NPSGD - so excited!

Matt42

New member
I've been wanting a Pedal Steel for a few years, unfortunately, even the starter models are more expensive than I could justify for an instrument that I don't know how to play yet. Fortunately, my brother bought a Carter Starter about 6-7 years ago and stopped playing it. He's been trying to sell it for a few years with no luck (and probably not much effort). I've been (half) joking with him for a while that he should just give it to me since he never plays it. Obviously, he wasn't so much into that. Finally I decided that I should figure out some way to get it from him, so we agreed on three payments of $150 each sometime before the end of the year. I think he's just glad to not have to worry about it anymore.

Another brother (I'm the oldest of 5 boys) was visiting him this weekend in Portland and brought it home with him. I'm loving the heck out of it so far. I need to adjust the pedals and levers as they are just a touch out of tune, but it's in good shape and he had a nice hardshell case (which I don't believe is standard with the Carter Starter).

This is easily the most complicated instrument I've ever tried to play. I play a bit of lapsteel, so the basic bar technique isn't totally foreign to me, but using E9 tuning and having 10 strings, 3 pedals, and 4 levers certainly is. It's going to be at least Christmas before I feel even remotely comfortable playing this thing in front of anyone but my g/f and my band mates. I currently play in a classic country band, and am hoping by this time next year to be playing about half of our songs on Pedal Steel. I'm also starting an alt-country/country-rock band (think Drive By Truckers, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Old 97's, Hayes Carll kinda stuff) and am hoping to eventually play PSG on the majority of our tunes.

Now I just need to get a real volume pedal, a reverb pedal, an EHX B9 and a POG2.

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Re: NPSGD - so excited!

That is a nice new toy for a good price ! No idea what kind of Luthier skills you have but I would take it to my guy and get the real lowdown on it and what upgrades would be worthwhile.
 
Re: NPSGD - so excited!

My Luthier skills are pretty much non-existant. From what little reading I've done on the steel guitar forums, it seems like these are solid beginner instruments that should eventually be replaced rather than upgrading stuff. If I get really into playing this thing, I'll probably end up getting a nicer Carter or a Sho-Bud. Maybe I'll even go crazy and get a double neck...
 
Re: NPSGD - so excited!

Pedal steel is one of my bucket list guitars to learn. That was a cool deal for you. Looks like you need a proper tone bar, though.

Who are your pedal steel influences?
 
Re: NPSGD - so excited!

I'm not sure who my influences are at the moment. Obviously Buddy Edmonds is a big one. I listen to alot of Drive By Truckers, so that's another. Also, Barry Sless and Robert Randolph.
 
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