Pedal Steel Guitar Manufacturers For Sale (2024 Update)

I bought this as a Stupid Deal of the Day. I wasn't expecting great quality — just a serviceable instrument. Alas, even there I was disappointed. There were minor annoyances like absolutely no documentation — no manual in the box; no manual on-line; nothing. I still don't know what the little allen wrench that came with it is for. When I picked up one of the legs it fell apart. There is a press-to-fit collar that holds the screw which allows adjusting the length of the leg. It wasn't actually pressed onto the shaft it was supposed to be attached to. A little brute force (before I attached the leg) solved that one. The real problem, however, came when I managed to assemble it anyway in spite of these minor glitches. Within moments of me setting it up on it's legs, one of the legs fell off. Actually the metal plate into which the leg screwed fell off. Luckily I still had all the packing material because I hadn't actually managed to completely unpack it. I called Musicians Friend. They were very helpful and immediately sent a RMA and a return label. Back it went.Bill, W.

Excellent product, I found it to hold tune and appears fairly sturdy. Strings are adequate for practice will experiment with others later, but not bad. I ran this through my Fender Deluxe reverb and found very little hum. Practically none and this surprised me as it is a single coil pickup. My only grip is the legs, I could not even get them to screw in, but then I didn't plan to use them in the first place, this instrument is best in your lap. The legs will come in handy if there is a noisy cat in the alley, or I need something to sink a boat (they are fairly heavy and seem decent, except, they are impossible to screw into the dang guitar!) Overall I would highly recommend as a first lap steel for sure.Mike

I've played electric/acoustic/bass for over 25 years, but got curious to try a lap steel because I've always loved the sound; I know what a quality instrument should feel like, and this definitely met or exceeded my expectations. I tuned up to C6 easily, and the single-coil pickup gives a nice bright tone that is consistent in volume from string-to-string. I haven't noticed any hum from the pickup at normal practice volume, and no grounding problems. I expect I'll change the strings soon, but that's a personal preference. A few people mentioned tuning problems; the tuners aren't the best, but I'd suggest pulling on each string when you first get it, to get any extra slack out of them. After that, mine holds tune perfectly fine. It packs up really neatly in the included gig bag, which does hold the detachable legs as well. The gig bag doesn't have much padding, but should be perfectly fine for storing the guitar when not in use. If you need to gig with the instrument professionally, I'd suggest getting something more solid, but this is a fantastic option for someone looking to learn on, or for studio use where you're looking for some different tones.Sam A

Pros; fairly well made from a nice piece of American swamp ash, it sounds good, and plays as it should, great price. Cons; I don't like the set of the bridge posts. Worst part; made in China…slytone1

Nicely made. I did change strings as suggested by instructor. Has a nice case and everything went together well. Will be a challenge to learn…a lot to concentrate on while playing…good fun for an old man's brain..records1320

This guitar comes with a gig bag and legs. It has a sweet tone that will gives you the enjoyment and fun of playing a steel guitar.quane

I have been a pedal steel player for many years. In my old age, I have become interested in the lap steel. It is a much more complex instrument than I expected. The Gretsch Electromatic is probably the nicest looking steel in it's price range, but there are some problems right out of the box. Keep in mind that I am talking only about my instrument. I cannot speak for others. First, the fretboard is plastic, and held in place with screws. The intonation is off slightly, (which can easily be compensated for by bar adjustment) and the fretboard, not being glued down, was bowed up off the base approx. 1/4 of an inch. This condition was easily taken care of with a little Super Glue. Next, the bridge cover had to be removed in order for me to hand block the strings. The bridge is very simple, but it looks okay, so that's not a big thing. And then there is the issue of the volume and tone knobs being too close to the position my right hand naturally takes when I play. This also interferes with string blocking. I am playing this instrument through a Boss ME-80 and into a Peavey Classic 50 2X12. I am very pleased and surprised at the wide range of sounds this little steel makes. The finish is blemish free and beautiful. It weighs less than I expected, but it stays nicely in place on my lap. All said, I am looking forward to the journey ahead, and learning to play the Lap Steel. The volume and tone both are responsive, and it sounds great. I can live with a few imperfections for what the Electromatic costs. I learned long ago that steak costs more than hamburger. I think it was a good buy.J Lindley

There are a gazillion of these everywhere on line. I bought one long ago for around $299 and that was too much I sent it back. The fret board is the cheapest PVC plastic. The looks is pretty good. That is about it. Five hundred bucks is way out of line. Recording Kings are a better instrument for half the price.wy03bay

It has nice tone with a few limitations. The tuners are very poor quality, it is Chinese made. The bridge is fixed, so there is no chance of fine tuning intonation or string height. If you lay the bar on the strings on the higher registers, the second and third lowest strings don't touch the bar without placing pressure on the bar, adding to the intonation problem. The finish is absolutely beautiful, high gloss and nice color. That being said, it could use moleskin or felt to keep it from sliding around on you lap. I used black adhesive backed felt, worked perfectly.cheswinster

While Ive been a professional musician for over 35 years as a guitarist, Ive never played lap steel, so I wanted a good first guitar that was solid yet affordable. This is it! Easy to play, sounds good, stays in tune. A great learning instrument that can also gig when Im proficient enough to do so. Thanks Rhonda Music!allerando

Be aware this will need some work. Raised pickup with more foam, leveled saddles, re-cut grooves, lowered bridge with pan head machine screws in place of adjustable posts. After all of that, it works great.melody1876

This has got to be the most value I've ever seen in a budget instrument. Out of the box it was set up good. Finish was perfect. I purchased the ruby red version. Stock pick up is aggressive and hot. Tremolo works as it should. Although I ain't a big user of them I can dive like EVH does on the first record with this thing and it comes back up in tune. Many people prefer something better but this works perfect for me. The only flaws I could find was one of the drill holes on the back plate was not lined up correct and a screw fell out. Not a big thing because I have take. It off for access to the springs and to change strings. The hardware is not the best. The screws on the claw stripped a little when I was taking it out for whammy use. Over all a very enjoyable guitar. Incredibly hot sounding and fast. The look is great too. I don't plan on upgrading anything just yet. Many buyers of this do hot rod them and that's also a very cool thing. Maybe in the future I'll consider some upgrades but stock is fine. I'd trust it on a stage no problem. Get them before they all go! There's a reason why very little of them are on the used market. For this price you cannot go wrong! Maybe if a yellow one of these was to come along I'd be all over it. Would definitely buy again!Cris w

Nicely built lap steel. Great sound. Way too much fun. If you are going to play country or Hawaiian you will need C6 strings made for that tuning. These wont work at all.wy03bay

Bought this for my wife as a second lap steel. I have bought the Recording King products before. This unit was not set up. The strings were floppy loose, that is okay as I restrung it. While putting new strings on I noticed the tuning machine were loose. All of the screws were stripped out and would not tighten. Started to send it back and decided to repair if and was successful. If we had not wanted to use it immediately, it would have gone back. Overall we like it and will continue to shop Musicians Friend.GWF

I've had the previous model before and sold it (not by choice). I am isolated away from home and needed a guitar to play. This fit the bill nicely. It's an improvement over the previous model. Plays and sounds nice. The neck is chunky (like an acoustic). I would like the neck a little thinner much like an Ovation. Sounds great through a tiny speaker out of the headphone jack and also sounds great from the 1/4". VersitileDon

This guitar will work miracles for you: your parents will let you live in their basement one more year; your spouse will decide not to get an apartment downtown after all, and your neighbors won't burglarize your apartment to destroy your guitar. It operates on a 9V battery, sounds good through headphones, and you can plug into an amp if you want. It has chorus, echo and reverb built in, as well as volume and tone controls. All in all, an excellent practice guitar.hoovetho.n1bj6

Nice guitar – beautiful color- nice and light- the light weight makes it a good travel guitar. A real fun guitar to play. It would be a good guitar for a young person ..mtegan

The Peavey Raptor Plus guitars, especially the EXP editions, are very undervalued and underappreciated. Quality components, great necks, wonderful playability. That they can be purchased all day long for less than $200.00…sometimes under a $100.00…is like giving a prospective buyer a license to steal! The neck and body are worth that — not to mention some pretty fair sounding pickups. All in all, the best low-priced guitars on the market!brujazz_7

Two words. Love it! But apparently I need to have more than that. I actually tried this guitar out at a music shop in another state. I was going to go back to them and buy it, but I found it online for the same price minus the gas. I have bee very pleased with it though I haven't gotten to play it as much as I want to because my toddler son also wants to play.brotha777

Sound: The 'Blackened' Black Winter pickup is very bright. Not shrill, but definitely will cut through a mix. It's incredibly clear, and touch sensitive. Very high output, which is appropriate for a guitar called the Black Metal! Features: This guitar has an alder body, which is amazing for almost all tonal aims. The raised LTD logo on the headstock is an incredibly nice touch! The Grovers are smooth, and stable, and the OFR is also stable and reliable. Ease of Use: This is where this, and just about every other LTD I've purchased shines. The fretwork is immaculate. I have the action at .75mm, and it doesn't buzz, for those who aren't familiarwith action measurements, this is incredibly low. The pickup height was perfect right out of the box. The only thing I needed to adjust was the truss rod, it had a bit too much relief. But once that was done, it plays like butter and sounds brutal! Quality: This guitar has absolutely no quality control issues, and feels extremely well made. As stated above, it has all high end appointments, such as a Seymour Duncan pickup, OFR, and grover tuners. It functions amazingly. Value: Absolutely. I'm a Jackson fanboy 90% of the time, but I can say (and zZounds can verify) I've had to return multiple Jackson products and never a single LTD. The Jacksons cost more, and have less. Manufacturer Support: I haven't needed to deal with ESP, as I've never had an issue with their products. The Wow Factor: When you're playing this guitar, if feels metal. The guitar is so easy to play, and sounds so brutal. I can't recommend it enough if you like to play extreme genres of music. Overall: LTD never disappoints. This guitar is metal as it gets, and plays fantastically.Matheau

Beautiful looking instrument well designed and easy to play ,with or without with the ashtray cover .Lovely warm tone made all the better with a little reverb.Is a nice weight to play on the lap rather than on a stand.A very classy lap steel.brianbarke

needed it to get in touch with my "da kine" roots. mahalo. sounds great, stays in tune, a pleasure to play and easy on my makas.Leighton

The hard part is finding one of these. I have had about every lap steel up to this price. But the Gold Tones have a really nice clean sound. I prefer Hawaiian and country sound. These are beautiful for that. It sits nicely on you lap and easy to play with the string spacing.walt

This has to be the pinnacle of all guitars! Plays like a dream, screams like a beast and a bluesy tone behind belief! This guitar has it all! I’m glad I held out for a JS model until this one. The sustaniac is incredible! If you’re an Ibanez fan this is the one! I have 2 Jems and they don’t come close to this!Steeleman

This guitar has great sustain and has some nice clean tones also. Much crunch with string buzz/hum which isn’t ideal. You’ll need to plan 3-4 hours to get the strings at the correct height to decrease the pick-up/string buzz.CBGB

The electrics on this guitar are the key difference, the pickups are very articulate and for high gain with control they are superb. The trem is weightless and wonderful to use, The neck is more profiled than I expected, nowhere near as flat as the Vai models like PIA, but I’m finding it very quick and more complex runs are coming more easily than usual. The sustainiac mode is a bit nuts, unless you really want to be satriani I’m not sure how often you’d use it but it’s a lot of fun; hit a squeally harmonic then listen to it sustain for months. Overall everything about this guitar is pure quality but it’s the overdriven tone and the solo friendly Mids that are the highlight.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: First impression:Out of the box, this thing is downright beautiful. The Candy Apple Red just shines in the light without a flaw on it. In my personal opinion, it's the only one that the Tortoise Shell pickguard really works on and that's why I picked the color. Not disappointed. The Pao Ferro fretboard is gorgeous.I had the same Elite pickups in an old GAX 70 that got destroyed and the great sound out of them didn't catch me off guard, but the quality of the tuners did. They're smooth, just tight enough, and not catchy or jumpy at all. I actually get to keep a stock set for a while. I learned how to tie a "locking knot", so no need to replace them.The switches and knobs feel good, too. Nice and clicky switch, and smooth turns from the pots. The balance and feel are extremely nice, and the neck profile is just butter.I can't really say a bad thing about this guitar as it sits right out of the box, and then when I remember that it was only $199 it just blows my mind. This will go up on stage with me if I ever get up there again, no doubt.P.S. – We love you, zZounds!Robert

I cannot say enough about this guitar. Solid build, unique and classy styling (Cats eye f holes) and great color (Georgia Green). I have a big hollow body Gretsch Jazz Box and a smaller Ibanez Artcore. Both great guitars but this one makes them feel awkward and limited. The 3 pickups offers so much tone choice. Middle pickup is a fantastic addition, it is a shame Gretsch doesn't offer it on more guitars. The controls are so simple despite seeming complex and are so intuitive to navigate Selector 1 is the standard neck, mixed, bridge Selector 2 is middle pickup exclusive, mixed, off Each pickup has a volume knob for blending , shared tone and a Master volume. Thin neck compared to my other Gretsch's, butter smooth Bigsby and perfect setup and intonation right out of the box. I hesitated on this guitar, almost bought a used model but saw it fall below even the used price at the holiday. After pulling the trigger I regret waiting so long. This guitar is the one that gets me selling gear because it is just that fun and versatile.Kenn

THIS IS MY 3rd. GRETSCH GUITAR AND, I LIKE IT SO FAR BUT, I'VE GOT TO DO SOME SERIOUS TUNING UP OF THIS BRAND NEW GUITAR? I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS ONE IS NOT MY FAVORITE ONE BUT, IT HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO BE THE BEST IN MY GUITAR BATTERY OF OVER 13 GUITARS SO FAR, MY PLANS ARE TO CHANGE THE STRINGS AND, CHANGE THE BAR TO A "BRICKS BIG FIX BAR" IT SUPPOSED TO KEEP YOUR GUITAR IN TUNE MUCH LONGER THAN BEFORE IT'S INSTALLED. I DO ADMIT THAT THE VOLUME AND, OTHER SWITCHES ARE MUCH BETTER QUALITY THAN THE FIRST ONES I BOUGHT IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND, I HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS FOR THIS BRAND NEW GRETSCH GUITAR! I'VE ALREADY PUT NEW STRINGS ON IT BUT, I CAN TELL THAT THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED TO ANOTHER SET OF GUITAR STRINGS LIKE THE ELIXIR GUITAR STRINGS 10-42 IS MY FAVORITE GUITAR STRINGS FOR ALL OF MY GUITARS! YES, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO MY GOOD FRIENDS WHO PLAY THE GUITAR!GATORMAN

I bought this guitar specifically for a "project" as the "Stupid Deal of the Day" price I got it for was a no-brainer. This is my 6th Gretsch… The guitar's fit and finish aren't bad actually, I was surprised by the quality, binding, fretboard, etc., were all better than I expected. Certainly better than some of the Epi Casinos / Dots that I've played / owned, and with a bit more character to boot. Compared to my '64 6186 Clipper, this guitar's measurements are identical. Width, height, neck angle, etc. Only difference is that the '64 is a single cut-away and the 2627T is a double-cutaway. No doubt many people will be happy with this guitar right out of the box. BUT… if you want a GRETSCH, there's more than a few things wrong with this guitar, starting with the pickups. Made by G&B, they're fairly lifeless (and certainly not the twang you'd get from a proper pair of Filter'Trons). I'll be replacing mine shortly. In fact, they pale when compared to my Hi'Lo-Tron models too. Extra points for the cats-eye sound holes, but the rest of the cosmetics are pretty bad. But, replace the ugly black knobs with chrome "G's" and swap the pickups and you should have a winner here. The Bigsby B70 is what it is, some don't mind 'em, some hate 'em. The pickup switching might be confusing to some (and the controls might be hard to figure out) but the easiest way to remember is that the first switch works just like a 2-pickup Gibson switch would (N, B, B&N) and the second switch turns the middle pickup off, on, or on by itself. There's five knobs; the master volume is where it should be (at least on a Gretsch!) and there's three individual volumes plus one master tone as well. People who complain about having only one tone knob should consider themselves lucky… a proper Gretsch would have only a mud switch! My other Gretsch's are a '63 Tennessean (6119), '64 Clipper (6186), '03 Nashville (6120), Broadkaster Bass (5123B), a Rancher Jumbo, and this one (2627T).LesB3

The neck profile is even MORE smooth and inviting than the 2001 JS1000 black pearl. I don't usually go for rounder radius fretboards (this one is 9.8"). I prefer 10.5"-12.5" minimum – and love compound radii – but the JS profile manages to satisfy me in ways words can't express. It's got "mo' Joe", to pardon the pun. The pickups are creamy and milky, with some gritty bite when you start pushing the overdrive into distortion. It has slightly more of "fuzz" compared to older model JS series pickups. You can always tweak EQ somewhere in your audio chain to boost the treble/tone a bit (which is what I do). Crunch is aggressive, while retaining excellent note clarity and precision. It has a Strat-style throaty growl with a hint of quack. What separates it from a Strat, though, is a warmer, creamier tone with less sparkle or crystalline chime of a Strat. The Sustaniac is a fun curiousity, but I'm not really sure how much I will use it. Honestly, I may prefer the coil split option over a Sustaniac, but being so in love with the Chrome Boy design, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to accept due to all the other benefits of actually OWNING a Chrome Boy(!). I have found a lot of interesting compositional concepts with the sustain settings and use of the whammy bar. With the Sustainiac engaged, it also increases the feedback response of a high-volume amp with overdrive/distortion, which opens the door for unique harmonic overtones while playing, making unusual audio flourishes easier to jump into, then out of on a whim. CONCLUSION: This is essentially the same as the Ibanez JS2480, but with the chrome body. A much steeper price tag goes with the finish, but Satch fans may find that price discrepancy acceptable, if they happen to have the ungodly amount of cash to get it. I have been eyeing a new Ibanez JS model since 2013, and finally bit the bullet on this beast. Is it worth it? For me, yes, it is. However, if you want the same options as this guitar, you can do JUST as wellKcMsterpce

Well being a Satch fan boy for three decades may have biased me slightly in favour of this guitar, but it is the real deal. Fretboard is super nice to play. Whammy bar action feels about the best I've ever found. The sustainiac is really fun. Body shape is quite comfy to hold. And of course the chrome finish looks really cool and unique and seems like it's gonna last.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This is a solid build guitar, perfect for beginners. Mine worked well right out of the box (after tuning, of course). The amplifier works well also, for what it is; a low-power practice amp. If you're looking for a way to start learning to play guitar without breaking the bank, this kit should work for you.CrashC

The guitar kit came in fairly quickly, but right away there was a problem. It came with five strings, with what was left of the sixth stuck in the guitar, the tuner was shattered, and the kit was missing the Allen wrenches and the picks. The box was loosely packed with no styrofoam or anything, with the guitar in the gig bag and the rest of the stuff thrown into the pocket besides the amp. Seems like it was either a rushed job, or all come boxed like that. The guitar plays alright once the strings were replaced, but it loses tuning pretty quick. Theres obvious signs of neglect such as body chips near the neck, and scratches on the pick guard. The finish on the guitar is pretty nice, and it feels alright in the hands. I wouldnt recommend if you expect everything to come as described in the picture though.jonaba4165

Great little set for beginners or even intermediates as you get the whole package. The tuner is very nice and works well. Everything to get started and the guitar itself feels very solid and has better than average settings for the sounds you'd want. The extra strings were fine but I'm adding a better quality set which I already had anyway. Either way you can't go wrong on this package. The amp has good settings and sounds nice. Overall a good buy.alsmith029

This does the job it's supposed to do. I used it for home practice, and for stage monitoring, with a PodGo, a Helix LT, and my friends Headrush floor unit. I've also used it to monitor when I recorded via the PodGo to a PC. The sound is good across the volume range, including for playing quietly at home levels during the day or evening. I'd still recommend good cans though if you plan to play at 2am and share a wall with a neighbor. It also handled stage monitoring exceptionally, with a live acoustic uncaged drummer, a bass player using a Harte head and 4×10, and a piano player who seems to think that the object of the game is to drive the keys into the floor. Oh… and a sax next to me honking like a flock of geese. No issue hearing myself, and it reproduced the signal with full integrity to the house speakers. A quick tip… do not sit it on a carpeted surface. I did notice that this greatly changes the sound. I have it in a monitor cradle on stage and on an amp stand at home and it works great. Just a heads up. In summation, a great solution for the average player.MadProfMisal

Bought one used… traveled across the country for 8 days… despite very used strings, it was playable out of the bag… nearly perfectly in tune! Sounds great when plugged in.Robert Van Geons