Carter U-12

Pedal, lap, Hawaiian, resonator ... anything played with a bar
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Randy Brown
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Carter U-12

Post by Randy Brown »

New price: $1300 shipped in the lower 48. Make me an offer! I would also consider trades.

This is a blue Carter U-12 universal, single neck. It has 12 strings, 7 pedals, and 5 knee levers. It is in average mechanical and cosmetic condition.... normal signs of wear on the finish, a few minor surface scratches but nothing bad.

I just bought this guitar a few weeks ago, but then I found a carter with a pad that I couldn't pass up, so I'm letting this one go. I'd rather have some variety than having two very similar guitars.

I was told it is a 94 model. Copedent is as follows:

The pedals are the normal uni tuning, as described on Carter's most requested here:
https://steelguitar.com/resource/tunings/tununive.htm

The knee levers are a little bit different than what is on that web page:

LKL - lower 2 D#->D, and raise 9 (B->D)
LKV - 5th string B->Bb
LKR - lower 6 whole step (G#->F#), also raise 1 whole step (F#->G#)
RKL - raise E's to F on strings 4 and 8
RKR - lower E's to Eb on strings 4 and 8

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I tried to show the cosmetic issues in the pictures:

1. Mica shows some signs of aging. From a distance it looks great, but up really close you can see. It isn't bad, but I just want to be as clear as possible.
2. Light scratches on the neck between the pickup and fretboard. Again, not bad until held up in front of a camera.

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3. Couple of small dings in the pedal bar... still looks fine.

The pedal and knee lever action are pretty good. The underneath is fairly clean for an older guitar. This is only the 3rd steel I have owned so I don't have alot to compare it to.

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fyi, I changed some of the knee lever pulls since the pictures were taken
Last edited by Randy Brown on 10 May 2009 1:53 pm, edited 6 times in total.
Ernie Pollock
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Weight?

Post by Ernie Pollock »

What is the weight of the Carter out of the case? & does it have BTC or whatever that called that, which was available on the later Carters??

Ernie :)
Steven Black
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Location: Gahanna, Ohio, USA

Carter U12

Post by Steven Black »

Ernie, this guitar will not have BCT, but could be added, my Carter Double 10 I had did not come with BCT, but it still had great tone, it to could have been added, If I had the room I would buy this Carter.
Randy Brown
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Post by Randy Brown »

According to my very unscientific method, the guitar weighs 32 pounds :) And it is my understanding that the guitar does not have BCT (although I don't know how to tell for sure)...
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Pit Lenz
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Post by Pit Lenz »

The Carter U-12 is great guitar!
I bought one through the forum almost a year ago and couldn´t be happier with it!
Mine is from ´95 .
I asked a couple of questions about BCT to Ann Fabian at Carter´s and she told me that BCT began to be installed starting approximately mid 1998 but could be upgraded.

Not sure about the upgrade improvement (didn´t do it since all the shipping from Germany seemed too expensive and risky) , but I love the tone as it is!
Steven Black
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Carter U12

Post by Steven Black »

My experience with BCT is limited but have tried it out on newer model steels and the only conclusion I came to is that it seem to offer a little more sustain and bite on sound on the newer carters, but I went back to my older Carter and found I could get very close to the same sounds by adjusting my amp, which took time, also on older Carters the same sound was obtain by trying out new pickups like the true Tones, and the XLR16 pickup, is BCT needed? if you like a bright bitie sustaining tone, then yes, or you want an Emmons push/pull sound, but as I said this can be obtain by pickups and amp adjustment on most Carters, does the audience care, probably not since they can not hear it like we steelers can.
Randy Brown
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Post by Randy Brown »

bump for lower price
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Larry Gollihue
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Carter S12U

Post by Larry Gollihue »

Randy, You have email
Randy Brown
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Post by Randy Brown »

Ok guys my other Carter is supposed to arrive in a couple days. I need to sell this one. You don't even want to know what will happen if my wife walks in and sees 3 steel guitars at home! ;)

Also I'd like to point out that the color is hard to capture in a photo... in the pictures above it looks really bright when the flash was on, and really dark when the flash was off. In reality it is somewhere between those colors (the darker picture is closest)
Randy Brown
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Post by Randy Brown »

bump for new price
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Jamie Peghiny
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Post by Jamie Peghiny »

Hi Folks,
What is "BTC"?? I don't think I've heard of that before.
Thanks,
Jamie
Carter U -12, Fender Pro Duo, Martin DC28, Gibson ES175, G&L L-2000 bass, PRS Bass, Fender Vibrolux, Selmer Tenor, Buescher Alto, Conn Alto
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Mike Ester
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Post by Mike Ester »

Jamie Peghiny wrote:Hi Folks,
What is "BTC"?? I don't think I've heard of that before.
Thanks,
Jamie
It's all here:

http://steelguitar.com/announcements/bct.html
Randy Brown
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Post by Randy Brown »

Bump for new price and also I made some changes to the knee lever pulls since I originally posted it. The content of the top post has been edited to reflect these changes.

I would also consider trading for a Shobud. I was going to just keep it to have as a spare (that's why I changed the knee levers to match my other Carter U-12), but I think I'd rather diversify and try something different instead of having 2 similar guitars.
Last edited by Randy Brown on 29 Apr 2009 11:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Del Walters
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Carter U-12

Post by Del Walters »

Randy you have e-mail
Rittenberry SD 12 Lacquer, Rittenberry SD 12, Mullen G2 Del Mullen Signature SD-12, "Fox Vintage Amp and vintage reverb",Steel Mixer, "BJS Bars" , Sanberg 7 string bass, Fender tele-#4,Strats-#1,Fender V USA bass#2 Gibson 335, etc, etc, 1 fully staffed and equip veterinary hospital,plus 5 Yorkies, and a tolerate 100 pound Rottweiler.
Randy Brown
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Post by Randy Brown »

Bump^^^ I'm open to trades.
Randy Brown
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Post by Randy Brown »

^up for new price
Randy Brown
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Post by Randy Brown »

Trade offers? I'm wanting to get into a Bud... willing to throw in a few bucks to make it right if needed.
Last edited by Randy Brown on 5 Sep 2009 3:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Randy Brown
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Post by Randy Brown »

Thanks for the recent offers. here are some additional pictures:
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Lee Dorrell
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Carter U-12

Post by Lee Dorrell »

Randy; is this guitar still for sale??
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Charles Tilley
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Carter

Post by Charles Tilley »

Randy, call me at 903-360-1111 and lets' make a deal.
What about that?

Tilley
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Del Walters
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Post by Del Walters »

Randy, you have e-mail. Doc
Rittenberry SD 12 Lacquer, Rittenberry SD 12, Mullen G2 Del Mullen Signature SD-12, "Fox Vintage Amp and vintage reverb",Steel Mixer, "BJS Bars" , Sanberg 7 string bass, Fender tele-#4,Strats-#1,Fender V USA bass#2 Gibson 335, etc, etc, 1 fully staffed and equip veterinary hospital,plus 5 Yorkies, and a tolerate 100 pound Rottweiler.
Randy Brown
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Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Post by Randy Brown »

Well, I had decided to keep it, but a nice Bud just came up for sale locally and I need to move this Carter to be able to put together enough cash for the Bud. Any interest in this blue Carter U-12?

Thanks!
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Del Walters
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Carter

Post by Del Walters »

Randy;
You have e=mail, Thanks Doc
Rittenberry SD 12 Lacquer, Rittenberry SD 12, Mullen G2 Del Mullen Signature SD-12, "Fox Vintage Amp and vintage reverb",Steel Mixer, "BJS Bars" , Sanberg 7 string bass, Fender tele-#4,Strats-#1,Fender V USA bass#2 Gibson 335, etc, etc, 1 fully staffed and equip veterinary hospital,plus 5 Yorkies, and a tolerate 100 pound Rottweiler.
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