The OnePSG

Beta Prototype development is underway

(Alpha Prototype pictured here)


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What is the OnePSG?

Currently in the Beta Prototype state of development, the OnePSG from Pagliere Steel Guitars looks, plays, and sounds like any modern pedal steel guitar. However, its inner workings are revolutionary, giving it new and astounding flexibility and versatility.

The OnePSG eliminates the mechanical limitations, and expands the musical potential, of the Pedal Steel Guitar while leaving its sound and playing technique unchanged.

  • experiment effortlessly with copedents (standard copedents, any of your favorite players' copedents, or create your own in seconds)
  • switch between copedents instantly, even while playing
  • capo up or down
  • more ...

Have a question? Check the FAQs page.

Don’t know how a traditional pedal steel guitar works, or how this is different?
Click to see What is a Pedal Steel Guitar?

The Alpha Prototype

Introduction to the OnePSG Alpha Prototype

Watch this introduction to the first fully functional prototype of the OnePSG.
Note: many user interface and other software improvements have been made since filming.

Buck Reid and Others Test the Prototype

On May 5, 2022, several pedal steel guitar greats took the Alpha Prototype of the OnePSG for a spin at Stage One Studios in Nashville. Here is a very short video of Buck Reid having some fun. Each player’s copedent had been programmed in ahead of time so that when each sat down to play, his personal copedent (with all sweetenings) was called up instantly with one touch of the touchscreen.
At about 0:24, you'll hear Buck comment on the tuning.

 

Features

  • Instantly swappable copedents

  • Any number of editable copedents

  • Metal strings & magnetic pickups, so the sound is pure Pedal Steel

  • Pounds lighter (there are no pullrods, bellcranks, or changers)

  • No limit on the number of raises or lowers per string

  • Intervals not limited by string tension (up or down a fifth or more)

  • Instant capo up or … down

  • “Sweetening” of all open strings, pedal/lever changes, half pedals, splits

  • Tuning adjustment, in cents, of the entire neck up or down

  • In tune splits and half pedals, without mechanical compensators

  • per string volume adjustment, EQ, and distortion

  • No string fatigue or breakage

  • Integrated touchscreen to program and control all the instrument's features

 

From the very start, the driving principle in the development of the OnePSG has been: eliminate the mechanical and physical limitations of the Pedal Steel Guitar, while changing nothing about its sound or how it is played.

How was this possible? All the things you physically interact with on a PSG, that is, metal strings, magnetic pickups, pedals and knee levers are unchanged. The difference? The mechanical parts that physically change string pitches have been replaced.

With essentially no moving parts (other than the pedals and levers themselves) there is less weight, no string fatigue, no tinkering with crossrods or bellcranks or pull rods or changers.

Click here to learn more about why the OnePSG
is a revolution in the world of pedal steel guitar

The People Behind the OnePSG project

Alan Pagliere

Alan, the inventor of the OnePSG, was a software developer for more than 25 years and has been an amateur pedal steel player for over 45 years. The idea for a revolutionary redesign of the pedal steel came to him long ago, but only later did it take form when he began bringing together his knowledge of the pedal steel, of music, and of software development.

Steve Fishell

Steve is a Grammy Award-winning producer and a great PSG player. A member of Emmylou Harris' Hot Band for 10 years, he's also played with Rodney Crowell and many others, including playing on the Trio Album. Steve runs Imagine Recordings and has written the authorized biography Buddy Emmons: Buddy Emmons: Steel Guitar Icon. When first introduced to the OnePSG proof of concept, he grokked it immediately, replying, “[I} trust that your guitar will preserve all of the pedal steel technique that I've taught myself over the years.”
This project would be nowhere without Steve!

Buck Reid

Buck has played pedal steel with Lyle Lovett for over 20 years. Buddy Emmons admired his technically astounding and heart-felt playing. Buck also has built PSGs and is sought after for his pedal steel expertise in working on PSGs. His interest, talent, and knowledge of the instrument have been invaluable in the development of the OnePSG.
See and hear Buck playing the Alpha Prototype.

Frank Carter

Frank is known for his innovative and meticulously built Infinity pedal steel guitars. It was an honor that he agreed to come out of retirement to build the body for the OnePSG Alpha Prototype, bringing his incredible craft and design talent to the physical parts of the instrument. He and Alan worked together to integrate the electronics and the physical instrument.

Colin Isler, Steve Turnidge, Bob Moses

Colin, Steve, and Bob are electrical engineers with deep expertise and vast experience in the design of high quality audio circuits. They have made possible the electronics that power the OnePSG.

Randle Currie

Randle has played pedal steel with Brad Paisley for over 15 years. He is an extraordinary talent and brings a deep respect for the history and tradition of the pedal steel to his interest in the OnePSG.

Lucky Oceans

Lucky cofounded and played pedal steel with Asleep at the Wheel, winning two Grammys with the group. He has played with Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, among many. Through his eclectic taste and experience in music, he has brain-stormed and has provided Alan with a continuous string of ideas for the ongoing development of the OnePSG.

Dan Dugmore

Dan is well-known for playing with Linda Ronstadt for a decade and a half, with James Taylor for 11 years. He has created iconic pedal steel solos and recorded with an astonishing list of artists. You can see him in the photo below talking with Buck Reid at the very first “Summit.”

Jeff Snyder

Jeff is the Director of Electronic Music at Princeton University. He ported and enhanced the pitch shifting code (originally from Katja Vetter), which is part of his open source digital signal processing library for embedded systems, LEAF. It is this code that is used in the OnePSG.

Many others have supported the development of OnePSG.
Visit our Appreciation Page for the full list.