most popular brand of guitar

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 24 Oct 2004 11:43 am

Hi All,
I would guess that the most popular/highest seller in six stringers must be the Fender Strat.
What is the highest sell in pedal steels.
My guess would be Emmons.
Best regards
Billy

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 24 Oct 2004 11:58 am

at one time it was ShoBuds
probably Carter now

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 24 Oct 2004 1:51 pm

I never cared what was popular.I was never popular,not even as a kid.All of my friends were listening pop and dance and went
to disco clubs and I was spending my time playing my five string and listening Hank Sr.With guitars is the same way.I never realy cared about popularity of a certain brand or even a look,I always wanted only a one thing in guitar.The tone.I had planty guitars that looked rough but they had a killer tone.I also had some beauties that didn`t sound good (to me).If I would have to say most popular,I would agree and say Carter.If I would have to say wich one sounded best,it would be the one I have now.

Db

Db

------------------

"Promat"
~when tone matters~

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 Oct 2004 1:58 pm

I do seem to get the general sense more Carters are sold than others.
But there ain't no empirical data on this I know of.

I will say, there may be only one Promat in the USA so far,
but the critter sure sounds great!
eh Damir?

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 24 Oct 2004 2:27 pm

Whatever brand you ultimately might select... you should consider, at least for a year or two, shutting your ears entirely to all the others that prance before your eyes.

I know guys that have been thro a dozen or more brand new pedal steels and have never been happy with anyone of them. Was it really the steel, or simply, they had no idea how to play any of them with a professional approach to great sound?

At age 14, I looked around and purchased my Bigsby in 1956. Still have it! Looks like brand new. Sounds terrific, as a Bigsby.

I wanted a Sho-Bud like Lloyd Green, as there was a "special sound" on his records, but when in Nashville directly across the street from Ernest Tubb's Record Shoppe on Broad Street, the store people wouldn't even recognize me in the counter area as a customer.

When I returned home, I took my second choice and immediately purchased a brand new Emmons (1972). Have never for a moment regretted it. Great sounds and a rugged, dependable guitar.

Wanted a Rick Bakelite for fifty years; found one, purchased it and have never looked back. All eleven of them sound absolutely terrific.(sp?)

Get what you want. Make it a quality instru-ment of top drawer workmanship. THEN FORGET all the others. After a couple of years of serious study and comparisons as you bounce along, you'll be in a place where you CAN make a wise decision as to whether another guitar would do any better than the one you have.

I think you'll find among today's pedal steels, that all of them will hold up to the routine playing requirements of most of us. Most are nearly identical in their set-ups and playing fines and about the same price.

Good Luck to you but DO NOT.........buy based on visual appearance only, or strictly on the cheapest one you could get.
BIG MISTAKE!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 24 Oct 2004 3:56 pm

As far as brand-new steels being sold nowadays, if I had to guess, I'd say its Carter by a wide margin, then Zumsteel, then Emmons, then GFI.

As far as used steels, I see a lot more Emmons' being sold than anything else. 'Course, that's probably because there's so many of them out there.[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 25 October 2004 at 07:44 PM.]

Garth Highsmith · Post by **Garth Highsmith** » 24 Oct 2004 5:12 pm

.[This message was edited by Garth Highsmith on 09 January 2006 at 08:36 PM.]

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 24 Oct 2004 5:34 pm

I'm not a pro,been around a long time tho,i've tryed several thru the years.sho-bud was my first real guitar,after the home made stuff,multichords ect.The sho-bud professionl is my favorite.I recently purchased a pro 3,with alum.necks,its bright and clear,just not really the sound i really care for.i have a pro 1 at Duannes now,building a new one out of it,i'm hopeing thats the sound i like.I love the sound Lloyd Green gets,so clear and pretty,and he has wood neck on his!!!I know most depends on player,and set up ect.
OK,sho-bud for me!!!!! farris

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 24 Oct 2004 5:52 pm

Sho-Bud Professional for me. Mine is 30 years old and never been repaired or worked on.
Bill Ray of Rayline guitars added two Knee levers it came with one..
Bill builds a nice guitar, he has thre set up in his show room. He builds everything that goes into it even the PU.
Price is right.

ernie[This message was edited by Ernest Cawby on 24 October 2004 at 06:53 PM.]

Jerry Warner · Post by **Jerry Warner** » 24 Oct 2004 8:41 pm

IS IT THE GUITAR OR IS IT THE ONE THAT PLAYS IT, IT COULD BE ANY GUITAR AND DON'T THE AMP AND WHATEVER YOU USE FOR THE SOUND MAKE THAT SOUND AND SOME JUST HAVE THAT EAR SOUND THAT OTHERS DON'T HAVE THATS SETS THEM APART FROM OTHERS, MY 2 CENTS FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH. tHANKS!

Jerry Warner · Post by **Jerry Warner** » 24 Oct 2004 8:51 pm

I HAVE A 67 EMMONS AND WILL LET IT GO FOR 3500.00 AND I BOUGHT THIS GUITAR NEW S/N 1107 IT IS EIGHT AND FOUR JUST SENT IT TO BOBBE AND HAD IT CLEANED UP AND ADJUSTED AND IT IS A PUSH PULL, BLACK D10 GETTING TO OLD TO OWN TWO GUITARS, I HAVE THE PAPERS SOMEWHERE ON THIS GUITAR BUT WHERE I DON'T KNOW AS OF NOW SHE MIGHT KNOW BOUGHT WHEN WE LIVED IN CLEVELAND, OHIO GREAT SOUNDING GUITAR.

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 24 Oct 2004 10:35 pm

Jerry, please turn off your "caps lock" key. It looks like you're shouting at us. Thanks!

Ernie Pollock · Post by **Ernie Pollock** » 25 Oct 2004 8:24 am

I played MSA, BMI, Dekley, EMCI, ShoBud, Emmons, Marlen, GFI, Nashville LtD, and probably some I have forgotten by now, I am presently playing a real 'rare steel' it is a Diller S12 Universal with 8&5, eastern hardrock maple top, cherry front & back aprons and neck, Geo L E66 pickup, oh, its also keyless & is about 25 years old, plays & sounds great. I think there are only 2 other ones that I know of and they are in the hands of the builder. Too tell the truth, of all these guitars, I loved everyone of em!!

Ernie Pollock

------------------

Ernie Pollock · Post by **Ernie Pollock** » 25 Oct 2004 8:25 am

Oh, I forgot, I better mention the great Klines that I have ownd, 3 to be exact!!

Ernie Pollock

------------------

Ken Thompson · Post by **Ken Thompson** » 25 Oct 2004 8:35 am

I have to say that I am kind of surprised to see so many mention that the Carter is the most popular, or most purchased, which ever way you look at it. I would have thought that Emmons would win hands down. It seems to me that the Emmons label is the one I see most on videos or TV shows. I have to say that I love my Carter since I put the TrueTones p/u on it. Recorded with it last week and it sounded awesome.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 25 Oct 2004 8:40 am

I see a bit of topic drift to :
All the guitars I have liked.

Moving from :
Which guitar has sold the most / is most popular.

Now I kind of looked at the question as which brand seemed to
presently reflect the most NEW sales on the forum.
It would apear Carter, but I won't say no about Emmons either.
But one can'tbe empirical.

There are a LOT of used Emmons sales, they like Sho-Buds,
don't seem to fall in intrinsic value or demand that much.
But the presence of new steels at shows is clearly Carters.

Certainly Zums get bought a lot, but don't have the same production capacity.
Anapegs and Excells get almost universal adoration, but same thing. small output.

Or another way to answer the question :
Which steel has sold the most ever / most popular over all time.

Or which in general has remained the most popular over the life of the PSG time frame.

Which would likely remain Sho-Bud.
(#2 Emmons PP's.)

What other brand actualy has a company doing refits of older versions,
for about the price of a new steel? Sho-Bud.
(Duane and Jeff, have found a niche)[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 25 October 2004 at 09:46 AM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 25 Oct 2004 9:38 am

I believe that Carter today sells more steels than all other manufacturers combined. Does that make it the "most popular brand"? You tell me.

On the east coast, you see more Emmons and Sho-Bud guitars being played. In the southwest, you see more MSAs. Out here, you see more Sierras. It will take a long time for a "new" manufacturer like Carter to have a big replacement impact on the installed base of existing guitars.

Charles Rodrigues · Post by **Charles Rodrigues** » 26 Oct 2004 3:09 pm

I own a Carter D10 and love it. I also own an old Sho-Bud I bought used back in 78. It has a real mello tone. I don't know much about its worth, but any way I like my Carter better. I'm fairly new on pedal steel. I played lap steel years ago and started playing psg after going into retirement from Raytheon Co. I have a big, big question. I use a Nashville 1000, but I don't get the tone I hear from other steel players who use for example Peavey CS800S with dual 15" black widow speakers. What do you guys recommend for that great sound that dosen't only come from the right hand. I would appreciate some info from you greats out there.
Sincerely,
Chuck Rodrigues

Jim Ives · Post by **Jim Ives** » 26 Oct 2004 7:02 pm

I really like what Ray Montee said.

I play a Mullen ( my second) and used to play a Sho-Bud. The Bud had terrific sound but was mechanically undesirable. The Mullen, on the other hand, has incredible action and also sounds really, really good.

-Jim

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 27 Oct 2004 12:30 pm

I like my ShoBud. I've played Carter and Emmons pedal steels and there's just something about the sound of that Bud that gets me. I also have a 10 string Ricky lap steel that I like alot as well as a 54 model Fender Stringmaster that has a great tone. So far as which brand is most popular I really don't know but out of all the steels I've played the ShoBud wins out on tone to my ear.

Rick

Joey Gaskins · Post by **Joey Gaskins** » 27 Oct 2004 4:58 pm

Most popular for me would be either one of my 2 SD10 Derbys. They are both 2004 models and are identical except for the pickups. One is a true-tone and the other has a E66. Both sound great to me.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 31 Oct 2004 1:20 pm

I have to say that I am kind of surprised to see so many mention that the Carter is the most popular, or most purchased, which ever way you look at it. I would have thought that Emmons would win hands down.

Ken, you're living in the world of 20 years ago.

Haven't you heard of the Starter? I'd speculate that Carter sells more of their "Carter Starter" guitars in one month than Emmons makes and sells in a whole year! I'm sure that having Musician's Friend as a distributor of the "Starter" is the best thing that's ever happened to Carter, and Carter makes other (professional) models as well. No other maker has that kind of exposure.