Sierra U12 adjustment help

Instruments, mechanical issues, copedents, techniques, etc.

Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn

Post Reply
User avatar
René Bressieux
Posts: 11
Joined: 24 Sep 2004 12:01 am
Location: Olympia, Washington, USA

Sierra U12 adjustment help

Post by René Bressieux »

Can some advise on properly adjusting pedal 8 for lowering the low B (string 12) to G#?

It seems to stop at A and the rod is tightened with no slack left in it. I moved the nylon barrel to slot 4 from slot 2 thinking this might help achieve the
1 1/2 step pull needed. I am missing something here.

Thanks for any advise you can offer.

Rene' Bressieux
Sierra S-12U E9/B6
User avatar
Earnest Bovine
Posts: 8318
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Los Angeles CA USA

Post by Earnest Bovine »

Maybe the return spring is too tight.
User avatar
Jerry Hayes
Posts: 7489
Joined: 3 Mar 1999 1:01 am
Location: Virginia Beach, Va.

Post by Jerry Hayes »

Rene'....
Sometimes a change in string gauge will do the trick. What gauge do you have in that position now?....JH

------------------
Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

User avatar
René Bressieux
Posts: 11
Joined: 24 Sep 2004 12:01 am
Location: Olympia, Washington, USA

Post by René Bressieux »

Thanks for the reply.

I will look into that spring adjustment and post back the results later.
User avatar
René Bressieux
Posts: 11
Joined: 24 Sep 2004 12:01 am
Location: Olympia, Washington, USA

Post by René Bressieux »

Jerry, thanks for your reply too.
It's interesting that you should mention the string gauge because on both strings 11 and 12, the ball ends do not seat or hook properly in the changer. The excess winding at the ball end prevents it from seating all the way.

This is a new S-U12 E9/B6 Jagwire nickel set. The 12 string in question is gauge .068
Pete Burak
Posts: 6530
Joined: 2 Oct 1998 12:01 am
Location: Portland, OR USA

Post by Pete Burak »

There is an allen screw that funtions as the pedal stop for the pedal down position.
Back that screw out so the pedal has enough throw to make the lower.
Also, that string has to seat correctly for tuning stability in general.
I usually pre bend the 12th string (by the ball end and windings) in order to have it seat correctly over the changer finger.
I haven't had any problems getting the ball end of strings to fit into the slot in the changer finger (and I have used strings up to .080).
Can you post a picture of this problem?

User avatar
René Bressieux
Posts: 11
Joined: 24 Sep 2004 12:01 am
Location: Olympia, Washington, USA

Post by René Bressieux »

Thanks Pete,

>>Also, that string has to seat correctly for tuning stability in general.

It's sounding more like the string seating is at the root of the problem. It seems there is so much excess winding that it needs to be flattend with pliers. First I will try to re-install strings 11 and 12.
If this fails then I will take a picture and post it.

>>I usually pre bend the 12th string (by the ball end and windings) in order to have it seat correctly over the changer finger.
I haven't had any problems getting the ball end of strings to fit into the slot in the changer finger (and I have used strings up to .080).
Can you post a picture of this problem?
User avatar
Earnest Bovine
Posts: 8318
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Los Angeles CA USA

Post by Earnest Bovine »

Rene
Does the raise bar move when you try to lower to G#?
User avatar
richard burton
Posts: 3846
Joined: 23 Jan 2001 1:01 am
Location: Britain

Post by richard burton »

If the Sierra has split-tuning grub screws at the top of the changer, have you wound the screw out? With the note stopping at A, it could be that the changer finger is bottoming out on the split-tuning screw.
R B
User avatar
René Bressieux
Posts: 11
Joined: 24 Sep 2004 12:01 am
Location: Olympia, Washington, USA

Post by René Bressieux »

It's fixed. Getting the 12th string seated properly in the changer finger was the problem. I had to bend and flatten the windings so that strings 11 and 12 wouldn't hang up in the changer finger slots. It tunes up great now!

Thanks for your help everyone.

René Bressieux
Post Reply