How much should I budget to buy my first D10 pedal steel?

[David DeLoach]

I'm looking to buy my first pedal steel in the next year and curious what I need to budget to get a great quality instrument.

Hoping to get a D10 with 8 pedals and at least 4 knee levers.

I'm heading into retirement soon and this will be my retirement gift to myself. I'm a pretty serious musician with decades of playing professionally (mostly guitar). I know music theory inside-out (wrote a jazz guitar text book that was used at Berklee for awhile). I've been putting a lot of time into playing 8 string lap steel the last 5 or 6 years. Just saying all this to validate that I will be a serious student of the pedal steel - and want to get a great one.

I realize buying a used pedal steel may save me some money, but I'd need to find a great steel player to help me evaluate a used steel to ensure I'm getting a quality instrument. Also, I've seen some older steels for sale (from the 1970's/1980's). Are there issues with buying an older steel that i should be aware of?

Thanks so much for any input/advice.

David

[John Larson]

I'd estimate about $5000 to $6000 given current market prices.

[Erv Niehaus]

You should be able to find a good quality pedal steel, new or used, for quite a lot less than that.

[Lane Gray]

If you don't mind heavy, there's an MSA D10 in the forum classifieds with a Music Man amp for 2400. Solid guitars.
There's a nice old Bud in Gallatin for 3500
That Carter in Pennsylvania for 2700 is a total winner, but it may need some new "dog bones," as they can be a wear item.

[D Schubert]

Since you're in Tennessee, you might want to visit some of the used-guitar dealers that post reguarly on the SGF.

[Larry Jamieson]

Johnnie King is in the Nashville area. He always has several used steels available for sale. If you visit his shop, he can demonstrate them for you and YOU can sit down at them, try them out, and see what you like. You can find Johnnie on this Forum, he always has guitars in the for sale section.

[Douglas Schuch]

Here's some advice I've given before, but not in a long time: go to Greg Cutshaw's website and find all the pages that have solos, licks, etc tabbed out with audio samples. Here's his home page. Scroll down until you see "Steel Tab 1 | Steel Tab 2 | etc" Then start listening to the tab, noting if the lick or solo is "tasty" to you, nor not so much. And note if it's E9 or C6. While either neck can play a lot of stuff beyond their cliche style licks and solos, they tend to lend themselves to those particular sounds fairly well. Most of us can generally tell if a lick of solo is played on one neck or the other based on this.

The point is, many musicians are primarily interested in the classic country type licks, or rock licks found on the E9 tuning. Some are only interested in the jazzy or swing type style that just naturally fits on C6 tuning. You are trying to decide if you want to learn both necks, or just one. So I'm just saying to confirm you want a D-10. Personally, I would not want to have a single neck as I like both and want to play (and do play!) both.

If you do decide you really want to learn both, I think a vintage MSA D-10 is a great starting steel. It's mechanics are more or less the same as a modern steel, so what you learn for keeping it working will carry over if you ever replace it. Personally, I would find 4 knee levers very limiting, but that's what you find on vintage steels like I and others have suggested. You can contemplate upgrading or replacing it later.

I would strongly suggest having someone who plays and knows steel guitars go with you for any local purchase, and consider having a good steel mechanic in mind to adjust it and make sure it all works at it's best when you get it. If buying on the forum, you odds of getting a decent instrument are better than what's on Craigslist and FB, but unless buying from someone who IS a steel mechanic and who goes through the steel thoroughly before selling it, it's still worth having a mechanic in mind just in case.

It's hard to know where you will be in a few years as a steel player, or what you will want for a guitar, so don't try to buy an ultimate steel that will last you forever. The reality is that over half of those who start learning this, or any other instrument don't pursue it past a beginner or novice state, then quit and sell the gear.

That's my advice for beginners, anyway.

[David Wisson]

Hi David great choice for a retirement present. It's a great instrument that will bring you hours of enjoyment more addictive than golf and less pedaling than cycling. Have you thought about a 12 string Universal. I played E9th for years. The Uni is extended E9th minus the 9th string D. Just hold the Eb lever to get B6th tuning I have 8 pedals 6 knee levers Has a lot of scope turning wise and nice fat chords. I played the recent post the Snowman on it. Enjoy your retirement Dave