Carter vs. Williams

Rick Winfield · Post by **Rick Winfield** » 3 Jun 2008 7:48 am

I've been researching new PSG's on the web, and I find that the Williams Co. offers mica or lacquered maple bodies, as well as key or keyless for about $100 over the basic Carter prices,which are keyed and mica. Are there any opinions on which company is preferred ?
thanks
Rick

Antolina · Post by **Antolina** » 3 Jun 2008 7:54 am

For my money I'd take the Williams over the Carter "basic". No comparison.

Scott Swartz · Post by **Scott Swartz** » 3 Jun 2008 8:15 am

I own one of each, and the mechanics, weight, reliability, and tuning stability are very similar.

The tone and ergonomics are different, and no post on a forum will be able to tell you if you will like it.

I could list out some pros and cons of each, but I consider those to be applicable to my personal preference only.

Bottom line, if I had a gig tonight I could take either guitar and be very happy.

As always when this type of thread comes up, you really need to get to a steel show and try them out

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 3 Jun 2008 10:56 am

Rick, That's a tough call. I've never owned a Williams but I have admired their great looks and never heard a bad thing about them.

I don't personally care which guitar you buy but...

I do have a Carter D-10 with machined necks and Tonealigner pickups. It has a quality look, a nice full tone with lots of highs, great sustain (BCT) and it plays great. The guitar is lightweight and the action is incredible.

Over the years I've read nothing but great things about Bud Carter. I'm not sure, but I think he may have built more guitars than anybody else in this business. Many years ago I heard Bobby Black playing one live and loved the bite and tone he had.

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 3 Jun 2008 11:03 am

Rick, The Williams 600 Series has the most advanced changer system on the market..because of the advanced design the strings are bent less by the changer..do yourself a favor and check it out...I've had mine for 10 months and have not broken any strings. If you want something that is "leading edge", check out the Williams 600 Series.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 3 Jun 2008 12:09 pm

No. They both make excellent steel guitars. It all comes down to YOUR personal preference.

Rick Winfield · Post by **Rick Winfield** » 3 Jun 2008 12:56 pm

I've got 1 year in PSG,(MAY 07) so I'm lacking in experience. I appreciate ALL feedback and advice. Yes..I do need to go to a convention. They don't have PSG's around my neighborhood, and "hands on" means a lot, especially with PSG !!
I've been trying to learn on an old Marlen I bought on the forum,& I've come a long way, but I'd like to try something modern. Same sad story, money's tight, so...
thanks to all,
the information I gathered on this forum is priceless!
Rick

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 3 Jun 2008 1:15 pm

Rick, The first year is the hardest. Congrats!

The Marlin is a great guitar. If bucks are tight, I would just get somebody to work on it and make it play and sound great.

Randy Gilliam has had both. Maybe he can chime in here

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 3 Jun 2008 1:44 pm

Here Is a few I have Had 3 Derbys Great steels,Emmons Probably 25 or More Loved em all , WILLIAMS , MSA Old and New , Pedalmaster fulakwa , Rains, Lamar Really Nice Guitars, Shobud ,Promat 3 weeks Sound Great. I Like Buying and selling them. I Dont Think Any I Had were Bad. Forgot Several Mullen Also Sound good. I Only Have 1966 PP 1975 PP 1984 PP 2008 Derby, 2005 Lamar,2000 Emmons AllPull I am Pretty Low On stock But I will Get Some More .Randy 6Steel Gilliam Forgot Danny Bates stole My New Carter .

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 3 Jun 2008 1:53 pm

Randy, I like your style! You forgot that I stole your '71 Emmons too.

Bobbe Seymour's owned more that 14,000 steel guitars... Randy, the way you're going, you should catch up with him by the end of the year!

Rick Winfield · Post by **Rick Winfield** » 3 Jun 2008 2:17 pm

I'm looking foward to the day I can make it sound like a "steel guitar" !! Someone on the forum once posted that, "after you know a little about what you're doing, it'll take about 3 years to make it sound the way you want it too!! "
wooo weeee !!!!
only 2 more years??

Actually, it's slowly starting to happen. I can hear things and know some of the moves.

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 3 Jun 2008 2:47 pm

Rick, What you need is some encouragement from your neighbors.

About every 2 months or so, put your Marshall and your Peavey on the front porch. Turn each amp all the way up and put your bar on the first fret. Violently strum all the strings and slowly slide up to the changer. Your neighbors will be nice and encouraging from that day on.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 3 Jun 2008 3:10 pm

They are different mechanically, but both are very well-built. One difference that pops out is the scale length. The Carter has a slightly shorter scale (24" vs 24¼").

David Armstrong · Post by **David Armstrong** » 3 Jun 2008 5:47 pm

Hey Rick,
I'm really enjoying the DynaLap I bought from you. Thanks again!

Since I'm reading this forum, you might guess I'm getting interested in trying pedal steel. If my latest round of schooling goes well I'll be in the market this time next year! Hang on to your Marlen until then!

Dave

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 3 Jun 2008 8:10 pm

I have owned both, they are both very good, you can not go wrong with either.My Friend John Le Master plays a Carter and it sounds as good as any guitar I have ever heard, I am trying to sound and play like him, on my Williams, i AM getting closer day by day, may take another life time to do it tho.
I really liked the Carter and find no fault with one. But the Williams has more details I like better.
1. All Wood body, beautiful finish.
2. The Changer is new design and is beetter I think than any I have seen, it only slants about 17%, and have not broken a string yet, being fair I did not break a string on the Carter either.
3. All the moving parts is in bushings, which is smooth as silk.
4. Easy to change out pulls, Carter is easy also.
5. Williams Comes with adjustable flags on all levers, Carter padels cost $50.00 each, that would be $250.00 added to the cost.

The Carter and The Williams has a sound that is very good, But "John said after playing the williams for 3 hours, I can't get on my Carter what I am getting here" he ordered one.

Again if I only had a Carter I would be a happy camper, they work super. It is what fits you best, or personal choice.

ernie

Rick Winfield · Post by **Rick Winfield** » 4 Jun 2008 6:51 am

Danny:
It sounds like you've been to Jersey !!
ps: bottles make more noise when you chuck them in the trash ! :)_

Dave:
glad you're working on the dynalap. I learned a lot from it, but then: I got the PSG bug.
Ernest:
you seem to have "said it all" in your post,
thanks again to all

Jani Peter Sandvik · Post by **Jani Peter Sandvik** » 5 Jun 2008 4:15 am

I own a williams 600 series d10 and i loooooove it.
ive tried and played on a carter also but the low profile necks doesnt suit me

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 5 Jun 2008 4:26 am

One of the best sounding D-10's I ever had was a CARTER. 8 & 5, XR-16's on it. Black mica. My first D-10 Carter actually. Of course, the WILLIAMS guitars are nice, if you prefer lacquer, which I don't. Either one is a good purchase. I'm partial to a CARTER. I've had 7 new ones!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Jun 2008 6:40 am

Guitars aside, I would rather deal with Bill Rudolph

than Ann Fabian.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 5 Jun 2008 6:46 am

Williams. . . . all the way

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 5 Jun 2008 11:22 am

Click on the link below. Wait until the video loads and forward it to about 7 minutes. I bet you can't do this on a Williams.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsfgWcVb ... re=related

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 5 Jun 2008 11:31 am

Bet you wouldn't WANT to do that with a Williams!!!

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 5 Jun 2008 12:47 pm

Roger, I have to laugh because I knew my post was "Flame Bait"... I've got ugly lap steels that I wouldn't do that to.

I'm not trying to start a war but you got to admit it is funny!

admin · Post by **b0b** » 5 Jun 2008 1:39 pm

Yeah, there's something about formica that invites abuse. I think the lacquer finish on my Williams is a bit too fragile for those kinds of antics. I really enjoy watching Rusty Young, though.

Rick Winfield · Post by **Rick Winfield** » 6 Jun 2008 9:22 am

YA KNOW DANNY,
that kind of entertainment is why I sold my Les Paul and Strat and went into PSG. Rusty is talented, but... to my way of thinking, unfortunately, the music biz is more about entertainment(visual) than music (auditory). I can play like that on C6 and E9th, but in my opinion that's not what PSG is for. But to each his own !!
Look at Robert Randolph. Jimi Hendrix on steel? Hats off to him, and all that enjoy it, but it's not for me. I want the jazz chords, blues riffs, and that country crying !!!
what's next: lighting it on fire,(Hendrix) or smashing it(Townsend)
you sure got a lotta Jersey in ya

Rick

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