Carter Steel Guitars

Dwight Lewis · Post by **Dwight Lewis** » 8 Feb 2010 9:56 pm

IS it true, Carter Steel Guitars out of business?

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 8 Feb 2010 11:56 pm

I somehow missed this news too, but it looks so.
My condolences to The Fabians and all at Carter.

Jan. 29: John Fabian passes - OnLine Memorial Service

Feb. 2: OnLine Memorial Service for John Fabian (CarterSteelGuitars)

Feb. 8: Carter Guitar closes doors (Feb. 8 )

Clete

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 9 Feb 2010 3:38 pm

All I have read posted on this forum from the only person I trust to know, which is Ann Fabian, was that they are "CLOSED" (due to John's passing).
I don't want to go into interpretations or try to project anything, but I seem to remember that they used to be "closed" over Christmas too, most every year, if I am not mistaken.
We were also informed that all parts have been sold to a yet unnamed trained person, but no word about the company.
Until Ann or the person who has apparently bought the "parts" makes a more definitive statement, which has been promised for April, I am not inclined to give much attention to rumors from thirds and rather just hope for the best.

John's passing is a tremendous loss to the SG community. Carter steel guitars ceasing to be produced would be an other most regrettable loss, IMO.

... J-D.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 9 Feb 2010 3:54 pm

From comments by Ann, Bobbe Seymour and another contact I have (that dealt with Carter as a vendor) they are out of business. The parts have been purchased by an individual or company in Canada. Whether someone else will buy the Carter name and continue manufacturing them ????

Don Brown, Sr. · Post by **Don Brown, Sr.** » 9 Feb 2010 4:51 pm

I agree with J.D. Rumors are just that. Nothing more, nothing less.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 9 Feb 2010 7:18 pm

I don't think it's a rumor. Ann pretty much spelled it out right from the beginning:

We are now CLOSED due to Owner John Fabian's passing.

EMPLOYEES ONLY permitted in our shop at this time!

All inventory has been sold.

No more sales, service, information, or tech support will be offered from our shop.

No exceptions. Please respect this.

I added the bold to the one section.

We'll just have to wait to see if She sold the business, brand names, and patent rights to someone to carry on the name.

As a longtime Carter player (11 years), I am devastated by this news. I was even getting ready to sell or trade my 1-1/2 year old Williams because my Carter is a far better playing, and more comfortable guitar (people I play with like it's sound better too, as do I). With the current situation with Carter, I am hesitant now. With my luck, something will happen to my Carter and I won't have a backup.

Walter Bowden · Post by **Walter Bowden** » 10 Feb 2010 3:09 pm

I am curious, if what I'm reading from usually well informed and respected steel guitar players who, I don't believe, would spread rumors is true, it might mean the loss of the extensive resources, tips, tech/setup info and other steel guitar knowledge on the Carter website. It would be a shame if it becomes unavailable to the steel guitar community.
Other members are closer to those at Carter and I'm certain the family has much more to deal with right now than this. I wish them peace and God's grace.
I'm just hoping this part of the Carter legacy survives intact and open for all.

John Burton · Post by **John Burton** » 10 Feb 2010 3:16 pm

Walter Bowden wrote:I am curious, if what I'm reading from usually well informed and respected steel guitar players who, I don't believe, would spread rumors is true, it might mean the loss of the extensive resources, tips, tech/setup info and other steel guitar knowledge on the Carter website. It would be a shame if it becomes unavailable to the steel guitar community.
Other members are closer to those at Carter and I'm certain the family has much more to deal with right now than this. I wish them peace and God's grace.
I'm just hoping this part of the Carter legacy survives intact and open for all.

+1 and well said.

Don Brown, Sr. · Post by **Don Brown, Sr.** » 10 Feb 2010 5:01 pm

April isn't all that far off. But parts are always available, when needed, one way or another.

I'd say Bud would be the man to answer the questions pertaining to parts.

Carter is truly, a World Class Steel guitar, regardless of the other makes and models, they will hold their own with the best of the best.

I'd say things happened too quick, far to quick for all the answers. But the world lost a real fine man.

RIP John

Rick Winfield · Post by **Rick Winfield** » 11 Feb 2010 1:18 am

AMEN Don
Rick

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 11 Feb 2010 6:29 am

I too will wait until April for a definite answer but the answer has nothing to do with my keeping my Carters. I just cannot fathom the brand disappearing maybe changing names but no going completely away.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 11 Feb 2010 7:48 am

There hasn't been a functioning Sho~Bud company for almost 30 years, and no one is wondering if it's "risky" to own a guitar with that brand.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about owning a Carter guitar. They're as bullet-proof as any guitar currently on the market, and there's most probably an ample supply of parts in the hands of a knowledgeable steel mechanic who can handle the repairs.

Finding parts and support for Emmons PP's and Sho~Buds is now, and will be, far more problematic than getting Carter parts, I'm certain, once things get sorted out in the wake of John's untimely passing.

What would be a shame to lose is the excellent informational material that is on the Carter website. I'm under the impression that Ann is planning to keep the site going, minus the guitar ordering and purchasing information. I certainly hope so; we'll see what the future brings.

Marke Burgstahler · Post by **Marke Burgstahler** » 11 Feb 2010 8:28 am

4 years ago my wife bought me a Carter S-10 as a Xmas gift - she knew I always wanted one. I love my guitar. Ann and John were always so wonderful and helpful. Ann took special care of my wife - she didn't really know anything about PSG's, just that she wanted to get me a pro instrument. I used to run into John at NAMM shows. I always went by the booth and thanked him for my guitar.

Sad day indeed. We've lost a great part of the community, and the Fabian family has lost a loved one.

I know this is a no-brainer, but Tom Bradshaw lives here in N. CA, and he is a real resource for parts and service.

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 11 Feb 2010 9:41 am

I certainly don't have ANY say in this and I haven't had any insight in how the company was doing for yars.
Still, I think that if there is ONE steel guitar company which has a product which could be carried over by a professional minded person, it would be the Carter. The guitar was designed with many aspects in mind, including an effective production, repeatability... an industrial design. Many would be competitors and would be endorsers of these tried to pull the company, the people behind it and the exceptional final product thru the mud exactly for that fact; Carter produced a solid quality guitar at an aggressively competitive price in record times (for that "industry").
Many parts others still machined one by one, where extruded and just cut to length. You need a solid design to risk investing in dies. Bud and John had that. Really, I don't want to say that building Carters now "just" or "only" boils down to "assembling" them from parts coming from the various vendors. Let's not forget that WCS also broke some major new ground (again in this industry) on how to treat ALL customers and a proper use of the internet, beyond just sales or as others would, having a banner saying they build the world's best...

Therefor, from my limited point of insight, I would not see, why that guitar could not continued to be build by a knowledgeable, professionally minded and serious person. It would be utterly regretful that the company would fade away, again not just to many current owners but to future steel guitarist. Then, that "little" company has done more for the future of steel guitar than many companies.
Then again, what Bud, John and Ann built was more than a guitar.

... J-D.

John Groover McDuffie · Post by **John Groover McDuffie** » 11 Feb 2010 10:37 am

Well said, J-D.

I love my Carter S-12, and, until the recent sad news, took peace of mind from the fact that I could always get another one if needed. I hope the company comes back somehow.

Tom Campbell · Post by **Tom Campbell** » 11 Feb 2010 11:18 am

I agree with JD. Take whatever amount of time is need for mourning/healing. Then procced to assemble the person or persons required to reconvene the operation. If there was one steel guitar company I thought would withstand the ravages of time, it would be Carter.
This suggestion is in no way meant to sound like a simple solution nor to minimize a very sad, emotionally devastating event.

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