Q. I am in the market for an S-10 steel guitar with 3 pedals and 4 knee levers. Should I buy a used "pro" instrument or the new Carter-Starter? A. We recommend on our How-to-buy-any-brand-psg area of our main web site {www.steelguitar.com} that anyone considering purchasing (whether a beginner or not) buy the most steel they can afford.
Used pro steels typically are available at varying prices. Depending on their condition and configuration, D-10's will typically sell for $1000 and up while S-10's go for around $700 and up.
By nature, pedal steels are mechanical and require periodic maintenance. The amount of proper maintenance that used steels have received over their lifetime can vary greatly and therefore the amount of wear that the changers and undercarriage have been subjected to will vary likewise. Many steels were and are well built and may last a very long time even if abused. However, rarely do used pro model steels (in the $695 and $995 price ranges) come with warranties -- and we recommend that this consideration also be factored into the purchase decision.
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Q. Why are the Carter-Starter and its pedals and knee levers tuned the way they are? A. The E9 tuning and knee lever and pedal setup has been optimized to allow you to access the maximum amount of teaching materials available today.
You may encounter some teaching materials that have some of these knee lever functions in different places (right leg instead of left leg, etc.). The important thing to remember is that to utilize most teaching materials, the function needs to be on your guitar. The location of that function is not important.
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Q. What are the basic differences between an "entry-level" Steel Guitar (psg) and a "Pro" model?
A. There are a number of the differences between a "pro" model and a beginner or entry-level model psg:
Feature Beginner (Entry-Level) Professional Cost Low (typically less than $900)
The Carter-Starter has a Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $895US
High typically over $1,900
Options Typically none. Usually available in one tuning, one setup, and one color only.
Pretty much limitless. Custom colors, finishes, configurations, pickups, etc.
Tuning and Setup Every Carter-Starter comes with Nashville E9 tuning with 3 pedals and 4 knee levers. (Most beginner steels usually have 2 or 3 P and 1, 2 or 3 KL.)
E9 or any tuning available. 3P and 4 or 5 KL minimum.
Tuning and/or assigned functions of the pedals and knee levers cannot be changed. Tuning and/or assigned functions of the pedals and knee levers can be changed easily. Expandability Pedals and knee levers cannot be added.
Pedals and knee levers can be added. Mechanisms Typically requires much greater movement to accomplish raises and lowers. Some String movements may not be available. Typically requires much less movement to accomplish raises and lowers. Adjustable stops and/or tilt positioning for knee levers not utilized.
Adjustable stops and/or tilt positioning for knee levers typically utilized.
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Q. What's on the DVD that comes with my Carter-Starter? A. The DVD contains information on:
Assembling a pedal steel guitar, Tuning the open strings, pedals, and knee levers, Hooking up to a volume pedal and amplifier, Changing strings, Left hand vibrato, and bar techniques, Right hand picking and "string blocking" techniques and; Basic maintenance How to adjust the knee levers How to use the pedals and knee levers to form chords and scales " The Pedal Steel Guitar, E9 Nashville Tuning Demystified for Standard Guitarists .
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Q. How do I make the knee lever spacing narrower or reduce the amount of travel? A. The total amount of "movement" required by the pedals and knee levers is set by the amount of travel required to pull a string to pitch (or release it to lower it to pitch). You can adjust the knee lever stops on your Carter-Starter to reduce (or increase) the distance to the end of travel.
The way to do this on RKL and LKL is to raise the screw in the body under the bottom of the LKL (or RKL). This screw functions as a stop to set the end of travel. Once you back out the screw a couple of turns, you will have to retune the tuning nuts so the string is brought up to pitch as shown in the DVD which came with your Carter-Starter.
Caution: do NOT back the screw out far enough to interfere with the free rotation of the KL cross shaft during the adjustment of the stop.
To increase the amount of slack on RKR and LKR, loosen the locking nut on the knee lever bracket. Back off the set screw with a 1/16" allen wrench until the string comes to pitch.Tighten the locking nut.
IMPORTANT: You need to have a SMALL amount of slack in the system before the knee levers start to change the strings' pitch.
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Q. Does the Carter-Starter come with Accessories? A. In addition to the enclosures that come standard with each Carter-Starter, there is also a Carter-Starter Bundle, which includes all the standard enclosures plus the Carter Accessories Pack. Ask your dealer about these options!
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Q. How much does the Carter-Starter weigh? A.
Model Weight in Lbs. Weight in Kilos Standard Carter-Starter in its box 26 11.6 Carter-Starter Bundle in its box 30.5 13.6 Standard Carter-Starter in a hard-shell case 37 16.5
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We welcome your inquiries regarding the Carter-Starter at orderdesk@carterstarter.com
Snail-Mail Address & Phone/FAX info for Carter Steel Guitars.
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Source of Carter Starter Web Site.