Pedal 1 too far away?

Tommy Everette · From: Whitakers, NC

I'm 6', but pedal 1 seems a little awkward to reach and control smoothly.
Am I the only one?
Anyone ever move all pedals down 1 position or something like that?
Heard of a pedal zero, but don't know what it means.

Currently (trying to be) playing Sho-Bud Super Pro D-10

Norman Evans · From: Tennessee

I had to adjust the left knee levers to the left on my steel to get the 1st pedal to be comfortable. I don't know if you can do that on the Sho-Bud or not.
Norm

Ben Elder · From: La Crescenta, California, USA

I cut loose a 1968 madebyZaneBeckhimownse'f ZB D-10 mostly for that reason.
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Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

Tommy,
the standard position is center yourself to the 12th fret, and --assuming that you have pedals 1,2,3 as A,B,C, ala Emmons--align your left foot with pedals 2 & 3, and pivot from the heel to the left to get pedal 1. Like this your foot really shouldn't be in front of pedal 1, but just to the right of it. Check that out as it makes for less of a leg stretch to pedal 1. Playing pedal steel is a little like doing yoga--you have to sit in a contorted position for a long time, but concentrate on your breathing and you'll get used to it. Try playing under a "Crawford Cluster" for having to hold and move in limited ways.

Glenn Uhler · From: Trenton, New Jersey, USA

Tommy,
I'm 5'8" but have very short legs (30" seam). I have 5 pedals and 5 knees, but I have the pedals set up as G,A,B,C,D; so I can reach those three better. The knees are, well, where they are. Ebs and Fs are on the right knee.
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1974 Marlen S-12 1968 Tele 1969 Martin D-35H

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

I moved all the pedals over on my PP and its a chore.
Bobby Bowman helped me do it and set it up.
Thanks Bobby
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MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes

Michael Dulin · From: Indiana, USA

I'm 6' tall and have the same issue. Some builders will change the position of the pedals "w/knee levers relative" to what is position 2 when building a guitar for you. This makes it much easier to get all the combinations possible with the knees. On a used guitar from the front look where the pedal rods come down in relationship to the tuning keyhead. This will give you an idea how this set up may be more comfortable for you. If you can, seek one or two of these guitars out to try if possible. Maybe at a store that sells steels or one of the steel shows or even a friend may have one. I think you will see quite a difference in playability. Look at pictures of steel on the forum for sale...won't take you long to see what I'm talking about.MD

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

I am 5'7", and when I started playing PSG (30 years ago) I found the entire pedal/lever arrangement awkward and would not have minded some sideways repositioning. I left it all where it was though, and after a few years I didn't find left foot pedal/lever positions awkward enough to bother. Slight pedal-height and lever-movement adjustments did the trick for me.

After 4-5 years of playing I moved the right knee levers left an inch or so to compensate for me being a little on the short side. This did of course help on overall pedal/lever arrangement.

Last year I added a "zero" pedal - left of the "A" pedal, used as "half-Franklin" Bs to A lower. Also added a fifth pedal - right of "C" pedal, for my own low E to B lower.

IMO, some of the awkward pedal/lever positions on a PSG we just have to learn to live and play with, as it simply isn't possible to have all pedals/levers we want/need perfectly positioned/arranged.

Of course, if it's too bad then it makes perfect sense to test out a few different PSGs to see if any of them has a more suitable arrangement, before checking up on if rearranging these things on ones own PSG will work. Repositioning pedals/levers can turn out to be a big job - depending on what PSG it has to be done on.

Ronnie Boettcher · From: Brunswick Ohio, USA

I don't know if your Sho~Bud is any different underneath than my LDG. I am 6' too. I had to move both left knee levers 2 inches to the left. Emmons set up. As I got older, I couldn't bend my ankle to hit the A pedal and the LKL, and clear my foot from the B pedal. I measured what I needed to move, and for me, 2" did the job. If that is what you have to do, either way is very simple. All I had to buy, is a 10/32 coupling, and a 10/32 machine screw, about 3 to 4 inches long. Was less than a dollar. I cut it to length after I relocated the levers. Had to extend 2 rods, and drill new holes for the levers. Took me less than a hour. Hope this helps you. If you need more help send me a message.
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Sho-Bud LDG, Martin D28, Ome trilogy 5 string banjo, Ibanez 4-string bass, dobro, fiddle, and a tubal cain. Life Member of AFM local 142

Tom Vollmer · From: Hamburg, Pennsylvania, USA

I have been playing the Day set up C,B,A, with E,s raise and lower on my left knee forever and when I try the Emmons pedals find that your left leg has to move more to the left.In my mind the Day set up is more comfortable.If you move to the left it is to do B,C which I think most players use much less than A,B.Also I think many players use Buddy,s pedals for no other reason than that Buddy uses it that way.To be fair try the Day setup amonth or so and than make a judgement .JMHO
TV

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I've tried the Day setup and didn't like it. I have a friend that had a Zum with the Day setup and I would sit in for entire sets and play his Day setup guitar.

My Franklin is moved in from the left end and where the pedals should be.

We bought a used (like new) GFI S-10 and the pedals on that were too far to the left. Fortunately the pedal assembly is easily moved and moving the pedal rod connecting pin to the opposite side of the pedals I was able to move it more in line with the knee levers for my wife who is learning pedal steel.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Several years ago, when Raising E9-strings #1 and #2 became popular, I began with that change on P1, which automatically moved my (A)-(B)-(C) one position to the right. I noticed immediately that my (A)-(B)-(C) pedals were more comfortable when used in conjunction with the Left-KL's. Later, on my next new steel, I moved the #1 and #2 string-change over to my RKL, which left P1-position empty and I just started with P1-position empty ever since! So, my current 8-pedals are in positions 2 through 9. This seems as comfortable as I can get and the only way I would use the #1-position again is if I ever went back to a 9-pedal guitar!
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<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

You did not say whether your steel is a single neck or double neck. If a double E-9 and C-6 necks you are very limited in space to move pedals over. If a single neck you have choices. I bought a used MSA classic E-9 tuning. It is set up Day system. The 1st C pedal is in the 3rd slot right from the left end of the pedal bar. It is very comfortabe my feet set straight on Pedal A & B with just very little movement of my toe to the left I have B & C for minor lick. I have set down at several steels with the pedals way left. They do seem strange to me. With knee levers and pedals and volumn pedal. You don't set down at a steel, you put it on. Comfort will mean a lot in how long you want to set and practice and work things out. Good Luck and Happy Steelin

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