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Author
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Topic: EMCI Owners
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Bill Simmons
Member From: Keller, Texas, USA
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posted 25 February 2004 09:14 AM
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Can you tell me how the EMCI's sound and play? A friend wants to buy one but wants to know how they sound and what the average price should be for either a D-10 or SD 10? Any thoughts and comments are appreciated...thanks. |
John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 25 February 2004 10:45 AM
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OK, here we go....body armor in place, visor down.
I think the EMCI is the best sounding steel I have ever played or heard. I was at Bobbe Seymour's shop a few years ago and heard him play his and was just blown away. He wouldn't sell it, but suggested I go find one while they were still inexpensive. I looked for about a year and bought a D-10 with the original protoype Lawrence 710 pickups. Haven't looked back since.
Prior to the EMCI, I had owned everything under the sun and heard and played dozens more. Along with a couple of pals, we had
A/B'd guitars and kept the best and sold the rest. The bar was set VERY high by the time the EMCI was tested. It beat out a fantastic sounding Fessenden, which I didn't think was possible. Most of my player friends now own EMCI or MCI RangeExpanders and understand how much tone and sustain these little guitars have.
The prices have risen in the last couple of years and a D-10 EMCI seems to fetch around $2500. I wouldn't sell mine for twice that.
EMCI is the best kept secret in the steel world. |
Bob Blair
Member From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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posted 25 February 2004 11:43 AM
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I agree with most of what John just said. I have always liked my EMCI SD-10 a lot - sounds great,lightweight, excellent mechanically. However, the black Fessenden that John let go in favour of his EMCI found its way to me via Jim Cohen, and to me the Fessy is easily the best sounding guitar I've ever owned. But you can't go wrong with an EMCI in decent shape - they are fantastic guitars. |
Jim Cohen
Member From: Philadelphia, PA
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posted 25 February 2004 11:54 AM
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... and I still wish I had that Fessy back!  |
Paddy Long
Member From: Christchurch, New Zealand
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posted 25 February 2004 12:24 PM
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I have an MCI Rangexpander D10 which I have had since new (built in 86) Originally it came from the factory with Barcus Berry Humbuckers but I now have GL E66 on C6th and GL 10-1 on the E9th on Bobbe Seymours advise. This has made a great sounding guitar even better -- it is by far the best guitar I have ever played and would never sell it. Real easy to play, light weight and sounds great - and it's Black !! (With a dark grey deck) !! Good luck with your search - Bobbe had a Red D10 recently but I think it's gone.
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Bob Blair
Member From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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posted 25 February 2004 12:51 PM
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Yep Jimbeaux, mentioning the black Fessenden is always a sure way of getting your attention! But you're slipping - looks like it took nine minutes this time.... |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 25 February 2004 12:57 PM
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Yes, I must say that this is truly a great sounding steel guitar. And this means compared to any. I have recorded many sessions with mine and played St.Louis and many other live shows, this guitar is the most under rated steel guitar ever.
Again, as always, this is just my own opinion. I hope it offends no one.
bobbe |
Kurt Kowalski
Member From: Holley, New York U.S.A.
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posted 25 February 2004 01:08 PM
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EMCI 
John and everyone else are so very right on.
I miss mine...
So John,
How is my old girl still treating you? 
She's very very red. Huh...
Best regards,
KK[This message was edited by Kurt Kowalski on 25 February 2004 at 01:09 PM.] |
Ronald Moore
Member From: Mindoro, Wisconsin, USA
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posted 25 February 2004 05:13 PM
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I have a EMCI S-12 with the Barcus-Berry pickup on it and I think it is the best sounding steel guitar I have ever played. I use a well known brand now, but the EMCI still has the best sound. Whatever happened to Barcus-Berry pickups? Ron |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 25 February 2004 06:15 PM
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These pickups were designed by Bob Crooks of Standel fame, Bob is no longer with us but the guitars sound great with any pickup on them. Buddy Emmons designed the "E-66" pickup on the EMCI guitar. Tested at my store in late 1989 I believe.
I love this Geo. L. pickup on this guitar, but I have heard about every pickup made on the EMCI and the guitar sounds great regardless of what is used as a transducer. It has a great tone that can't be hidden. Remember, the pickup doesn't create timbre, just tries to reproduce what it "hears". On a EMCI, it hears beautiful tone.
Yep, a great forgotten guitar. But not by all. bobbe |
Jody Sanders
Member From: Magnolia,Texas
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posted 25 February 2004 10:24 PM
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Excellent guitar. I have a red D10 8/6. When it was built, I held up on having it shipped until Buddy and George could wind me a pair of E66's as they were not on the market yet. The pickups are plain without the George L. E66 logo. Not for sale. Jody. |
John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 25 February 2004 10:48 PM
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Bob- Yes, that black Fessy was a great guitar. Jim C. was lamenting the fact he sold it last I saw him. I A/B'd that Fessenden to the EMCI and between the two I preferred the EMCI. It was close. EMCI seemed to have more balance between strings and cleaner on high frets. Harmonics are a cinch on the EMCI; just get in the ballpark and the guitar does the work. Fessy probably had slightly better sustain, but almost too much for me.Kurt- Yes, it's still red and it's still wonderful! Bobbe- I am forever in your debt for your having told me about the EMCI. You were so right it almost hurts. As for Barcus-Berry pickups, I have found they make wonderful paperweights, doorstops and fishing sinkers. |
Bill Simmons
Member From: Keller, Texas, USA
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posted 26 February 2004 08:33 AM
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Thanks for all the great wisdom...I'm learning a lot about the EMCI...any other comments? |
Walter Hamlin
Member From: Talladega, Alabama, USA
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posted 26 February 2004 09:04 AM
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I've heard them, and played one at Bobbe Seymours' and I think it had the best tone of any I've ever heard. To me the GFI was close and I bought one from Bobbe because of it being lightweight. I still like the GFI but I wish I had an EMCI.
Walter |
Nicholas Dedring
Member From: Brooklyn, New York, USA
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posted 26 February 2004 09:25 AM
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I have an MCI, pre-rangexpander waco version. Triple-raise, triple-lower, reasonably light, stable, strong guitar. I've really not heard a bad thing about them... either in the earlier or later forms. Changer designed by Bud Carter, seems to keep up with anything I've thought of so far. |
Jay Jessup
Member From: Charlottesville, VA, USA
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posted 26 February 2004 10:53 AM
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I agree with John on the proper use for the BB PU's. The only negative for EMCI's is you have to have anything you need for them made from scratch as I think most of the spare parts have been exhausted long ago. Some of their knee lever designs were a little fragile and if you want to add pedals or knee levers or extra changes (most D-10's just came with 8+4 unless is was a custom order)it's either machine something yourself or adapt parts from other manufacturers. Mike Cass has succesfully adapted Emmons parts to many in the past so it can be done even though it doesn't look very good with mis-matched knee lever colors. |
John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 27 February 2004 09:16 AM
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Jay- You're correct, the knee levers look like they were designed as an afterthought. Very flimsy. Some of the guys who have bought these guitars have been machinists and I have gotten a few extra parts and knee levers to keep me going. Do you know a ready source of parts? Didn't LoneStar Guitars buy out the EMCI parts years back?
Bobbe, where are you when we need you? |
C Dixon
Member From: Duluth, GA USA
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posted 27 February 2004 10:25 AM
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So, are we to ascertain from the above what I have always contended? "The sound is not ALL in the hands?" carl |
Rick Collins
Member From: Claremont , CA USA
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posted 27 February 2004 11:39 AM
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quote:
"The sound is not ALL in the hands?"
You are so right, Carl. I do not have the talent to make a fuzzy distortion with my hands; but I now have developed one in my amp. Rick |
J D Sauser
Member From: Traveling, currently in Switzerland, soon to be either back in the States or on the Eastern part of Hispaniola Island
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posted 27 February 2004 02:53 PM
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About 3 years back I bought an EMCI of an e-bay auction for a fellow forumite in S.-Florida. It got delivered to me and I must say that I knew them to be good guitars but it surpassed my expectations. Especially the C6th side was awsome. I had Neil Flanz over to try it too and he agreed and came up with a word that I think best descrives the C6th: "gutsy".... J-D. |
Ronald Moore
Member From: Mindoro, Wisconsin, USA
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posted 29 February 2004 07:08 AM
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Regarding EMCI knee levers. I agree they are pretty flimsy. I had the small part with the adjusting screw break off and some of the others are bent. I made a crude one out of 1/2 inch square key stock and it works but isn't very pretty. I think GFI knee levers will work. I think the only difference is that they are black instead of aluminum color. Does anyone else know for sure if they will work or not? Ron |
Jim Smith
Member From: Plano, TX, USA
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posted 29 February 2004 07:19 AM
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Gene Fields used to work at MCI/EMCI, and might know if they will fit. Ask him! |
Cal Sharp
Member From: Gnashville
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posted 29 February 2004 12:06 PM
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quote:
"The sound is not ALL in the hands?
_______________________________________
Exactly. If you compare Buddy's EMCI tone on the "Swingin'" albums with the tone he gets with an Emmons guitar you'll note the drastic difference.C# |
Mike Richardson
Member From: Rutledge, Georgia, USA
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posted 29 February 2004 05:43 PM
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I wish I had mine back.I sold mine to Bobbe Seymour in November of 2003.It was a Red top D-10 with black aprons and the 710 pickups.It was my first D-10 and sounded so good in the hands of a real steel player.If the person that bought it sees this please e-mail me.I would love to know where my EMCI now lives.Emmons D-10 Lagrande ll
Nashville 1000 |
Paddy Long
Member From: Christchurch, New Zealand
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posted 29 February 2004 06:41 PM
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Yes Bobbe informs me that the GFI levers and adjustable crossrods will fit the MCI's - just long as you get the silver ones instead of the black ones.I'm in the process of trying to track down an extra pedal kit and and a staggered knee kit (LFL) -- so if you know of any give me a call.
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John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 02 March 2004 09:43 AM
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Here's another interesting thing I've come to understand about the EMCI/MCI RangeExpander. Wonder if anyone else has noticed this.
Since the guitar has a large amount of aluminum in the fully welded frame as well as the typical metal necks, it take a long time for the guitar to settle to pitch when brought inside from the heat or cold. Here in Tucson the temps can be 20 degrees or 110 degrees and when the guitar has been in the back of my pickup....well, I know that I'd better leave an extra 30 minutes for the guitar to get to room temperature. On the other hand aluminum doesn't react to humidity so that problem is minimal.
Half hour extra is a small price to pay for the tone! |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 02 March 2004 01:14 PM
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The temp change shouldn't be of any factor because the nut and bridge are only connected to the top of the guitar , which is all wood. |
Paddy Long
Member From: Christchurch, New Zealand
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posted 02 March 2004 05:11 PM
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I agree with Bobbe here - I have never had much of a problem with temperature change. Once I have warmed the strings up a bit and tune it, it usually stays pretty much in tune. 10 minutes tops.
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Jimmie Misenheimer
Member From: Bloomington, Indiana - U. S. A.
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posted 02 March 2004 06:45 PM
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I've got one of the nicest D-10 M.C.I. Range Expander guitars, 9&8, that you ever saw! It's sitting in the case right next to one of the best '71 Emmons Guitars you've ever seen - same set-up, also in the case. I got my first ZUM in 1996, and I NEVER looked back... Jimmie |
John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 03 March 2004 08:38 AM
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Bobbe, Just reporting anecdotal evidence. The tuner says I have to warm it or cool it to room temp first or I'll be tuning up, down and sideways all night.
After you get in your plane and fly out to Arizona and finally open Steel Guitar Nashville West, you will be able to test this tuning theory personally.
Close to 80 degrees here by the weekend! |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 04 March 2004 02:46 PM
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Yes John, I realize that you have a unique situation. Arizona, but it has to be worth it to live there!
bobbe |
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