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Author Topic:  Tunning problem on the 6th string
Pat Comeau


From:
New Brunswick, Canada
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2009 2:32 pm    
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I'm having a problem with my 6th string Sad , when i push either pedal 1 or 3 it goes flat, i've checked to see if the finger on the changer was moving or something but everything looks good underneith, i'm pretty sure it is a cabinet drop problem, i have a hard time tunning my "F" lever with that problem, the 8th string does the same but doesn't go as flat as the 6th string.

any advice would be nice Smile .

Pat C
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Comeau SD10 4x5, Comeau S10 3x5, Peavey Session 500,Fender Telecaster,Fender Stratocaster, Fender Precision,1978 Ovation Viper electric. Alvarez 4 strings Violin electric.

Click the links to listen to my Comeau's Pedal Steel Guitars.
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Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2009 2:46 pm    
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All steel guitars have that problem (cabinet drop) to some extent.
You can minimize it by mashing no harder than necessary on those pedals (1 and 3). It would help some to change pedals 1 and 3 to a softer, longer pull and then use a lighter touch with the foot, but you may not like the longer pedal movement.
If you tune your B strings up to C# manually (not by mashing pedal 1) how much does the 6th string drop? The amount of drop you get this manual way cannot be reduced by a lighter pedal touch.

If your 6th string is plain, you can reduce its drop by changing to a wound string. This causes more cabinet drop on the other strings when you raise the 6th, but overall it improves pitch stability.
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Pat Comeau


From:
New Brunswick, Canada
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2009 3:01 pm    
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Thanks Earnest,

Is there a way to reinforce the guitar body?...

All the carriage is attach to wood on the aprons,
i was thinking of screwing a aluminum flat plate all the way on both aprons and then attach all the underneith carriage on the aluminum flat plate Rolling Eyes .

would that help cabinet drop?

thanks all.

Pat C.
_________________
Comeau SD10 4x5, Comeau S10 3x5, Peavey Session 500,Fender Telecaster,Fender Stratocaster, Fender Precision,1978 Ovation Viper electric. Alvarez 4 strings Violin electric.

Click the links to listen to my Comeau's Pedal Steel Guitars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIYiaomZx3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2GhZTN_yXI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvDTw2zNriI
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Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2009 3:52 pm    
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Pat Comeau wrote:

Is there a way to reinforce the guitar body?...

Not enough to help with this problem.

How much does string 6 drop when you raise 5 and 10 a whole step using the pedal? And how much does it drop when you do it using the tuning keys?
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Buck Grantham R.I.P.


From:
Denham Springs, LA. USA
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2009 8:22 pm     string drop
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Pat , if you are using a 22 plain for the 6th string change to a 20 plain . That did it for me. Buck Grantham
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richard burton


From:
Britain
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2009 10:14 pm    
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I would definately use a .022 wound string for the sixth.

NOTE: the string may not drop a full tone when using a wound sixth, it all depends on how much travel the changer finger has
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Buck Grantham R.I.P.


From:
Denham Springs, LA. USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2009 8:29 am     tuning problems
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I did always use a 21 wound on my Shobuds but on my Emmons i used a 22 plain but last year I researched everybody elses and a lot of the pro players use a 20 plain. I thought it would be too slinky but I got used to it real quick and my six string don,t go as flat. Every body to his own. It won,t hurt to try it . It might work for you .
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John Walden


From:
Simi Valley, California, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2009 9:07 am    
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Hello Pat, I'm loosing about 7cents on my 6th string, when I engage the A pedal and F lever. I'm using a 20 plain. Using the Jeff Newman tuning settings, that are on "Up From The Top" A and B pedals DVD, ( which seems to work fine for my ears ), my axe tunes up nicely for all pedals and levers. I have a new SD 10, with 5 pedals and 6 knees. But that damn 6th string just has to get fixed. I'm told that a compensator rod, engaging the 6th raise, to either the A pedal or the E raise ( LKR ) bringing the 6th string up to pitch when using the A & F levers, is a good solution. If anybody has used this fix could chime in, It would be helpful.
Good post Pat,
J. W.
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David Doggett


From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2009 10:10 am    
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If you go to a wound 6th and 0.022 doesn't work, try an 0.024 wound. An 0.022 plain and 0.022 wound do not have the same tension for a given pitch, because the core of the wound is smaller than the plain. Even an 0.024 wound may have less tension, but it will be closer.
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Leon Roberts

 

From:
Tallahassee,FL USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2009 12:13 pm    
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I have resolved this problem on all three of my Sho-Buds. I put an extra pull on my "A" pedal that recovers what ever drop there is on the 6th string. Since the pull is very slight, I made pulling fingers that had very littl throw. I might add that I got this idea from John Hughey. I could post a photo if anyone would like to check it out.
Leon
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Andy Sandoval


From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2009 2:12 pm    
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Leon, sounds interesting. I'd like to see a photo of your fix.
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Pat Comeau


From:
New Brunswick, Canada
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2009 2:42 pm    
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Leon's idea looks very interesting...i suppose one can add a bellcrank on the A pedal cross shaft with a pull rod to the 6th string to bring it back to pitch seems logic. Smile

I just might try that. Very Happy
and i also gonna try a 20 plain also...heck i might try a new set of strings Laughing

thanks everyone for all your ideas...ect.

Pat C.
_________________
Comeau SD10 4x5, Comeau S10 3x5, Peavey Session 500,Fender Telecaster,Fender Stratocaster, Fender Precision,1978 Ovation Viper electric. Alvarez 4 strings Violin electric.

Click the links to listen to my Comeau's Pedal Steel Guitars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIYiaomZx3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2GhZTN_yXI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvDTw2zNriI
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Leon Roberts

 

From:
Tallahassee,FL USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2009 4:06 pm    
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This is the best I can do guys. You can scroll around and get the general idea.
Leon

The extra short pulls were used to experiment with keeping the "E" strings at 0 drop when the A&B pedals were mashed. A poor man's Legrande III you might say. I abandoned the idea in favor of the 6th string recover.


Last edited by Leon Roberts on 22 Jan 2009 7:48 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Al Collinsworth

 

Post  Posted 22 Jan 2009 6:18 pm    
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..

Last edited by Al Collinsworth on 10 Nov 2009 8:06 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Pat Comeau


From:
New Brunswick, Canada
Post  Posted 23 Jan 2009 2:47 pm    
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Here is a E9th tuning method i've tried today and it really helped my 6th string.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=1319532#1319532
_________________
Comeau SD10 4x5, Comeau S10 3x5, Peavey Session 500,Fender Telecaster,Fender Stratocaster, Fender Precision,1978 Ovation Viper electric. Alvarez 4 strings Violin electric.

Click the links to listen to my Comeau's Pedal Steel Guitars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIYiaomZx3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2GhZTN_yXI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvDTw2zNriI
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website


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