Fender PS210

Paul Redmond · Post by **Paul Redmond** » 26 Feb 2010 4:52 pm

Russ - You said it all!!! The added screw acts just like a "bump" rod.
I was thinking it over last night, and there theoretically would be a way to balance a tandem pull on these guitars. If you wanted to raise 4 and 8 to F, you could over-raise the 8th string with the raise tuning screw, then add a lower-tuning screw to bring it back to F. That would force the 8th string mechanism to start moving at about the same time as the mechanism on #4, and depending mostly on string gages I guess, would stop at the same point or close to it. The drawback here is that the compression-type balance springs in a PS-210 changer are short. And while they are adjustable, a pull like this could be pretty unnecessarily stiff. I have never tried this on my guitar, but I think I will just to see if the idea works or even comes close.
PRR

Dwight Lewis · Post by **Dwight Lewis** » 27 Feb 2010 12:19 am

Paul check your PM I need your help

Dwight

Thomas Colvin · Post by **Thomas Colvin** » 26 Sep 2010 5:49 am

There's one on ebay now. What do you suppose they're worth?

Paul Redmond · Post by **Paul Redmond** » 1 Oct 2010 12:40 am

Serial number 11, a D-10, will not leave my shop for less than $5200.00 in its case.
PRR

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 2 Oct 2010 2:57 pm

Thomas Colvin wrote:There's one on ebay now. What do you suppose they're worth?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEDWX:IT
It went for $3,226. I'm sure it would have gone much higher except for the eBay rules which bring auctions to an end while the bidding is continuing, and which to me makes no sense whatsoever, for both buyers or seller.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=
http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0545189693

Anyone know who bought it?

Paul Redmond · Post by **Paul Redmond** » 3 Oct 2010 2:03 am

Alan - That guitar was either a deal or a steal depending on your perspective. It was and is worth much more.
Where are all the other remaining PS-210's? I do know that Bill Nauman owns one, Gene Fields still owns his one-off prototype, Basil bought his from Forumite, Al Gershen, in Oregon USA. Where are all the others hiding? They must be out there somewhere.
PRR

Bob Estes · Post by **Bob Estes** » 3 Oct 2010 10:30 am

Paul-I have PS210, serial #6

Bob Estes

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 3 Oct 2010 1:01 pm

I gave up bidding on it at about half what it went for. At least I don't have to worry that I just missed it. It's always frustrating when an item goes for $10 above your maximum bid.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 12 Nov 2017 5:59 am

Blackie Taylor used to have one, I don't know if he still does or not......JH in Va.

Jon Zimmerman · Post by **Jon Zimmerman** » 13 Nov 2017 12:57 pm

When Blackie Taylor opened his store in Garbage Grove ..oops...Garden Grove, a new location in nearby Orange Co., saw the "Fender" logo on a D10 in the showroom, but had no idea at that time (mid '70's?) it was a factory guitar. I figured he had modified his own horn to suit his playing style, keyless inclusive, It was during his grand opening where I saw some well known steelers play with band members inside the store. Maybe BE among them? Or was it 'Reece? Memory fogs up. ðŸ˜?

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 28 Jun 2019 4:05 pm

The blue 8 & 12 guitar. I think this one has the fretted front neck and may have been Gene's personal guitar.
viewtopic.php?t=331474&highlight=fender+ps210

memphislim · Post by **memphislim** » 24 Nov 2021 5:11 am

Paul Redmond wrote: I was thinking it over last night, and there theoretically would be a way to balance a tandem pull on these guitars. If you wanted to raise 4 and 8 to F, you could over-raise the 8th string with the raise tuning screw, then add a lower-tuning screw to bring it back to F. That would force the 8th string mechanism to start moving at about the same time as the mechanism on #4, and depending mostly on string gages I guess, would stop at the same point or close to it. The drawback here is that the compression-type balance springs in a PS-210 changer are short. And while they are adjustable, a pull like this could be pretty unnecessarily stiff. I have never tried this on my guitar, but I think I will just to see if the idea works or even comes close.
PRR

Paul, brilliant idea, and yes, it does work! Tried it last night. The only caveat is, like you say, stiff action on the pedal. I did this to time the 3rd and 6th strings which are way off originally. Now they are timed perfect. I did have to change the leverage on the pedal to make the stiffening less noticeable. I'm going to change that even more and hopefully this will be a permanent, usable improvement.

Jack Wilson · Post by **Jack Wilson** » 27 Nov 2021 12:37 pm

Gene told me the death of the PS210 was because CBS stopped building all pedal steel guitars

Paul Redmond · Post by **Paul Redmond** » 28 Nov 2021 6:12 pm

Jack - That's what he told me too. The sad part about the whole thing was that all the stamping dies were completed....all the necessary tooling was ready to fly.
PRR

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 3 Jun 2023 10:25 am

Reviving this old thread out of pure curiosity (and because...even though I don't play 10 string steels, just my trusty 9+2 Fender 400 "Sneakycaster II" - and because I keep hoping I'll stumble on one somewhere, somehow.......)

Did anyone ever compile a list of the "known" 210's? I still wonder how many are missing - just sitting in a a case in someone's garage!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 3 Jun 2023 4:23 pm

I have one......it's in NY and I'm currently in NC so I don't have the serial number.....5 pedals & 4 levers.....

I plan to put it up for sale at some point.....

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 4 Jun 2023 10:11 am

There are some articles and interviews in the old Steel Guitar World Magazine concerning the PS210.

In one of those, Mr. Gene Fields relates some of the details of how he came to design it and build it.

He states it was in 1968 when he took on the project, but doesn't say when the first one was released.

Somewhere, in one of those magazine articles, either Gene or someone else associated with Fender at the time, states the quality of the metal parts was reduced after CBS acquisition through Fender's wanting to reduce costs.

Gene also states that the PS210 was the first Fender model with knee levers and when the request for everybody's different set ups came in, they didn't want to become a custom build entity and decided to stop production of the 210 and all pedal steels.

I can't recall which issue that was in...I'd have to go through the whole stack again and I'm just not up to reading all those issues kiver to kiver at the moment.

Basil probably has the best info on the PS210 around here and he may have even related the years and build count somewhere in this massive thread.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 7 Jun 2023 7:02 am

Jerry Overstreet wrote:There are some articles and interviews in the old Steel Guitar World Magazine concerning the PS210. In one of those, Mr. Gene Fields relates some of the details of how he came to design it and build it.

He states it was in 1968 when he took on the project, but doesn't say when the first one was released.

They were first sold in 1970, and I believe they were offered up to 1973 or 1974. The price back then ($1500) wasn't bad compared to other pedal steels, but selling less than 20 of them in 4 years didn't speak well for their success. They cost more to make and assemble, and even the custom configurations (from 8+1 to 5+4, a max total of 9) couldn't sway buyers.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 2 Nov 2025 9:38 pm

For anybody that just has to have one of these historic rare birds, there's one online for a measly 14K.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 4 Nov 2025 6:25 am

Jerry Overstreet wrote: 2 Nov 2025 9:38 pm For anybody that just has to have one of these historic rare birds, there's one online for a measly 14K.

That's my PS210 that I consigned to Emmons Guitar Co.......if you consider what some contemporary builds cost today, or even a Franklin D10.......there's not that much of a difference........anyhow, this PS210 is in excellent + condition........5&4........

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 4 Nov 2025 8:17 am

Absolutely Howard. Apologies for my flip remarks. I just thought that perhaps someone here might be interested.

I've always been fascinated with these guitars and probably would have bought one if the opportunity presented itself at an affordable cost back when my finances were solvent.
I remember reading Gene Field's article about the PS210 with admiration concerning the innovation that went into the design and engineering of this guitar.

I'm sure someone will cherish this very nice iconic instrument for their pleasure. No doubt your PS210 is of the same excellent condition as all the other beautiful instruments of yours that I have seen.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 4 Nov 2025 2:36 pm

Oh, not at all.....I didn't consider your post flippant in the least......it is an expensive guitar but not overpriced (IMO) considering everything that it is and today's market.......I know it's out of the range of most and if I were 10 years younger I would keep it.......I've been letting go of many special to me guitars.......I recently sold my Franklin Pedabro (#17) and that was also a very expensive guitar.......but you can't take them with you.......

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 4 Nov 2025 2:41 pm

Some years ago, I brought the PS210 to the PSGA Show because Gene Fields was attending it........when I opened the case a huge grin came across his face and his expression was like he encountered a long-lost child......I assembled the guitar and he played it, and then made a bunch of adjustments.......it was great to reunite him with it......

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Fender PS210

Going keyless.

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