when my Carter Starter arrives tom. I should....

Kelly Hydorn · Post by **Kelly Hydorn** » 9 Nov 2006 10:28 pm

Up here to Montanar when we get a new steel, first thing we do is pour some new Kerosene on to get rid of bugs and other stuff that may be lurking inside, then turn it upside down and as Jeff Newman once suggested in one of his videos, make sure there ain't any tomaters in there, and then take the steel to the local car wash and wash all the stuff our of the steel then blow her off with compressed air and re-oil everything with a good quality oil like castrol syn-tech just for good measure. Then you're good to go. Incidentally I prefer the 20-50 weight of oil. Good luck with your new steel, hope this helps.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 10 Nov 2006 11:25 am

the dvd that comes with the starter (at least mine) had Joe Wright, and its not a bad video at all especially for free. The John Fabien video on the carter site is good especially if you are coming from 6 strung guitar in that it lays out the 1,4,5 chord positons for you. The Joe Wright dvd actually teaches you a few licks and excercises...not bad at all..I'd actually like to se his other videos.

I'll second Bruce Boutons dvd and the Winnie Winston book as both being excellent as well. Nothing beats personal instruction tho IMHO if you can find a teacher.

have fun![This message was edited by Ben Jones on 10 November 2006 at 11:27 AM.]

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 10 Nov 2006 2:57 pm

I bought a Carter Starter about 2 yrs. ago, when I moved from non-pedal to pedal. What a waste of money ! The best thing I ever did was put it back in the box and buy a Sho-Bud.

Mike Thomas · Post by **Mike Thomas** » 10 Nov 2006 4:22 pm

Hi Alan,

Did you like your Carter Starter?

Don't worry, I just bought this to see if I was remotely interested. I have nice guitars and a nice Dobro but I hate investing in fancy gear if I am not sure I'll stick it out.

I bought it used and will sell it when the time comes to quit or mve up.

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 10 Nov 2006 5:24 pm

ask for your money back
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Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400

[This message was edited by Calvin Walley on 10 November 2006 at 05:26 PM.]

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 10 Nov 2006 7:43 pm

The Carter Starter can not be... and should not be... compared to a professional model steel guitar. It is an entry-level student model pedal steel guitar. That's all it was intended to be. A beginner can start learning pedal steel for only $699. Yes, it's lightweight and flimsy when compared to a $2500+ pro model, but that's not a fair comparison. The Carter Starter does exactly what Carter intended it to do. It serves as a low cost entry-level PSG with 3 & 4, and I think it does that quite well. It's miles ahead of the old Sho-Bud Maverick and the MSA Red Baron (both student models).

Most beginners who buy a Carter Starter upgrade to a pro model within a year or two. The guitar does exactly what it was designed to do. It gives beginners a taste of PSG for a reasonable price, and I think that's a good thing for steel guitar.

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My Site - Instruction

Ken Yates · Post by **Ken Yates** » 10 Nov 2006 9:59 pm

Right on Doug. It does what it was designed to do. That is to let some one see if they are very interested in PSG without spending a lot of cash.

BTW, that new song book sure is a gem. Thanks
Ken

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GFI Ultra,S10 w/pad,,,Nashville 112,,,Nashville 400,,,Hilton,,,RV-3

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 10 Nov 2006 10:15 pm

Thanks Ken!

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My Site - Instruction

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 10 Nov 2006 10:34 pm

Bottom line for a Carter Starter ;

You can make real music on it.

You can gig out with it.

You can learn a lot using it.

It won't break the bank, to try out PSG.

I tried one @ Newbury UK
and it is light weight, so care must be taken,
but it PLAYED like a pedal steel guitar,
not a toy.

A $650 acoustic guitar will not play
or sound like a $3,000 Martin D-28,
but it will do the job just fine.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 10 November 2006 at 10:35 PM.]

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 10 Nov 2006 11:30 pm

I bought a Carter Starter about three years ago for my teaching room... for students to use if they don't want to haul their own PSG, and for practice. It's worked out very well.

I did play the Carter Starter once on a gig two years ago. It was an outdoor gig at night in the fall, and very cold. I didn't want to take my Emmons p/p out in 30 degree weather, so I used the Carter Starter. It sounded pretty good, but it does not have the tone and sustain of a pro model, as to be expected.

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My Site - Instruction [This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 10 November 2006 at 11:40 PM.]

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 13 Nov 2006 6:38 pm

Mike:
No. The pedal bar bends when you depress the pedals. It doesn't sound like a steel guitar. As I said, it's back in the box while I play my Sho-Bud.

Dillon Jackson · Post by **Dillon Jackson** » 14 Nov 2006 11:57 am

I'll go with Doug. The Starter will work to see if you want to go further ie spend and spend. (Ask folks who got hooked how many PSGs and Amps they have.) Really a good idea to make sure you like playing with pedals and knee bars and like the sound--all the while you can be checking out your upgrade PSG on the forum--this will give you an idea of value and you will find no shortage of opinions about every model--but most are helpful

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Dillon Jackson
abiband.com
ZUM U-12, Carter S-10; NV-1000

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 14 Nov 2006 12:53 pm

Calvin,a forum member is excited about a new purchase...others have had fine experiences with the same Steel...

Wish the new player well and be done with it already...

t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 14 November 2006 at 12:54 PM.]

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 14 Nov 2006 1:50 pm

smartest move I ever made was to start out on a C-S.

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 14 Nov 2006 1:57 pm

You can't lose money on one if you later would like to trade up. If you seriously want to play steel over the years you'll go with a pro model pretty soon.....as soon as you've made the commitment to really be a steel player & not just an owner! But for gosh sakes every player should learn how to take care of one! that is what makes a pedal steel do what it does! I'm in the process right now of "batting clean up" after a steel has been through the mill! with 3 of them from the same owner. if he'd known what makes a steel tick he would have fixed the first one instead of buying two more & messing them up also!

Casey Lowmiller · Post by **Casey Lowmiller** » 14 Nov 2006 4:20 pm

When you watch the Carter Videos, Joe Wright makes it sound pretty damn good!!!

I think the Carter-Starter is great for learning on & it can certainly be gigged with.

I purchased a used starter & couldn't be happier. Run it into a Session 500, take the time to dial it in & you have a pretty nice soundin' steel...especially for the cash!!!

Casey

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Known Coast to Coast as
"The Man with The Plan"

Carter-Starter, Fender Pedal 800, Fender Champion, Guyatone Double-neck, a cheap Artisan & a Homemade Double-neck!

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 14 Nov 2006 4:41 pm

Get your hands on a copy of "Starterized" featuring Billy Phelps on the Carter-Starter Pedal Steel Guitar if you would like to hear just how good they sound!
I played the starter at the NAMM show the first year they came out and it put that Maverick I started with to shame. IMHO.
JE:-)>

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Emmons D10PP 8/4 -75'
Emmons SD-12PP 3/4
Zum SD-12 5/5 - 91'
75'Session 400
06 Nashville 1000
06'Nashville 112 x 2
w/Knob-Guard