emmons student model push/pull

[Bob Sehy]

I just bought an emmons student model push/pull from a guitar center near me, and it's on the way now. It's in pretty nice shape and I was thinking of cleaning it up and then upgrading it from 3 pedals/1 knee to a 3 and 4 set-up. Ive read here that these are worth the trouble, but Im pretty sure if I do it, Ill never get my money back out of it. But, is it worth the effort ? Looking for opinions, thanks

[Bill Moore]

The student models don't look like much, but the sound as good as any Emmons push-pull. I had one for a while, I had more three levers installed, it was a really nice instrument. Mine had a Formica finish, white tidewood, so looked a bit fancier than the brown models.
I also changed the plain tubing legs to adjustable ones. here is a picture:

em001.jpg

[Jack Hanson]

Congrats on scoring a wonderful little guitar! The GS-10 is a bona fide sleeper, and arguably the finest "student model" ever built. People have said they sound as good as a push/pull. Well, they ought to, since they are indeed a genuine push/pull.

With the scarcity and cost of knee lever parts, it may not be cost effective to install three more levers. Two relatively easy uprgades that may just as beneficial are to 1) install a set of adjustable legs like Bill did, and 2) install a neck. My personal GS-10 has a neck from an Emmons Black Rock, but I've seen some that were fabricated from 1/4" aluminum stock. It would be relatively simple to duplicate a Black Rock neck with a piece of painted hardwood. Raising the fretboard closer to the strings greatly reduces the parallax effect that resulted from the massive gap as assembled at the factory. The heavier, pro-model adjustable legs help prevent the relatively lightweight instrument skidding across the floor whenever a knee lever is activated.

I agree with Bill that the Tidewood 'mica looks great. Especially in comparison to the common brown "bowlin' ball" Formica like mine. And that black one is the bomb! I can envision folks all but drooling over your black Gee Ess!

I never believed I could play with less than four knee levers, but I was wrong. There's lots of music to be made on a 3 x 1 instrument with the standard Emmons floor pedals and a lever that lowers the Es. I never play my fatback D-10 anymore (a great '73 8 x 4 cuttail). I've discovered that I don't need quite as massive an amp and speaker setup that I did for the D-10 with that low C string on the back neck. The ugly little bowlin' ball plays perfectly, sounds awesome, and my back and shoulders love it.

[Bob Sehy]

thanks, a question for Bill, did you have to drill holes in the new legs for a way to attach the pedal bar? Also, where can you get legs that will fit the emmons?

[Bill Moore]

Bob, I did drill the holes for the leg bolts. A drill press would work the best. First separate the inner and outer leg sections do you can easily work with the inner tube. Put the tube in a vise, Use a center punch to locate the exact spot to drill, then go slow. The pedal bar should fit right between the rubber leg tip and the bottom of the clutch. . Changing the legs makes the guitar much more stable. The threads on the body are the same, so the new legs will fit right in. Any legs with a 1/2-13 thread will work, either new or used.

[J D Sauser]

I've heard one of these sound better than most any "pro" PSG (PP's included). That may not be representative of individual results. But the system and thinking behind it is the same as on the "Big ones"!

... J-D.

[Lee Baucum]

This one doesn’t sound too bad.

https://youtu.be/LJ8PodjYzrI?si=Qz3Q5JDKfw4a79z2

[Troy Engle]

It really depends on what your end game is. Are you looking for a Push/Pull sound cheap, or backup for a PP guitar, etc? I have a GS-10 I had 2 levers put on. I bought it cheap enough years ago, that it was definitely worth it. It also depends on how much you paid for it. It might be hard to recoup or break even if you sell it, but you also have to think about what a single neck PP would cost, probably around $3500 these days. I love mine, and it makes a super light, easy to gig steel. It's not gonna look like the bell of the ball, but it should definitely sound like it.

[Bob Sehy]

Upon getting the emmons gs-10 I found some pretty big cracks in the top. Being shipped without a case didn't help it either. ugh. Im guessing this is a return situation, but just wondering if it's salvageable. I could try for a price adjustment, anyone have experience with a crack like this?

[Brett Day]

My first steel was a 1974 Emmons GS-10. I'd gotten it for Christmas in 1999 and it was awesome! It's got three pedals and one knee. Emmons built those steels so that players who were just starting out could have an Emmons as their first steel.

[Bob Sehy]

this one went back to guitar center

[Bob Sehy]

I noticed today that Guitar Center just relisted the GS-10 on their website. I explained to them in detail that the guitar needed a lot of work, and that the price should show that, or al least list the problems in the ad. They did neither.

[Jack Hanson]

Those aren't mere cracks; they're canyons!
Major red flag. You were wise to pass on that one, in my opinion. There are way better Gee Esses out there.

[Rick Grieco]

That's typical of Guitar Center. I'm surprised they're still in business, and besides that, I'm sure no one there has any knowledge whatsoever about pedal steels. You were smart to take it back, Bob. Keep looking...there's definitely something way better out there.

[Mike DiAlesandro]

Had one get cracked in the same spot, due to that screw... during shipping from Vancouver. I added 2 levers and souped it up a bit with a 2nd pickup for fun. It was only cracked where shown. Not like the crack on the seam like Bobs.

It was quite stable, and was sold to a customer who was made aware of the crack first and foremost.

IMG_0408 Large.jpeg

IMG_0408 Large.jpeg

Do you have the link to the Guitar Center guitar?