Duesenberg Multi-Bender question

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 14 Dec 2009 2:36 pm

Hi folks,

Having dabbled in this Gsus2 tuning the last few days and finding it full of nice chord voicings

D - G - D - G - A - D (low to high)

and as it is only half a step on the 2nd string away from my "home" tuning Gm

D - G - D - G - Bb - D

which in turn is only another step on the 2nd string away from the more common low bass G

D - G - D - G - B - D

I have a question:

Does the Duesenberg Multi-Bender accommodate for one (or two) lever(s) doing the following (out of Gm tuning): Lowering the 2nd string half a step, and raising the same string half a step?

I would find that a very interesting setup.

Cheers,

Fred

Roman Sonnleitner · Post by **Roman Sonnleitner** » 14 Dec 2009 3:45 pm

Nope, with the Multibender, for a single string you have to decide in advance whether you either want to raise it, or want to loser it, the string has to be mounted differently (and a spring added for lowering), can't do both at the same time...

Ryan Barwin · Post by **Ryan Barwin** » 14 Dec 2009 10:19 pm

Have you played any pedal steel, Fred?

Martin Huch · Post by **Martin Huch** » 15 Dec 2009 2:45 am

Hi Fred

no, that`s not possible with any of the palmbender systems. Having the possibility to raise AND lower
a string in the same setup would reqire a much more complicated and
bigger system, because the string has to be held in a "floating" postion. And that would only be possible
with a large changersystem with springs etc etc.
Have a look underneath a pedalsteel !
BUT: at least you can choose to raise OR lower a string
with the Multibender !!

all the best

Martin

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 15 Dec 2009 2:54 am

Thanks for the replies!

Ryan – I have not tried pedal steel. I am curious though.

How about this then – could one assign two levers to lower the same string, one half a step and the other one a whole step? For instance, with the tunings above, have G major as the main tuning, then one lever to bring it down to G minor and another on to Gsus2?

Cheers,

Fred

Martin Huch · Post by **Martin Huch** » 15 Dec 2009 3:03 am

no, thats impossible as well. You have just ONE lever for a string. (I know, there are so many cool possiblities in our heads...but they are unfortunately limited by physics...)

Martin