has it come to this??? Carter Starter, Musicians' Friend cat

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 3 Jan 2003 5:30 am

in the latest "Musicians' Friend" catalog..

FREE! Cowboy Bottle Opener with Purchase of Carter Steel Guitar Package ($20 value) LIMITED TIME OFFER!

pictured is a statuette of a guitar pickin' cowboy with a bottle top popping hook on the side... hard to tell if it's stand alone or wall mounted.

sheesh!
maybe I'm reading too much into this, but is this the general perception of something that would appeal to someone who might want to try playing steel guitar? if so, we are in BIG trouble.

granted, on the same page if you buy a video called the "Joy of Uke" for $29.95, you get a FREE ukelele ($30 value)

maybe it's just sales speak ; last night I caught a commercial for Craftmatic beds that said: "offering a lifetime of temporary relief from lower back pain..."
[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 03 January 2003 at 05:31 AM.]

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 3 Jan 2003 6:00 am

Marketing goofballs! I didn't see Robert Randolf with a Cowboy Bottle Opener.

I know an on-air celeb spokesman(no names) for Craftmatic. He doesn't even own one!

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 3 Jan 2003 6:22 am

is this the general perception of something that would appeal to someone who might want to try playing steel guitar?

It probably is. But what can you expect when so many steel players limit themselves to only playing country music? Our instrument is stereotyped, and so are we as players. And it's goiing to remain that way for a very long time, despite all the efforts of players who step outside the box and play in other genres.

Be that as it may, the mere fact that Musicians Friend is selling the Carter Starter is a good thing. I firmly believe that the Carter Starter is the best entry level steel guitar ever made, and will be a major factor in attracting new players.

The more people who take up the instrument, the better off we all are. I think John and Ann and Bud have done our entire community a real service by making this guitar available.

I hope they sell a million of them.

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 3 Jan 2003 7:26 am

I was lucky enough to be interviewed for our
association's annual steel show (www.risga.com) a few months ago and the reporter asked what a pedal steel guitar was, and then answered her own question "Oh, it's got the twangy sound, right?!!"
twang=cowboy=country...that's what our instrument was born from and that's the image it will have for a LONG time![This message was edited by Tony Palmer on 03 January 2003 at 02:42 PM.]

Jake L · Post by **Jake L** » 3 Jan 2003 7:35 am

Hmmm....
I need a steel, and I sure could use a good bottle opener.....Must be my lucky day!!

Jake Lowe[This message was edited by Jake L on 03 January 2003 at 07:37 AM.]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 3 Jan 2003 8:12 am

I see the Sierra is no longer shown in Musicians Friend. I wonder why?
Erv

Dave Birkett · Post by **Dave Birkett** » 3 Jan 2003 8:23 am

I'm shocked! Do you mean Rhode Islanders don't listen to country music while yachting?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 3 Jan 2003 8:30 am

A lot of people claim to be cowboys these days. The real cowboys have a P.R.C.A. card in their pocket. All the others are phonies!

Wait a minute...a bottle opener? Didn't anybody tell those guys the screw-cap came out about 30 years ago???????????

Sheeesh! [This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 03 January 2003 at 08:36 AM.]

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 3 Jan 2003 11:49 am

The Carter Starter still appears in their online catalog along with Sierra lap steels and pedal steels.

------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 03 January 2003 at 11:50 AM.]

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 3 Jan 2003 11:52 am

FWIW, I know of at least one local picker (Portland, Oregon) who bought a Carter Starter out of Musicians Friend (pre bottle-opener "incentive").
He is gigging with it already.
Cool!

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 3 Jan 2003 11:59 am

Dave, we call it online merchandising. What ever strategies are executed to sell a steel, sooner or later the novice who may purchase a Carter will hear all the greats, excluding my self of course, unless they are into banjo. HA HA HA Anyway Donny, maybe "those guys" are into micro brews and finer imports that are not ever equipped with a screw top. I'm not suggesting that you drink low end stuff, although that may be an option for me to afford a new guitar. Nope, I won't concede. I want another guitar and I want my good brew too. Today's happy hour has presented itself with Gaston Chequet Champagne. A 1991 Brut to induce an afternoon power nap, getting ready for tonight's gig at Griff's.
Gary LeeeeeeeeeeeEeeeeeeee

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 3 Jan 2003 12:05 pm

Ha ha!!! you're gonna need that nap to put up with the bass player!!!!

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 3 Jan 2003 12:36 pm

Mr. Palmer, I am not sure how to take your post, exactly. Is there something wrong with being Southern?

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 3 Jan 2003 4:11 pm

Are the Yankees acting up again?It's just jealousy,that's all...

kyle reid · Post by **kyle reid** » 3 Jan 2003 4:20 pm

What in the world does the words, twang=cowboy=country have to do with different parts of the country? kr

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 3 Jan 2003 4:30 pm

I'm not suggesting that you drink low end stuff...

Well thanks...Gary, I don't! I drink the "King of Beers"!

Comparing those "micro-brews" to Bud is like comparing "bathtub-gin" to Gilbey's or Beefeater's.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 03 January 2003 at 04:30 PM.]

Dave Birkett · Post by **Dave Birkett** » 3 Jan 2003 5:13 pm

Kyle, Mr. Palmer has since edited his remarks. He originally lamented that twang=cowboy=country=southern.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 3 Jan 2003 5:53 pm

Yeah,getting about time for a good old round of cracker-bashing on the Forum...haven't had that in a while...come on!

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 3 Jan 2003 8:14 pm

I remember when a 6 string guitar(spanish guitar) was cowboy. You know Gene Autry on a horse strumming away,that was be for rock and roll.Joe

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 4 Jan 2003 6:57 am

Good Point. Cowboy Guitars.

I had one. It had the "Valquero" design.
I didn't know it was called that at the time. The above site defines it as that.

You can get a Cowboy picture painted on your Prewar D-35 at http://www.harleyguitars.com/cowboy.html

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 4 Jan 2003 9:48 am

Joey - The D-35 came out in 1965. Which war are you referring to?

------------------
Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 4 Jan 2003 11:08 am

That steel/country/southern thing can cut both ways- when I first moved down south in the 70's I'd show up at a gig with my long hair and earring and get a lot of "whoa, boy, what do you think yer doin' here?"- and then "what'cha got in the case there?" And when I'd answer "a Steel Guitar" everything would suddenly be ok. You gotta love people. Things are changing here in the southland, slow but sure, and they will for steel guitar, too.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 4 Jan 2003 11:25 am

Good Martin knowledge, Lee!
Yes I know. It was an attempt at humor.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 4 Jan 2003 11:51 am

Just for the record, I'd like to say that my wife and I ARE related, but only by marriage.
And how come nobody ever has false teeth over on "Buy and Sell?"

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 4 Jan 2003 12:36 pm

I got to laughing so hard at all this Southern stuff I almost dropped the snake I was handling...