New dobro & lap steel member

[Catjuggler]

Hi all
I've been playing dobro and lap steel for a few years just picking stuff up from YouTube, Internet and just listening to music. Both usually tuned to G but I experiment occasionally. I'm now considering a pedal steel or possibly a Deusenberg with a multibender (to live with my bass, banjo,ukulele and guitars) but, having never played either, it's an expensive leap of faith. I'll just have to think on it some more....
Anyway, this is just really to say hello and any advice anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated.

[Will C]

Welcome aboard, there's a wealth of knowledge here and everyone is very helpful. Depending on where you are, you might want to go and visit somebody who has a pedal steel and would let you try it out - that might perhaps be an initial "toe in the water" without spending a lot. Make sure we know what area you are in - somebody in your neighbourhood is likely to spark.

[Catjuggler]

Hi Will
Thanks for the reply. I live in Bradford, West Yorkshire. If there are any members local then I would beheaded to hear from them.
Cheers
Trevor

[Catjuggler]

Damned predictive texting. How did it get beheaded from be pleased? Grrrr!

[jivebiker]

Be careful of the Duesenberg Pomona. I bought one a few years ago, but there was a problem with string breakage. I was lucky to get 2 hours from the 3rd string and 4 from the 2nd. The strings slide against the lever pivot, without any guide bearing, and the friction wears through them pretty quickly, especially if using the levers a lot.
I had my money back and used it to build my own version using Hipshot palm pedals, with strings fed through modified Fender style roller nuts. At no point does the string drag against a fixed surface. As a result my strings have lasted as long as the fixed ones. I also had to use a different nut to allow a little string slippage without breakage. A lockdown nut would have worked better, but I didn't have one. The only thing I didn't have that the Duesenberg had is the sliding nut/capo, which was a brilliant idea, and one which worked well.

The biggest problem was finding a lap steel with a large enough tail section to mount the hipshot plate. I still had to cut one down a bit. All up the cost was about £250, a lot cheaper than a Pomona.

It all works, but string damping is difficult, and it does make picking a bit awkward. Tuning was open D A D F# A D, levers raising ugh A to B, and F# to G, giving a raise equivalence to the A and B pedals on a PSG.

I still have my Palm Pedal Lap Steel, but ultimately bit the bullet and bought a PSG. Although I am crap at playing it, I know it is not the equipment holding me back, just my ability to play it.

[Tony Russell Davis]

I have always been wary of devices that "emulate" pedal steel - even though I've made a few (Telecaster) B-benders and used palm-pedals. Beside string breakages if the bearing points are solid, the levers get in the way of your picking hand. So you can bend strings, but it's more awkward to actually play the thing. I'm not sure if the depreciation is greater on a guitar with levers, but the initial price seems very expensive to me. They seem to work for some people but my guess is that they have specific needs where levers can help (like; size, too many additional instruments, weight etc).
Think carefully about your present tuning and figure out what pitch bending you really need (see PS) as opposed to other ways of expanding your range - such as an 7 or 8 string guitar or even getting a "proper" PSG. Is space or weight an issue against PSG? Are you any good at woodwork as in, making a guitar? It's not so very hard if the shape is simple.,
I'm in N. Yorks, if you can get as far as here, Bedale - Masham area, just off the A1/Leeming Bar, you would be welcome to try a PSG, or 7 or 8 string lap guitars.
Regards, Tony.
PS - on dobro (G high bass), I find a half tone raise on the second string is sometimes useful, but it quite possible by pulling that string with a bar-hand finger behind the bar.

[Catjuggler]

Hi guys
Thanks for the advice. It's difficult to decide which direction to go just based on pictures and videos - I might be rubbish at playing a PSG. Size and weight are issues as I may want to gig with whatever I decide on. And, apparently, I already have too many guitars - I have explained they are all different and, therefore,necessary, but that argument doesn't seem to convince. Oh well...
I was was also concerned about my ability to pick if Palm levers were involved as this seems a bit of a compromise.
I've currently got my dobro tuned to high G B D G B D and have been mainly concentrating on bluegrass and blues though I suspect the hammering on/pulling off style wouldn't be suited to PSG. I suspect I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and go for something with pedals so any suggestions for a starter guitar greatly appreciated.
I'm pretty good with anything mechanical but woodwork is not something I have any skill with. Shelves are about my limit.