Carter Starter - Any reason NOT to buy?

Zachary Walters · From: Maryland

I've heard the Carter Starter is a great deal for someone like me. Almost like starting out with a Mexican Strat instead of a Squier, if I had to use an analog from my salad days as a guitarist. But I could be wrong.

Some of my background... I've played guitar for about 20 years, long enough to know the quality and reputation of most big and small guitar makers, but I'm feeling shaky about buying my first steel. All I do know is I should probably start with an S-10, 3x3 or 3x4 and set up Emmons (just because I've been watching Mickey Adams' vids!).

I have some Gibsons and a Jackson for trade, which could bump my budget of ~ $1,000 up a little. Any advice? Yay or nay to the Carter kit? Thx
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1981 Push-Pull
2009 Super Glide Custom

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

after having sold a few Carter Starters, i highly recommend this model Zachary

http://www.stageonesteelguitars.com/

Stan Schober · From: Cahokia, Illinois, USA

I bought my Starter(used) for $500.
That was my total budget.
I just sold it for $500,so not a bad investment, considering I learned a LOT from that instrument.

That being said,CrowBear has given you a great lead.
These are also very nice for the same price range:

Simmons/Genesis
http://www.genesissteelguitars.com/index.htm

and just a wee bit more expensive:
Rains/Carpsteel
http://www.rainssteelguitars.com/carpsteel.html
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Emmons S-8 P/P,DeArmond 40. Slowly drifting back towards sanity.

Dave O'Brien · From: Florida and New Jersey

for + or - $ 1000 you could get an (older) MSA or BMI.

Stan Schober · From: Cahokia, Illinois, USA

Zachary Walters · From: Maryland

Also I've been looking up push-pulls, and I can't really determine if this is something I should be concerned with, or if push-pulls are even in my budget. If it's just a tone thing, I like to stick by the adage "it's all in the fingers."
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1981 Push-Pull
2009 Super Glide Custom

Zachary Walters · From: Maryland

Wow thanks for the heads up on the Nashville, Stan. Looks like it's about to be a hot item again.
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1981 Push-Pull
2009 Super Glide Custom

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

since you are an experienced musician you will probably not get scared away by the instrument. Therefore you may find yourself "stuck" with a cheap instrument once your hooked, wishing you had a better one. That said, I owned one, recorded with it, played live with, and found upon buying a pro model that the limitations I thought where in the instrument were in my hands instead. I regret getting rid of mine, as they make good practice guitars so your not unpacking and repacking for the practice space. They are also good for rowdy shows where beer is flying everywhere.

they are good guitars for the money, the stage-ones are better IMHO. They are more money, but are closer to a pro model in quality. Buying a used pro-model you run the risk of inheriting mechanical issues that your not familiar with. You dont need that when you are learning.

Both the carter and the stage-one are good enough to play out, both have good re-sale values if your not feeling it. I think a better comparison is imagine a pro model to be like a 60's epiphone casino that is valued at $2000, and the starter is the $300 guitar center Korean epiphone casino reissue. The difference is night and day, but you find yourself surprised to like the Korean one anyways and get it because now you have a Casino, kind of.
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GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS

Stan Schober · From: Cahokia, Illinois, USA

The closest P/P you'll find in that price range is going to be an Emmons Student model(search that here on the forum to see the BIG differences between those and the pro models). I bought an 8 string intermediate model, and to me, it's worth every penny I paid for it.
They are TRUE P/P models, even though they use different changer parts than the pro versions, and that sound IS there.Doubling your budget would get you into the price range of a pro model Emmons.
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Emmons S-8 P/P,DeArmond 40. Slowly drifting back towards sanity.

Mike Schwartzman · From: Maryland, USA

Hi Zachary,

I've never owned a PP (yet), but I've had the pleasure of playing one here at a friend's house in Silver Spring. No question here about the beautiful tones it produces. Ahh...maybe one day.

I started playing PSG a little more than 2 yrs. ago, and on some recommendations from here on the forum, I chose to start on a BMI S10 3x4. It's a late 70's- early 80's model. True...it's not exactly a light weight guitar, but at that time I was able to compare it to the Carter Starter...as there was one at Atomic Music at the time.

In hindsight, no regrets...it was right choice for me. Not that there was anything at all wrong with the Carter Starter. It's just that the BMI S10 was so much more solid and stable on the floor and I loved the tone too. I figured that if I was going to commit to learning PSG and stick with it, then paying a few hundred more for a pro model was worth it. IMO, maybe that's even more true today than 2 yrs. ago since I see all kinds of great guitars here on the forum coming up for sale at really good prices.

If you'd like to check out lot's of different PSG's...Billy Coopers is less than 2 hrs. from here.

Slim
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Emmons Push Pull, BMI, Session 400, Home of the Slimcaster Tele.

Zachary Walters · From: Maryland

Mike - Nice to see another Silver Spring local. I live right downtown. I heard about Billy Cooper's place. That's the one in Orange right? The drive is certainly something I've been thinking about making, if I can find the time. We will see.

For now I've got my eyes on a Nashville Ltd here in the forums, and also the Carpsteel out of Fort Worth. Someone else mentioned BMI and I saw one on ebay last week. I'll have to check those out as well. But I can only justify a 'couple hundred' dollars more once or twice. After that I'll be up near twice where I started! Hopefully soon I'll have my steel, my single malt, and be playing to no more than a dozen people at the Quarry House :]

Thx
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1981 Push-Pull
2009 Super Glide Custom

Mike Archer · From: church hill tn

there a wilcox for sale in the instruments
for sale section its sd-10
for 1000.00 + thats a good start
higher then a carter starter but would take you
further down the road
I would take a stage one steel anyday
over the carter starter
I had a student with a carter starter
the tone was decent but I didnt like the legs
and knee levers at all
IMHO Mike

Wesley Medlen · From: LaCygne,Ks

Zachary I have a 2009 Wilcox SD10 with case and leg bag I will sell for 1,000 + shipping and insurance. I have played a starter and I would take this Wilcox any time it has 3 and 4 Emmons set up. The only reason I'm selling is because I was able to pick up a BMI SD10 3 & 5 for a good price and I can't afford to keep two. It is on the for sale in instruments. Thank you Wes
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Justice S10 Jr, Gibson Electra 6string, Boss Katana 100, Steelers Choice ,Gretsch 6 string lap, Hilton VP

Zachary Walters · From: Maryland

Some news... I have already bought and decided to return my first steel!

Last night at Guitar Center in Rockville there was one Carter Starter, and they were willing to give me a good deal on it because some kit parts were missing (manual, wrenches, etc), and the nearest other dealer with that model was in Manhattan. Already the 1 pedal is falling out and the 2 pedal raises my 6th G# to a B instead of an A. I know how to tinker, and I can see how to fix this, but the one good thing about the whole mess is that I can RETURN IT! I shouldn't have expected much else from Guitar Center, or from Carter I suppose.

So that's the deal. Hopefully a trip to Billy Cooper's will happen next week if I don't find something better on here.

Thx for all the info and heads up on sales in the meantime guys, keep it comin'

Zach
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1981 Push-Pull
2009 Super Glide Custom

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

sounds like someone messed that one up. The workmanship on the starters is good, and the usual problems I hear about are with bent knee levers.
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GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS

Mike Schwartzman · From: Maryland, USA

If you can get to Billy Coopers place you'll be able to check out a pretty wide range of guitars including the whole GFI lineup, Mullen Pros and Intermediates, plus numerous other brands (new and used). If you'd like to check out a BMI S10, shoot me a pm.
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Emmons Push Pull, BMI, Session 400, Home of the Slimcaster Tele.

John Steele · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

I recently ran across a Carter Starter at a generic music store near me. I was surprised to see it.
While it is not a professional model (nor intended to be) rest assured that Carter makes a decent product.
When I hear that one is that far out of whack, I think of this one I saw in the music store. Before me there had been a parade of hard rock refugees with pony tails and skull & crossbones on their t-shirts lined up to try it out. None of them would have a clue, and neither would anyone who worked in the store.... so if it's that badly screwed up, I'd assume it was probably store error rather than reflective of the Carter company, which deservedly has a very good reputation.
Having said that, I found it very light (too light for me) and the knee levers were exceptionally stiff, surprisingly. They also come with a pre-set copendant which is not meant to be changed.

- John

Zachary Walters · From: Maryland

Yeah the pedal spacing seems a bit close. That problem with the 2 pedal really screws up my major scales and chords too. The knee levers do seem a bit tough to move, even if I am not used to playing an instrument that has them. They are also based on a copedent that doesn't seem very conventional, and that's also a big deal for me. Why it was set up that way, I can't think of a reason for. I'm trying to get everything I can out of it for the next 25 days or so, until the return period is up.
Zach
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1981 Push-Pull
2009 Super Glide Custom

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

The copedent of the Carter Starter is about as conventional as they come. If the pedals are pulling to the wrong note, someone has messed with the tuning nuts. Or they used a plain string instead of a .022 wound for the middle G#.
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Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

Save yourself the hassle of having to work on something. Give me half a chance and I'll put you behind a new Carpsteel for a super price thru 12-18-09. You'll be surprised at the deal. On the other hand, there's several nice used S-10's available and plenty of good advice here for a beginner. Good luck on your choice. My number is 601-752-2037, if I can help you. Thanks.

Michael Pierce · From: Madison, CT

Zachary, you've gotten a lot of good advice here. I'll add my $.02. You should definitely check out the GFI SD-10 that Josh Cho has for sale over in the "instruments" section. Having owned one, I believe they are terrific guitars and that's a great price. You'll be happy for a long time (or until you get the push/pull itch, whichever comes first). He's in NYC, you're in DC, who knows, you might even be able to save a bit on shipping if you meet. Anyway, good luck.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=173009

Zachary Walters · From: Maryland

I'm the proud owner of the GFI Ultra posted a few days ago by Josh Cho. What a steel. If Josh ever has an item any of you are interested in, I have nothing but praises for him as a seller. The steel was at my door less than 24 hours after I paid for it. The Carter is going back to Guitar Center tonight. Thanks for everyone's help.
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1981 Push-Pull
2009 Super Glide Custom

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

Congratulations, very wise choice! You will have that for years and years. Thats a pro model, so you can be assured you have top of the line gear. There are a lot of gfi owners on here, so any questions please dont hesitate to ask. You will get more help than need.
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GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS

Daniel J. Cormier · From: Lake Charles, LA, USA

If no else has said this check out Chuck Back at Desert Rose Guitars . He builds an excellent intermediate Guitar for no much more than a Carter Starter. Oh yea it will come with a real case also
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Daniel J. Cormier
Rittenberry with Tone to the bone,profex or tubefex and what ever amp, hilton pedal, BJS bars. Email at kajunsteelman@yahoo.com.

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