Steel Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar purchasing guide, check tone and sustain. Compare several several steel guitars. Play each string open, and listen for sustain. Feel for vibration.
Good tone means different things to different people.
Everyone's ears are uniquely shaped and have a unique frequency response. Therefore, each person hears the same sounds slightly differently. Listen to the tone and see if it pleases you . Check for clarity, balance, separation, and sustain across the strings, as well as above and below the 12th fret. Methods used to mount different components to the cabinet.