The British Steelies Society

Trust that I am in the right section.
I was wondering how many keyless steel guitars there is in the UK?
Do you own one? What is it? What do you think of it.

I have a S10 GFI keyless Ultra model. Lovely guitar.

I was lucky enough to acquire Tom Brumley's first Anapeg. S11 with pad.

I have had no problems with the keyless feature, although if the strings broke as often as on my previous guitars, I might think otherwise. It is a little more difficult fitting strings. Otherwise the shorter body is a useful feature.

And it plays like a dream. I just say "Together Again" and it plays itself.

Colin, since I had the GFI which is now a few years I have only one string breakage and changing it was a dream.
Although with my Sho Bud LDG I do get more breakage and I find it a pain stringing it up with the normal tuning pegs.

I have an Excel Superb uni and it is a terrific guitar. Much prefer it to my Mullen. Mine is the latest incarnation with the string tuners incorporated into the changer and the string anchor screws at the nut end. This makes string changes extremely quick and easy. The long scale (25.5in) does make string choice important but I have found with the right brand they are dead and need changing before they break.

I have two, and I love 'em. I think the shorter body contributes to reduced cabinet drop. Also, with much shorter string length beyond the nut, unwanted overtones are reduced and sustain is better. Not much "dead" string length to sap vibration energy from the strings. Greatly reduced hysteresis means strings more likely to return true to pitch. What else? Oh yes, shorter body means lighter weight, smaller case. No-brainer!

Will C

Does the reduced fretboard length have implications for where left knee levers are placed? When I look at my keyed guitar, the LKL is situated below 1st and 2nd tuning pegs. Is this compensated for by placing the left knee levers more centrally in relation to the pedals - assuming there are 7 pedals on a U12?

Holy smoke, Nick - if my LKL was under the tuning pegs I wouldn't even be able to reach it. Unless you have a very short scale, or maybe you sit well to the left? Or maybe I'm deformed.. Anyway I sit with my bellybutton level with fret 14, and my LKL is under fret 2. U12's can have 7, 8 or even 9 pedals. I guess a lot depends on that number.

Will

I have 2 keyless Kline's great guitars stay in tune forever and sound amazing see them hear:



I have had and keyless excel superb and a williams 700 series in the past, both universals and great guitars.

Alan

I had a keyless steel a few years ago it was so light I found it was not very stable and every time I used any knee lever the steel would move in the direction I was pushing, I had no problems in playing it and it played very well but sounded terrible even with a pickup change , and changing strings or replacing a broken string at a gig was a nightmare. I am sure they are a lot better now, but I still prefer the keyed steels.





Jimmy.

I recently got a keyless Bennett and am loving it! Not only can I pick it up (in the case), but I can carry it up and downstairs with one hand and not a hernia or slipped disc in sight. It doesn't go walkabout when knee levers are hit and has a sweet tone. Haven't broken a string yet so can't report on how easy or otherwise it is to change a string under pressure, but under normal circs. it's fairly quick and simple-there, that's put the kibosh on it! Cheers, Andy.