The British Steelies Society

Hi All,

Looking for my first pedal steel guitar. Looking to keep the cost down as much as possible. Ideally around the £500 mark. I know this is a long shot but I'm not afraid of something that isnt too cosmetic. I could perhaps stretch for the right guitar.

I appreciate this is a long shot.

Thanks!

Hi John,

I know of two that you have for sale. What's the third one?

Thanks

What John says is right, unless you get lucky at a car boot sale it is not going to happen Michael.

If you get a PSG at £500 you will only have to spend at less 2 or 3 hundred quid to bring it up to spec, by which time you may have overpriced that purchase for a future buyer when your skill moves on.

Pro spec at any level is a three pedal four lever guitar... whilst you can live with less if you gig this is what you'll want.

I used to have a table on this but a fair rule of thumb I believe is:

Single neck: £900 -£1100
SD 10 E9th on a double body: £1100- £1800
D10 E9th /C6th double body £2000- £2500 ++

Full spec steels to buy new are now £4/5/6K depending on the manufacture. Some are produced in Europe but most in the US and by the time you pay all your dues it is painful and as Ted says after Brexit may be more so!

The technology and build quality is advancing all the time so whilst these new guitars seem expensive their playing potential is superb and they simply do what it says on the tin.

The classics for tone are .. Emmons, ZB and Sho-Bud.. and the new blood for quality are MSA, Mullen, WBS, Rittenberry, Show Pro. the list goes on

Our advice would be............ Ask many questions and choose wisely!

I can vouch for John's amazing assistance even though I, eventually, bought one elsewhere. All the advice given is absolutely correct. Take John's offer, try out. Might have to be outside now I suppose!!

Michael, all good advice from these guys.
When it's safe to do so John is the man to visit certainly if you only live a few miles away.
He won't push you for a sale and makes a decent brew as well as giving you a chance to try out what steels he has to offer but he might charge you for biscuits

Thanks for the input everyone. I really appreciate it.

Not sure if my last email on Friday popped through John about one of them?

Thanks

Did you manage to get anything?

I have a SD10 Sheffield here that I might be coaxed into parting with.... E9 3x3 Emmoms setup. lovely looking guitar, the undercarriage has been upgraded to MSA (3/8” round shafts)

I wouldn’t want to take any less than £650 for it though....