Welded Frame MCI Range Expander or 2008 Carter?

Jim Cooley · From: The 'Ville, Texas, USA

I know that here is a lot of personal opinion involved. I have a chance to buy either of the two guitars. I have liked the sound of every Range Expander that I have heard. I can't say that about every Carter; I know, lots of variables that come into play.

The MCI is priced $100 lower, and looks to be in good condition. The Carter is a 3X5; the MCI is a 3X4. If I buy the MCI, I will want to add a LKV knee lever.

The 2008 Carter is the much newer relative of the Range Expander, but considering all that has been said about merits of the the MCI, could this guitar be the better pick?

I'm trying to get as much input as I can before I pull the trigger, to make sure that I have considered as many possibilities as are reasonable - tone, reliability, availability of parts, etc. If the guitars were closer in age, I think the decision would already be made.

Objective opinions are appreciated.

-Jim-

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

I've never played an MCI, but I have owned several Carters. If i can't see the guitars in person, I'd take the Carter. They are pretty consistent, and very reliable. Pickups make a difference, my present Carter has a Tonealigner, it's very good. Truetones are excellent too. The only fault I find on the Carter, is that it's a little lower then other guitars, the shallow body makes it lower, even using the same size legs. I need to raise them about an inch, to feel comfortable. just my opinion.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

As you said, the preference between the two is very objective. I have owned two Carters: a '97 D10 with added BCT, and a '99 SD10 with BCT. I have also owned an MCI S10. The Carter D10 sounded the best of the three, the but the MCI S10 beat the Carter SD10 in the tone department by a long shot. I attribute the heavier body of the D10 as a contributing factor in tone. I could lift the Carter SD10 with my pinkie; it was lighter than the MCI S10. Once again, conjecture and opinion. Just my personal insight.
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David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

I have had both and I would go with the MCI. My primary reason is tone. The MCI's I've had definitely had better tone and sustain than the Carter's I've had.

My second reason is maintaining value in the event of selling the guitar in the future. The MCI will hold value better than the Carter.

Dave
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Sonny Priddy · From: Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA, R.I.P.

MCI All The WAY. SONNY.

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

I absolutely agree. Welded frame MCI/EMCI guitars are my first choice. I have 4 U12s...an Emmons, a Dekley, a MSA Vintage XL, and an MCI. The MCI is my favorite...with the Dekley close behind.
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Best regards,
Mike

Hans Holzherr · From: Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland

Mike Wheeler, what pickup do you recommend for the MCI?

Hans

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

The George L E66 or 10-1 seem to work pretty well on MCI's ... the original Barcus Berry wasn't that great.
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Jim Cooley · From: The 'Ville, Texas, USA

I recently heard one with a Georgel PF-1 - very nice. I think a BL705 would probably sound great, too.

Frank Parish · From: Nashville,Tn. USA

I guess opinions are like they all say but here's mine. I've played a Carter guitar for the last seven years starting out with a 94 wood body and no BCT and then to a 2002 model with mica and BCT. I've owned a 98 Legrande II, 98 Derby and various Emmons p/p's and Sho-Buds. The Carter has outplayed them all by a mile and it's not even close. It's got shorter pedal travel, the very best half stop in the business that I've come across either factory or custom made from some of the best here in Nashville and it's just a solid guitar. I don't break strings unless I play them to way passed their lifetime usufulness and by then they don't sound good anyway. I believe the Carter is the cadillac of the other brands mentioned here and I think Bud Carter would tell you the same thing. That's the guy to talk to about this because he's the one that designed them so he should know it better than anybody. I don't buy a guitar for the resale value but for the playability, looks, tone and these days weight. The Carter has all of that and they stay in tune too. I never had the Derby get anywhere close to the playability of either one of my Carters and it had the worst tone of any guitar I've ever owned period. The pedal travel was way longer and to me that's just about the one that tells me all I need to know. My old Emmons p/p has shorter travel than the Derby I had. The Legrande was better but not by much and it was the 14 hole bellcrank model. All of the Sho-Buds were better playing guitars than the Derby or the Legrande and way shorter pedal travel not to mention better looks. I think you'll find the MCI, EMCI and the Carter to be pretty similar in most cases but the BCT system is by far the better of any of the others and has more sustain. I've got the BL 710's in this Carter and for my money it's the best p-up out there at least for my ears. This is just my opinion but I take this guitar out to every kind of gig you could think of and I wouldn't trade it for any of these others I mentioned here no matter who played them or owned them. It doesn't have near the cabinet drop that the Derby or the Legrande did either and that's a big factor too. If it can do all that and not break your back then buy it and play it to death! The resale value won't make it sound any better or play any better.

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Hans, sorry for the late reply...been working too many hours! I have always used the George L 12-5 pickups. They have a 5 position switch that changes the 2 coils into different configurations...humbucker, single coil, out-of-phase-humbucker, etc.

I've used them for decades and have one on every one of my guitars, except for the Emmons. And that's just because I haven't bought one for it yet. It'll get one too someday.

Some people don't like them, but I think that's because you need to fine tune your setup to get the best out of all those pickup switch positions. I get everything from a fat, punchy C6th sound to a thin, crisp, Fendery sound...without tweaking the amp at all! I really like the 12-5 for its versatility.
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Best regards,
Mike

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