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Author
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Topic: Carter Steel Guitars
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Jon Light
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
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posted 17 August 2005 12:42 PM
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my gamerMy guitar holds its own, cosmetically and I've come to appreciate the plain, low keyed logo. Elegance in simplicity. |
Joseph Barcus
Member From: Volga West Virginia "usa"
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posted 17 August 2005 05:41 PM
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I must have had a lemmon I was very un happy with mine got rid of it 2 yrs ago and never looked back |
Tommy Detamore
Member From: Floresville, Texas
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posted 18 August 2005 05:12 AM
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I bought a used Carter (2001 model) about three years ago, partially out of curiosity, and partially because my ol' pal Bruce thought so highly of his. I had been buying and selling all sorts of steels (Sho Buds, Emmons PP's, A ZB, etc.) for a few years, just trying stuff out. When the Carter came along, it just did it for me. I sold everything else. Great playability, rock-solid stability, fat tone that is very even up and down and across the necks. I do a fair amount of recording with it and it just lays in a track extremely well. I know I'll probably get skewered for saying this but the tone of my Carter to me has characteristics of an Emmons as well as a Sho Bud. Think Emmons cut and bark with a bit of that woody Sho Bud low-mid "bloom"....As for the logo, I can't see it very well from where I sit  |
Lee Baucum
Member From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) - The Final Frontier
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posted 18 August 2005 06:38 AM
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Jon - What happened to the Zebco attachment?Lee |
Nathan Delacretaz
Member From: Austin, Texas, USA
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posted 19 August 2005 11:17 AM
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Tommy, I'm interested in your assessment of the Carter, especially the remark about the woody, 'Bud-like "bloom"... [See my old post regarding my fascination with the mellower "transparent" sound] Do you think a particular pickup figures into this woody sound, or is it more about the Carter's construction? |
Pat Burns
Member From: Branchville, N.J. USA
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posted 19 August 2005 01:18 PM
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..Jon, since you're just using that Fender as an ironing board anyway, why not swap it to me for a real ironing board?.. |
Bob Snelgrove
Member From: san jose, ca
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posted 22 August 2005 10:31 PM
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Tommy Detamore,What pickups? thx bob
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Tommy Detamore
Member From: Floresville, Texas
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posted 23 August 2005 05:44 AM
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Bob, it has XR-16's in it. They are the only humbuckers that have ever done anything for me. I fully expected to rip them out immediately. But they sound good enough to me to make it not worth the hum penalty of a single coil. Never thought I'd ever say that...! |
Paul Brainard
Member From: Portland OR & Austin TX
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posted 23 August 2005 11:41 AM
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I have always felt that some of the Carters' tonal character is the result of their rolled neck design - it seems to me that it creates a resonating chamber almost along the lines of a hollow-body guitar, maybe it fattens & warms up the sound a bit. |
Mark Lind-Hanson
Member From: San Francisco, California, USA
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posted 23 August 2005 02:02 PM
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I happen to like my Carter quite well (S10 Starter)- and lately have been coming along by leaps and bounds with technique as well-
I love the way it remains in tune & just remains in tune & remains in tune and I NEVER need worry over resetting the lever-pedal tunings. Well, almost never, close enogh. The only issue I ever really had with it was the volume level of the third string
(and I am still playing w/o a vol ped simply to get my chops in order- and will adapt better to use of the vol ped when I finally decide to pick up a Hilton-[I trashed a scratchy De Armond about half a year into it])- there just doesnt seem to be a lot of volume at the third string without compression or some type of sustain. But that is really the ONLY thing I have ever flet was odd about it. Now that I have moved from what was a terrible hotel situation to a decent apartment (and left behind my rap/"bass & drum" beating neighbors) I have had the chance to leave it set up a lont longer than before (firehazard- false alarms were always forcing me to tear it down & pack it up incase of making a run for it)-
What I can say about the ease of packing it from so much quick-in-a-hurry takedowns is it is simple and easy enough to do so, unhooking the pedals and putting all of it away CAN be done in about 40 seconds! Well, I hope I never need to be so rushed around it again... I am considering putting a few new pedals on it as opposed to a new custom-made-from-scratch instrument, but that decision is still years away from me yet. I'm glad it was available at the price it was or by now I would still be wondering just what it is like to BE a steel player! [Awfully enjoyable.] |
Charlie McDonald
Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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posted 24 August 2005 11:09 AM
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Mark, I can resonate with everything you say. It's a real pleasure to work with. |
Randy Carson
Member From: Cedar Park, Texas, USA
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posted 29 August 2005 07:31 PM
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I hear you on the tuning and playability of a Carter, and I thought they improved the logo. I've owned 4 of them and can understand why a guy like Bruce B would want a reliable guitar like the Carter, if I had the money which I hope to have soon I could see it as my other guitar to own for sure and would have kept the last one I had if I had never played a Rains.
Now I'm just hooked on inspiring tone and sustain, amazingly it plays and stays in tune good also.
But I hear the no worry thing I would have another Carter for sure, just not at the expense of giving up my Rains.
Before it was Emmons but the Rains has the P/P beat. IMHO and according to a test that Bill Simmons did. Darn it just when I was lightin up
my load for my back with a good Carter the Rains came along, but I'll get another one someday....best to the Fabians and Bud
Randy Carson [This message was edited by Randy Carson on 29 August 2005 at 07:36 PM.] |
David Wren
Member From: Placerville, California, USA
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posted 30 August 2005 04:32 PM
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Only nicer than then the way my Blonde S12 Carter sounds, p[lays and stays in tune was dealing with Bud, John and Ann.The xmas cards are nice too! I like the Logo, because it stands for Carter.... and I'm proud to have one. I even hand stiched the logo into my nagahyde cover so folks will know what's underneath! And I'm getting another one in 15 years when this one wears out (:>)>=[ ------------------
Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Session500; Hilton Pedal
www.ameechapman.com |
Al Marcus
Member From: Cedar Springs,MI USA
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posted 30 August 2005 04:50 PM
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Paddy-I wasn't aware that Carter had gone to Quad rise. This is the first I've heard of it. There wasn't any announcement that I knew of. If they did, it is a good idea especially for guys who use splits a lot....al  ------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/ |
Charlie McDonald
Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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posted 30 August 2005 05:46 PM
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I'm getting used to the logo.I'd definitely buy another Carter. A Uni, maybe. Anyone play a Carter U-12? |
Paddy Long
Member From: Christchurch, New Zealand
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posted 30 August 2005 07:01 PM
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AL - yes it was a bit of surprise when it arrived actually, there was no mention of it on their website, or from Ann when I ordered it back in April. Although I did spot the quad raise on the new "Magnum" dealer line - which of course is on a different website...
Yes it is very good if you want to add some extra splits, I have a 9+9 setup but it still leaves plenty of room for experimentation. Real Cool mate. |
David Wren
Member From: Placerville, California, USA
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posted 31 August 2005 12:21 PM
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Charlie, my carter is the e9th/B6th universal tuning.... don't get much chance to play in the B6th in my current band, but sounds great in my studio.I have a lock lever lowering my E's, Many don't like this approach.... something to consider before making the switch.... I like it.
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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Session500; Hilton Pedal
www.ameechapman.com |
Paddy Long
Member From: Christchurch, New Zealand
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posted 31 August 2005 02:19 PM
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Al, I just checked the Carter website, and under the "Features" page you will find that they now mention that the guitars are Quad raise/double lower......but your right, I don't remember them ever announcing it as a new feature. It is cool though.[This message was edited by Paddy Long on 01 September 2005 at 02:28 PM.] |
Charlie McDonald
Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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posted 31 August 2005 03:40 PM
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David or others: I'm wondering about the crosshafts in the Carter Uni; are they square or round? |
Paddy Long
Member From: Christchurch, New Zealand
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posted 31 August 2005 10:10 PM
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Square! |
MUSICO
Member From: Jeremy Williams in Spain
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posted 01 September 2005 01:46 AM
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Iīm another U12 Carter user.On the subject of the lock lever....I got it because i could afford it and if you donīt use it then you donīt even know itīs there. For a long time I DIDNīT use it. I wanted to learn the "one big tuning". Then I started getting interested in non-pedal 12 string. Now I use it all the time when I practice C6 non pedal....until I get my MSA SS. The Carter has been one of the best purchases of my life. Great product, Great company. Jeremy Williams
Barcelona Spain |
Charlie McDonald
Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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posted 01 September 2005 01:47 AM
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Thank you, Paddy. My mind is already made up on my Uni. Carter for sure. |
Paddy Long
Member From: Christchurch, New Zealand
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posted 01 September 2005 02:32 PM
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Good onya Charlie, you won't be disappointed mate.
Incidentally Ann Fabian informs me that the Quad raise/double lower changer has been used since about November last year --- and it was in the newsletter which I obviously didn't read properly !!! I will have to watch a little more closely for the next cool stuff to come - ha!
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David Wren
Member From: Placerville, California, USA
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posted 09 September 2005 11:55 AM
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Charlie, the laquer models are a bit more, but I wouldn't change by blonde baby for anything.... I might just imagine it, but I think the tone is just a little sweeter..... really beautiful grain too.------------------
Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Session500; Hilton Pedal
www.ameechapman.com |
Charlie McDonald
Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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posted 10 September 2005 04:44 AM
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I happen to think blonde sounds better than black. Black absorbs energy, you know.
Or perhaps gentlemen just prefer blondes.[This message was edited by Charlie McDonald on 10 September 2005 at 07:14 AM.] |
Al Marcus
Member From: Cedar Springs,MI USA
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posted 10 September 2005 08:59 PM
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John McClung-you mentioned changeing pulls underneath the Carter as having to somtimes remove a couple of rods to get at the screw on the bell cranks, you are right. It is a hassle but not just on Carter but many other brands also. As I like to experiment with changing pedals around and pulls, I found the Mullen, as you did, was the easiest for me. The hex crossrods and the Bellcranks. and the Pullrods are to the side so that you don't have to remove 2 or 3 rods to get at the screw on the bellcrank to move it. This is very important to me and easier for me to do.
However, the Carter is a good value for the money and a very good guitar. Most guys would never have to get underneath to change a pull, so all the above is redundant for most players....al ------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/ |
Ernest Cawby
Member From: Lake City, Florida, USA
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posted 11 September 2005 12:08 PM
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A friend of mine has a Carter U12, he bought a Zum U 12 and only kept it for a month and sold it and kept the Carter. He sounds great to me.ernie |
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