"New" Magnum

Bob Poole · Post by **Bob Poole** » 27 Jun 2014 8:30 pm

Looks like Henry Matthews & I became Magnum owners around the same time.Mine's a blue SD10.i had been playing an Emmons Legrande & financial issues forced me to downscale.I wasn't really too thrilled to have to do that but sometimes you have no choice.i found a well cared for beauty,just needed some adjustments & a lube.i wasn't too sure about it at first,but for me,if I can walk by a guitar on my way to go to bed or on some other mission & that guitar calls my name & says to me "what's your hurry?sit down a minute" & more than an hour later I'm still there,then that guitar has found or is on its way to findin a place in my heart.i have always loved the steels that come out of Texas & this is my third.first was a GFI & then a Rains...this is one guitar I'm glad I didn't pass up.No,it doesn't have chrome end plates,chrome legs etc...it's pretty plain lookin but it does have tone that nails what I'm after,it's got a lot of heart,it's got soul & it has character.I'm still gettin used to it.sure,that may take a little while.lotta difference in the feel of this one & that Emmons or the Rains before it but it's gettin there.if you come across one & are lookin a good second guitar or just startin out & on a budget,you may find just what you're lookin for in this humble little guitar.don't let the lack of "flash" & polished parts put you off.they are great soundin guitars & have their own charm & style.This one delivers a lot of what i wanted in a steel.I'm no stranger to pedal steel,having starttted in 1975.I've had some really nice guitars & this one is no exception.I'm startin to really love it & along with getting a really cool guitar,i made a great new friend when I bought it.Thanks everyone who posted in response to my earlier inquiries about Magnums & thanks Al Brisco for helpin put me at ease when I was a little apprehensive about what to do.I think I made a good choice.

[/img]

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 28 Jun 2014 2:01 am

That's a nice Magnum Bob... Nice coloured mica too. Well, tone is the main thing, plus the fact that anything Bud Carter created was top notch. I've heard that the late John Fabian had something to do with the design of the Magnum. I only have 2 steels...A Sho-Bud Uni and a Carter Uni ....both have a completely different "feel" but it only takes a few minutes to get the feel of each.
Enjoy your new guitar

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

Bob Poole · Post by **Bob Poole** » 28 Jun 2014 4:23 am

Thanks Micky...i love pretty much any guitar from Texas.I'm really starting to feel comfortable with this Magnum,fits me well...and it brings out some licks I didn't know I had,if that makes any sense.seems like different guitars bring out different styles or impart a different vibe to my playing.this one definitely swings...looking forward to another Carter one day,but I won't be selling this one.it's home for good I believe.thanks for getting back...

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 28 Jun 2014 6:27 am

nice axe, enjoy!

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 28 Jun 2014 7:46 am

That's a good looking guitar there Bob. I played my Magnum at a dance last night and it played and sounded good. Mine has the stock single coil pickups which I think can be improved on with maybe a Truetone or BL. Wonder what pickup Sara uses on her guitar?
Over all, the guitar played and sounded good and was easy on my back. I think it's a keeper.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 28 Jun 2014 8:11 am

Bob Poole wrote:Thanks Micky...i love pretty much any guitar from Texas.I'm really starting to feel comfortable with this Magnum,fits me well...and it brings out some licks I didn't know I had,if that makes any sense.seems like different guitars bring out different styles or impart a different vibe to my playing.this one definitely swings...looking forward to another Carter one day,but I won't be selling this one.it's home for good I believe.thanks for getting back...

Most don't know it, but Bud builds a few hidden licks in every guitar he designs or builds. You just have to coax them out of the guitar.

looking forward to another Carter one day

You basically have a Carter right there.

Could someone post some good pics of the undercarriage and changer? I really would like to see any differences between the Magnum and a Carter besides the legs and metal finish.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 28 Jun 2014 8:24 am

Hi Richard, all I know about the Difference is what I read on here. I believe the Magnum is a triple raise and double lower, as opposed to the Carter being a triple raise, triple lower. Maybe someone chime in ???

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

W. Van Horn · Post by **W. Van Horn** » 28 Jun 2014 8:33 am

I would also like to see a pic of the undercarriage.

Bill Moore (RIP) · Post by **Bill Moore (RIP)** » 28 Jun 2014 8:34 am

I had a blue Magnum just like yours, Bob. The stock single coil is virtually the same as a Truetone, 17.5k. I tried them both, I heard no difference. I think I'd try some of the George L pickups if I wanted a different sound. Or maybe a 705 pickup.

Walter Killam · Post by **Walter Killam** » 28 Jun 2014 12:16 pm

Hi Richard,

I just happened to have my guitar & phone handy! As I recall from a conversation with John a few years ago, the mechanics are pure Carter, he wanted to make the guitar light, universal, affordable, & durable enough for sale in music shops, so most of his innovation went into body construction & legs. let me know if this helps:

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 28 Jun 2014 12:28 pm

I like the bell cranks on the Magnum more than the Carter. No brass pull pins (dog bones) to break. Looks like a good solid guitar.

Lee Dassow · Post by **Lee Dassow** » 28 Jun 2014 12:41 pm

Magnums are quad raise,double lower. Had a red one. Tennessee Lee

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 28 Jun 2014 12:57 pm

I got to hear Henry Matthews playing his last night. It really had a good sound.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 28 Jun 2014 1:57 pm

wonderful guitars...

Db

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 28 Jun 2014 2:51 pm

Lee Dassow wrote:Magnums are quad raise,double lower. Had a red one. Tennessee Lee

The later Carters had 4 raise/2 lower. I am not sure if that was standard or an option. I know you could choose one of the other.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 28 Jun 2014 8:11 pm

Richard Sinkler wrote:I like the bell cranks on the Magnum more than the Carter. No brass pull pins (dog bones) to break. Looks like a good solid guitar.

True Richard, the bell cranks are much better and really easy to swap changes on. The Carter's have a 3/8 cross bar and the Magnum has a 5/16 cross bar. I also think the lever reversers are different than a Carter. Mine has the quad raise and double lower. The pedals and levers are smooth as silk and the" two rod" splits work great. My guitar has hardly any measurable cabinet drop.

The finish on these guitar is not near as pretty as polished but is tuff as a boot and no finger prints. The legs are a solid aluminum bar with 3/8ths set screws with hex head screwed into both ends of legs. They screw into guitar much better and tighter than most steels. The guitar is solid and doesnt move when using levers like some of the lighter steels I've seen. Workmanship on these guitars is excellent with tight fits everywhere and no gaps. All in all, comparing these guitars to the other brands, 10 being perfect, I would rate them about a 7, JMHO.

Mitchell Smithey · Post by **Mitchell Smithey** » 29 Jun 2014 7:10 am

Here is a little more info on the Magnum. The changer is pure Carter. The keyhead is a little different because of the Grover machine heads. The early bodies with the black underside were built outside the shop for us until we began to build them all inside the shop. They have a clear coat on the bottom. Stock single coil was copied from an old pickup Bud had wound during his MSA years and I thought they sounded great in that guitar. The pedal bar is an extrusion and worked out so well we started using them on the Carters as well.
I built two white S-10s for Sara But I'm not sure if she ever took delivery of the second one. Her pickup was an E-66.
Like eveyone says they are a super guitar and quite underrated.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 29 Jun 2014 12:13 pm

Bob Poole · Post by **Bob Poole** » 29 Jun 2014 7:45 pm

One Week...i am really enjoying my Magnum.thanks everyone and please keep the posts coming.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 29 Jun 2014 11:15 pm

I played my Black D10 Magnum at Church this morning. It was smooth as silk. I really believe that if you could take any brand or model of a D10 and make it feel and sound exactly like my Magnum anyone would be happy with it.
Jerry

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 30 Jun 2014 3:12 am

Don't see a Magnum show up in the Steel Guitars for Sale section very often. Owners don't seem in a hurry to sell them. Too bad the name and design was discontinued with John Fabian's passing.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 30 Jun 2014 5:40 am

Jerry Roller, sent you a PM--Henry

The Steel Guitar Forum

"New" Magnum

"New" Magnum

Re:

Thanks

Re: Thanks

Re: Thanks

pics