An Open Letter to Steel Players

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

This is IMHO. When you are not happy with a purchase, first try to wotk out the problem with the vendor, before posting a complaint on the Forun. Carter Guitars has an excellent record of service before, during, and after the sale. Best regards, Jody.

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

There have been two or three instances I have heard of where this has been the case. A couple involving expensive rebuilds. Nary a word about it here.

I personally didn't care for my TT Pickup, and worked it out with Jerry to have the amount of windings changed, AND I sent him my two Stock SB SCz for rewinding. I think I have posted the results of this when people asked for input. I know I've helped increase his business by showing how willing and accommodating Jerry Wallace was in my case.

Lots of times I think it's just how you put it.

I agree with you, and I think the most recent snafu with Carter is a great example. Ususlly by the time the send button is pushed, things have changed.

Doesn't mean I won't express a negative opinion.

Like I said though, when manufacturers choose to use a "users forum" for "touting their product" or " dealing with policy matters", they must realise it's a two way street.

Most seem to.

EJL

[This message was edited by Eric West on 31 January 2004 at 03:17 PM.]

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Sorry Jody,I respectfully disagree. This is a steel GUITARIST forum.Not a manufacturers fan club site.ALL manufactures need to be able to take the heat when a buyer is unhappy as well as basking in the afterglow of a glowing review. If you will read my post about further evaluation of this wrong color Carter,you will find I stated that except for the color and pickup problems,once I tuned all the stops,and played it at length and looked it over,I felt this guitar was among the best I have played in construction,fit and finish and mechanicals. Carter makes a GREAT guitar, This one is just not right and I "voiced my displeasure to my peers . Read nothing else into it. bob

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

I suspect that if Bob C had the benefit of hindsight, he might word some of his original post slightly differently. Indeed, he has acknowledged that he was a little premature in posting before the company concerned had been given the opportunity to remedy the situation of the wrong colour (which to their credit they did and very quickly).

The initial problem was that of the topic title -"BIG BIG disappointment with my new steel". The topic title could have had an adverse effect on the company concerned. Some readers may not have bothered to look too closely at the content of the post in which Bob actually castigated himself for ordering the wrong type of pickup.

I feel that this is the main issue here. A sustancial investment goes into the purchase of a pedal steel guitar. The instrument is quite unlike an electronic keyboard or the like in as much as it is constructed from organic material and no two instruments from the same manufacturer will sound absolutely identical. They may sound similar due to the construction but never completely identical.

I certainly would not buy a conventional 6-string electric guitar without trying it first because of the variances in tone from the same manufacturers guitars. Yet many of us will quite happily order a bespoke pedal steel guitar at a much higher cost than a standard guitar without having the facility to try it first. It doesn't make sense.

Personally I have always tried out a steel guitar first before parting with any money. I will compare it to other similar guitars at the same time. I have heard huge differences in tone or timbre between what on the face of it would appear to be the same model.

Some pickups sound better on one manufacturers guitars that they do on others. Bob C took a gamble on ordering a certain type of pickup with his guitar which quite patently wasn't for him. He didn't know this until the guitar was actually in his possession.

In summary, because there is not a market for new pedal steels that warrants having retail shops with different guitars to try, there will occasionally be people who are unhappy with a guitar that they have ordered. It is a price that we pay for playing such a specialist instrument.

KB

[This message was edited by Ken Byng on 01 February 2004 at 04:12 AM.]

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

KEN.. actually I was very familiar with the pickup I ordered, having used one for well over 20 years. For whatever reason,it just does NOT work on this Carter. I can't explain why,I just know it was a REAL bad choice for this guitar. Carter won't be hurt by a griping buyer, especially one like me who actually really loves every aspect of the steel in question except for 2 things. The color,and the pickup which is DREADFUL and IS NOT Carters fault.It probably should have been played a bit before it was shipped,maybe it was I don't know,but I would have red flagged it if I were doing the playing.If you turn the amp on and just play at practice volume,5 of the positions on the rotary switch are muddy in the extreme and overdrive the preamp into nasty distortion. I picked the problem up in the first 20 seconds. Anyway, if this guitar were an acceptable color and the pickup were right,it would be as good or better than ANYTHING I have owned or played. It is a VERY good steel guitar in EVERY OTHER WAY!..... bob

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Bob - the point I was trying to make is that many pickups sound different in different guitars. How is one expected to know what sounds good and what sounds bad if you can't try it out first? Yours is a classic example of the problem. I suppose that in a way, interchangeable pickups is a halfway answer.

KB

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

I'm still thinking that there's something wrong with the pickup. Either it's wired wrong, or it's damaged. There just seems to much difference in the pups functioning. Sure, it may not be the best choice for that Carter, but it shoudn't be that bad. Total distortion. Something's not right! JB

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

I spoke with John Fabian... at his suggestion I checked the ressistance of the pickup. Its between 20-24 K ohms in all positions... TERRIBLY overwound! The new guitar is getting a Wallace TruTone 18.5..... bob

Jerry Roller · From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

I betcha there's a strand or strands of wire touching where its not supposed to on the tap out switch. Not miswired but just a stray strand or two.
Jerry

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