The British Steelies Society

Hiya,

I've been infected with the PS virus, real bad. Where do I start...

First of all - I'm a complete beginner, my only source of information is the Internet and I've never even tried one. Played lap steel for years and I absolutely luuurve country music (Patsy Cline, Buck Owens, Hank Williams, and a long etc, mainly old stuff). I work at home and always find an odd 30 min a day to practice my rocanrola chops, from what I've read you need hours and hours and hours to start getting to grips with the thing, but I'm young - young as in pre-midlife crisis, he he.

Million dollar question: Is there anything out there a notch above Carter Starters and the like that's worthwhile?

Now that my wife's not around - is 1500-1800 euro a good starting point? Can you find nice PS in that price range (I don't want to break the piggy bank, honest). New vs. vintage?

The clock is ticking.... can't wait!

Heres one >>>>

Yes, you can definetely find something in that price range. Be patient and watch the For Sale section.
Bigger question is: what kind of Psg or you going to take on? A single neck E9, a D10, or maybe a Uni12? As you are a veteran lap steel player, you probably know C6 tuning? Then I surely recommend you look for a D10, the strings in the middle of the C6 neck are the same as on a C6 lap. From there you can begin fiddling with the pedals & levers, and learn the E9 neck as you feel like it.
Good luck!

Thanks Jano, I finally went for a beautiful Bennett PS copy of a Sho Bud, single neck, E9 tuning. Yup I play a lot of C6 on my lap steels, absolutely love it. I read that you can press a few pedals on the PS and have a C6 tuning is that right?

Take care!

If you lower the "E"s on a knee lever (standard change on an E9th) strum slowly across the strings and you will find a 6th tuning within the 10 strings (listen to try to find the string groups that do this). Similarly, you can find a 6th tuning if you press pedals A+B.
It'll be good learning and transition practice for you to do those things and figure out what strings and positions will give you "familiar territory" after your years on lap steel. Realising the similarities will help you come to terms with the "new" tuning.
The E9th tuning developed from an A6th, so there are still elements of it in there for you to find.
Good luck, Tony.

wow, thanks Tony! that's exactly what I was looking for, "familiar territory" (couldn't have described it better!)

I'm playing my brothers Carter Starter untill I get enough money to buy a new steel and the Carter Starter is great to learn on. Decent tone too.