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Topic: The one that got away |
Sherman Willden
From:
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
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Posted 20 May 2009 7:27 am |
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First let me preface with the fact that I really enjoy my Carter s12 and I am still learning many ways to play on it.
When I was searching for my guitar in 2004 I found one from the Cajon Steel Guitar site. It was a ZumSteel s12 9x6 if I remember right and it sold for US $1900. I settled on a brand new Carter s12 7x5 and did not get the ZumSteel. After reading responses from other E9/B6 players I see some limitations to my present copedent and due to a limited budget I can not modify or add pedal and lever changes.
Sherman |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 20 May 2009 7:41 am
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Oh, we've all got those stories....
I'm curious. Do you feel you've "outgrown" the Carter with 7 pedals and 5 knee-levers (You can make lots of music with that guitar) or are you just remorseful that you missed your chance at the "bragging rights" of owning a Zum? Also, what are the "limitations" of your Carter?
Lee
Last edited by Lee Baucum on 20 May 2009 7:42 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Connie Mack
From:
phoenicia, new york
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Posted 20 May 2009 7:42 am
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sherman,
i have only been playing the u-12 tuning for about a year so i'm no authority. i have the one i started out on with a 8 and 5. i got another one with a 7 and 6. i'm going to combine tunings whwn my hand heals up with a 7/6 config which seems like plenty of guitar for me.
what is it that you think you need that you don't have on your carter(besides a zum sticker?)?
_________________
82'sho-bud u-12, frankendekely u-12, bride of frankendekley u-12, a whole mess of other instruments...finger still messed up but getting better... |
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Bobby Hearn
From:
Henrietta, Tx
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Posted 20 May 2009 8:02 pm
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| Get A Rains! |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 20 May 2009 11:11 pm
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Several years ago I had a Zum 12 string uni,of all the guitars I've had,that's the one I still regret trading off. DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 21 May 2009 7:56 am
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| Seems like your problems have to do merely with the smaller number of pedals and levers, and your temporary financial inability to expand that, rather than the particular brand of instrument. I'm sure a Carter could be ordered with the expanded copedent you want as well as a Zum or Rains or anything else. If you really want to add stuff, you just need to save up until you can add it to the Carter or trade up to something with more stuff. Maybe you could post the Carter copendent, and also post the copedent you wish you had. Then we could see how big a problem this is. |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 21 May 2009 9:50 am
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I have a Red single-body '84 Zum S12U here that is a traditional take on a D10 E9/C6 8x4 setup, transferred to E9/B6 8x4.
It's nice!... I'm still getting my copedant set up on it... which is mainly adding all the E9th changes that exist on strings 4-8 to strings 8-12.
Adding a G#'s>G somewhere (preferably RKL2).
Adding a LKV for B's>Bb.
Adding string 12 B>A to the A-pedal.
My main gigging axe is a Sierra S12U with 6x6.
I'm sure I would be just as happy with your Carter 7x5! 
S12U rules!
To Me... It's the "Corvette" of the Industy. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 21 May 2009 5:50 pm
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Sherman
Please don't take these words I'm about to type as finger-pointing, but rather, constructive criticism.
If you've only been playing an S12 Uni for 4 or 5 years, and haven't been playing steel guitar for decades, don't fall into the trap of the "I-can't-progress-without-more-stuff" syndrome.
A single 12 Universal with 7 and 5 is an industry standard guitar; unless you're some kind of musical prodigy, there's more music on that guitar than you could possibly play in a lifetime. IMHO, which comes from over 40 years of playing steel guitar, don't worry about two extra pedals or whatever. Not having them is an excuse, common to many frustrated by lack of motivation to face uphill battles, for not buckling down and learning to play the instrument.
Playing music well is difficult. It's not made easier by more pedals and levers, only by time spent creatively in diligent study, practice, and private instruction.
My late friend and business mentor Jeff Newman, if he were alive and here, would be shaking his head, poking his finger in your chest, and saying "stop making excuses... learn to play the freakin' instrument!"
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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Jeff Hyman
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 21 May 2009 6:02 pm
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| Herb Steiner... Excellent reply! |
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Tommy Young
From:
Ethelsville Alabama
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Posted 21 May 2009 8:32 pm
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HERB---AMEN
last word
_________________
TOMMY YOUNG
MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS
BMI dealer,Classic VIBE 100 amp... SIT strings.. |
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Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
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Posted 21 May 2009 11:19 pm
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Sherman....7 and 5 ?? OMG, it'll last you 3 life times. Play more on less if you get my drift. Look what Mr. Green does on 10 strings with 3 and 4 
Micky Byrne United Kingdom
Sho-Bud and Carter Universals
www.micky-byrne.co.uk |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 23 May 2009 12:04 am
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Yo Mick!
Why not post your copedent you had on that Sho_bud for us? I always thought it made perfect sense to me. |
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David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
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Posted 23 May 2009 4:52 am
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| Very well said Herb......as a S-12 played for 39 years, you said a mouth full... |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 23 May 2009 7:24 am Re: The one that got away
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| Sherman Willden wrote: |
...I see some limitations to my present copedent...
Sherman |
What limitiations are you personally struggling with? |
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Sherman Willden
From:
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2009 4:57 am
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Thank you all for your insights and the points are well taken. As first stated I do enjoy the Carter I am playing and definietly have not mastered it yet. I was going through Joe Wrights E9 DVD course and he performs some changes he can perform through knee lever placement and I mistook that for a failing on my guitar. I do like his course because he doesn't say "Engage pedal 6"; rather he says "Engage the pedal that raises string 7" or something like that. So that makes it easier to learn on any s12 guitar.
I am presently working six days a week so that only gives me one day to get things done around the house. Everytime I get a little while to sit at the guitar I feel like I'm starting all over again since I only get a half hour mostly. It is frustrating and that is how I felt when I wrote what I wrote. I really do enjoy the s12 I have.
Sherman |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 10 Jun 2009 2:11 pm
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Not be be a fuddy-duddy, but answers like the following are not necessary. The man stated he has a limited budget so tight he can't add to or modify his Carter. If it were me, a buy a new guitar comment would be an insult to my intelligence. Only posts that actually help the man and answer his questions should appear here.
Herb pretty much nailed it . That Carter has what I think is the tuning Jeff Newman used (except that Newman played a Day pedal setup). I believe that is the standard tuning that most guitar buiders would put on a single 12 universal, unless you asked for something different of course (although I admit I have not researched the standard setups all guitar makers use). Unless you have a certain change in mind that you can't get somewhere else on the guitar, I think you have all you need. And also remember that on a single 12, you won't be able to add all the "extra" knee levers that a double 10 player has. The Universal was designed to give you the basic changes of a D-10 on one neck, thus limiting the amount of "specialty" pedals and levers that are possible on a D10 with more room under the guitar, although I have heard of players that have added extra knee levers in the center of the guitar to work on the B6th side of the tuning, but I think this is probably a very small number of players. |
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Billy Carr
From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
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Posted 13 Jun 2009 8:57 am U-12's
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| I've owned 3 new Carter U-12's. Only thing I ever had added was the 4 & 8 pulls on a D-10, C6th neck, pedal #4. These guitars come with 7 & 5, which is plenty for anybody. I'd suggest a player learn as much as possible on a D-10 before trying a 12 though. A lot of players that are not familiar with C6th playing have a tendency to get lost easily whenever they lower the E's and go into a B6th mode. Simple is better, to me anyway. I like to listen to the things Lloyd Green has done and continues to do with only 3 & 4 on a single neck. I also like to listen to the guys who have everything a guitar can take(10 & 10, etc.). I've found that when playing before folks who are not musicians, simple is better, for me. They can relate to most of what's being played because they've heard it before, usually on the radio. They don't care how many KL/Pedals a guitar has. Getting back on topic here, play whatever makes you happy. Whether it's U-12 or whatever. Don't matter, just play it. |
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