Least Expensive Decent/Good Quality New or Used Pedal Steel?

[Doug Anderson]

I'm looking for a 10 string 3x4 setup and hoping to pay as little as possible but still get a a good quality instrument that plays well and stays in tune without a ton of problems.

What NEW or USED brand/model would you consider?

I don't see many used ones and they tend to be priced similarly to some of the new models that get decent reviews. Would you recommend used or new?

Thank you! Doug

[Dennis Belt]

Doug, look for a used Stage One. New ones are hard to come by; the wait list is almost always full.
There have been a couple for sale on the forum in the past few weeks. Great sounding, easy playing. A lot of steel for the price.
Good Luck!

[Mathew Peluso]

I second this. Stage One or Encore if you can. He has a new order window opening on 2/25!

[Ron Hogan]

GROWLER

JUSTICE

SHO-PRO

EAGLE

[K Maul]

New :Justice has excellent prices and are really well made.
Used :MSA or Carter are best value for price.
There may be others but those are my favorites.

[Dave Magram]

I'm looking for a 10 string 3x4 setup and hoping to pay as little as possible but still get a a good quality instrument that plays well and stays in tune without a ton of problems.
What NEW or USED brand/model would you consider?
I don't see many used ones and they tend to be priced similarly to some of the new models that get decent reviews. Would you recommend used or new?
Thank you! Doug

Doug, I just noticed an ad by Johnnie King for an Emmons GS-10 3x4 at:
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=413766

I had one of these as my first guitar, and they sound great! They are very light weight, and I have heard about professional players taking these guitars on fly-dates.

They are student models made in the 1970s, but have the same push-pull changer mechanism (and legendary tone) as the professional Emmons Guitar models.

Apparently someone has added knee levers; I believe they came from the Emmons factory with no knee levers--or maybe just one (I can't recall if mine had one or not).

From what I hear, Johnnie King has a good reputation for fair and honest dealing.

- Dave

[Ben Thomas]

Encore by Doug Earnest. After getting mine from Doug new in August 2022, I’ve seen a lot of S10 E9 PSGs for sale and I’ve played a few very nice and expensive guitars. For me, I am sure I made the right decision because I’ve seen none with the same options for near the value and I sounded as good (or, the same) on Doug’s Encore as I did much more expensive guitars. I’ve had zero issues with anything (setup, tuning, mechanical issues, etc.).

No offense to any other brands that make very nice guitars, but if you’re looking for quality, features, AND value, I haven’t seen anything match Doug’s Encore. The Stage One is a potential option as well, depending on what you feel about the options part.

[Roger Crawford]

Mullen Discovery, if you can find one, is another great option.

[Bob Carlucci]

best bang for the buck right now???.

Knowing what I know, and have seen, I personally would consider a clean, lightly used MSA Classic, a Carter, or a BMI... These are all durable pro level guitars, that are of high enough quality to be played professionally, will last pretty much forever if taken care of, and have never had the hype placed on them as have had other "fancier" steel guitars.. Carters in particular were [and still are] played by several top tier pros, and yet never went crazy in price... Problem with newer student guitars is that many have pull/release mechanisms which are more limited in adaptability as the "student" progresses and needs more advanced/complex changes .. That typically means buying a new guitar... Its all good, I have played several late model "student" models and they are fine guitars, way better than what I learned on.. Still before I would spend $2,500 on one, I would buy one of the 3 pro level guitars I mentioned... bob

[Henry Schuellerman]

If you find a used GFI SM-10 student model, I have nothing but good things to say about it. I've been learning and gigging with it constantly the past 1.5 years. I never have mechanical or tuning issues, and it's super easy to play. Very lightweight

[Sam Inglis]

The thing that would put me off many 'student' guitars is that often the height is not adjustable. If like me your legs are too long to fit comfortably under a lot of steels that could be quite a big issue.

[Tim Wells]

Right now there is a Mullen Discovery in the for sale ads for $2800. You can't do better than that with all that goes with it. Amp, seat, guitar, delay pedal, volume pedal. Heck, the only thing missing is your address on the box.

[Chuck Lemasters]

I have owned three Carters…all bought used from guys on the forum….they are light weight, stay in tune, sound good. There is one listed here for $2300…if I were looking for a guitar I might very well pick this one up….the main wear points are the brass dog bones , which can be found from parts dealers here and easily replaced.

[J D Sauser]

I have owned three Carters…all bought used from guys on the forum….they are light weight, stay in tune, sound good. There is one listed here for $2300…if I were looking for a guitar I might very well pick this one up….the main wear points are the brass dog bones , which can be found from parts dealers here and easily replaced.

Yeah, I was just going to mention Carter too. They were a hard to beat deal when the could be bought brand new. MANY built and often for sale way below most any other Pro-Level PSG. Easy to work on, parts still floating around.

… JD.

[Chris Brooks]

MSA or Carter.

[Jim Cooley]

A good, clean Derby IMHO has been the best bang for the buck on the used market for a long time.

[Doug Anderson]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

Some of the new models that folks have recommended here and that seem like great options are.....
Stage One 3x4, Justice S-10 3x4 and Growler 3x4.

The prices of these new with case and shipping range from about $1,750 to about $2,250 but they all have a few to several month build time wait.

Several folks have recommended a variety of used instruments that are more expensive than these. Curious if that I is because folks believe the used instruments are higher quality/more durable/etc. than these models OR if it is because these models tend to have a several month wait to get them built? OR both?

[J D Sauser]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

Some of the new models that folks have recommended here and that seem like great options are.....
Stage One 3x4, Justice S-10 3x4 and Growler 3x4.

The prices of these new with case and shipping range from about $1,750 to about $2,250 but they all have a few to several month build time wait.

Several folks have recommended a variety of used instruments that are more expensive than these. Curious if that I is because folks believe the used instruments are higher quality/more durable/etc. than these models OR if it is because these models tend to have a several month wait to get them built? OR both?

To answer the second part of your question:
The higher end Dollar figure ($2'250.oo) for a brand new "Entry Level" or "Student" model PSG will get you a good quality PRO-grade used guitar. The most affordable, most recent probably being the Carter (and their "Magnum" models), because they were the most affordable brand new.

I don't see the advantage in buying a new "custom" made "Student" or "Entry Level" model for 3 reasons:

1- As a "Student" you will hardly want something beyond as "standard" as possible. So why have one MADE just for you?
2- "Entry Level" or "Student" model generally don't offer much customization and are typically pretty basic and "standard", and there's no reason to try to customize them because that will make it expensive to the point of defying the reason to buy a lower grade guitar.
3- "Entry Level" or "Student" models are generally not kept long. The original buyer either gives up on playing that instrument fairly fast or grows out of it in a year, loving the instrument and quickly desiring a PRO level PSG... in both cases, recently built "Entry Level" or "Student" models are generally being resold with very little use.

So, what I would consider is either:

- buying a slightly used RECENT built "Entry Level" or "Student" model (and I would advise AGAINST the Carter "Starter" and early ShoBud "Maverick", "Little Buddy" and similar or even 1980's MSA's "Red Baron" or any low grade contraptions form the past!), for as little money as possible, because EITHER way, you WILL want to get rid of it too at some point.

or

- buying a good recent built (late 1990's and up) used PRO model at around your higher budget above, which you can use for years to come, expand or re-arrange it's setup and -should you not stick with it- you will always be able to put back to the market for pretty much the same price.

... J-D.

[Johnie King]

Good advice here !

[Jack Hanson]

The thing that would put me off many 'student' guitars is that often the height is not adjustable. If like me your legs are too long to fit comfortably under a lot of steels that could be quite a big issue.

A valid concern that can be easily rectified in most cases with a set of adjustable legs and pedal rod extentions.

[K Maul]

The thing that would put me off many 'student' guitars is that often the height is not adjustable. If like me your legs are too long to fit comfortably under a lot of steels that could be quite a big issue.

There is an easy fix for this problem. I did this with an old Maverick. Nut hammered into the leg end and a big fat bolt with a chair/cane tip on it.