carter starter

Mike Cascio · Post by **Mike Cascio** » 25 Jul 2016 2:27 am

Howdy to all.i am basically a Newby but learning every day.jam curious about working on steels so instead of messing with my Emmons I bought a carter starter.started looking at it and coherent wasn't like my Emmons so being a machinist began to look for solutions.question- is this what is called a all pull changer.i have worked with it a little and seems all changes seem to pull from top or bottom raising or lowering. Think I've got it figured out and making a couple of parts it seems I can make it like my Emmons,copedent wise anyway.i may remake some parts for reliability.make it a back up guitar.seems I have to mess with things.any way it will be better than it was.nice guitar in its day it served its purpose well.has any one messed with one of these ,any suggestions? While I'm hear ,I am in prowess o lowering my Emmons a.has any one got a shorter sort of legs and longer knee levers for a reasonable price . I am lowering 2 inches. Already made pedal rods and don't want to mess with original legs.any help would be appreciated a.thanks steeling ain't a crime. Its an ambition.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 25 Jul 2016 6:58 am

Hi Mike,

Just like the V-8 Commercial, slap yourself on the forehead & say "I could have had a Zumsteel Encore".

Roger

Mike Cascio · Post by **Mike Cascio** » 25 Jul 2016 8:45 am

I know ,but so far little invested and end results will allow stepping up.its helped in understanding the workings.like driving a car and not knowing what a wheel is. Thanks mike cascio

Bob Sykes · Post by **Bob Sykes** » 25 Jul 2016 6:08 pm

Hi Mike, The Carter Starter is the one everyone loves to hate. The cranks are welded, but you CAN change some pulls if you modify the plate that locks some of the changer fingers and switch around some rods. See this old post:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=
You can also fabricate pull rods out of stainless welding rods.
Hope this helps,
Bob

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 25 Jul 2016 6:38 pm

I didn't understand it's limitations at the time - they didn't hold me back - and it sounded great. I've seen some perfectly serviceable hot-rodded versions

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 25 Jul 2016 7:34 pm

Talk to either Don Burrows (in the links section up top under BSG guitars) or Mullen dealer Gary Sill. They'll sell you shorter legs

Mike Cascio · Post by **Mike Cascio** » 25 Jul 2016 11:17 pm

Thanks guys.Bob I found welding rod at work tonight and cut off grinder with thin wheel will cut slots almost perfect.The finger that pushes rod lever will have to be modified for longer pull . made some removable rod fingers tonight . used 3/4 key stock milled to 1/8 thick, left block on end ,drilled 1/4 hole, taped two 10-24 holes to hold and then split 1/4 hole in half.slips under shaft with finger on top, tightened two screws to clamp it to shaft . Seems to work.may add a roll pin to shaft if it Tries to rotate , but I don't think it is going to be necessary.
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