I've only played my MCI all-pull. I understand the mechanical difference in a push-pull, and I've heard the legend of the tone, but what difference would I notice if I sat down behind an Emmons push-pull? I'm curious, but not $2000 curious, and I don't know anybody who has one.

Also, what is the mechanical disadvantage of the push-pull system? Why is the all-pull system superior?

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Emmons D10 8/4 P/P -75'
Fessenden SD-10 3/5
MSA SD-12 4/4 - 76'
76'Session 400
86'Nashville 400
Bandit 112

My Emmons p/p S12 "uni" and D10 guitars have superb action to go along with the tone. There is hardly any difference between the feel of my Emmons p/p guitars and my Sierra. All of 'em have a smooth feel. The slightly longer throw on p/p raises allows for "expression". However, my Sierra has the flexibilty of adjusting for pedal feel and throw. So, it's possible to make them very similar. Not surprising, since they're all well designed and conceived instruments.

There are a few techs (read that wizzards) that know how to make a push/pull play about as smooth as an all pull guitar. Jerry's one of them. Bobby Bowman is my "wizzard" of choice. (Thanks again, Bobby).

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

My one and only complaint was the fact that changing pulls and pushes was a real, time-consuming pain in the arse.

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

I agree that they can be setup it play smooth, I can play in socks, but don't.

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Daniel J. Cormier
MCI D-10 , Peavey Sessions 500 & 400 Limited ,Nashville 400
http://www.cajunsteelguitar.com email at djcormier@cox-internet.com

if there is anyone interested in trying this new push pull Promat guitar ,let me know.

I'm a bit out of the way,
but can you describe how it plays compared to other brands?

We want a full review.

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Steelin' Greetings
Marco Schouten
Sho-Bud LLG; Guyatone 6 string lap steel; John Pearse bar; Emmons bar; Evans SE200 amp

Different is not wrong its just different.
I could get use to playing any of those
guitars. My push/pull is quiet and hardly
ever have to tune it unless I change
string guages. String breakage is normal.
Cabinet drop is minimal.
Overall its very smooth and sounds more
mellow than other guitars I've played
over the years.
I guess its like my old recliner, its
fits me perfectly.
I know some guys that have have owned
over a five year period more than 5 guitars and use hundreds of
dollars of processors..etc. searching
for that "tone". Some never learn that
its a combination of things beginning
with a good guitar.
I have mine old Emmons with a Nashville
400 and a RV-3 pedal, thats all I need.
Again, this is just my opinion.

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Rick Johnson

[This message was edited by Rick Johnson on 25 June 2004 at 04:42 AM.]

I don't think that I have played or felt, or heard any pedal steel that I have experienced that gave me the same feeling as a P/P Emmon's ....They truely are a pedal steel like no other, and a benchmark that many pedal steel's are compared to ....The mechanic's can be tricky if not set up properly, but once set up , the tone is the big payoff !!....If it weren't for that fabulous tone, I don't think that anybody would even bother with the mechanic's !!...NOTHING sounds , or feel's like a P/P in my book !!....Again, this is one man's opinion ....Jim

[This message was edited by James Quackenbush on 25 June 2004 at 08:43 AM.]

quote:

---

what difference would I notice if I sat down behind an Emmons push-pull?

---

..let's see if I can illustrate the difference...

All Pull =

P.S.
The push pull is heaven and the greatest guitar in the world for those that can hear and appreciate great tone, pure hell for those that don't and can't!

Quoted by Will Rogers, 1936,
(quit kidden' around Wily, put the patch over the correct eye!)

[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 25 June 2004 at 12:19 PM.]

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Frank Estes - 1978 Emmons D-10 8+7 #2441D

DB

ps

you should be able to order your Promat thru Steel Guitar Nashville.Just call Bobbe.

I Know Doug very well and can vouche that he takes better care of his steel guitars than any woman I've ever seen him with. If he has a guitar for sale, you can bet it is in tip top shape and probably plays like butter.
Gene

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If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!
;)

IMNSHO

I have played an old E9 very out of reglage and it was clearly not the pleasure IT might have been.
But that tone was still there.

The ones Tommy Cass set up for John and a few others I tried were smooth as silk,
and great to play...
when set up Emmons, and not Huntley/Day...

Someday you will get your mits on one,
and I bet you will enjoy it.
But only at that point will you decide I want one!!! Or nice but who cares.

I don't own one, but it is on my list.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 26 June 2004 at 03:18 AM.]

But yes, the PP guitar is not for Everyman. Rather, it's for a player who is comfortable with his pedal setup and is not constantly experimenting with changes. I also have a Fessenden guitar that is the one I use for the occasional copedent adventure. If I like a change on that horn long enough, I'll take the effort and add it to the PP's.

A PP expert such as Mike Cass or Bobby Bowman... there are definitely others as well, but my personal experience is with these two... should be able to assemble a guitar with little if any undercarriage maintenance required, if the above steps are adhered to.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

If you sound good on an all-pull guitar, then you'll probably sound good on a push/pull too. Do they have a "magic sound"? Some players think so.

However, I think that if they had any clear advantage, sound-wise, most everyone who played for a living would be using one. Such is not the case.

Most of the top players today do not prefer them.

AMEN to that Dan!
I've owned one push pull. it was a 78 emmons SD-10, and I've said it before, it didn't have the sound that my SKH Emmons Legrand has. the pp broke a string about once a week if played very much where my ap has only broken 3 strings in the 4-5 months I've had it, and they were all string 10.

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84 SKH Emmons Legrand D10
session 400'rd Steelin for my Lord.

DB

DB

btw. one has to be way more than $2000 curious to get his hands on this guitar

[This message was edited by Damir Besic on 27 June 2004 at 10:21 AM.]

Promat push pull

keyheads and Kluson tuners ordered from England

Jerry Wallace "True Tone" pick ups sound so amazing on this instrument that "Promat" company decided to use them on all of Promat steels.Thanks Jerry.

black push pull ,does it get any better?

Of all the E9 strings I break, the 3rd is the most frequent, the 5th next, but the 10th comes in a close third! In my case, it's because of the acid content in my perspiration (the frames of my spectacles get corroded, too - remember that 'Alien' movie?) and my 10th string breaks at the changer. That .038" doesn't go with a 'snap' like the .011" does, so it doesn't hurt much....

Does anyone else get this problem? As I HATE changing strings, I'll often change just the unwound ones, and keep the lower strings on a little longer than I should; that 10th will always break at a show - never at home, when it doesn't matter.....