What's a good way to mark pedal rods?

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 15 Dec 2004 5:22 pm

I can't find a number on the pedal rods on my Zum. what would be a good way to number them so as to get them all back in the same place? I tried a red magic marker, didn't work to good, came off.

Terry

------------------
Zum D10 /8x5 / session 500rd
steelin for my Lord

[This message was edited by Terry Sneed on 16 December 2004 at 05:05 PM.]

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 15 Dec 2004 5:37 pm

Terry,go to the hardware store and buy a small book of electical wire code numbers,they are round,about 3/8" across and sticky on the back,put them on the bottom end of the rod,hope this helps.

------------------
Fred Justice
Events Dir.
SWSGA www.swsteelguitar.com

Sam White · Post by **Sam White** » 15 Dec 2004 5:38 pm

Terry go to Radio Shack and they have these small numbers on a pad like. They peal off in three per strip and just rap them around the rod just above the pedal connector.
sam White

Bill Moran · Post by **Bill Moran** » 15 Dec 2004 5:54 pm

Dig out a blank VCR tape box and you will have the lable numbers .

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 15 Dec 2004 5:54 pm

Easy.

Electric tape in any color with two or three wraps ascending or descending increments across the rods. Half or less width if necessary. Maybe even clear.

Easy to tell in the dark, and not any gaudier than white numbered bands.

It works good.

EJL

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 15 Dec 2004 6:25 pm

My new Zum has numbered plastic discs on the bottom of the pedal rods -- so you could contact Bruce and get some of those. They can get a bit loose though so I have a bit of clear selotape over them to keep them from sliding down the rod. They do the job nicely though.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 15 Dec 2004 9:01 pm

I like Eric's solution
I found some really cool metallic duct tape and I use about two wraps of it. When you mark the rods like Eric describes, you can bunch all the rods up together in your hand and slide down them from the top and feel the one with the tape the highest on the rod. Even in a dark bar.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 16 Dec 2004 12:43 am

I just paint the flat bottom of each rod with "White Out", wait for it to dry, then draw in the numbers with a "Sharpie". An easy solution that works great, compliments of forumite and great steel & amp tech Bob Metzger!

Lee Bartram · Post by **Lee Bartram** » 16 Dec 2004 5:46 am

Terry,i use fingernail polish i just paint stripes around the pedal rod at the bottom one stripes=1st rod ect.i use one color for the 1st four rods then switch to a second color and start over for the 2nd four rods so i don't have to end up with 8 stripes.if you want to take it off a little nail polish and you back to normal. excuse my spelling on ist post hope this fixes it. [This message was edited by Lee Bartram on 16 December 2004 at 05:48 AM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 16 Dec 2004 5:53 am

i use the coloured tape like Eric and Larry

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 16 Dec 2004 5:57 am

Terry.

Make um different lenghts.

Sorry guys couldn't resist

Ron

Nikaro SD10 4x6

Robert Thomas · Post by **Robert Thomas** » 16 Dec 2004 7:34 am

I bought a strip of flourescent numbers, which have several different colors and put a number on the bottom of each pedal rod and a matching number of the same color on the under side of the pedal. It makes it very easy to determine which goes where without even looking at the number. There are 9 different colors. They are made by "Sandylion" sticker designs of Canada. If it is on the dark side during setup it makes it much easier.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 16 Dec 2004 8:47 am

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the idea of the rods being numbered on the very bottom. can't be seen there. I think i'll try the white out trick. or find some numbers small enough to go on the bottom of the rod.

Terry

------------------
Zum D10 /8x5 / session 500rd
steelin for my Lord

Spriggie Hensley · Post by **Spriggie Hensley** » 16 Dec 2004 9:03 am

These metal number stamps work good. http://www.hobbytool.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=6 MSA used this type markings on the old MSA rods but the new Millennium has all the rods made the same length. If you set up in the dark a lot then notch them with a small file or if you don’t want marks you can use epoxy glue to build dots on the rods much like brail reading would be, that’s so you can feel them in the dark.

Palmer · Post by **Palmer** » 16 Dec 2004 9:27 am

Terry, call Bruce at Zum and he would probably sell you some of the markers he uses. Jack.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 16 Dec 2004 10:05 am

If you put narrow enough bands or labels on the rods, and can wrap them close to the hook end, they'll be up inside the cabinet when installed and oughta sight.

If I'm not mistaken there was a thread not too long ago where we figured the statistics on the number of ways you could put 8 pedal rods on wrong.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 16 December 2004 at 10:06 AM.]

Richard Gonzales · Post by **Richard Gonzales** » 16 Dec 2004 10:20 am

Now that you mention rods ID. For your info the MSA Millennium adjust on the body of the guitar so all rods are the same length, Nice feature!

Ken Williams · Post by **Ken Williams** » 16 Dec 2004 10:35 am

The numbers on my Emmons are indentations on the hex end, on black paint no less. It makes them near impossible to see in dim light. I know this sounds a bit harsh but, I just took a nail and scratched larger numbers where the old ones were.

Ken

Dave Burr · Post by **Dave Burr** » 16 Dec 2004 10:46 am

My Remington (SD-10 3/4) has grooves in the rods at the top... similar to what you could make with a tubing cutter. Each rod has a different number of grooves (ie. pedal 1 rod has 1 groove, etc, etc.) I always thought this was pretty unique.

Respectfully,
Dave Burr

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 16 Dec 2004 11:18 am

Carter has numbered clips, call them.

Drew

------------------
Fessenden D-10 8+8 / Magnatone S-8 (E13)

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 16 Dec 2004 11:46 am

The numbers on my Emmons are indentations on the hex end, on black paint no less. It makes them near impossible to see in dim light.

Paint over the numbers with some white-out, then wipe it off, leaves the numbers etched in white and they're much easier to read.

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 16 Dec 2004 1:33 pm

Terry,
My new Zum came through with little plastic collars, that were numbered, for each rod. I would give Bruce a call or go on his website to contact him. That way, you're getting the correct part and not messing up the pedal rods with "after market" fixer-uppers.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 16 Dec 2004 3:04 pm

To add to the 'White-Out' suggestion....

I found that the stamped numbers on my Emmons' rods were next-to illegible, so I painted them with 'W-O' and wiped off the excess - the number then stands out clearly.

RR
(OOOPS! - I just noticed that Bill said exactly the same thing as me.....

)[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 17 December 2004 at 02:35 PM.]

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 16 Dec 2004 3:21 pm

Sounds like the Carter & Zum clips may be the same thing? The Carter clips are cool but----I don't bother carrying glasses to gigs--they are reading glasses and they're a nuisance. I have no intention of doing any reading at the local bar so they stay at home. But I sure can't read the number clips without them (and in low light). I've just wrapped the hook end of the rod (hidden in the cabinet as per Ray's post) with masking tape and drawn bands with a Sharpie. Good enough. Does the job.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 16 Dec 2004 3:45 pm

I like Bill's suggestion! Just cover the labels with clear (the shiny kind) of Scotch tape, and it'll stay readable for years!