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Author
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Topic: MCI/EMCI- Who Owns One? Serial #/Date?
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John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 20 May 2004 05:10 PM
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I notice that there is a great interest in the MCI and EMCI guitars of late. They are phenominal guitars, but info on them is sketchy even with all of the topics appearing here on the SGF.
Who out there owns an MCI or and EMCI? Is it a Waco model or a welded frame? Aluminum or wood necks? Arlington built? Gretsch? Carter? What year do you think it was made? What's the serial #. Anything else you can tell us may be helpful in putting together a better overall picture of this wonderful instrument. Thanks.
I'll start here with my guitar.My EMCI is a D-10, 8+9 (added levers). Aluminum necks, red mica. Model RX5000 RangeExpander, Arlington built, welded frame. Colored fretboards. Extruded pedalboard and pedals. Original prototype BL710 PUPS. Supposedly built in 1986. First owned by Kurt Kowalski, then Bruce Bouton.
Serial # is: H3190 |
Kurt Kowalski
Member From: Holley, New York U.S.A.
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posted 20 May 2004 05:21 PM
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Hi John,
I miss that guitar...
KK |
Nicholas Dedring
Member From: Brooklyn, New York, USA
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posted 20 May 2004 05:25 PM
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Hey there. I guess maybe I qualify?I have a Waco, Wood neck D10. I don't know exactly why, but part of the undercarriage is not MCI stock. The pedal bar, pedal rods, and crossrods are MCI, except for a crossrod that was added by Mr. Thomas for LKV. The pull rods, knee lever assemblies and bellcranks were installed by Roy Thomas of Pedalmaster. I got the guitar from Dan cormier, who might know more of the story. I have no MCI serial number that I can find. I consider it an MCI; everything but the bellcranks and rods from bellcrank to changer are MCI. The rebuild was in 2001. The purview of the guitar is a mystery to me, if Dan can't chime in with a thought here... It's the one with the wood necks, black formica, which white trim built in, different logo from the later Waco MCIs. As far as I understand, it was the same style Chalker played... I dig it. People have told me it's a nice axe... at least to my face  [This message was edited by Nicholas Dedring on 20 May 2004 at 05:27 PM.] |
Ronald Moore
Member From: Mindoro, Wisconsin, USA
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posted 20 May 2004 06:02 PM
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I have a EMCI single 12 universal with 7 & 4. It is two tone blue,(dark blue on the front and sky blue on the top.) It was built for me by John Birkhead in 1988 and does not have the colored fretboard. That came out shortly after mine was built. It always was and still is a great sounding guitar. The plate underneath inside the endplate says: MODEL: RX5000 -- Serial No: FG4217. That is all I can tell you except that I know the date of build is the first part of 1988. Ron |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 20 May 2004 07:22 PM
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H 3143 is my personal MCI Range Expander, also red and more wonderful than I can describe. I need to install different pickups but it sounds great , even with the present ones. It was a trade in a while back, don't remember the person or history. Seems as though it must be a little later than an '86, but I'm curious to see what pops up on this thread. Great guitars? John, you are not alone in your thinking here, these steel guitars have many fans, as well they should.
bobbe |
Earnest Bovine
Member From: Los Angeles CA USA
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posted 20 May 2004 07:51 PM
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There is an MCI S-12 7+4 in the basement. I gave too much for it ($500) but it does come in handy when I need to check a steel as airline baggage because I don't care if they smash it. |
kyle reid
Member From: Butte,Mt.usa
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posted 20 May 2004 08:42 PM
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Thats One in a Row |
Reggie Duncan
Member From: Mississippi
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posted 20 May 2004 08:52 PM
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I played an EMCI, or MCI, that I was told once belonged to Weldon Myrick. It was red and for sale. I should have bought it. |
John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 21 May 2004 07:50 AM
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Kurt, I can see why you miss it.
Can you confirm the 1986 manufacture date? Did all EMCI's after a certain date have the colored fretboards? Bobbe or Jim Smith, we need you! |
John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 21 May 2004 10:06 AM
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George Daiber called me with the following input on his guitar:EMCI D-10, 8+5 RangeExpander, welded frame, two-tone blue mica, aluminum necks. Supposedly made in 1986. Serial # T3214 |
Johnny Jones
Member From: Benton, Kentucky USA
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posted 21 May 2004 07:33 PM
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I have a SD-10 EMCI no.H 3170.What kind of pick-up's do you'all recommend for a welded frame EMCI.Johnny Jones |
Kurt Kowalski
Member From: Holley, New York U.S.A.
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posted 22 May 2004 06:57 AM
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John,
I'm trying to dig up my old records as to when H3190 was built and delivered.So far, all I have is my recollection and it may be a bit sketchy as I was young, crazy and going through a divorce around that period. I do recall ordering the axe at the '86 ISGC from John Birkhead and it was shipped sometime after that... maybe even early '87 is possible. Gene Fields was at the factory then. This guitar was shipped from the factory with E-66 PUPS, Then Birkhead called me and told me he was sending me Barcus Barrys to try. I got the Barcus's and put them in... they lasted about 2 minutes and came back out. E-66's stayed in untill Bill Lawrence made the L-710 Proto's. If memory serves... H3190 also has a maple butcher block topdeck. Yes it has colored fret boards and they came stock. Now a friend of mine ordered a double 12 at the same time as me and his came with black and white fret boards. An awesome guitar, with awesome tone. One of the most ingenious things that Gene Fields came up with was the "floating" roller nut on the raises and lowers that eliminated the need for compensators. All the best,
KK |
John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 22 May 2004 10:58 AM
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Kurt- Thanks for looking into the date issue. Do you or anyone understand the serial # pattern that the company used?Johnny- The most used pickups that I have seen in the welded frame seem to be Geo. L 10-1 or Lawrence 710. I believe JayDee Maness is outfitting his welded frame with either Shields CrapTraps or the new copy of this pickup. You'd need to ask Frank Carter or JayDee for the final word. |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 22 May 2004 08:18 PM
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I'm about to add the Geo.L. E-66 to mine, this is after a lot of expermentation.
Buddy did all the sonic testing and developement design work on this pickup for George Lewis and this is where the E-66 nomanclature came from. This pickup was totally tested and designed on the EMCI steel. "E" for Buddy Emmons, and "66" for the year of Emmons steel guitar they were trying to emulate. My opinion? "E-66", for sound. For beauty, anything else.
If Buddy is reading this, your opinion would be appreciated by many players, I'm sure. |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 22 May 2004 08:23 PM
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By the way, just got back from the Chattanooga show, I played my MCI "Rangexpander" (H 3143) on Friday night and the stock, fresh "out of the box" GFI for the Saturday afternoon show. I love them both, Thank you Gene Fields!
bobbe |
Paddy Long
Member From: Christchurch, New Zealand
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posted 23 May 2004 01:50 PM
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My MCI Rangexpander D10 9+9 I got brand new in 1986 from the factory - originally had Barcus Berry pickups but now have George L's E-66 on C6th neck and 10-1 on the E9th. Serial number is LA3067 -- Guitar has the welded frame and the open ended keyhead (looks exactly the same as the red one on Bobbe's website)... The guitar has a Black Apron, and Black Pearl (dark grey) top deck. Fret boards are black and white!! Has 2 push-in type switches for changing necks. When I got it new it was a 8+4 and I have added an extra MCI pedal and some Carter knees and it plays and sounds awesome!! Never sell this baby. |
John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 23 May 2004 03:56 PM
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My mistake. I meant to say Geo. L E-66 pickups, not the 10-1. |
Mike Richardson
Member From: Rutledge, Georgia, USA
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posted 23 May 2004 07:15 PM
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John,
I had an EMCI ser#128469.I talked to Bud Carter about it and he told me it was a 1985 model.I sold it to Bobbe Seymour and he in turn sold it to Scott Trueax.I was told by Bobbe and by Johnny Cox in their opinion that particular guitar was an MCI and not an EMCI.I wish I had it back.Man that thing sounded great.Mike Richardson
2004 Emmons Lagrande ll SD-10
1993 Emmons Lagrande ll D-10
Nashville 1000 |
John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 24 May 2004 08:24 AM
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Mike, Ever notice how many guys owned an MCI/EMCI at one time and then got rid of it and now wish they had it back. . . .
What's the lesson to be learned? |
Bobby Sparks
Member From: Williamston, North Carolina, USA
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posted 24 May 2004 09:32 AM
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I have an MCI D10, 8 & 4, serial # D10A105. I talked to Bud Carter and was told that this was probably an early '80's model. Of course, as you can see if you click here it's black, so it sounds good (to me, at least!). Considering its age, the guitar is still in what I would consider very good condition.Bobby |
John Lazarus
Member From: Tucson, AZ.
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posted 24 May 2004 12:48 PM
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Bobby, That's a Waco model isn't it? It's got the mica covered wood necks, but I have never seen the open ended keyhead before. Sort a transition from the MSA. Anybody know more about this? Decal is different from the later MCI too.
The serial # seems to be a different pattern from the later guitars.[This message was edited by John Lazarus on 24 May 2004 at 12:50 PM.] |
Bobby Sparks
Member From: Williamston, North Carolina, USA
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posted 24 May 2004 01:38 PM
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John,Yes, it's definitely a Waco model. As far as I know, it's just like it came originally. Came with BL 705's and I haven't seen any reason to change them. BNS |
Nicholas Dedring
Member From: Brooklyn, New York, USA
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posted 24 May 2004 07:49 PM
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That waco is just like mine, except for the undercarriage. It's interesting, that the "decal" isn't a decal... it's molded into the mica, in one of the layers. Same thing with the open keyheads on the guitar that I have...And, given that "Waco, Texas" is on the decal... it's a safe bet that it's a waco. I don't have a serial number, though. |
Herb Steiner
Member From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX
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posted 24 May 2004 08:44 PM
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Back in 1985 or 1986, when I was working at Danny's Guitars here in Austin, a sales rep I didn't know came into the store with one of these early guitars. He said the company was in Waco. The logo was indeed part of the laminated strip, and the logo was also on the back apron down by the pegheads. Hey, why waste an extra front apron, right? Besides, if anyone asked you what you were playing, you could just glance down by the peghead without having to lean over the front of the guitar. Anyway, it struck us as being an intermediate instrument at best. There were three steel players working in the store at the time. ------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 24 May 2004 09:09 PM
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John Birkhead said the "Open", one piece keyhead was designed to ring like a triangle, thinking that this would possibly help the tone of the guitar. It didn't, so it was redesigned and closed up at the end. The guitars sounded better from that point on. Open keyheads don't "cross feed" the vibrations between the low and high strings as well. Seperate piece keyheads are even less adept at transfering favorable harmonics.
The MCI series of steel guitars are well engineered,,,, but they are however,,not without a couple of minor fixable faults, like all other guitars and like most of us. bobster |
Bobby Sparks
Member From: Williamston, North Carolina, USA
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posted 25 May 2004 06:57 AM
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I have had this guitar for less than a year, and it's my first one. So, not being any more familiar with them than I am, I'm not sure what would differentiate one from the other as far as being an intermediate model, or pro, or whatever. As far as I'm concerned, this one does ok for me, at least for the time being. For someone my age, just getting started in this game, I really can't see myself needing anything else. Notice I said "needing", not "wanting"!  Have a great day! BNS |
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