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Topic: The carter steel guitar? |
Terry Sneed
From:
Arkansas,
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Posted 20 Feb 2004 11:32 am |
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I've read where the man that made the MSA also made the Carter. All things being equal,( playing through the same amp, same settings, Does the Carter have that MSA sound, or does it sound more like an Emmons, Zum, etc?
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Terry Wayne |
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John McGann
From:
Boston, Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Feb 2004 11:37 am
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The Carter has it's own thing. If you've played an MSA, they also have their own, different thing. There are a lot of variations depending on pickups as well- for example, my Carter D-10 improved tremendously (to my ears) with TrueTone pickups. It doesn't sound exactly like other brands of steels that I've played, and THEY all sound and feel a little different.
The optimal thing is to play one and judge for yourself. |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2004 11:45 am
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In between MSA and Carter, Bud Carter also worked at MCI. All great guitars and all different sounding.  |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2004 12:11 pm
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| Moved to 'pedal steel' section of the Forum. |
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Randy Pettit
From:
North Texas USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2004 1:43 pm
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Terry,
Why don't you come to Dallas in a couple of weeks and you can play 'em all!  [This message was edited by Randy Pettit on 20 February 2004 at 01:43 PM.] |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2004 2:42 pm
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| Carter and MSA are VERY different. Both are great guitars. The Carter to me sounds more "glassy" than other guitars I've played. Depends on the pick up too. If I had to choose between the sound of The two Carters I played [after the pickup on the red/black one came back to life]and my beautiful Sho Bud Pro III that I owned for years,either Carter would win hands down. Both also had/have great sustain too. Sustain was somewhat problematic with my Mica body MSA,and I plan to replace with an all wood body.... bob |
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Jeff A. Smith
From:
Angola,Ind. U.S.A.
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Posted 20 Feb 2004 6:49 pm
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| Quote: |
| I've read where the man that made the MSA also made the Carter. |
Not to belittle his accomplishments, but Bud Carter wasn't solely responsible for designing the MSA.
It's been stated on here, and confirmed by Carter people, that the sound of the Emmons push-pull was originally what the Carter steel was patterned after.
I don't own a Carter, but I own an Emmons LeGrande and a lacquer MSA. The MSA is totally different from the Carter, but the Emmons sounds similar to Carters I've heard.
The MCI also seems to have been a departure from the basic MSA sound, although the MSA "Super Small" (a later model very similar to modern steels, except for its having a lacquer body and wood neck) might be more similar to an MCI or Emmons in sound. (I base this assumption purely on visual design and a few comments from others. I've never played one.) [This message was edited by Jeff A. Smith on 20 February 2004 at 06:51 PM.] |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Bill Simmons
From:
Keller, Texas/Birmingham, AL, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Feb 2004 6:43 am
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The Carter Steels are super steels at a great price...
I think the vendors/builders like Bud Carter should recieve a special award at the annual conventions for contributing to the steel guitar industry ...Bud is the steel guitar 'Leo Fender' in a way for having been involved in the MSA - MCI - EMCI - Carter steels...just a thought. |
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Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2004 7:23 am
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| While it is true Bud Carter has been involved with all those brands of steels let us not overlook the man as an individual. I have never heard anything bad about him in the 25 years I have been playing. Bud, to all who know him is a quiet and humble man and highly intelligent, not to forget he is a tremendous player as well. He worked on a steel for me about 4 or 5 years ago and I was amazed just watching him do what he does best. Bud Carter, there is a lot we can say about him but he is just an all around talented man and he sure has my deepest respect....Paul King |
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Terry Sneed
From:
Arkansas,
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Posted 21 Feb 2004 8:35 am
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Thanks for all your replies. The MSA was the first steel I owned. while it played very well, it had a little to much of a mellow sound to me. then I got an LDG sho-bud, which I liked better as far as sound, but after I got my Emmons, I knew I had the sound I was lookin for. I also like the sound of the Zum and Franklin. anyway, thanks again guys. hopefully within the next 6 months I'll have myself another guitar. In the meantime, I'll keep strumming on my 6 string.
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Terry Wayne |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 21 Feb 2004 9:22 am
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During my 58 years of playing a steel guitar, I have only owned six guitars...a lap from Sears, a double neck Supro from a Pawn Shop, a Fender Custom three-neck, a Fender 1000, a Sho-Bud Super Pro, and a Carter D-10.
I don't anticipate ever owning another guitar, (since I am semi-retired), but if I ever did buy another one, I don't believe that any other guitar would exceed the qualities of the Carter. It has everything that anyone would want.
(Ann, Bud and John....if you want to send me a "freebie", check your records for my snail address!)
www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 21 February 2004 at 09:24 AM.] |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2004 9:39 am
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| Another small clarification. Bud left MCI to start Carter before MCI became EMCI. |
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Bill Simmons
From:
Keller, Texas/Birmingham, AL, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Feb 2004 11:01 am
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Jim...you are right again! (I have your CD's ready to give you at the TSGC). Bill
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'79 Emmons D-10; 8+6; Webb Amp; Hilton Volume Pedal; Boss DD-2; BJS & Bullet Bars |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2004 11:56 am
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Thanks Bill. The only reason I know for sure, is that I did some part-time assembly work for MCI after Bud left. Gene Fields and Red Rhodes came on board shortly thereafter, and many design changes took place around the time of the name change to EMCI.
A little off-topic trivia: After looking at my Dekley's bolted and roll-pinned endplates, Gene came up with the brilliant idea of welding the endplates to the side rails, a design that he carried to his own GFI guitars. |
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