ETS Steels

Bob Poole · Post by **Bob Poole** » 7 Sep 2014 6:52 pm

Recently,someone posted a couple of clips of an ETS steel.the tone was just incredible.are they still being made???[/img]

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 7 Sep 2014 7:25 pm

Sadly they are not as one of the principals- Larry Agan- was killed in an auto accident.

Jeff Metz Jr. · Post by **Jeff Metz Jr.** » 7 Sep 2014 7:25 pm

As I understand they were in production for only a short while. They were being built by Bud Carter and the late Larry Agan. I believe production stopped due to Larry's Passing.
Look up forum member Raymond Eicher for questions, and testimonials for this Brand, as he owns more than one of them!
Good Luck

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 7 Sep 2014 7:59 pm

I play one and am very happy with it .

Jeff Metz Jr. · Post by **Jeff Metz Jr.** » 8 Sep 2014 12:24 am

wow Jim! I never saw another post happen at the exact time as mine ! Haha thanks!

Raymond Eicher · Post by **Raymond Eicher** » 10 Sep 2014 4:04 am

Yes I have two ETS steels here in Baltimore and one of my students has another one.
They are light, reliable and sound and look great with their sparkle finishes.
Both of mine were set up perfectly by Bud Carter himself and I could not be happier!
Both are 3x5.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 10 Sep 2014 10:02 am

I believe that it was mentioned somewhere on forum that Bud would have liked to carry on building but due to legal matters concerning Larry's estate things were on hold till that was settled .Excellent guitars had pleasure of trying one at Dallas, but then anything Bud builds is excellent.

Keith Currie · Post by **Keith Currie** » 10 Sep 2014 2:24 pm

Al Brisco (steel guitars of Canada) was selling them not sure if he has any left or not. He played one here a couple years ago in my home town on tour with Carol Baker and he used my Nashville 400 and it did sound very good.

Post by **Joey Ace** » 11 Sep 2014 3:51 am

You can hear Al playing an ETS in this lesson we posted a while back:
http://youtu.be/pvC_CCApEG4

It's also a great lesson / exercise on hammer-ons and pull-offs, Ralph Mooney style.

Al's web site is
http://www.steelguitarscanada.com/

Jana Lockaby · Post by **Jana Lockaby** » 11 Sep 2014 5:25 am

Larry would have been thrilled to hear such nice comments about the guitars he, and Bud, were building. He took such pride in each one.

We all miss him very much.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 21 Jul 2015 11:53 am

Thanks Barry!
Here's Asa Brosius playing one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg5Kxh9wMOQ

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 21 Jul 2015 1:03 pm

As I understand they were in production for only a short while. They were being built by Bud Carter and the late Larry Agan. I believe production stopped due to Larry's Passing.

Now that Bud and Larry have both died, it seems unlikely this brand will continue.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 21 Jul 2015 3:14 pm

Not mine but listed on Craigslist.

http://bham.craigslist.org/msg/5090026401.html

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 21 Jul 2015 6:22 pm

Very much worth it, I would say. A perfect fly guitar for a traveling professional.

Raymond Eicher · Post by **Raymond Eicher** » 21 Jul 2015 6:24 pm

Here are two posts I made in 2013 and 2014 regarding the friend that I never met in person, Bud Carter and ETS Steels.

Early in the summer I purchased a beautiful ETS steel from a Forum member.
I discovered more than a few modifications and botched "improvements" that I was not made aware of before the sale.
Through the Forum I then met Al Brisco from Steel Guitars of Canada. He kindly recommended that I contact Bud Carter directly to solve the "issues" that this potentially great guitar had. Boy, am I glad I did !
After a few phone conversations with Bud I shipped my ETS off to Texas.
In less than a week Mr Carter had totally re-built the underside of my guitar! He replaced every stripped screw, re-did all of the tuning rods, tightened and reset the knee levers to the standard Carter set up.
"It'll play just the way I like them to play" he assured me. He charged me a VERY fair price for all of his labor and shipped it back within seven days!
It is now a brand new ETS steel and I love it.
Thank you Al for your advice and thank you Bud for your knowledge, wisdom, talent and kindness! I'm not sure that Bud even uses the Internet, but this message is a testimony for members who have or who are thinking about playing any of Bud Carter's guitars.
Ray Eicher, Baltimore, MD.

After my original post about Bud Carter, I was so happy to see so many people respond with the kindness and respect that he deserves. He just sent me a copy of a live show he played at a steel guitar convention with some hand picked musicians playing jazz standards. It is awesome!
Late in the fall I was lucky enough to buy my second ETS steel here on the forum and I immediately sent it off to Bud to go over it.
One week later I received what seemed to be a brand new feeling guitar! It's pedal action was so smooth, it's pedal rod adjustments perfect. This particular steel was built before Bud began his relationship with ETS. The changer was a different model and the fretboard was different too. Some of the rods weren't cut to the right length and the hex ends would pop off when being adjusted. He took the whole under carriage apart and started over with all new tuning rods and hex ends. The knee levers are now are firm, precise and properly positioned, making my average playing sound and feel so much better!
I don't believe he'll ever read all the nice comments and praise he receives here on the forum, but if anyone reading this speaks with him please make him aware. I've told him often that I can't thank him enough for the fair priced precision work he's done for me and many others and the pedal steel guitar in general.
My hope is that he will be able to one day restart production of the ETS steel. It is really a great light weight, professional,affordable 3x5 steel guitar.
Ray Eicher,
Baltimore, MD.
_________________
ETS S-10, Justice 3x4, Rickenbacher, Fender and Supro lap steels, Tut Taylor and National resonators.Fender Deluxe, Marshall Class 5, Peavey amps and way too many guitars.

Mitchell Smithey · Post by **Mitchell Smithey** » 22 Jul 2015 7:10 am

Just before Larry died, they were taking orders on 12 strings. Bud also told me they had figured out with the shop that built their bodies how to form a double 10. This company was going to produce a great product at a good price point. I'll miss them both a lot.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 22 Jul 2015 8:59 am

Joachim Kettner wrote:
Thanks Barry!
Here's Asa Brosius playing one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg5Kxh9wMOQ

Asa is playing an Encore now, I sold it to him couple months ago, he sold his ETS

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 22 Jul 2015 9:09 am

He's a very good steel player, Damir!

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 22 Jul 2015 9:12 am

Joachim Kettner wrote:He's a very good steel player, Damir!

yes, and a super nice guy, lives here in Nashville too

Rich Upright · Post by **Rich Upright** » 14 Aug 2015 1:11 pm

They DO sound nice. Looks light, too.

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