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Topic: Never Too Late to Start | Can't Get Started |
Michael Williams
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2022 9:11 am |
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Hello Forum,
I just turned 50 a week ago and when the family asked what I wanted for the occasion, guess what I asked for. There was someone looking to sell Carter Starter within driving distance and the wife and kids picked it up for me knowing that it would need a little love to get the ball rolling (I helped locate it) The seller mentioned a HUM when plugging it directly into their amp which is not ideal but made this gift affordable. When I set 'er up I also heard the loud HUM and was not getting any sound out of the strings. I figured first thing is to run it through a volume pedal to see if that can help with the issue. I do not have a great volume pedal for pedal steel, just an Ernie Ball.
Now I am not getting any sound out of the guitar.
Since I am brand new I was hoping it was like when I first got my bass guitar back in 1994 and someone told me to check the 9 volt battery and it worked again.
Thank you to anyone who has a suggestion including change the pickup.
Michael |
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Chris Tarrow
From:
Maplewood, NJ
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Posted 26 Oct 2022 9:35 am
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| First thing to check is that the pickup is properly soldered to the output jack. Take the bolt and the washer off the output jack and then with the guitar upside down (in the case is best) and remove the jack to inspect it. If one of the leads is disconnected or poorly soldered, resolder it and test it before putting the jack back in. |
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Michael Williams
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2022 10:51 am
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| Thank you Chris! Great place to start and that connection between the pickup and output jack looks solid. I guess the idea is to keep removing variables to get to what the issue is! Really appreciate your willingness to help. |
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Pat Chong
From:
New Mexico, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2022 11:20 am
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Check for loose wiring, or even a bad guitar cable (check the simple stuff, first). Anyway, if you have an ohm-meter, check resistance:
Across the pickup,
From the pickup to the volume control (if there is one)
From the pickup to the output jack
Across the output jack. Any "infinite" reading shows an open connection. I just took a reading across my Dekley pickup, it is 17.4k. Yours does not have to be exactly the same, +/- a few thousand is ok.
Luck on your repair....Pat. |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2022 11:37 am
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Check the cord. If you are using a cord or cords that came with the steel, It may have a bad connection in 1 of the plugs, Or the cord itself may be damaged.
Use another cord that works well with another instrument to check it. If the guitar was in storage for a while, Check the Female plug on the guitar for corrosion, Make sure spring contact is holding the cord plug firmly. |
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Michael Williams
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2022 1:40 pm
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Thanks for all the responses.
I have used multiple cords, these same chords work on my 6 string guitar and same results, no sound. The wiring all looks good. I can not see in the pickup since it has a resin backing.
I might be destined to be the first Acoustic Pedal Steel Player...which wouldn't be so bad cause it still means I am playing Pedal Steel!
The only suggestion I could not try was the ohms reader since I do not own one but if that would help determine if it is the pickup, might be worth picking one up.
Is the pickup on this Carter Starter a tough item to find a replacement for? |
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Chris Tarrow
From:
Maplewood, NJ
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Posted 26 Oct 2022 6:44 pm
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You're in NYC? Matt at 30th street guitars can fix ANYTHING, maybe just take it there?
If it is the pickup you can put any wide mount pickup in there, doesn't need to be a Carter.
Yes it is worth having an ohm meter and soldering iron as well as a good set of hex wrenches for adjustments. |
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David LeBlanc
From:
New Brunswick, Canada
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Posted 27 Oct 2022 7:27 am
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| As Chris mentioned, have it checked by someone who knows about pickups and wiring. Doesn't have to be a pedal steel player. Even an amp tech. |
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David Dorwart
From:
Orlando, Florida, USA
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Posted 27 Oct 2022 12:52 pm
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| Curious as to what the Carter cost. You should be able to replace a bad pickup or Jack pretty inexpensively and you’d have a workable steel. I started on a Carter Starter and even with its inherent problems it ushered me into the world of steel guitar without having to spend a lot of money. I kicked that thing around for about 8 years before diving in head first and upgrading to a professional model - something to look forward to |
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Marshall Woodall
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 29 Oct 2022 6:22 am
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| Hey Michael, all of the above suggestions are great. If you are in or around Westchester County let me know and maybe I can help you out. My bet is that there is something wrong at the jack solder point. Hairline crack or maybe the shield has somehow broken off somewhere. An ohm meter is definitely helpful. Pickups never just go bad without some external physical reason. Anyway, I'm around- |
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