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Topic: Comments on Carter guitars please.. |
Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 26 Dec 2003 6:53 pm |
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| I am awaiting delivery on a new Carter S10 w/5+5,GeorgeL pick up w/5 position switch with coil tapping/splitting.. black Mica.. I have heard mostly good things about these guitars. I have played/owned some MSA guitars built [I think} by Bud Carter and was told " if you like MSA steels you'll like Carter"... Anyway are these guitars in the "big leagues" as far as playability,tone etc?... A lot of guys on the Carter site gave great testimonials and many stated they sounded like thier Emmons PP guitars. I have heard that several times but it sounds like a stretch. I gave up a very sweet sounding Pro III for this Carter so I hope I made the right move. It should play in tune at least.. the Sho Bud didn't!!.. Anyone who plays or has played a Carter,please give me any comments you might have pro or con. thanks so much bob [This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 26 December 2003 at 07:15 PM.] |
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Dyke Corson
From:
Fairmount, IL USA
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Posted 26 Dec 2003 7:11 pm
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Congrats on your Carter purchase. I bought a new D-10 last fall and it is one of my favorite guitars. I have played Emmons PPs for many years (and still do at one house job), but for pickup gigs and studio work I take the Carter. Light weight, stays in tune great, plays like a dream, and sounds excellent with the XR-16 pups Bud set me up with. My Carter does sound more "kinda" like my PPs since I went with the XR-16 pups. It sounds a little different, but it's a good type of different!  |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 26 Dec 2003 7:19 pm
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| Dyke... thanks for the feedback partner! It sounds like you've been around the block a few times as far as steels are concerned,and it eases my mind that you think I made a good choice! bob |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 26 Dec 2003 7:21 pm
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I don't own one, but I have heard several that sound spectacular. Check out Bobby Black's recent CD for example, or thisMP3 of The Christmas Song by Jerry Gleason. I've heard both of these Carter guitars live and they are awesome!
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 Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 26 Dec 2003 7:32 pm
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| Bobby Lee.. Yeah Ann Fabian clinched the deal when she told me both Bobby Black AND Rusty Young were both using Carters exclusively. I know Rusty used a Sho Bud and I think Bobby did too and they are both heroes to an old country rock/west coast style steel player like me. If its good enough for those guys etc. etc....thanks for the reply Bobby Lee and great forum I might add. I am honored to be a member! bob [This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 27 December 2003 at 05:33 AM.] |
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Jack Dougherty
From:
Spring Hill, Florida, USA
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Posted 27 Dec 2003 8:18 pm
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| Been to the factory....Best bang for the buck... |
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Wayne Baker
From:
Altus Oklahoma
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Posted 27 Dec 2003 9:02 pm
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I'm gonna name drop here... John LeMaster has a 12 string Carter. It sounds way better than my Emmons, of course thats because John is playing the Carter and not the Emmons...  But seriously, that Carter has an excellent tone and in my oppinion is every bit as good as any other axe out there.
Wayne Baker
President South West Asia Steel Guitar Association |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 8:47 am
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To repeat something I have said on this forum before,
The Carter pedal Steel is the ONLY guitar I have ever sat down to that said to me, "let's me and you make music".
carl
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John McGann
From:
Boston, Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 9:20 am
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| I bought a used D10 (2001) here on the forum last June and love it. Very smooth mechanically, stays in tune...TrueTone pickups greatly improved the guitar tonewise from the George L's (IMHO), and it stood up very well to a basement full of beautiful vintage pushpull Emmons guitars. Even Tom Cassella was impressed, and he knows from tone. I bet you'll be very happy. |
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David Higginbotham
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 4:03 pm
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Coming from a "die hard" MSA fan, I was very impressed when I played the Carter I recently purchased with the xr-16. This guitar has an amazing amount of tone and sustain. Actually sound better than the laquer MSA with 705's that I have. Just my 2 cents worth!
Dave
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MSA Classic D-10 8/5, Carter S-10 3/5, Profex II, Nashville 400
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 4:42 pm
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I dig my Carter.
http://www.angelfire.com/ny/lightsound/steels.html
Just some random facts and impressions----I've tried a number of PuPs and have settled on the Lawrence XR-16. The action, as with any modern steel, is adjustable with the expected trade-offs---soft touch=long throw & vice versa. I've sat at a friend's ultra precision Lexus of a steel and was first amazed and then kind of put off by how light the action was. Like a car with so much power steering that you can't feel the road. No doubt one would get used to it with no problem but it made me appreciate that the Carter can be played barefoot but it still has enough road feel.
Hope you dig your new axe.
Hey, I used to live upstate too--had a pad up in the Bronx.
[This message was edited by Jon Light on 28 December 2003 at 04:49 PM.] |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 5:01 pm
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Very fine Instruments. I am now playing my second Carter D10 / 9+8..It's got the power .
I've had 3 Sho-Buds ( liked em' fine) an MSA and 2 Carters.
I only have 1 Steel and this is a very fine Instrument for me. Come on over and play mine if you like..
T |
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John LeMaster
From:
North Florida
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 5:12 pm
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Wayne:
Southwest Asia Steel Guitar Association?? You didn't waste any time in getting that one chartered!
Back on topic, come January, it will be three years since I bought my Carter S-12U. I really like the tone, especially with the Lawrence 712 pick up. I have played the Carter a lot, and have enjoyed it.
I have recently bought a ZumSteel S-12U with the Wallace TrueTone pickup. Both Carter and Zum are great steel guitars, and each has great tone, action, and sustain. The Wallace TrueTone pickup is very sweet, indeed. The rave reviews for the TrueTone are on-target.
IMHO you can't go wrong with Carter or Zum, and you can add to that list with others currently being built, i.e., Emmons, Fesseden, Mullen, Millenium, GFI, BMI, JCH, and probably several more. I have seen Mooney and Bethel steels at some shows, and they look very well put together, although I have never actually played either. I also have an album on which BE plays a Sierra (I saw a videotape of some of the session is how I happen to know that) - and he sounds, as we would expect, awesome.
By the way, I owned a BMI for nearly 17 years, which is by far the longest I have held onto a steel guitar. Also owned a Marlen, and it was sweet.
John L.
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Todd Kapeghian
From:
Vestal, New York, USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 5:49 pm
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| Have heard some great sounds out of a Carter. You won't be sorry letting the Bud go. Let me know when you get it! |
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 9:04 pm
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Bob,
In one respect it does remind me of my old MSA, it is rock solid, and stays in tune better than any guitar I have ever had. That is pretty much where the similarity ends as I see it.
I have had mine about a month and a half. It was close to being in tune when I pulled it out of the case and I have only touched it up once or twice since. The .011 is still hanging in there and it gets a workout daily. So far I have not had a single problem with the guitar.
I am pleased with the tone, I have heard the push-pull comparison too. I don't know, It depends on who is playing it I guess.
I think we can all agree Jr. Knight, Bobby Black, Tommy White, Mike Auldridge, David Spires, Rusty Young, Al Briscoe, etc. would fall into the "big league" category as you put it. All these guys have played Carters professionally. Not sure if T.W. still does or not.
My last couple guitars were Sho~Buds. I have always had a thing for the Buds and still do but in my opinion the mechanics of the Carter, materials used, and tolerances held, are light years ahead. JMOHO
John Drury
NTSGA #3
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Larry Phleger
From:
DuBois, PA
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Posted 29 Dec 2003 10:17 am
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| My Carter U12 is a real workhorse. It has never given me anything but excellence, both in tone and mechanical performance. The folks at Carter stand by what they build, and are great to deal with. IMHO, they are the can't be beat! |
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David Friedlander
From:
New York, New York, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2003 12:01 pm
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| this is a joke right? |
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Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
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Posted 29 Dec 2003 1:57 pm
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I hear the Black ones sound the best 
------------------
Sho-Bud ProII
"there's been an awful murder, down on music row!"
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 29 Dec 2003 8:10 pm
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| I like mine. I have other Steels, but the Carter sees most of the gigs. |
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Tommy White
From:
Nashville
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Posted 29 Dec 2003 8:48 pm
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John,
I have a couple of guitars I like and
yes, I still play my Carter. It is one of the best guitars I've ever owned and I intend on it lasting me a long time.
T.W |
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Ken Williams
From:
Arkansas
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Posted 29 Dec 2003 8:58 pm
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I must admit that I've never played a Carter except at the Carter booth in St. Louis. But, I was impressed with sound and the feel of the guitar.
Ken
http://home.ipa.net/~kenwill
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2003 3:55 pm
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| Thanks guys!!!. Now I am getting all "antsy" and want that thing NOW!!! I heard nothing but good from most guys that responded to my email. Dave... I guess you had a major problem of some kind... I hope it was resolved to your satisfaction,but I like to think if I am not satisfied,Carter will make it right for me. I play out a lot,told them that I used the guitar professionally and that a lot of other musicians see me play my steel,so I do expect a steel that WILL NOT let me down and hopefully will exceed my expectations... sorry you had problems with Carter guitars........ bob |
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Charlie McVay
From:
Pittsburgh, Pa. USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2003 5:32 pm
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hey tommy white!!
just wanted to say hello!
charlie mcvay |
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David Friedlander
From:
New York, New York, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2003 2:22 pm
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Bob,
Quite simply: I bought a brand new S10 Carter.
I did not like it.
Carter offered me $1400 for the $2000 guitar one week later. I accepted.
Now, excuse me, but is this "standing behind a product?" |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2003 3:20 pm
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| Dave... I am VERY disturbed to hear that. No, I would say that scenario would qualify as "cut and run" tactics.. I suppose I better like it........... bob |
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