How should a steel fit?

[John Howland]

Hey everybody,
I've been playing lap steel for quite some time now, although I only recently joined the forum. Yesterday I found a great deal on a used pro-model Carter sd10, so I brought it home to start the pedal adventure.
The woman I bought it from was selling it because her brother passed away. She told me he was tall, but I never thought to check if that might come into play with the steel I was buying. It felt too tall the way he'd had it set up, so I lowered it as far as it would go. This started to bend the rods a little.
At this leg height (if I were to get new rods or modify the current ones), it still feels like I'm at the lower end of the knees and I have to reach a bit for the LKV. I'm not sure if I need new legs, or if there are other adjustments I need to make OR maybe this is the way it is and I'm too new to know!
Advice on how the steel should fit properly would be much appreciated!
(I read that the standard height is 26' in a previous post, and this one seems to be right around there or just slightly more at the lowest setting if that helps)

[Lee Baucum]

If you are anywhere near Oceanside, you should take your steel to Forumite Jim Palenscar's shop and let him help you get it set up to fit you properly.

Lee, from South Texas

[John Howland]

I'm actually in the San Francisco area, if anybody knows someone that could help me get the guitar set up properly in this area?

[Roger Guyett]

A few people who might be able to help..
Larry Chung is a teacher in San Francisco and there's also Tom Bradshaw in the East Bay (Concord). You can find them both on the forum.
There's others including David Phillips - he's another PSG teacher.

[Jamie Peghiny]

I've had a similar problem because I have short legs. Had a Sierra S-12 and it was too big for my body. I run into this all the time, my pickup truck has seats that are built for a big guy. The pants I buy always have to be shortened.
I do know that Carter sells replacement leg and rod kits. Check their website.
I was thinking of buying a shorter set.
By the way, you can probably adjust the LKV bar so it hangs down a little lower. There's an allen wrench which adjusts it. I have to lift my leg a little to make it work.

Hope this helps,
Jamie

[Rick Winfield]

Carter sells a "lowering kit", and also "standard" sized rods.
check out the website, Bud will take care of you
Rick

[Erv Niehaus]

You possibly can take care of the problem with a taller seat.
A folding chair is absolutely the wrong type of seating arrangement.
When you sit at your steel, the correct playing height is when your forearms are parallel to the top of the guitar. Your bar wrist should be straight, neither bent up or down.

[John Howland]

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm playing with an adjustable, drum-throne, style seat so I'm able to get up high enough.
I'm going to try adjusting the LKV so that it's a little lower. I'll call Carter today too and see what they have to say!
Thanks!

[John Howland]

I spoke to John Fabian at Carter today. He was really helpful and walked me through the parts step by step to see what the issue was.
Turns out that the pedal rods were 1' over height so it looks like I just need 3 normal height rods. Hopefully that'll do the trick!
Thanks for chiming in!