The Steel Guitar Forum

I've been gigging steadily for over a year w/ one & haven't had a bit of trouble with it. I highly recommend it!

Recently I answered a similar post from a forum member who was considering buying a Carpsteel. Being as he lives near Jim Palenscars shop in Oceanside and I was going to be making a trip down there to have Jim work on another guitar for me, I agreed to bring my Carpsteel with me for him to check out. I use mine as my "fly gig" guitar so I don't have to worry about a baggage handler breaking one of my PP's. When I pulled it out of the case there at Jim's shop, it had not been set up since I had returned from a trip to Dallas the month before and IT WAS PERFECTLY IN TUNE FROM THE LAST SHOW I DID IN TEXAS. So I'd say they hold up pretty well and for the price are a good value.
JE:-)>

I've had one since February! So far so good, it sounds great with my amp, it's super light, and requires very little maintenance.

I went back and forth about throwing some money at a used steel, and, figured since I'd never owned one, it would be better for me to have one straight from the factory. A very good call for me personally.

-vwg

James I got my Carpsteel barely a month ago. It does play well, after tweaking by Jim Palenscar.

I won't know if it holds up well for a few years, but I don't see why not as the body is aluminum and the parts look like quality machined parts.

As he mentioned, Jim Eaton brought his Carp by Jim's shop for me to check out (thanks again to the two Jim's). It was indeed still in tune right out of the case.

Mine also keeps in good tune, but Jim Palesncar made that a reality by his masterful tweaking. Cabinet drop measured 4.5 cents on mine. I think we should expect temperature changes to affect the aluminum, perhaps more than wood or formica.

What makes this such a cool instrument is how light it is. I was told the mechanics appear to be the same parts as on other Rains.

I did change the pickup. This is very subjective, but in my opinion the stock pickup sounds on the side of harsh and thin. Others may not think so and perhaps some preamp tweaking may compensate. But those who A/B'd the stock pickup against the Alumnatone, had no doubt it's an improvement well worth the cost.

Thanks for all the help ! I juess i'll be ordering a Carp steel !!

Please close it up b0b !!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Jim