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Topic: Possibly the most under rated steel built today? |
Bobbe Seymour
From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 9:12 am
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If some very critical players would look at this guitar with an open mind (a lot to ask for) I think this guitar would be much more appreciatedthan it is.
The Magnum!! I've been trying to find fault with this guitar for a year, and can't. Under direct comparison with most other steels, Side by side, this great little guitar stands up VERY WELL!!!!! Better than most in about every way.
You can spend a whole lot more for a steel guitar, and get a whole lot less in this world today.
Factory service has been an issue for some, but the guitar is pretty cotten pickin' great! I love the belcranks that are unique to this guitar, the size, weight, sound, classic design etc.. Over all a great little guitar. An extremely well executed machine of standard design.
Owners of them today have no complaints, all seem to be very happy.
So I vote this guitar "The Most Under Rated" great steel guitar of the day.
Don't scoff at this little rascal, it's a gooden'!
Notice, I didn't say it's the best, because there is NO best, but it deserves much more acclaim!
Bobbe
Last edited by Bobbe Seymour on 8 Jun 2008 9:17 am; edited 1 time in total |
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chris ivey
From: california (deceased)
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 9:17 am
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have you got any for sale, bobbe? |
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Bobbe Seymour
From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 9:18 am
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Not yet, but I'm going to try to get some,
Bobbe |
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Martin Weenick
From: Lecanto, FL, USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 9:29 am Magnum
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If you will go to "you-Tube" and listen to Sarah Jory play " Pedal Steel Guitar #2 " you will hear a magnum at its very best, especially the 2nd. song she does "Mansion on the Hill ". Every hair on my body stood straight up !!!! I really looked funny for a few minutes. Even my dog made an exit !!!. If I knew how to post that link, I would, maybe someone else can do it. Martin. _________________ Several custom steels. NV-112 Boss DD-7 |
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Pete Woronowski
From: Saskatchewan, Canada
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Bobbe Seymour
From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 10:00 am
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Well, here is one player that knows where it is, she could have and play any steel in the world, free, and this is her choice. Really respect her for not being a follower in her choice of guitars.
What a unique person to love and play steel guitar.
Bobbe |
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Dick Wood
From: Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 10:32 am
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I've just got to get some high heels.I think black would be the best.
Bobbe,how much would it cost for a two... no..make that three inch lift kit? |
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Donny Hinson
From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 10:54 am
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How does it compare with a Carter? |
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Bill Moore
From: Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 12:43 pm
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I bought a used Magnum SD-10 a while ago, I really enjoy playing it, it sounds very good. It's a plain looking guitar, though, I am not crazy about the powder coated parts. It was also a bit lower them my other guitars, and needed to raised slightly. Overall, I think it's excellent, and probably is underrated. _________________ Bill Moore...
my steel guitar web page
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Sonny Priddy
From: Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 12:47 pm steels
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Donny I Have Had A Carter & Now have A Magnum I Got From Bobbe. Magnum all The Way. SONNY. |
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Bobbe Seymour
From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 1:05 pm
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I like it better than Carter, better bellcranks, to my taste, and the powder coat is fine, unless you actually like polishing aluminum all the time.
If you do like the aluninum look, the powder coating will come off, then you can polish all you want. |
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Stu Schulman
From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 1:22 pm
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Bobbe,Can you post a photo of the bellcranks?Stu _________________ Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Jon Light
From: Saugerties, NY
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 1:32 pm
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This is from their website:
http://www.magnumsteelguitars.com/features.html
I can think of a few advantages to the Carter style of pullers. And disadvantages. I like what I see there on the Magnum. I think I'd sacrifice some of the plusses of the Carter's concept for the ease of the Mag's. (I have a Carter, I've never played a Magnum.) |
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Paul Norman
From: Washington, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 2:21 pm Sarah Jory
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And with high-heels too. |
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Donny Hinson
From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 2:30 pm
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Forget the pullers and cosmetic stuff - I was talking about the sound and playability compared to the regular Carter. Being a cheaper guitar actually made by Carter, I'd like to hear how they compare in sound and playing ease. |
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Mark Eaton
From: Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 3:17 pm
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Quote: |
Under direct comparison with most other steels, Side by side, this great little guitar stands up VERY WELL!!!!! |
Bobbe, I don't want to sound "nitpicky" regarding your choice of words, but you have also used the phrase "great little guitar" in reference to GFI's because of their light weight, and less-than-battleship dimensions compared to some of the older, heavier steel guitars out there.
If I were in the profession of marketing/selling steel guitars, I would strike that phrase from my vocabulary.
It makes me think that the Magnum might be a decent guitar and all, but that when I grow up, I would like to get a "big boy's" pedal steel, like a nice, heavy old Emmons or Sho-Bud - more of a "manly" instrument, instead of this "great little guitar."
Oh, and you are preaching to the choir (as far as myself) on these lighter weight instruments, I have a GFI and I am very happy with it, and would sure like to try a Magnum sometime... _________________ Mark |
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Sonny Priddy
From: Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 6:32 pm magnum
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The Magnum Will Do Anything The As You Say The Big Old Ones Will And Sound Great. SONNY. |
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Bobbe Seymour
From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 7:50 pm
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Mark, you are trying o put words in my mouth, GFI is an incredible guitar, and so is the Magnum, and so is the Rittenberry, and so is the Emmons and so is (and the list goes on). What I'm saying here is The Magnum is the one that is under rated, a better guitar than is given credit.
\ Donny, you have never been as wrong as you are now, The Magnum is NOT a cheaper guitar than a Carter, it is built with the same quality, tone, meterials and most parts, the parts that are different are actually better in my evaluation than the Carter. (belcranks, my opinion, not to belittle Carter).
Actually it costs as much or more to powder coat the metal than to just buff the aluminum. So the Magnum, may cost as much or more to manufacture than the Grand Carter. I have a personal preference, it's the Magnum, (by far). The Aluminum legs save a lot of weight, however we offer standard chrome steel if the customer want's this. Pardon me Donny my good friend, but I took offence to the words "Cheaper than".
Believe me, the Magnum is every bit as great and possibly better than the Carter, in my opinion, for my use. AND, both are better than a great percentage of other brands, but then, what's better to one person, may not be better to another. All I know is, after seeing them compared by some great musicians in Nashville, the Magnum stands up wonderfully. So much better than some guitars that cost double as much.
I think everyone needs to understand that the Magnum is not "just an inexpensive Carter", This thinking is way off base.
Remember what I said: This is possibly the most underrated guitar available today!
I didn't say best, there is no best, we each have our favorites, but it is wrong to look over this great steel guitar because of being misinformed.
GFI? Sure! The Magnum's number one compitition, and rumor is the Mullen may be coming out with another model in compitition with these guitars.
You guys that spend $7000.00 on a beautiful steel that has no tone, no resale, and no hope of ever seeing it do anything but depreciate better love it, because you may have it for a long time.
Promat is an exception here, I believe at the moment anyway. Possibly another. But at three a year, doesn';t make much difference (Damir)
Bobbe |
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Al Marcus
From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 8:13 pm
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Bobbe-I'll agree with you on the Magnum single Bellcranks and pulling system , which seems to be the same as on the more expensive guitars..
I have had a few Carters and they are great guitars. But I didnt like the double Bellcranks and the pulling system to change a setup. I can see by the picture that the Magnum has a much easier pulling system. And as everyone is getting older, the light weight guitars are becoming more in demand....al. _________________ Michigan (MSGC)Christmas Dinner and Jam on my 80th Birthday.
My Email.. almarcus@cmedic.net
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus |
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Bobbe Seymour
From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 8:18 pm
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Yep, that's why I love it! |
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Jerry Roller
From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 8:25 pm
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Bobbe, I have been singing the praises of the Magnum for several months. I have a black one wih 8+8 and I have played it at several steel shows and in doing so, I left at home several Emmons, a Franklin, an EMCI which are all great guitars and I don't mean to insinuate that the Magnum is better than the others but it is lighter yet very stable, plays and sounds extremely good though I must admit I have Lawrence 710's in the Magnum. I have heard comments that indicated that some folks consider the Magnum somewhat less than first class because of the powdercoat finish on the endplates, legs, etc. but it is a matter of time before other major guitars will go that route because it is much more durable and easier to keep looking great. This has taken place already in the volume pedal industry. Some very expensive sportcars have a lot of powdercoat and little chrome. The Magnum is about performance and it delivers quite well. Bobbe, you are right on and I am glad that you posted this because it needed to be said.
Jerry |
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Bobbe Seymour
From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Jun 2008 8:31 pm
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I agree Jerry, I have been singing the praises of the Magnum, but it is still the most under rated guitar in the industry. Does this mean that nobody listens to me? Looks like it!
Sara Jory seems to have discovered it on her own, The great Pat Seivers, steel player for the "You Can Be A Star," and "Nashville Star" seems to like his very much, and he ownes GFIs also. Along with some great collectables,( Emmons P-P, ZBs etc).
Thank you Jerry,
Bobbe |
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Bill Moore
From: Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 9 Jun 2008 3:56 am
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About the powder coating; it's more that I don't especially like the grayish color. I think they would look better if it was black. Or maybe a color that matched the formica. My Magnum is blue, I think it would look better with blue or black coating. It looks like Sarah Jory's is coated white to match the formica. Her Magnum must be a custom model. All that aside, the Magnum plays really well, it sounds very good, even on the higher frets. Overall, I rate it a 9. just my opinion, of course. |
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Barry Gaskell
From: Cheshire, UK
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Posted 9 Jun 2008 7:52 am
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I've never understood why the Carter never had the tuneable, endplate halfstope like pretty much every other pro guitar. The Magnum has these. Why does the Carter and Magnum use those awful lttle grub screws that adjusts the pedal travel. In any depth of aluminium, they nearly always seize and the allen key rounds them off. I've replaced these grub screws with proper larger allen headed bolts. Why do they use torx headed bolts on the Carter pullers ?, and they look similar on the Magnum.
My Carter SD10 is a great, light guitar. Just a shame it's let down by little things.
The Magnum pullers look far better then the Carter ones, and I bet, cheaper to make (Emmonsish I dare to suggest)
Barry |
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Donny Hinson
From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 9 Jun 2008 7:53 am
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BobbeSeymour wrote: |
Donny, you have never been as wrong as you are now, The Magnum is NOT a cheaper guitar than a Carter, it is built with the same quality, tone, meterials and most parts, the parts that are different are actually better in my evaluation than the Carter. |
Bobbe, I've never played or seen a Magnum. When I went to the Carter website, a bare-bones D10 8+5 was about $300 higher than the Magnum (priced at MF). I was referring strictly to the price. However, upon looking at the specifics, I conclude (though others may not - it's a free country) that the Magnum has somewhat cheaper parts (5/16" cross rods, extruded pedals, and powder-coating).
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Actually it costs as much or more to powder coat the metal than to just buff the aluminum. |
Only if the quantities are low. True, the powder-coating apparatus and curing oven is more expensive than a bench buffer, but when you're doing hundreds or thousands of parts, powder-coating is far cheaper because you can spray multiple parts at one time.
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Pardon me Donny my good friend, but I took offence to the words "Cheaper than".
I think everyone needs to understand that the Magnum is not "just an inexpensive Carter", This thinking is way off base. |
Well, one thing is for sure, Bobbe, it's either...
A.) Cheaper than a Carter
B.) Costs the same as a Carter
C.) Costs more than a Carter
It can only be one of those three. In my second post, I just wanted to know which one. (But I guess I'm not allowed to ask.)
Instead, I got a lot of hoo-haa about quality, bell-cranks and powder-coating.
I'm sure I'm not the only one interested in the "dollars and cents" of the comparison, just as I'm sure I'm not the only one interested in the sonic differences, if any.
You see, I'm definitely interested in having another guitar, and it probably won't be the same brand I'm playing right now! |
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