u12 pedals

Steven Black · Post by **Steven Black** » 19 Nov 2002 10:02 am

can anybody explain what the gear down does
and how it is hooked up on a U12 MSA double
raise double lower Mechanism, the Carter chart does not explain it to well. Steveb
proud carter owner.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 19 Nov 2002 5:44 pm

If you use the "high joint", be forewarned that the setscrew that holds the pedal to the shaft is also in that hole. Grind a few threads off the ball joint before screwing it in.

Speaking from past experience of breaking one of the ball joints off in that hole, it's not something you want to happen.

It wasn't mentioned in the owner's manual and I didn't get a very friendly response when I brought it to their attention, nor did I get a new pedal.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 19 Nov 2002 5:58 pm

"Geardown"? Are you talking about the alternate pedal-attachment point for the pedal rods? If so, the "high joint" on the pedal gives added leverage (albeit, with a higher pedal-travel) over the low attachment point. I use it on one pedal only, which is pulling 5 strings.

Steven Black · Post by **Steven Black** » 20 Nov 2002 3:24 am

Thanks for responding Guys, If you go to Carters tunning chart he talks about Geardown
rod as if it were another cross shaft under the Steel guitar which has pulls but I don`t
know what strings will get pulled, this shaft
does not work any pedals that I know of, If
you guys get a chance go to their charts on
carters site under rodding, this is shown on
the second or third pedal about Geardown,
could use insite or info. Steveb.

Dan Dowd · Post by **Dan Dowd** » 20 Nov 2002 5:22 am

The gear down is an additional cross shaft which is connected to the B pedal cross shaft. Its purpose is to have the 6th string G# raise with the same ratio as the third G#. As you know the 6yh string relative movement is much less than the 3rd G#. This evens out the difference in the ratio of the travel. It can also be used for other reasons but this is what Carter uses it for.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Nov 2002 8:48 am

If your guitar uses round cross rods (like the old MSA), you don't have to add any cross rods to do this. It can be done by just using one of the existing cross rods as a pivot, (by having a loose bell crank on that rod, with no setscrew). I do this on my old MSA for one of the knee-levers that I "repositioned".