The Best & Worst PEDAL STEEL GUITARS for New Players (Ranked by pro meathead)

[@Bearthalamass]

I got a 71 show bud professional, converted into an SD 10. It's basically a rack and barrel LDG now. You can still find quality parts and experienced guys to work on them. I had mine rebuilt by Ricky Davis, had a few things added like adjustable knee levers, and had my F lever moved in a little bit so it didn't feel like a mile of travel between the E - F raise. I got a little bit invested in it for a sho bud, but it plays and sounds awesome. And it's a two tone red and blond so it looks stunning. Their easier to find parts for than a lot of other brands.

[@patkane919]

Imagine your gym teacher is sick and the sub wheels in the tv and presents this bad boy

[@jimtrantham1195]

I have 2 Carter guitars. A 2000 D-12 8x5, and a 2008 D-10 8x7….. Both guitars are absolutely great instruments…. I don’t think I’d trade either one at this point in my life. Great tone, great pups, immaculate condition. Love ‘em……..

[@Docsjeff]

Everything on my prestige is POLISHED,& it’s SMOOTHE AS SILK. Derek is actually going to help me adjust my D lever for a shorter throw.Mine is an SD10 4&5.I went with Ritt because S.Palousek played one and I figured if it can hang with him…..it should be a good one.

[@Mindokwin]

I bought a Justice Pro-lite 5 years ago brand new as a beginner. I ordered 4 pedals and 5 levers so it would have good resale value even though it is still more than my skill level needs. Also I ordered added 2" leg height since I am 6'4". It has been a great guitar, good tone and stays in tune well. I upgraded my Peavey 112 amp to a Quilter TT12.

[@johnnyupok]

Awesome. Glad that Justice is working out for you.

[@paulsharp6559]

Fred justice was a great man and a really good Steel player .

[@stevew270]

Ah, the Fender steel guitar, I believe Steve Fishell played a Fender 400 on the Radney Foster song Just Call Me Lonesome, as for the MSA, a late band mate of mine years ago played an MSA D10 and I think I remember him saying it was 90 pounds packed up in the case.

[@bradyhenrie6426]

Maverick pops up “It’s a piece of shit” hahahahahaha

[@paulsharp6559]

Bob Seymour played a show bud Maverick. When he worked for Lin Anderson. And he love it.

[@Bearthalamass]

Mavericks get a bad rap, but they aren't bad. That's what I started on. I had a maverick and a carter starter. The maverick sounded better.

[@ODColon]

I had one, and loved it. I sold it due to early marriage finances, and have always regretted that.

[@tayloralamb]

It’s such a difficult instrument to start with. High cost and difficult mechanisms to figure out. I was able to trade an old amp for a Fender 2000 that sounded wonderful but had no knee levers and the cable system was finicky. I was able to sell that as more of a collector piece and get an Emmons single neck that has been wonderful. My main recommendation for newcomers is to save your money and get something with at least 3 pedals and 4 levers. From there just practice and upgrade if you stick with it. Wouldn’t worry too much about quality starting out because it’s wild to spend thousands on something you don’t know about yet.

[@Ramenscooter]

Love my center of the universe Sierra Crown gearless D-10. Heavy, yes and that’s why I love it. Hard to find now but worthwhile for sure.

[@Docsjeff]

My first steel was a 92’ Pre RP I bought off of a past steel player in my band. It was just a single neck,& he payed $2800.00 for it new in 92’.

[@Jack-q4o5y]

The GFI Expo is a pro model, not a student model. The student model is around $1500

[@danielstein5290]

Love the first gen maverick from 71 or so Worked on it for a customer and re rodded it (used “marker flags” and bent to fit) Minus the “solid nut” it had a great tone !

[@johnnyupok]

Haha that's cool.

[@danielstein5290]

@@johnnyupok don’t get me started on the gen 2 Maverick ha ha pot metal city Or a 70s push pull with NYLON TUNERS on the raises, crazy ! Trying to get my steel mechanic business started

[@paulsharp6559]

I have a Sierra universal 12 with 8&5. And most of all, I love it it’s built like a tank, and it will hold a note forever. As a matter fact, Buddy Emmons last guitar was a Sierra universal 12. Please play one. Oh by the way. Those legs fold up.

[@Ramenscooter]

Best steel ever built! Heaven knows it’s heavy but that’s why I like it.

[@Ramenscooter]

Just bought a Sierra Crown D-10, heavy and real. Loving it ❤️

[@Docsjeff]

They’ve got a pic of Moon on an MCI at the Dallas show.

[@austinreynolds4228]

Expo isn't the student model its their mid tier between the S model and Ultra!

[@Docsjeff]

I just got my new Ritt last week. Derek did an AWESOME job on it. It’s E9 SD10 Silver Sparkle. It’s smoothe as SILK. My buddy and I swapped out the 2-12 Creambacks out of a New Tone Master Twin w/a 15” Black Widow and it sounds GREAT. Only increased the weight by 4.5 lbs. I use a Keeley Reverb/Delay pedal and a Peterson Stroboplus Tuner….& that’s it. I’m looking for a good distortion or O/D pedal if anyone has any suggestions.

[@anthonygreco33]

Bro thank you for this 💪🏻💪🏻

[@GuitarStarAcademy]

I gotta say that I landed a GFI ultra SD10 as my first real guitar. I agree they don’t win in the looks category. With that said, it’s light and I was planning to be on the road with it so I kinda like that it’s not so pretty I wanna baby it. That and I got a screaming deal on it at $1600. Couldn’t really go wrong.

[@GarryHuber-c8o]

What's your thoughts on Williams?

[@ThisWildLife]

Thoughts on Emmons Resound65

[@johnnyupok]

Top shelf guitar. I would say the same things as I did about the Sierra. Wait until you know exactly what you want, then get the Emmons.

[@Docsjeff]

The newer MSA’s have the quik charge pickups.

[@paulsharp6559]

And so does the Sierra. I owned a new MSA Legend Un-12 , I sold it and kept my Sierra.

[@keithparker9852]

I have an mci d-10 - do you know if there’s a guide for making adjustments? My A pedal is pretty soft and I would like to adjust it but don’t want to mess anything up.

[@johnnyupok]

I guess I don't understand what you mean by the A pedal is soft.

[@keithparker9852]

@@johnnyupok sorry. It has a really long travel, twice as long as any other pedal. Basically when I’m playing AB I have to roll my foot quite a bit so it depresses completely.

[@paulsharp6559]

Get a hold of the guys and steel guitar form.

[@dehoyos55]

Me whispering to my GFI ultra tonight “don’t worry baby girl, you aren’t ugly, you’re beautiful to me” …..😂

[@johnnyupok]

☠️ hey beauty is in the eye of the beholder

[@redlitre]

+1 to the inflated Maverick market. They're regularly 1000+ in the great lakes area.

[@brianspratt4081]

What are your thoughts on Show Pro?

[@johnnyupok]

I would say A tier. Very nice guitars but on the pricy end.

[@jackwilson9039]

Expo is not a student model

[@angrybird9950]

What are your thoughts on BMIs?

[@johnnyupok]

I would put it with the shobud ldg. A legit pro guitar. Most of the ones you’ll see for sale are pretty old though 70s-90s, so need to be careful.

[@picker63028]

BMI is a good quality guitar well built and still in business. I have 2 s10 models. My friend has a U14 that was built for him 40 years ago and he plays professional so it'd had hard use but no major repairs. Just a few springs. Great testiment to a fine machine.

[@69jeffsteel]

For beginners who just want to 'try it out', just list 'beginner' steels. Or borrow or rent one. For people who really want to get going into steel don't hold back just because of price. My first guitar was an Emmons push pull and it wasn't 'too hard to work on' or anything else..all steels are not that easy to maintain and, most importantly, learn to play. Like 'ol 'Blind Lemon Macy' said...'If it's in ya' it's gonna come out'!

[@terrywisdommusic]

Beam me up!

[@kmcdawg1]

You definitely don’t understand the new players budget 1500 is typically there max and that’s a stretch. Plus a lot of new players are older and these heavy guitars don’t work for them. Great video, but you didn’t do your research. Lol

[@bobbiemiles-foremaniii8747]

You have to get lucky to get a good psg at 1500. What does weight matter? As a beginner you put it down in your house and why should it ever move?

[@jakobsulzer4831]

How you feel about Excel hahaha

[@johnnyupok]

I actually have zero experience with the excel. They look cool, but also looks like there’ll be a learning curve with the locking changer and keyless head. Not great for a new player.