Show us your MCI and EMCI psg's

[Henry Matthews]

I’ve owned at least 4 MCIs, two being the EMCI with welded frame. To me, the welded frame guitars were the best. The older MCIs with the slot in end plate where body screw goes had tuning problems because it often slipped which made end plate move a little causing tuning problems. MCIs were built as a cheaper alternative to an Emmons guitar and often had problems, especially, the little rubber O rings would break and rods slip out from under guitar.
I can say that to my ears, the best tone I’ve heard Big E have live, was an MCI. A red one and this would have been at Dallas show in late 80’s.
Just my 2 cents.

[Mike Bacciarini]

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[Mike Bacciarini]

It's been awhile..... anybody else lately?

[Stew Crookes]

Here's an old photo of my light blue S10 EMCI - Ed Fulawka made me a pickup to replace the BB and did a bit of work on the knee levers to make them sturdier and two of them are adjustable without tools. I recently got an Excel because I needed something lighter, but it still sounds and plays great! Not too heavy either, though now it feels kind of bulky compared to my RoboStar

Al Brisco found it for me in nearly new shape when I outgrew my Carter Starter, and it became my main guitar for 20 years. It's from right around the time that they sold the company to Gretsch as far as I understand...

[Keith Parker]

Hi everyone, my name Keith and I'm new to this group. I bought a red mica MCI D-10 in October and I've been learning for about 8 months now. I don't know much about the early history, but I know it sat in a closet for about 10 years before I bought it. it is a steel body and the SN is 6016, the changers have their own sn which is 385121. if anyone knows anything about it I would love to hear.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Hi Keith.

No expert here on this line of MCI pedal steels. I believe these were built in the mid 80s. The company changed hands a few times so these guitar's serial numbers have been a source of confusion for me, but I think I do have some chronology that might shed some light on the build.

I believe yours in the first or second gen. of the MCI brand built in Waco Texas because of the wood front apron panel.

The next gen was the Arlington Tx. build which had some upgrades such as an all aluminum frame, v. the wood apron, which was all welded together.


This version developed into the Range Expander MCI having some additional changes.

The final version was the EMCI model which was much the same as the RangeExpander, I believe.

Your guitar, with those chrome BL705 pickups, should be a great sounding instrument. You have 4 or 5 hundred dollars worth of rare pickups there. It's nice to see those intact because so many of them have been robbed out of these guitars to be sold and replaced with something else.

There are more knowledgeable folks here on these guitars so I defer to them concerning the chronology. There are also several threads here about them.

Welcome to the forum and best wishes for lots of joy, frustration and excitement with your nice pedal steel guitar.

[Dale Foreman]

This is Buddy Emmons MCI. It has his name stamped on it.

[Wayne Brown]

I'm sorry Dale but you are mistaken That guitar was red and black and I know exactly where that guitar is. A fellow forum member Forest Klott owns it. Trust me I have tried and tried to get that guitar pried out from his hands....NOPE not happening
Thanks
wayne

[Mike Bacciarini]

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[Stew Crookes]

I'm sorry Dale but you are mistaken That guitar was red and black and I know exactly where that guitar is. A fellow forum member Forest Klott owns it. Trust me I have tried and tried to get that guitar pried out from his hands....NOPE not happening
Thanks
wayne

Is that by chance the same black and red D10 that Ron Hallderson owned?
I got to produce a recording he played that guitar on about 20 yrs ago and, in his incredible hands at least, it sounded phenomenal

[Brian Henry]

Carter is my favorite guitar!

[Bill C. Buntin]

I’m glad this came back to the top. I forgot about it. Would you believe my EMCI hasn’t been out of its case since the pandemic.? That’s pitiful to have such a nice guitar and never play. But this thread reminded me of another tidbit. I don’t know who told me (possibly Gene Fields). The original MCI logo was apparently protested as a copyright infringement or whatever you call it by the MCI motor coach folks. The company owner (John Birkhead?) Talked around to a bunch of people builders and pro players about a solution. So the story I got was that the Big E himself suggested they put an E in front of MCI. So then solved the problem and folks could still pronounce it as EM CEE EYE of course everyone including me call it E M C I. Jim Smith or Steve Lamb could give us a closer account. I think Steve was a production manager for them for a time. I know Jim setup a lot of them. I’m also thinking they had Curly Chalker playing MCI at some point.

The first one I ever heard was Sarah Jory. Then Gary Carpenter had one that he built himself. When I first met Gary his didn’t have a logo of any kind. That was about 91 or 92 maybe. But Gary and Steve were the first guys to get me interested in MCI. I was forever bugging the both of them and Bud and Gene about the guitar and why it was such a great instrument that never caught on.

Dent Bills had one s10 that was just an absolute dream to play. Dent wasn’t a knee lever kind of a player. His only had two knee levers but he’s such a fine player, you wouldn’t know it when you heard it.

Anyway, just sharing tidbits as I remember them..

Bill

[Brian Henry]

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[Bill C. Buntin]

Kieth

My first Mci was like yours. Only mine was black. Fairly certain A Bud Carter build. There’s an obscure time in there where some Waco built guitars were moved to Arlington. I think the Waco guitars had the earlier decal. The letters were like lower case on that Waco logo. Yours, I believe, like my first one, was from Arlington. In fact, out of the several I have owned the first one was still my favorite. It was just special for some reason. The later models, as previously pointed out by others, were post bud Carter. Once gene fields came, they started the welded frame. The two EMCI that I had one was early welded frame and the guitar I now have was later. 1989 . I think the welded frame was the best thing. This one I have has all the tone and sustain but very little cabinet deflection. Really stable. As pointed out above you also have original BL705 pickups. I love those things. Rare nowadays to find one for sale unmolested. The pickups are worth a good deal just themselves. If you ever want to sell let me know.

That guitar that Forrest has is definitely the Big Es guitar. And one he was partial to. I know that for a fact, Bud Carter was very proud of the fact that Buddy loved that guitar. I actually think Buddy had two of them. The one Forrest has I think was the Christmas album guitar.

You guys are right…Forrest ain’t gonna give up that one…and i don’t blame him. What a piece of history. That’s almost like “blade no. 2”. But I’m glad it’s in good hands. If you guys don’t know, Forrest is one of the greatest guys you’ll ever meet. I’ve known him along time. I know he’s proud to have that Mci and I’m proud for him. Isn’t often we get to own a piece of history..

[Keith Parker]

Bill, Thank you for that history!

[Justin Wierenga]

Here is my blue D10 I scored last year!

Needs some love but sounds amazing!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/djEpJJa3zZUpxsP89

[Joerg Schubert]

Hi,
I looking for parts to equip my EMCI/RX5000 (S10) with a LKLF lever.
Who can help?
Thanks, Joerg

[Pat Moore]

Here’s mine, #A3031. With Telonics X-10 pickups. Unreal sustain for an all-pull guitar, easily on par with my ‘60’s push pulls.

[Mike Bacciarini]

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