Charlie Moore wrote:I had heard all along that Carter guitars were junk,cheap built,would'nt stay in tune you name it bad is all i heard,i have played this guitar two jobs and several hours in music room and find ALL that false,this little guitar has tone forever more to the bone(NV 112 amp)I't has some minor faults but not NEAR the negative things i have heard..just thought you might want to check one out,don't know the Carter people but they sure have a nice guitar IMO..thanks...
Charlie...
I can't imagine anyone saying negative things like that if they've ever actually played one. I think you have to consider the source. Some people have an agenda or even a vendetta.
Carter pedal steels are world class instruments. They measure up very well, even against the expensive, low volume custom builders. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a Carter to anyone.
Can't imagine a Carter that doesn't stay in tune
I have owned two and they were totally, 150 % rock solid. Zero need for tuning (return) compensators.
I like the way they play and sound too.
1983 Emmons D10 SKH, Carter SD10, Nashville 112, Session 500, ProfexII, Lapsteels, GT-Beard reso, guitars of all kinds... http://www.myspace.com/ulfedlund
I traded a GFI Ultra SD10 keyless even up for my Carter SD10, both 2005 models. They are both great guitars. The most important thing to me was that I talked to Bud Carter (Sr?) at St. Louis a few years ago, and told him I owned, at the time, the GFI. He told me that the GFI was a wonderful guitar, and that anyone would be proud to own one! Bud CARTER said that to me, and he could've said any thing he wanted about GFI, but had only positives. I rspect that a lot. Many people only want to diss stuff that isn't their own. JP
If one of the minor faults is hum, try a pair of the Alumitone pickups from Carter. I replaced the Truetones in my Carter D10 with Alumitones (they just go straight in) and all the clarity, string-to-string definition and tone is still there...with no hum!
Carters are superb instruments at realistic prices. The value-for-money in these financially-difficult times is phenomenal.
The steel guitar is a hard mistress. She will obsess you, bemuse and bewitch you. She will dash your hopes on what seems to be whim, only to tease you into renewing the relationship once more so she can do it to you all over again...and yet, if you somehow manage to touch her in that certain magic way, she will yield up a sound which has so much soul, raw emotion and heartfelt depth to it that she will pierce you to the very core of your being.
I've never owned a Carter, and I've only met John Fabian one time (A pleasurable meeting with a fine gentleman who took time out of his busy day to talk to me, even though I wasn't shopping for a guitar.). However, one of the best examples of awesome tone from a PSG, that I can recall, came from a Carter as played by my friend and Forum member Russ Rickmann. I'll qualify, Russ is an outstanding musician, and undoubtably, can make any brand sound great. But I'll say, a major contribution to his great tone is his Carter instrument.
Hey Charlie. Man thats a good looking guitar. I love that blue. Mr. Elton is back so when are we going to get together so I can hear that thing. I know you've been playing a lot lately, but it would be nice to play with you guys again. See you soon I hope. Tootie
Charlie Moore wrote:...I had heard all along that Carter guitars were junk,cheap built, *would'nt stay in tune...
As Micky Byrne said, that's just the Carter Starter, which is intentionally cheaply built. Professional Carters are a whole different breed. *But the Carter Starter DOES stay in tune.
Another Carter player who hasn't chipped in...where are you Ted??? is Ted Solesky my "very good" internet pal. Ted is a tremendous player from Mineral Wells Texas who only plays a Carter. He's a personal friend of Bud. Through his playing many players have steered past "other" brands to buy a Carter. I recently received a dvd of Ted he kindly sent to me, showing the bands he's played with. He is one heck of a player....very very modest too, and probably why he hasn't added his 2 cents on here. He has expressed to me that if I wanted to know any of the moves he does on various songs, he'd explain them to me via e'mail....in my dreams!!! he's too good
Charlie Moore wrote:...I had heard all along that Carter guitars were junk,cheap built, *would'nt stay in tune...
As Micky Byrne said, that's just the Carter Starter, which is intentionally cheaply built. Professional Carters are a whole different breed. *But the Carter Starter DOES stay in tune.
I've seen the Carter Starter advertised as a "Genuine Carter Pedal Steel Guitar" by a dealer who might not have realized the difference between the starter and pro models. Perhaps there is more of this happening, and thus the source of confusion.
BTW I think the Carter Starter is a great thing. An inexpensive, entry level steel that has 4 knee levers and actually works well and sounds good. How many newer players got started in this instrument? How many people gave it a shot and decided that steel was not for them, and didn't have to spend thousands to find that out?
Kudos to Carter for making them. If I were a sorcerer I'd magically replace all the single knee lever student steels with them.
I confess that I've been one of the doubters re: Carter steels. However, my unfounded criticism was based purely on appearance. I had a chance to play on a couple quite recently, and all the negatives I'd expected simply didn't exist!
The end-plates were substantial, the pedal-action delightful, and they sounded super - even with me sitting at them!
I still don't care for that logo (looks like it belongs on a water-heater!), but that's of little consequence in the scheme of things. I'd have a Carter in a heartbeat - and maybe my much-mooted 12-string ext-E9 guitar will, one day, be a new Carter!
(It'll be black, of course...)
Roger Rettig - Emmons D10
(8+9: 'Day' pedals) Williams SD-12 (D13th: 8+6), Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and several old Martins.
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My Carter was built in 02, and its been terrific. Its as well built as anything I have ever owned,and I have owned a LOT.. very light to carry, stays in tune, sounds great , light action, changer pulls my 3rd string hi G# down a full tone with plenty of room and very little travel . That change may not sound like a big deal but a LOT of steels won't pull that 011 down a full tone at all, regardless of how much "throw" you give it. The Carter changer laughs at that very challenging pull.
My Carter does everything I could ever ask from it and more, and was priced right. Whats not to love?..
I change gear like dirty socks, but the Carter will be with me until age or sickness prevents me from playing it, at which time a younger player no doubt will get it and use it for many decades ... bob
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
After playing non-pedal for about 40 years, my first pedal steel was a Carter Starter, which I always regarded as a big mistake. It didn't take me long to box it up and buy a Sho-Bud. However, I recently pulled it out again, changed the pedals and pick-up for Emmons parts, and moved the pedals about four inches to the right. I shall be changing the knee levers, and probably building a new body.... I just don't happen to like Formica. I wouldn't go to all that trouble, in the middle of rebuilding a couple of Fender cable steels and a Sho-Bud Fingertip, if I didn't think the mechanism was basically sound. I would have no hesitation in buying a Carter professional model.
Mike Perlowin wrote:Bob, how does it compare with your red MSA?
Well Mike lets put it this way,,, I still have the Carter, and that gorgeous red MSA lacquer was traded off for a VERY nice Ric 370-12. Long ago.
The MSA was a VERY nice guitar, but IMHO couldn't compete with the Carter.
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
I played a Carter for three or four years when I was with Reba. I also cut three or four # 1 records with my first Carter (which I sold to a Frenchman in Ireland).
They are very solid guitars and will not go out of tune. The service was second to none. I just like a 24 3/4 scale. That's why I went to the Zum. I also have my old push pull and my Franklin, which is my main recording guitar. I ain't scared of no Carter though !
Dang Bruce, I had a Zum and it was only 24 1/4 scale, guess I got cheated out of half an inch! Uh, don't take that the wrong way.
My Carter plays and performs as well or better than any I've played. It's my 2nd Carter, both had the Geo L SS but have changed to the Alumitone p/u. Nice.
I have owned a S10 and a D10 Carter plus most every other brand of steel.Haven't had a bad steel yet.In fact i owned a fender400,1000,then a brand i forget as i got it after getting back from a road trip over seas.I then had a D10 ZB,a s10 ZB,ect.i have been retired for some time now and am back playing a lap steel with the C6 tuning and having a ball with it.
IMHO it seems to me too many are letting the steel play them instead of visa versa.Tracy
Oh BTW.Back to the subject,if some one thinks a Carter is a bad steel i have to believe they do not have much experience with steels.IOW no steel is going to play its self.
I bought my first pedal steel about 1 year ago, A Carter. Only about 1100 with taxes bought me an attractive, solid, great sounding guitar! I bring it out to jam about twice a month and stays in tune for the trip! Being that it's my first I can't see alot of room for improvement. When I purchase my next Carter PSG I guess I'll find out what I'm missing.
Thanks Carter for making an affordable PSG for us beginners. I've played guitar for almost 30 years and I don't pick it up half as often as I used to now that I have a PSG to play.
Thanks guys for chiming in on the Carter post,i have played it now on about 12 gigs and it is still doin the job..well i might add..One problem i had was the knee lever that raises 1 whole tone and 2 1/2 tone and lower 6 a whole tone(RKL) was so hard it would move the guitar but i got a rod chart off the Carter webb site and it was WAY off now its like butter,I don't know what pick ups it has (single coil) but they are great no hum just tone...anyway I love the little guitar,see youin's later...
Charlie...
I love mine, a black 'mica S12-XE9. Previous s-12s I played were a '73 MSA, an 83' Sho-Bud, and a Fessenden (vintage unknown). I enjoy playing it more than any of the other three, and it sounds great!! The MSA is put away, the Sho-bud is gathering dust, and the Fessenden is gone.
Hey Charlie: I may be joining ya. Just made a deal on a S10 Carter & NV 112 amp. The D10s have both got too fat for me to load. Don't know what they're eatin' . Seeya at the Jam. Andy H.
