rod slapping

Bernie McCrary · Post by **Bernie McCrary** » 29 Jun 2012 2:20 am

I have been playing a short time but when I push the floor pedals down the rods slap against something. Is there a way to stop this noise???

Thanks
Bernie

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 29 Jun 2012 4:11 am

Although I think it looks cheap and a little dopey, a lot of players stuff foam rubber in various places to prevent these noises. The easiest way to determine where the noise is coming from is to lay on the floor and push the pedals with your hand. Where the rods are flexing and slapping should be very evident. Also, the problem can be made worse by excess bends in the rods, long (off-axis) bends, or careless rod routing when the steel is set up.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 29 Jun 2012 6:17 am

Bernie, every guitar is made a little different.
To quiet that effect, Zumsteel uses a "comb" of a fairly light foam (if PE, I'd guess under #1.0, about ½" thick).
My MSA guitars had nothing, but weren't too noisy.
My push-pull Emmons needed slack to let it work. Gettin' my Mooney on sounded like a platoon of mechanized infantry

Bernie McCrary · Post by **Bernie McCrary** » 29 Jun 2012 9:23 am

Donny
I did what you said about laying on the floor and watching the rods. I guess if you were here you would slap me for what I found out. The noise seemed to be coming from the pedal itself so I discovered the bar or frame that the pedals are mounted to came loose from the right end and that is what was making the slapping noise. Tightened it good and it stopped.
Slap myself for that one.
Thanks anyway. I will still keep the foam in mind if I need it later.
Bernie