The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm going to buy a PSG, just a matter of which one. Both are around the same price, so I need some input. Should I buy a Carter started or a Sho-Bud Maverick?

What's everyone's input? Also, is there a term glossary floating around anywhere? I see thing like U10 and D12, as well as other ones, and I have no idea what any of that means.

Hello William;
Here is a nice GFI in the for sale section that would meet your needs.
It also includes some items to help get you started.
Ron

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=179382

The big diffeerence between the C/S and the Mav is you get a full compliment of knee levers with the C/S and only one lever with the Mav. The ability to lower your E's only will only get you so far in develpoing as a steel gtrist, and the conventional wisdom is one can't add knee levers to a Mav. You do need to do some more research. Thjis is a good start:

http://www.steelguitarinfo.com/infoindex.html

The best advice I consistenly hear is Buy a used "pro" model (one with a "neck" and 3 pedals and 3 or 4 knees). That way you will not loose (too much) money on the resale.

"U10" means universal tuning, ten strings (although univertsals have a min of 12 strings). "D12" means double 12 string necks. There's lotsa helpful folks here, but do your own research, too.

Ron Whitworth wrote:Hello William;
Here is a nice GFI in the for sale section that would meet your needs.
It also includes some items to help get you started.
Ron

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=179382

Thanks for the info. It's a little outside of my price range. I found a CS for about $450, plus I have a volume pedal to get me started.

Neither, these things are hard enough to play without having to fight the guitar, also.

William,
Just another opinion that you should get the Carter instead of the Maverick for exactly the reasons Jon mentioned. We had a Maverick as our very first steel guitar and we out grew it very quickly and lost money when we sold it. Also, the Maverick had pot metal bell cranks that broke and I had to fabricate a new one as replacements weren't available. By all means do more study and talk to lots of people.
Joe

GFI All The WaY. SONNY.

GFI is a good guitar,If you can afford a little more I would look at a Stage One,and a Carp Steel,My Maverick was my first guitar and it cut me many times from strings breaking...lotsa blood,you couldn't give me one.The Carter has a knee lever that has way too much travel ,I've been told it can be re-welded?It's a better guitar than the Maverick.

You will get a million suggestions, but choosing between the ones you asked about is a no brainer; Carter Starter.

Short PSG glossary:
PSG = Pedal Steel Guitar
U12 = Universal E9/B6 tuning, 12 strings.
S10 = Single neck, 10 strings.
D10 = Double neck, 10 strings each.
SD10 = Single neck on a double body, 10 strings.

3+5 = Three foot pedals, five knee levers.

E66, 10-1, PF-1, BL710, XR16 are examples of common pickups.

You might see references to (Jimmy)Day vs (Buddy)Emmons setups.
That is the order/setup of the foot pedals on the E9 neck.
In an "Emmons" setup you would call the pedals (from left to right) A B C
A "Day" setup is mirrored, C B A.

The bottom line is that you need a guitar with 4 knee levers, and the maverick only has one. It is not adequate by today's standards.

When I rule the world, my second command will be to burn all student steels with just one knee lever. (The first will be that all music must contain a steel guitar solo.)

get that gfi, if you dont you will be kicking yourself later. This from a former carter starter owner. BTW you can add a 4th knee lever to the gfi on the cheap and have a guitar that is close to being a pro model for a lot lot lot less money.

Do yourself a favor and check out the Stage One (Zum) by Doug Earnst in Branson, Mo. Great guitars for the money. L.B.

Hi William

I was in your shoes not so long ago. Bought a Carter Starter had problems got rid of it. Bought a Maverick had problems & got rid of it.My advice is save your money and buy the best pro model steel you can afford.

You will save yourself alot of time and headaches. The bottom line is both those guitars issues detracted from my learning process.I spent more time dealing with the guitars than playing them.

I know it sucks having to wait when all you want is to be learning how to play. But believe me it will be worth it.I wasted 2 years & lots of money coming to this conclusion.
Do yourself a favor get a pro model guitar.

Shane

William like yourself I too have been pondering on which guitar to buy..After doing a lot of research and a lot of asking questions..do yourself a favor and call Doug at Stage One..You'll not find a nicer person to talk to ...Thats what I decided to go with mainly because I can call and talk to him about any problems..That says a lot..

I believe the OP has already said:

Thanks for the info. It's a little outside of my price range. I found a CS for about $450, plus I have a volume pedal to get me started.

So, any further suggestions are moot. I would have already suggested a Stage One, but he apparently had a very small budget, and has found something within it.

If you can swing the bucks for a used Carter Starter, go for it.

I started with the Carter, bought through a catalogue for $750 with all the accessories. This was a good enough instrument to get me "started" and introduce me to Pedal Steel. As mentioned, the CS has the 3+4 setup which is essential to get past real beginner playing. I was able to sell my CS on this forum for a decent return and moved to a Carpsteel, which I love.
If you can get a CS for under $500 it is a minimal investment to see if you like it. If you can spend up to $1000 there are many more options that open up .. including some used pro models.

I started out with a Maverick. I didn't find it to be that awful, and I didn't lose money on it when I sold it, but I did outgrow it quickly. If the Carter starter is in the same price range go with that, the 4 knee levers will make a huge difference in how long it will remain useful to you. And remember it's called a starter guitar for a reason.

I bought this one. Love it

http://www.stageonesteelguitars.com/

I have personally checked out the Carter Starter, the Stage One, and the Carpsteel. I have not checked out the GFI student model or the Simmons.

The Carter Starter is exactly what it is purported to be: a bedroom instrument, designed for beginners. With its four knee levers, (as opposed to the Sho-bud Maverick and MSA Red Baron that only has one,) it has everything a newbie needs to learn on. But it is not very sturdy, and in my opinion will not hold up to the rigors of gigging. Plus, the copedent is fixed, and can't be altered.

As the first student guitar with 4 knee levers and its affordable price, I felt that this was something that was needed, and that John (may he rest in peace) and Ann and Bud were doing a real service to our community by manufacturing it.

At the same time I was not impressed with the overall quality of the guitar. I felt anybody who bought one would eventually need to upgrade to a better instrument.

Both the Carpsteel and the Stage one, are stronger, sturdier instruments, that, while lacking the refinements of a true pro guitar, are nevertheless good enough to use as a student graduates from practicing at home and starts playing in a band. I'd rate these as intermediate level instruments. Unlike the Carter Starter, a beginner starting with either of these might want to upgrade to a pro model, but would not need to.

I've seen GFI pro models and was highly impressed, but as I said before I've not seen the student model, nor the Simmons, and so I can't comment on either one.

William, I'm also a beginner for PSG. I spent all past January asking to the forum members about which&why guitar issues...At the and I've ordered a red S10 Wiliams (I like it too much. like a red FERRARI... and Bill Rudolph is a really kind pro- maker)...but for sure there are a lot of other brands on the market with same quality. What I've learned as a beginner from Forum members (thanks for suggestion) is avoid to buy PSG with fixed pedal configuration and/or with only 1 lever. On my Willy I have 3 pedals and 5 levers and I can say that even as a beginner, I'm using at least 3 levers after 2 weeks learning.So the message from me is spend yr fixed budget for as much as you can pro model...(new ore used) If and when you will sell it in the future you will have back yr money. Good luck.

Daniele Gilioli wrote: What I've learned as a beginner from Forum members (thanks for suggestion) is avoid to buy PSG with fixed pedal configuration and/or with only 1 lever.

I say definitely avoid a guitar with just one knee lever, (or even only 2,) but although the fixed copedent on the Carter Starter is not exactly desirable, it's not really a problem either. John got it right when he designed the guitar. The fixed tuning that's on there is exactly what a beginner needs. There's no reason for anybody who is starting out to change anything.

I think there are several reasons to get a better guitar, but that's not one of them.

I'm not sure that a fixed copedent is such a bad thing when you start out.
A beginner should spend time playing and learning the instrument, not altering the tuning

The Maverick was a great starter guitar when I bought mine in 1974. I still have it. But today, there are so many more options. GFI and Carter are terrific guitars for not a lot of money.