20 years.....
I have owned a few nearly new guitars that do not play or sound as nice as this Shobud and the new Zum that I waited 18 months for did not suit me as well as the 1988 one that I had owned previously as the pedal spacing had been tightened up to allow for even more pedals to be added, I kept it for about 3 months. Good luck with your quest.

[Mark Fulton]

Thank you so much again John, I really appreciate your wise and learnéd comments. I take on board your comments about the 5th knee lever, and also the scope and huge task I have of learning over the next (probably no more than) 15- 20 years. As I have got to learn just about everything from scratch anyway, any modern psg will present enough challenges. The only thing I am really holding out for is an SD10, 4 + 4 would be fine. I also take your point about other guitars can be converted pedals removed, altered etc. Finding the one I want is as you say a bit of a quest, but better to be patient and wait and learn along the way, I am richer and wiser for your advice. thanks again John.