The Steel Guitar Forum

Hello everyone: I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with a Canadian pedal steel company called MK Guitars? I currently have a Carter Starter but it’s time to upgrade to a more solid guitar, and I have an opportunity to get a used one for a good price .
Thanks in advance for any advice.

Rick

There's one on kijiji , located near Ottawa . Is that the one you are looking at ?

That looks like a step down from the Carter Starter. At the least, it requires inspection and playing to determine if the home-built appearance carries over to the actual functionality. (It is possible that it plays better than it looks).

edited to add: I always assume that when someone does not show you pictures of the underside of a PSG, it's for a good reason. I have zero trust in that person.

Yes, it’s the one on Kijiji and the seller just posted more pictures of the under side.

It is possible that it plays well.
But it looks like very rough craftsmanship. And it has a million residual holes under there. My recommendation is that it is a definite pass. It would need to prove itself (by playing it) before I would consider buying it. And then, the price is at least double what it ought to be.
It's a pull-release, btw.

Hey Jon, thanks for the insights:)

I'm absolutely not looking to be negative. Just describing what I'm seeing.

I am a bit of broken record on this but with an upgrade to the Carter Starter LKL stop you have a very workable steel guitar.
I consider that to be the one "what were you thinking!?" I'd like to ask John Fabian -- $10 of parts and time would have prevented this from being its glaring flaw.
But for sure, the time comes to upgrade. That was built in to the C-S concept.
But you DEFINITELY can do better. Especially at that MK asking price.

This looks like a project to me. I would move on. It is possible to get a nice 3+4 all-pull instrument new for not a lot more than this. Examples: Justice Jr., Zum Encore, Mullen Discovery. And good solid used guitars come up for this kind of money on the forum periodically. BMI, MSA, Dekley, even Carter sometimes.

If this is the one in Ontario, I don't even see how you're going to get it to BC unless you want to drive there. It has no case and the guy says he won't ship.

Here is a link to their website:

https://www.mkguitars.com/