Excel half-stops?

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 28 Jan 2003 10:01 am

I pride myself on my mechanical apptitude but I just recieved some parts for my 12-string Excel Superb including 2 half-stop kits and the parts don't make any sense to me.No instructions or illustrations came with the parts and Mitsuo doesn't speak English so communicating with him in Japan would be difficult and time consuming.Can anyone out there post or e-mail me a picture of an installed Excel half-stop?
-MJ-

Billy Easton · Post by **Billy Easton** » 28 Jan 2003 10:15 am

Michael,
Try Bill Stafford at
SChiefsan@aol.com

------------------
Billy Easton
Casa Grande, AZ
Southwestern Steel Guitar Association

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 28 Jan 2003 10:20 am

Michael,

This is odd. Anything Mitsuo has ever sent me, has been accompanied by a diagram as to how to install it.

Is it possible it is still in the box and maybe hidden within in some packaging or something. I don't use a half-stop, so I have no idea what he sent you.

May Jesus bless you in your quests,

carl

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 28 Jan 2003 10:52 am

Yeah and what's odd is that it doesn't seem to use a spring - just two interlocking parts with two set screws on one of them.I'm wondering if there are missing parts...... I've e-mailed Bill Stafford and got no reply.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 28 Jan 2003 11:24 am

Maybe it fits in the changer, and pulls both the raise and lower bars at the same time.

Bill Stafford · Post by **Bill Stafford** » 28 Jan 2003 11:52 am

Michael, I have never received any email from you to date. Please try again..
Bill Stafford

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 28 Jan 2003 12:10 pm

I think we should take apart your changer to see how it's made.......what a cool guitar.

Gary Steele · Post by **Gary Steele** » 28 Jan 2003 3:40 pm

Michael, The knee lever you push has holes in it. You screw the black screws in it and they reach over to the next cross rod that you want to pull. The screws go against a bell crank that is flat. You kinda offset your screws so one will push first then the one below kicks in. I may have you confused if i do email me your phone # and i'll gladly help you out.
Gary gnsteele@hotmail.com

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 29 Jan 2003 8:16 am

Gary- So it takes 2 cross shafts to create a half-stop? What about springs? Are there any springs involved? the 2 kits I recieved didn't come with any.And alas....I don't follow your description. There is an odd looking part - kind of tapered at one end - with 6 staggered,threaded holes with 2 long 6-32 set screws(one longer than the other)in two of the holes. It looks like it is supposed to mount and swivel in a 10-32 threaded hole on the back rail off to one side of the knee lever shaft but I can't see how it interacts with the knee lever mechanism unless I'm missing some parts. What I need is a picture. -MJ-

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 29 Jan 2003 10:50 am

Sounds to me like we really need to take apart the changer.....

Gary Steele · Post by **Gary Steele** » 29 Jan 2003 9:48 pm

Michael, Read the last three lines in my post above.

Gary Steele

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 30 Jan 2003 10:55 am

Gary thinks we ought to take apart the changer.

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 30 Jan 2003 1:37 pm

So Chas,
What would you suggest?

Lem

Gary Steele · Post by **Gary Steele** » 30 Jan 2003 1:43 pm

This Gary would not take apart the changer. I'll be calling Michael after 8:00 my time.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gary Steele on 30 January 2003 at 01:44 PM.]</p></FONT>

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 31 Jan 2003 6:49 pm

I finally got it figured out.The reason it took a while is because it is so elegant amd simple and I was looking for parts that were not there. There are indeed no springs involved and the device just uses two adjustable set screws which act as differential fulcrums on a bellcrank-like part.It's hard to describe but very clever.My hat's off to Mitsuo. -MJ-