Suggestions on console, stand up height?

[Jerome Reinan]

I've decided that I want to stand up and get my exercise while playing. I've never had a non-pedal console, and of course the pedals make you need to sit. Any suggestions on a good vintage stand up (or one that can be made to stand up height with legs) console, maybe 3 necks to make it more fun? Would most like the early country and Western swing sort of sound and tuning. I'm thinking in the 2K range, give or take. Thanks in advance!

[Twayn Williams]

I recommend that you save yourself a lot of time and money and get a vintage Fender D-8 Stringmaster. It's like a Tele, ya gotta have one in your arsenal no matter how many Les Pauls you own!

[Jerome Reinan]

Thanks! That seems like a reasonable argument.

[Pete Martin]

And of course on that Stringmaster, you need a MINIMUM of two necks

I found a 56 double and 57 triple each for under 2000 from Reverb.

[Dave Mudgett]

Having owned some triple and quad-neck console steels, I recommend two necks if you're planning to play it out. Unless you want some type of esoteric 3rd tuning. For me, 3+ necks is just a PITA unless there's a real good reason for the extra neck. That is my experience anyway. Bulk, weight, extra stage space, space in the trunk, etc.

I've also owned a few Stringmasters and Dual Professionals. And a bunch of others - Fender, Magnatone, Gibson, Rickenbackers, you name it. They were all great. However, I personally prefer Todd Clinesmith's guitars. I have an 8-string cast aluminum long-scale lap steel and a D10 console - maple with aluminum necks. Both have the Bigsby-style pickups. I sold or traded everything else (except a little 1950 Supro 6-string for blues) and have never looked back. The only thing I'd consider in the non-pedal realm at this point would be a cast aluminum 8-string Clinesmith fry pan with a horseshoe pickup. But really, the two Clinesmiths I have do everything I want.

Todd's work is absolutely magnificent. The good part is that one can order one brand new. Or sometimes they show up on the forum used, and I only rarely see one that doesn't look as-new.

Of course, there's something cool about having the vintage mojo of an old guitar. So you can make no mistake in getting an old Stringmaster or Dual Pro. But honestly, when I can get a brand new guitar that is as good or better than any of the vintage guitars I've ever played, I'm all in.

You asked about stand-up height. As long as you have adjustable legs that are long enough, you can figure that out when you get it. I'm tall, so my Clinesmith D10 sits pretty high. High enough that when my 6'3" frame (shrunk 2" in the last 20 years) stands in back of it, my arms are in about the same position as when I'm sitting at a pedal steel. I used a set of adjustable pedal steel legs for that guitar, works fine.

[David Becker]

Sent you a PM, Jerome.

David

[Tim Whitlock]

When I played standing up, I would set the height at a little above belt level. If it's too low, you have to increase the angle of your wrists, which I find uncomfortable. Tilting the guitar forward a bit also helps, for the same reason. As far as what console to choose for standing, my preference is a Stringmaster. Sounds great and the four legs are a huge advantage over three. My Fender Custom T8 and Dual Pro D8 are quite wobbly on their three legs and the Custom fell over once resulting in some bent tuning pegs. My ultimate choice would be a Bigsby or Clinesmith, but the price is out of my reach.

[Erv Niehaus]

I would recommend a tapered bar also.
Erv

[David Wren]

I'll chime in, but I'm really a dyed-in-the-wool pedal guy.

Great advice about height and having 2 eight string necks. I don't own a String Master, but I sure do love the full signal from the Trapezoid pickup on my Dual Professional.

I applaud your reaching out to experience non-pedals... it a great way to understand the "why" of the past and current copedents.

Best of luck.

[Jerome Reinan]

Great suggestions, all. I found a Stringmaster triple on Reverb and the guy dumped the price after I hit like. So come Friday, I’ll give standing a try. Should be fun. Who knows—maybe I’ll put some extension rods on my Emmons and give that a try:) just kidding. Or not.

[David Wren]

Google Porter Wagoner's pedal steel guitarist.... he did just that, and played a Sho~Bud with extended rods so he could stand up

[Jerome Reinan]

No kidding! I'm totally going to be that guy. Except without the Nudie jacket.

[Twayn Williams]

I would recommend a tapered bar also.
Erv

What is the advantage of a tapered bar?

[Tim Whitlock]

Google Porter Wagoner's pedal steel guitarist.... he did just that, and played a Sho~Bud with extended rods so he could stand up

I thought about extending the rods on my fender 1000 to play standing up, but you'd have to ditch your volume pedal, which is a deal breaker for me.

[Jack Hanson]

I've never been able to get a handle on eight-string steels, so most of my playing these days is on six-string and seven-string rescues. I have several instruments in a multitude of tunings, and I mostly play standing up. For me, a Double Deluxe34 is the answer. I adjust the legs on the stand so the instrument on the inside is roughly about beltline height.

[Erv Niehaus]

Twayn,
A tapered bar gives you a more comfortable wrist position.

[Stephen Cowell]

Twayn,
A tapered bar gives you a more comfortable wrist position.

Not a fan of tapered bar... for my wrists I tilt the guitar away from me. I like big bars, I have fat fingers, a small bullet end does not suit me.

[Michael Kiese]

Having owned some triple and quad-neck console steels, I recommend two necks if you're planning to play it out. Unless you want some type of esoteric 3rd tuning. For me, 3+ necks is just a PITA unless there's a real good reason for the extra neck. That is my experience anyway. Bulk, weight, extra stage space, space in the trunk, etc.

Aloha!

I second this wholeheartedly!

I have a Q8 Stringmaster. It's my fun "Practice Tuning Lab", but it's just too damn large and heavy to take out of the house.

I recently acquired a D8 Fender Dual Pro, and a T8 Fender Custom. Both of those are short scale - 22.5".

The D8 Dual Pro is conducive to take out and gig with. The T8 Fender Custom is pushing it.

Honestly, here's my take: if you want a console straight steel, go with a D8. You don't really need a 3rd neck.

In all pragmatism, if you're gigging, then you know the keys of the songs you're going to be playing in beforehand. One should be able to get all that done on one neck.

That said, if you're showing up to Jams, and any song in any key can be called, having 2 or 3 necks can be handy. Jams can be a great way to force yourself to get more familiar with a secondary tuning.

Enjoy!