I'm planning to buy a steel sometime soon and found this thread and one other on the Johnson-Sterlings interesting, but wondered if anyone has had more dealings with them since the threads were new.

I've played a couple of Nationals in the past and loved 'em — both O Styles — but what I'm seeing now are pricey as hell, $1,800 to $2,700 Canadian (about $1,125 to $1,700 US). I've also played a couple of Regals and, more recently, a Dobro steel (actually nickle-plated brass) that the store wants $2,000 Cdn for.

That all said, I went into another music store a few days ago and picked up a Johnson-Sterling that just blew me away. Lots of projection and a mellow sound, about halfway between the National Os and a tri-cone, and a price tag ($795 Cdn asking price) that is very tempting.

Somebody mentioned, either above or in the other thread on Johnsons, that there is trouble with the nickle coming off. Has anyone else encountered that? I'd love to know how common it is. And whether the necks hold up.

Any and all experiences would be helpful.....

david