Saw Fender 400 in music store!

[Darrell Criswell]

I saw a Fender 400 in a local music store for $2500. I played it and it sounded great. My question is who would buy such as antiquated instrument for that amount of money? I checked on eBay and there are several that have sold for close to $2000. My question is when you can buy a student model GFI modern instrument for around that price why would anyone buy a Fender 400. Thanks!

[K Maul]

Just because it’s old and has the Fender logo. That’s all. I love them and have had several. They are a very cool world all their own but have little to do with current pedal steel technology.
There are many factors that can override logic, however!
Also-you can buy an excellent Justice steel for FAR less than $2500.

[Bob Carlucci]

crazy.. However, some guys out there will buy an overpriced 400 and its outdated mechanism and extreme weight to learn on simply because "vintage".. Makes no sense. All those old Fender cable jobs have gotten crazy with price.. They were still dirt cheap 10 years ago.. They are actually good guitars but not a good choice for a beginner, unless they have been updated which is becoming quite common, because of the way they sound.. They had a very unique sound which appeals to a LOT of us to this day. Still, $2500??? They can keep it....

[Lee Rider]

Nothing sounds like an old Fender cable guitar. That is the main reason to have one.

[Bob Carlucci]

Nothing sounds like an old Fender cable guitar. That is the main reason to have one.

Agree Lee... They can play really nice too, but have to be carefully set up by someone that understands them.. I adore the Fender cable steels. They have gotten crazy in price, and I think its because so many players want them for their very unique sound.

[Donny Hinson]

Bob, I think it's the same reason people still drive Roadrunners, '57 Chevys and Model A's. Some still strongly relate to nostalgia and things past, while others just want to buy, fix up, and flip to make money. I do think that the latter outnumbers the former, though. Most young people weren't around when those guitars were popular, and so they don't have the spiritual connection with them that we might. At one time, Emmons, Chalker, Myrick, and many others all played these guitars! It's true that the prices are sometimes high, but you can still sometimes find a reasonable deal. In the guitar's favor, it's very easy to set up and maintain, and rock-solid as far as tuning stability and construction. The weight isn't that bad compared to some older guitars, and the value will always be there. It's a hoot to play with just 4 floor pedals, requiring a different mindset that modern guitars, but adding a couple of levers isn't that big of a challenge, as long as you keep the levers cable operated. Too many players today think that if you don't have tons of pedals and levers, you can't play good music; they're narrow minded and incapable of adjusting to old tech. I'm not a fan of adding modern crossrod systems to have more than 2 strings pulling and making it more "modern", as that takes away the organic feel and character of the original instrument. Play it and enjoy it for what it is, or sell it to someone who will.

Here's a song from 1962 (which I remember very well!) with Buddy on his Fender 1000, and Shot Jackson on Dobro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWtj2dvLDbo

And here's the whole album if you care to listen; and believe me, it's worth a listen!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAgBao7eY8g&t=280s

[Richard Alderson]

I wonder if they will actually get $2500 for it or not. I have one that is in near perfect shape and is still a beautiful lacquer guitar. But not to be recommended vs. a modern pro level 10 string for playing out. Maybe the music store has it as an exotic conversation piece that generates buzz and vibe in the store. I've only met a few standard guitar players that didn't wish that they could play pedal steel. So maybe the Fender makes the store more interesting because so many guitar players admire pedal steel, but don't have access to one.

[Mark Perrodin]

Donny,
you made a great point when you said,"It's a hoot to play with just 4 floor pedals, requiring a different mindset than modern guitars". that is one of my favorite parts of playing an older pedal steel. my three pedal steels are pre-1960 cable guitars but i have previously owned 11 fender pedal steels. fenders are solid, reliable and easy to set up. once the return springs for the lowers are addressed they really are great guitars. i hope that people will continue to give them a chance. they deserve it.

[Lee Rider]

IMG_1215.JPG

My short scale 1000 going to Gene Parsons for 5 knees and a few double pull tuners. He uses small ball bearing hubs on all of the equalizers and will add return spring adjustmements under the stop tuners.