8-string with a Multibender!
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
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8-string with a Multibender!
I'm about to fit a Deusenberg three-lever Multibender to my newly-aqquired SX eight-string lap steel. The Multibender set-up worked well with my six-string RK, and I'll be keeping the same tuning plus two. I've a couple of questions, and I'd appreciate advice from the SGF team of experts!
1)After much experimentation, I'll be sticking to my E7 six-string tuning, extended lo-hi as follows:
E- G#- B- C#(instead of D)- E- G#- B- E
One lever will raise the high G# to A, and one lever will raise the high B to C#. I'm wondering what to do with the third lever...bearing in mind I can raise or lower any string by up to two sharps or flats?
2)I find that the eighth-string E is very low (doh!)and I'm not using it that much. I was thinking of possibly losing that low E and maybe adding a G# at the other end instead. Any thoughts?
By the way, I'd really prefer to keep to this choice of E7 overall, I'm very comfortable with it and it suits the music I'm playing. Thanks for reading, looking forward to your replies.
1)After much experimentation, I'll be sticking to my E7 six-string tuning, extended lo-hi as follows:
E- G#- B- C#(instead of D)- E- G#- B- E
One lever will raise the high G# to A, and one lever will raise the high B to C#. I'm wondering what to do with the third lever...bearing in mind I can raise or lower any string by up to two sharps or flats?
2)I find that the eighth-string E is very low (doh!)and I'm not using it that much. I was thinking of possibly losing that low E and maybe adding a G# at the other end instead. Any thoughts?
By the way, I'd really prefer to keep to this choice of E7 overall, I'm very comfortable with it and it suits the music I'm playing. Thanks for reading, looking forward to your replies.
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- Peter den Hartogh
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Ha! I knew it was possible and it's great to see that it can be done. I'll have my modified 'Bender unit ready for fitting by Thursday. I'll post some pics then, my extensions are a slightly different design,so we'll have no copyright conflict lol!I've also built and fitted a roller nut.
Btw, what's your tuning and lever set-up?
Btw, what's your tuning and lever set-up?
- Peter den Hartogh
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I originally had E7 on it, but because I am a pedal steel player it did not work for me.
So I resorted to the bottom 8 strings of an E9th pedal steel guitar with a slight modification on the low strings.
(Because there are no benders there. And I can retune them to anything I want).
OPEN:___ BENDER:
E_______ .
B_______ ++C#
G#______ +A
F#______ .
E_______ -Eb
C#______ .
B_______ .
G#______ .
You can find the top string gauges in any pedal steel string package.
The Low B is the lowest PSG string.
So you need to find the gauge of the added low G#.
I found these values:
.014-.018-.022-.026w-.030w-.034w-.038w-.044
E-----B----G#----F#-----E-----C#-----B------G#
Have fun!
So I resorted to the bottom 8 strings of an E9th pedal steel guitar with a slight modification on the low strings.
(Because there are no benders there. And I can retune them to anything I want).
OPEN:___ BENDER:
E_______ .
B_______ ++C#
G#______ +A
F#______ .
E_______ -Eb
C#______ .
B_______ .
G#______ .
You can find the top string gauges in any pedal steel string package.
The Low B is the lowest PSG string.
So you need to find the gauge of the added low G#.
I found these values:
.014-.018-.022-.026w-.030w-.034w-.038w-.044
E-----B----G#----F#-----E-----C#-----B------G#
Have fun!
- Peter den Hartogh
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- Tom Pettingill
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Nice solution Peter!I have done that with this George Boards Guitar.
I've done 7 and 8 string configurations, but put my mini companion bridge to the bass side. That leaves all the top strings usable with the bender.By fixing a small saddle assembly either side of the ' bender to carry the 1st and 8th strings. That's the plan anyway......
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I was having problems with my add-on blocks, the pull from the strings was causing slight movement of the blocks and subsequent intonation inaccuracies. Having seen Peter's method, I remembered I had an old Recording King 6-string bridge....so I utilised a piece off each end of the bridge and brought the strings through the body. Problem solved! Project completed ( for now) so let's get pickin'......
- Peter den Hartogh
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The pickup is the correct width, this is the 8-string version of the SX. Likewise, the legs and sockets are part of the instrument as supplied. If you're keen to get legs, in the past I've bought a cheap Rondo or similar and taken off the sockets and legs, used them and re-sold the guitar without legs! Regards from Ireland, Tony
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Check out Thomann online, the German music shop. They have a Harley Benton lap steel with legs for around 95 euro. The drill bit used for kitchen door hinges (Blum) is the perfect size for these leg sockets. After you've fitted the legs to your own instrument, fill the holes in the Harley Benton, stick on some felt over the whole area, and sell it on. I needed legs, I did exactly that...!!!!!
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