| Author |
Topic: MCI U-12 Seeking information about my guitar |
Bob Parins
From:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
|
Posted 22 Dec 2008 5:22 pm |
|
I've read the threads about MCI and EMCI guitars and learned a lot, but I'm not sure where my guitar fits into the picture. I'm looking for information about my MCI U-12 Serial# S6002. It has 7 Pedals and 5 Levers.
Where and in what year was it built?
Who was involved with the company at the time?
Were there many U-12 guitars made?
Any thoughts about what this guitar might be worth?
How do these guitars stand up against other mica single neck guitars?
I've had it for about 5 years. It is very smooth and tight. The pedal action is easy and light and The tone is richer than other guitars I've owned/played over the years.
Thanks in advance for any information!
Bob
 |
|
|
 |
Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
|
Posted 22 Dec 2008 8:32 pm
|
|
Its not a welded frame so that means it is an early model. My guess is that it could be a Bud Carter model. Gib Wharton had a couple guitars like that in NYC only tuned to Reece's Bb6 if I remember right.
I'm sure some other people could tell you more.
_________________
Bob |
|
|
|
Bob Parins
From:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
|
Posted 22 Dec 2008 8:53 pm
|
|
That makes sense. I don't know Gib, but I bought it at Main Drag Music and the guys there told me it had been owned by a local player. It had a pretty standard E9/B6 on it when I got it.
Thanks,
Bob |
|
|
|
Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
|
Posted 22 Dec 2008 10:02 pm
|
|
I don't think that was Gib's Guitar. He moved back to Texas over 10 years ago.
Gib was a force of nature on the steel guitar.
_________________
Bob |
|
|
|
Henry Brooks
From:
Los Gatos, California, USA
|
Posted 23 Dec 2008 2:29 pm
|
|
| Your guitar is same as mine excepted that it is a SD-10 and the color is deep blue. S/N S3009. I bought it new in Sept 1985 so your is a little newer. Take care. Henry |
|
|
|
mike nolan
From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
|
Posted 23 Dec 2008 4:04 pm
|
|
Hey Bob,
I had that one before you got it. It came from Nashville via Bobbe Seymour's shop. It had a kind of odd setup on it when I got it and the action was setup to be really short and stiff. I got Bud Carter to make the vertical lever for it and did a complete re-rod on it so it played easier. There were a couple of odd pull rods on it.... they were working, so I left them. When I sold it, I put a really standard uni tuning on it so the next guy wouldn't be too confused. It was a good sounding, lightweight axe.... especially with that old MSA case. I just never really got into the uni thing. Glad you still gig it. |
|
|
|
Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
|
Posted 23 Dec 2008 4:35 pm
|
|
The D10 I got new in 1986 had a welded frame so it will be earlier than that... you have the detachable back apron which the welded frame did not!
That also looks like a Carter verticle knee add-on as well!
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
|
|
|
Bob Parins
From:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
|
Posted 23 Dec 2008 5:11 pm
|
|
Hi Mike! I really love this guitar. I learned about the Uni tuning on it (I Was playing a D-10 Sho-Bud Pro II also From Bobbe Seymour before I got into the MCI)
I was thinking about letting it go because I have a newer ( Beautiful Black U-12) Carter, but I can't get the action to feel as tight and smooth as on that old MCI. Also the tone is a little richer on the MCI.
Does anyone have any thoughts about this?
why is tone a little richer on the MCI than the Carter?
Could this be because the MCI is longer by a few inches than the Carter?
Or Maybe because The MCI was set-up by Bud Carter and I set up the Carter myself? (I am purely amateur when it comes to setting up and maintaining guitars. I switched the Carter from the Chuck Campbell Sacred Steel Tuning to a B6/E9 and feel that I did a very good job until I play the MCI which is like a little race car.) Would the rodding/setup impact the tone a noticeable amount?
Or maybe it's that the George L's Pickup on the MCI is a little nicer than the pickups that come with the Carters?
Thanks Paddy, Mike, and Bob for all the great info.
Bob
P.S. Mike, are you still playing a lot of steel? Looks like we're very close to each-other. I have a little studio in Greenpoint. |
|
|
|
mike nolan
From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
|
Posted 23 Dec 2008 8:41 pm
|
|
Bob,
Actually, I did the setup on that MCI...... and yes, I am playing regularly with 5 different bands..... as well as studio stuff.
Those MCI guitars have something... I don't know what it is. I have been looking for an S-10 for several years, and have not managed to get one yet. Shoot me an email... maybe we can hang out. I lived in Greenpoint for 9 years. |
|
|
|
Bob Parins
From:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
|
Posted 24 Dec 2008 12:50 pm
|
|
Am I correct to assume that my guitar is a Waco model from late 85 or early 86 since it has a higher Serial number than Henry's but doesn't have a welded frame?
Any thoughts about the holes in the body? Was there a volume knob there?
Edit: There was a knob there. I can see it in pictures of some other MCI guitars. |
|
|
|
Henry Brooks
From:
Los Gatos, California, USA
|
Posted 25 Dec 2008 8:45 am
|
|
Bob, my guitar was made in Arlington just after Bud Carter left the company. Red Rhodes was working for MCI at the time and called me about the guitar, they had a cancelation. If I would except the blue color they could ship the guitar right away.
Henry |
|
|
|
Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
|
Posted 24 Feb 2012 9:16 am
|
|
Nice horn!
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
|
|
|
Jay Jessup
From:
Charlottesville, VA, USA
|
Posted 25 Feb 2012 11:54 am
|
|
| Bob Parins wrote: |
. Also the tone is a little richer on the MCI.
Does anyone have any thoughts about this?
why is tone a little richer on the MCI than the Carter?
Could this be because the MCI is longer by a few inches than the Carter?
Or Maybe because The MCI was set-up by Bud Carter and I set up the Carter myself? (I am purely amateur when it comes to setting up and maintaining guitars. I switched the Carter from the Chuck Campbell Sacred Steel Tuning to a B6/E9 and feel that I did a very good job until I play the MCI which is like a little race car.) Would the rodding/setup impact the tone a noticeable amount?
Or maybe it's that the George L's Pickup on the MCI is a little nicer than the pickups that come with the Carters? |
Bob,
I think the truth is that both the earlier MCI's like yours and the later EMCIs tend to be really good sounding guitars once you ditch the standard Barcus Berry pickups. E-66s seem to work very well on these guitars. The don't look especially exceptional either on top or underneath but sound wise they almost all sound very good. While this might be slightly blasphemous I think the tones Buddy E got with his MCIs especially Expedition E9 and his Christmas album hold up very well compared to most any Emmons tones you can find!  |
|
|
|
Jay Jessup
From:
Charlottesville, VA, USA
|
Posted 25 Feb 2012 11:56 am
|
|
sorry 
Last edited by Jay Jessup on 25 Feb 2012 2:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
|
Posted 25 Feb 2012 1:37 pm
|
|
Bob, one of the extra holes could have been there to accommodate a GL-12-5 pickup. Back in the 80s I had 2 matching maroon MCIs (one for gigs, one for practice). I put the 12-5 pickups on both. Those pickups come with a 6 position, rotary switch for selecting various pu configurations/tones. It's my favorite pickup of all.
The pedal action on these MCIs is superior to any other all-pull guitars I've worked on. They have a very tight, smooth, yet accurate, controllable, action. I set mine up for a pretty short pedal travel and could still half-pedal the A pedal very easily. Or they can be set up for the "barefoot" pickers.
Both of my old MCIs, and my current one, all have exhibited the same great tone, playability and adjustability. And all have/had the 12-5 pickup.
And they don't break strings! 
_________________
Best regards,
Mike |
|
|
|
rpetersen
From:
Iowa
|
Posted 29 Feb 2012 5:35 am
|
|
Just found this post - That guitar has apparantly has a few miles on it - I bought it from a guy in Texas and it was a 4x5 and ended up finding enough parts to make it a 6x6 - sounded great after getting it adjusted - It now lives in Alabama!
_________________
Ron Petersen |
|
|
|
Phil Ajjarapu
From:
Portland, via Austin, TX via Chicago
|
Posted 29 Feb 2012 7:39 am
|
|
| Huh, i really like the barcus berry that's in my EMCI SD-10 that I just picked up. I had a Tru-Tone in my MSA Uni which i just sold, but the couple of days overlap that i owned both, i thought that barcus berry sounded pretty bell-like and chimey. I guess the only way to really tell is to swap out pickups on that guitar and track it so i can a/b it. |
|
|
|
