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Post new topic Timing Pulls- slack in B pedal G#-MSA
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Author Topic:  Timing Pulls- slack in B pedal G#-MSA
Todd Brown


From:
W. Columbia , South Carolina
Post  Posted 12 Sep 2011 11:17 pm    
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I wanna get my B pedal timed with a quicker action. Basically, it's in time with the high G#, but I want it with quicker action.

There's slack in the pedal. Meaning, you can depress the pedal approx. 1/4 inch before it engages, to raises 3 and 6.

A decent example of what I mean with that snappy B pedal is Don Don Pawlik, who plays with Dale Watson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooya57fAG04&feature=channel_video_title


Last edited by Todd Brown on 13 Sep 2011 10:59 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Adam Sorber


From:
Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 13 Sep 2011 4:41 am    
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Hi Todd,
What kind of steel/changer are you trying to adjust?
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Bill Ford


From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
Post  Posted 13 Sep 2011 4:44 am    
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Todd
,
To get a quicker response from a pull, it needs to be closer to the axle on the changer, farther from the axle on the bellcrank. Either will make for a quicker response, and a stiffer pedal action. If/when there is more than one pull on a pedal,one of the tuning nuts will have less slack than the other(s)there must be some slack to prevent tuning problems.

BF


http://www.steelguitar.com/adjustments.html#
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Georg Sørtun


From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
Post  Posted 13 Sep 2011 5:00 am    
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On most if not all PSGs there is an adjustable "full action stop" for each pedal under the front apron. By adjusting these + the nylon tuners at the changer, you can get as little free-play as you want and dare have on your particular PSG. Once that is set you adjust the length of the vertical pull-rod - usually done by screwing the hook-up to the pedal one or more turns up/down - until the pedal-height and action feels right.
If you don't get action/travel/free-play right first time around, keep on adjusting the 3 points until you do.

On a few PSGs there may (also) be an adjustable "release stop" under the front apron. With such an adjustment point you may be able to tune out the free-play on its own without having to adjust any of the above mentioned.

None of my PSGs have such a "release stop" adjustment point, so I have to go the full 3-point round for each pedal to adjust free-play on them. No big deal ... it just takes time to get it right.
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Todd Brown


From:
W. Columbia , South Carolina
Post  Posted 13 Sep 2011 7:13 am    
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Thanks guys, my steel is a '76 lacquer MSA D-10 Classic.
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Buddy Castleberry

 

From:
HAWKINSVILLE GA USA - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 13 Sep 2011 3:16 pm     the youtube
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did anyone notice what a great job the camera man
in the youtube done.had no clue what a steel guitar was
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Bob Hoffnar


From:
Austin, Tx
Post  Posted 13 Sep 2011 3:41 pm    
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Next time I see Don and his steel I'll check but I would surprised if his pedals didn't have plenty of slack in them. The trick to getting that sound is more about playing aggressively and with commitment than mechanical precision.

One thing to check on though is if your 6th and 3rd strings pulls are timed out right. That can be an awkward feeling.
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Todd Brown


From:
W. Columbia , South Carolina
Post  Posted 13 Sep 2011 11:14 pm    
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No doubt Bob, aggressive picking has alot to do with his sound. What I'm getting at, I guess is, I wanna be able to raise the 6th & 3rd, as soon as my foot depresses the pedal. As I said, my foot can depress the pedal about a 1/4in. before the strings change pitch.

What do I need to do? How do I adjust it, to make that B pedal more sensitive?
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Bob Hoffnar


From:
Austin, Tx
Post  Posted 13 Sep 2011 11:54 pm    
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The answer to your mechanical issue was clearly answered by Bill Ford already.
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Bill Ford


From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
Post  Posted 14 Sep 2011 10:41 am    
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Another adjustment is on the pedal itself, shorter/stiffer where it is, the other hole will give longer/easier change. Where the pedal rod hooks is another place where you can adjust the stop on the pedal with a setscrew if you need more/less travel.



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Rich Peterson


From:
Moorhead, MN
Post  Posted 14 Sep 2011 12:00 pm    
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Since your vintage MSA has round crossrods, some adjustment to timing pulls, so two changes start and end together, can be done by adjusting the bellcrank so it is not vertical at rest. Lots of trial and error involved.
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Brett Robinson


From:
Nashville, TN
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2011 7:28 pm     B pedal
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Bob, I also want my B pedal to play like Don's, haha. Dale called me up at the Continental and I played Don's Super Pro. It has such a quick and smooth pedal action. I can't get my Sho-bud's pulls that short, especially with a nice quick but balanced B pedal.
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