My new Carter

Skip Ellis · Post by **Skip Ellis** » 2 Oct 2008 11:14 am

Rec'd my '05 Carter D-10 from Mr. Al Vesel a couple days ago and I must put in a good word for both Al and the guitar. The guitar is in perfect, almost new condition as he described it to me and his superb packing protected it perfectly during it's week long journey from Minnesota to Florida - I barely had to touch up the tuning when I unpacked it. And thanks to Mr. Bud Carter for building another good one - the overall fit, finish and tone is as good as anything around. The last steel I had, long term, was a '76 Emmons PP (bought new at the factory) and this compares very favorably with it.

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 2 Oct 2008 11:28 am

Skip, that is a very lovely guitar, how is the weight compared to say a Sho-bud, and how is the tone??
OH golly, i just opened up a can o worms asking that !!

Skip Ellis · Post by **Skip Ellis** » 2 Oct 2008 12:18 pm

Well, Larry, I think the weight is just under 40 pounds set up - it may be a little lighter than the old Pro II SD-10 I've been borrowing. I know that cased it is definitely lighter - that ShoBud and case are a handful! Tone is so subjective, I hate to get into it, but suffice to say the chords have body without being muddy and the individual notes come through clearly. As I said, I would compare it very favourably to the PP I used to have. I sure some will agree and some won't, but it is a real nice guitar.

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 2 Oct 2008 12:30 pm

Looks just like the first CARTER I purchased. One of the best playing and sounding guitars I've had. Hey Skip.

Ulf Edlund · Post by **Ulf Edlund** » 2 Oct 2008 12:56 pm

Bud knows how to put those things together

James Leaman · Post by **James Leaman** » 2 Oct 2008 3:31 pm

Skip, you won't be diaappointed. I have a Carter and a Magnum and they are both great guitars. Play like butter and make me a better player and I can't leave my hands off either one. You will like. Jim

Michael Strauss · Post by **Michael Strauss** » 2 Oct 2008 4:56 pm

Skip,

Congratulations! My S-12U is a 05 and I think it's fantastic! And it's Black

Bill Moran · Post by **Bill Moran** » 2 Oct 2008 5:11 pm

Bud builds a great guitar !! Just wish he had someone that was user friendly to sell them for him.
I would own one , if I didn't have to put up with
that person they call Ann !!
Just my opinion !!!!!!!

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 2 Oct 2008 6:00 pm

Bill,
I think you must have had a very difficult situation. I know someone else that had the same opinion and to prove a point I baited Ann and John with a stupid case. They came through with flying colors and overly helpful. I myself have had nothing but very willing help from them. I am "forever" wannabe and a completely unknown so they had no motive to be extra nice but they were.

Johnne Lee Ables · Post by **Johnne Lee Ables** » 3 Oct 2008 9:41 am

Roual Ranes wrote:Bill,
I think you must have had a very difficult situation. I know someone else that had the same opinion and to prove a point I baited Ann and John with a stupid case. They came through with flying colors and overly helpful. I myself have had nothing but very willing help from them. I am "forever" wannabe and a completely unknown so they had no motive to be extra nice but they were.

Hey RR,

All of the above is true for me as well! I have asked them so many questions, requested a number of VERY non-standard options and changed my mind twice. Every response was just very cordial and informative. And, the price they quoted me is actually lower than I expected (And lower than the MSRP posted for a similar PSG).

Several other PSG builders/manufacturers never replied. Oh, well... I'm a nobody, fer' sure, so...

I'm gonna' have to order a Carter now or I will feel pretty guilty.

It won't be long before I have enough money! Yeah!!!

A big THANKS to everyone at Carter for tolerating my questions and requests, and for building a quality, affordable and accessible PSG.

Johnne Lee

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 4 Oct 2008 3:40 am

Johnne,
Glad you like your Carter..........mine is an old '96 model and I still like it.
Do you by any chance know Dick Goodman of Sun City West. Dick is/was the leader of the Reinsmen. They were the backup behind Rex Allen. I worked at the same place Dick did in Colorado in '95. If you can look him up .......ask him about a Jeep Ride in Colorado. Dick sings a fine song/is a fine musician and can write music just about as fast a you can sing it.........and three parts at that. You will never meet a nicer person.

Ned McIntosh · Post by **Ned McIntosh** » 5 Oct 2008 2:37 am

G'day from Down Under! I'm returning to pedal steel after an absence of 28 years. I found my "new" Carter on their website after perusing the forums here for some weeks (I only registered a day or so ago, this is my first post).

I found both Ann and John Fabian to be most helpful and accommodating, especially as the sale is an overseas one to the furthest corner of the earth where English-speaking civilisation can still be found.
Below is a picture of the Carter which has utterly bewitched me and rekindled my desire.(The picture is from their website and I acknowledge their copyright - as I'm buying the guitar I hope I am not trangressing any boundaries by posting it here.)

Back in 1976, the late Len Stadtler built me a Marlen D10 with Lloyd Green's copedant on the top neck and the standard C6th copedant (of the day) on the bottom neck. Wooden necks, eight pedals, four knee-levers. Heavy as Jupiter but it sure had great tone! Played through a Fender Vibrosonic Reverb amp with a single Cerwin Vega 15" speaker and an Emmons volume-pedal. Len Stadtler was also very helpful throughout what was a fairly significant purchase for me and I was saddened to recently learn of his passing. I'm also pleased to see the Marlen is held in some esteem. I was immensely proud of it and during the time I owned it there were no issues with it at all, even though it was the now-abandoned pull-release system.

The Marlen (and my Dobro 60D) were both sold to a ship's Electrical Engineer when I was a Radio Officer in the Merchant Marine in 1991...and by then I hadn't played either for a number of years. Being at sea made working in a band pretty much impossible, and I was a seafarer for ten years.

Why am I returning to the fold? Because now I have the time, the inclination, and the addiction! It seems once steel guitar gets under your skin it's a lifelong affliction.

My new Carter (which I have to say looks absolutely gorgeous)will see me safely back into the single most fascinating, intimidating and beguiling instrument ever designed and played by man. We are fortunate today to have so many different and excellent steel guitars to choose from. Back in 1976 the choices were somewhat limited. I did a lot of research in these forums before deciding the Carter was the one! All of you have played a part in my decision to resume playing, and to choose Carter.

So I gratefully acknowledge the assistance and kindness of Ann and John Fabian and the assistance and wisdom of the members of the Steel Guitar Forum who have so kindly posted their knowledge and experiences here, forming a most valuable resource.

I look forward to a long and enjoyable association with all of you here, and thanks again.

Skip Ellis · Post by **Skip Ellis** » 5 Oct 2008 3:54 am

Welcome to the forum, Ned. I, too, am getting back to PSG after a few years off. This is definitely the place for knowledge, encouragement and the occasional laugh. Welcome aboard !!

Robert Dominick · Post by **Robert Dominick** » 5 Oct 2008 7:20 am

Hey Ned...welcome to the Forum! I know you're going to love your new Carter

I just got back into PSG a little more than 2 years ago after having been away from it for almost 10 years. I don't play professionally any longer but occasionally will play at church but mostly for my own enjoyment. You're right though...once a steel player...always a steel player! Anyway, the Forum is the place to be

Ulf Edlund · Post by **Ulf Edlund** » 5 Oct 2008 8:27 am

Hello Ned.
Sweet heavens

That carter is really something!
You will love it!

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 5 Oct 2008 8:38 am

Ned that is a pheonominal looking guitar mate, weldone lad!

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 5 Oct 2008 1:05 pm

Hi Ned, welcome back to the PSG from across the ditch - man that Carter looks fabulous ... John and Ann do a great job, and will look after you. Congratulations mate.

Ned McIntosh · Post by **Ned McIntosh** » 6 Oct 2008 12:32 am

Hi all again,

Found a photo of my 1970s guitars:-

I swapped a Gibson Dove and a Takamine F450S for the amplifier, and still regret parting with the Takamine. This is the Marlen steel and Dobro I sold in 1991. Wonder where they are now? (Rhetorical question!)

Re my "new" Carter:- I have to say the appearance of lacquered natural quilted Maple with abalone inlay (and ebony inlay on the necks) was a real head-turner, and my research here whilst "lurking" gave me confidence in the Carter brand. I am looking forward to this guitar with more than just casual interest!

Of course a steel guitar also needs an amplifier. (So do my two Telecasters and Guild GAD30RE, but my 6-strings are a story for another day.) So once again I'm taking full advantage of the incredible wealth of knowledge and experience here as I work my way through the pages of the "Electronics" forum.

Electronics have few fears for me, and I am more than just handy with a multimeter and a soldering-iron! I'm intrigued to see modern solid-state amplifiers are well-regarded because back in the 70s we referred to transistors as "three-legged fuses"! Clearly, much has changed and there is a good deal for me to re-learn besides my licks, grips and voicings.

As Blackadder so rightly said "Aaah, the agony of choice!"

Thanks to all for making me feel so welcome already.

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 6 Oct 2008 1:23 am

Nice guitar Ned... Al did you good. Congrats.

I had it's twin brother... great tone and action... quality all the way.... I sure miss it.

Ned's guitar sure is pretty too... But... "Once you go black, you never go back"... black guitars sound better... I know because I read it here on the forum

Jerry Bull · Post by **Jerry Bull** » 24 Oct 2008 9:58 am

I bought two brand new SD-10's identical(one blue mica and one green mica) a few month back, and I gotta say that they are perfectly identical. the workmanship is awesome, and I quite frankly wouldn't give them up for anything other than enough money to buy two more just alike just so I can have Christmas again. Boy, I was like a kid on Christmas morning the day that the UPS man showed up. I have nothing but praises for Ann Fabian, I even got them quicker than we agreed upon. Everyone I talk to at the factory was nothing less than professional. Let me just add the only reason I was able to buy two Pedal Steel Guitars, was because my house burnt up, so rather than "just" replacing my old Sho-Bud, and other 6-strings and such, I bought 2 steels instead, one to gig with and one at home to practice. I'm seriously not rich at all.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 24 Oct 2008 10:07 am

congrats, I am on my 3rd Carter D10,( kept upgrading ) keep in mind I loved all the Steels I have owned , Sho-Buds, MSA, Emmons etc, but I do have to say that over the long haul the Carters have proven to be extremely durable and consistent. Would I ever own another Steel ? Sure, but I will never be without a Carter.

Skip, enjoy, play it in good health..

tp

Jeffrey Shu · Post by **Jeffrey Shu** » 25 Oct 2008 8:54 am

I thought I saw something in another string about Carter changing owners, or someone retiring? Did I imagine this?

And can someone much more learned than me tell me why Carter is so highly valued? Please don't take this as a slight - merely ignorance. Seems like Emmons, Mullen, MSA, and Carter are the holy grails on classified postings - priced way above Shobuds and like models.. What do you get for the money if, like me, you don't know !@#$?

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 25 Oct 2008 2:18 pm

Bud Carter is retiring from Carter Steel guitars but will still work with Carter Steels going forward in a smaller role.

Given that Bud , a master craftsman , has had his hands in many different brand of Steels and the designs over the decades , this is good thing, Bud gets to retire , Carter steels will continue on and everyone is happy !

The Carter Professional Steel is recognized as a true value , rugged, a workhorse and soundly built. The Bud Carter designed changer system is proven. John Fabian is also a master builder and has also had his designs built into the Carter Steels as well.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 25 Oct 2008 4:13 pm

Skip, welcome as a Carter player. They are amazing steels both mechanically and for tone. I got my Universal in 2003. It was a 2000 model which someone had ordered and failed to try to master as he had never played a pedal steel before,only Dobro and found a full blown universal just too much to begin on, so I got a practically brand new steel for a lesser price to a new one. My internet pal Ted Solesky from Mineral Wells Texas is an unsung steel guitar hero in my opinion. He is as good as the very best big names and will only play a Carter.

Micky Byrne United Kingdom

www.micky-byrne.co.uk

Corky Anderson · Post by **Corky Anderson** » 27 Oct 2008 11:19 am

Hey Skip!, I have the exact same guitar which I bought from Al Brisco about a year ago. So far it has been just great! The tone and playability is top notch IMHO!

I hope you enjoy your Carter as much as I do!

Carter D-10 Nashville 1000/400

Tele.........twin........bosspedals

The Steel Guitar Forum

My new Carter

My new Carter

psg

I completely concur, Roual...

Carter - Sun City

I love my Carters Two !