Close Up Needed

Bill Duncan · Post by **Bill Duncan** » 28 Dec 2008 4:42 am

Got my new pedal steel for Christmas, got it set up, and the wife says I almost have the Bobby Emmerson sound.

I do have a problem though. While the little woman and I were sleeping in, the younguns messed around with it and now I may have to send it back to the factory for retuning.

Does anyone have a closeup of Bobby Emmerson's guitar? I've tried lining all the tuning buttons up but, I still think it's a little out of tune. If I could just get a closeup of his guitar and see the tuners clearly to set them, it would save me a lot of trouble sending this thing back for retuning.

Also, could someone tell me which pedal has the notes for the top part of Wildwood Flower? My guitar has eight pedals, but there are two spots left for two more pedals. Do you think one of those other pedals would have the notes for the top part of Wildwood Flower?

One more question. I have eight pedals and five knee levers. Do you pro pickers out there think I have enough pedals and knee levers for road work and session picking? Bill Duncan

Zeke Cory · Post by **Zeke Cory** » 28 Dec 2008 8:14 am

"Shipping back to the factory for re-tuning" - Your gonna need a charge account with UPS.
For the other questions, - Anyone ???

Ronnie Boettcher · Post by **Ronnie Boettcher** » 28 Dec 2008 8:26 am

Why don't you dig into your guitar, and do all the tuning, and setup yourself. It is not hard, and when you get it set, you will have all the knowledge of how everything works. Then if anything else arises, you can tackle anything on it, and be proud. This is not brain surgery, just simple mechanics. Good luck, and dig into it.

Michael Strauss · Post by **Michael Strauss** » 28 Dec 2008 8:55 am

Bill,

Please look here:

http://www.steelguitarinfo.com/adjustme ... eitup.html

And

http://www.steelguitarinfo.com/infoindex.html

These are on the Carter site. John has supplied a lot of information there and is very helpful. If you are a 6 string player (or not) watch this video:

http://www.steelguitar.com/resource/vid ... tring.html

Congratulations on the new steel.

Michael

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 28 Dec 2008 8:58 am

I am hoping Bill's post is a sarcastic one... otherwise .. don't forget the solder and good luck sounding like Bobby Emmerson.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 28 Dec 2008 9:12 am

Bobby Emmerson does not turn all the tuning knobs straight up. He tunes his guitar so that the tuners form a crude anatomical shape that cannot be mentioned here on this family forum. Plus, it is a secret that only the factory can do properly so yes, every time you need to, send it back to the factory or to Mr. Emmerson (The Big Emmerson, as we like to call him) himself.

The top part of Wildwood Flower consists of pistils and stamens---this requires a special petal mod that a fellow here on the forum can do but he can't tell you what the mod is.
Seeds and stems---that often has a home grown solution.

Your steel has 5 knee levers but you only have two knees (probably). You will need to grow three knees. Then you will be ready for road and session work.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 28 Dec 2008 9:22 am

What is the Bobby Emmerson sound?

Gordy Hall · Post by **Gordy Hall** » 28 Dec 2008 9:47 am

Earnest Bovine wrote:What is the Bobby Emmerson sound?

'Fake a few bars and we'll hum it'?

Post by **Joey Ace** » 28 Dec 2008 9:58 am

Be sure to completely disassemble it before sending it back for tuning.

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 28 Dec 2008 10:09 am

You guys send the whole guitar... I usually just send the tuners

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 28 Dec 2008 11:46 am

My strings I buy come out of the package in tune---but you have to request it from the shipper. Your strings are different??

Buddy Emerson, from Palmer Lake?

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 28 Dec 2008 12:40 pm

That's Bobby Emmerson, Jim
He is notable both as a steel guitarist and photographer.
I saw some of his pictures once, at an exhibition.
I believe he is indeed from Palmer Lake, now that you mention it.

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 28 Dec 2008 1:02 pm

Bill i see that you are an mechanical engineer and surely could figure out any problems with you new guitar . But somehow i think this is all in fun !

ray qualls · Post by **ray qualls** » 28 Dec 2008 1:13 pm

Geez guys, don't you remember that Bobby Emmerson invented the She-Bod guitar! You talk about a good looking 2 sets of legs! Be careful looking underneath or you might get slapped in the face!
To keep about the subject, just tune it one string at a time!

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 28 Dec 2008 2:08 pm

Larry Bell wrote:That's Bobby Emmerson, Jim
He is notable both as a steel guitarist and photographer.
I saw some of his pictures once, at an exhibition.
I believe he is indeed from Palmer Lake, now that you mention it.

Or was it Emmerson Lake, at Palmer. Well anyways, my strings come tuned right out of the package, I don't know what ya'lls problem is.

Paul Norman · Post by **Paul Norman** » 28 Dec 2008 2:24 pm

Jon Light, I'll bet Mother Maybelle would have
liked to hear about those pistils and stamens.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 28 Dec 2008 2:29 pm

Bob... They're postin' humor in the Pedal Steel section again...

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 28 Dec 2008 2:30 pm

what kind of guitar would someone have that would have to be shipped back for tuning, I just dont think I would care for such thing myself. this has got to be some kind of joke isnt it lol.

Joshua Grange · Post by **Joshua Grange** » 28 Dec 2008 5:07 pm

I saw Bobby at the convention last year. I didn't hardly recognize him with his new hair extensions.
But anyways he plays a gearless guitar now, no big tuners, and to tune it you just simply spin the guitar till it lines up with the North Star-Polaris.
PS- It sounds like your pedals are just too close together, loosen the lock screws to spread them apart evenly to fit the pedal rack. Mine are spaced 11mm apart.
Good luck.

Skip Cole · Post by **Skip Cole** » 28 Dec 2008 5:11 pm

Look, ya don't have to ship your steel off anymore to get it in tune. This is what Bobby told me to do : Get you a tube of permatex , apply a 1/8" ribbon of such to each string, afterwards remove them and dip them in a pint of your favorite beverage, then drink the beverage and reattach the strings , being careful to NOT line up the keys. In five or ten minutes you will get the feeling that all is well and nothing is out of tune. Now, all this works only if you have operated a backhoe for thirty minutes a day the last 6 months or if it's planting time in Nebraska. But remeber to change the pickups after each tuning. Hope this helps and tell Billy i said hi.

Zeke Cory · Post by **Zeke Cory** » 28 Dec 2008 5:12 pm

To Joseph - Is It A Joke ? - I Think !
To Ray - Tellin' Bob On Us! - They Did It First.

Now Seriously - Have a Happy & SAFE Holiday season everyone !

Brian McGaughey · Post by **Brian McGaughey** » 28 Dec 2008 5:16 pm

Jon Light wrote:The top part of Wildwood Flower consists of pistils and stamens---this requires a special petal mod that a fellow here on the forum can do but he can't tell you what the mod is.

"petal" mod...that's good!...

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 28 Dec 2008 5:55 pm

If you think your guitar is getting a little flat, just pry up your fretboard and move it a little toward the pickup. Glue it back down with some gorrila snot, and your good to go, Slick. Just reverse procedure if you think your guitar is a little sharp.

Then again, instead of going through all that trouble, just quit your band. They are pobably playing sharp, thus making YOU sound flat. Rejoin a group that sounds intune with your guitar. Hope this helps. (No charge, of course).

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 28 Dec 2008 6:03 pm

C'mon James, no need to remove the fretboard...
When the band plays sharp to my JI tuning, I just move my steel a little to the left and everythings good to go.
No jokes here Joe & Zeke, I always solder my strings on. Ask Bobbe

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 28 Dec 2008 6:12 pm

Bo, never thought of that. That will save me having to yank the whole stage to the right just a smidge. Thanx for the tip!!

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