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Topic: big & tall man's xxxxl steel |
D Schubert
From:
Columbia, MO, USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2005 5:31 am |
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| A guitar-pickin' friend of mine has been bitten by the PSG bug. I invited him over to look at my Pro II. He's a big-un...a 1" bar looks very small in his hands. He found that he had a trouble with the height of the guitar (lift kit needed?) and also with the position and spacing of the knee levers. Any special tips for tweaking a steel to fit a XXXXL & tall guy? |
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Jason Weaver
From:
Topeka, Kansas
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Posted 8 Jun 2005 5:43 pm
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D-
Hello from Kansas City. I am 6' 6" and my first steel has just been completed. Chuxk at Desert Rose has about a 3" lift on mine, and it may be a little more.
I have sat at several guitars without a lift and my knees are nowhere near going under. I sat at a lifted Emmons and I could barely get my knees under, but I could lift my leg for the volume pedal.
I will let you know how my fits me when I get it. I am sure it will be find as a flat foot, but I am not sure if I will have room to play with boots on. We will have to wait and see.
Also, tell your friend that Chuck had to have my legs special made. They can be done with ease by someone who makes adjustable legs, but it may take longer and because of extra work and materials they may be more money.
I hope this helps,
Jason |
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Ben Slaughter
From:
Madera, California
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Posted 9 Jun 2005 8:35 am
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I'm only 6' but I need a 1" lift. So, it depends on the length of legs, vs torso, etc.
Didn't one of the maufactures (probably Carter) have a chart on the web for measuring a person? You might check with one of the maufactures. OR hop on I70 and go have a visit with Mr. Zumsteg. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 9 Jun 2005 9:51 am
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Yup, I'm 6'5", use a 2" lift kit (got mine from Bobbe Seymour at http://www.steelguitar.net). Without a lift kit, I can't get my legs underneath most steels I've tried enough to use the knee levers.
As long as the front/back leg extenders move up high enough, I've been able to make most steels fit. I have played a couple that extenders wouldn't fix - the front-to-back distance was too short to be comfortable no matter what I did. So for me, I think it's real important to check out a steel in person, with the extenders on.
The most comfortable, physically, for me are two 80s Sierra I own, which have levers that can angle out towards me. I can even sit a bit further back from the steel and work the levers if I want to. This gives me extra room for my long legs and arms. Even though I love my little BMI S-10, it does get a bit cramped front-to-back. I've thought about an SD-10 or 12 for exactly that reason. |
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Marty Pollard
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Posted 9 Jun 2005 10:01 am
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I'm 6'4" (and a svelte 275  ) and I angle my Dekley forward and left; i.e. down at front and down at left. Or would that be up at rear and up at right?
Anywho, Leroy Riggs was asking me about the wood block under the left heel and I told him it just makes sense mechanically no matter what your size. For maximum speed and flexibility, the ball of your foot should be in a plane with the heel and the foot should be parallel to the floor.
Simple. |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 9 Jun 2005 8:14 pm
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D,,
I'm 6'1", and play [I use that term loosly] an Emmons S/D-10 for the same reasons Dave M. mentioned, front to back dimintions. I use a 1" lift kit purchased from Bobbe's Steel Guitar Trashville. I finally got my guitar sitting level, used to play with it tilted forward so I could get my knees under it.
Even with the added 1" raise I still use 4" fold out extenders on both left knee levers so I can sit back a little further.
Best advice was allready mentioned, best to try the guitar out with lift kits on it.
Larry
------------------
Emmons S/D-10, 3/4, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 9 Jun 2005 9:30 pm
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Glad to hear others' PSG height travails. (Not glad--but reassured I'm not alone.) Even though I'm "only" 6'1", I've been trying to find comfort with a 2" lift kit.
The left-heel wood block idea is interesting, because left-foot leverage is my primary goal in sitting taller. If I sit too far down I can't manipulate my ankle, lift my foot up high enough and push the pedals with a sure touch.
If anybody's done this commercially, I haven't heard of it: how about a tall and/or height-adjustable pac-a-seat? (Yeah, I know--upholster a coupla LA phone books...) They all seem to be lower than office chairs. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 10 Jun 2005 8:07 am
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| Marty, I just noticed the wood block comment. I completely agree, I also like the foot as parallel as possible to the floor. I think this cuts down on the stress to my ankle and instep. I use a roughly 9" wide layer of a plush carpet cutout - it's easier to pack in my steel and enough of a lift for me. A lot depends on how high/low the pedals are to the ground, I set mine so this carpet pad works. |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2005 9:51 am
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I used to be around 6'-2" but I'm probably a little less now. I have to put 2" lift kits on all my steels. The bad thing about being a tall steel player is, you really can't try out different steels if you can't get under them.
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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 10 Jun 2005 10:14 am
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Yeah, I may have shrunk a little too.
If I'm looking at steels, I bring a 2" lift kit, that's the beauty of them. I can get to the pedals OK without the liftkit, so if there are a bunch of steels, I try some for pedal action and tone. If I can narrow it down, I ask for permission to put the liftkit on to give a serious test-drive. |
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Marty Pollard
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Posted 10 Jun 2005 11:31 am
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| Quote: |
| If anybody's done this commercially, |
This is your LUCKY DAY, Ben!!!
As it turns out, I would be willing to part w/one of my hand crafted prototypes.
I use only the finest white pine personally selected from next to the rolloff dumpster in the new housing edition right down the street (very expensive houses!).
After carefully transporting this virgin lumber to my well appointed workshop (ok, my garage), I then use my worm-drive Craftsman saw w/the rough cut construction blade, to create a one of a kind heel shim. As I just eyeball the length, you can rest assured that nobody will have one exactly like yours. It might even be cut on a slight angle, ya never know; I just hold it across my knee while cutting.
For delivery, I can just write your name and address on it in Marks-A-Lot and affix the postage directly to the unit's surface and place it carefully in the mailbox.
Upon delivery, you can either sand off the markings and stamps or you can leave the info on the device in case of loss. If the lucky finder in an HONEST person, you can count on a quick return if you provide postage and maybe a modest reward.
Here at Rocky Mountain Block-A-Wood, our products are designed to last a lifetime!
Except in case of fire.
I also am contemplating a special JENNINGS WARD model. It'll be a few feet in length...
I forgot:
raw material- 0.01
electricity- 0.01
blade depreciation- 0.01
transportation- 0.95
intellectual property- 299.00
unit cost: $299.98
s&h: 0.67
total: $300.65
Note: the JENNINGS WARD model will be hand delivered to assure proper fit[This message was edited by Marty Pollard on 10 June 2005 at 12:45 PM.] |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 20 Jun 2005 2:11 pm
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Marty,
I'll take one. Send it. The check's in the mail.
Say, I found your website. I sure like the way you play that 'Studio 99' but it was so short and I'd like to hear the rest.
You can reply on my topic http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum15/HTML/009605.html
after you blast my tune to pieces. Hit me with your best shot!
Charlie |
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Charles Dempsey
From:
Shongaloo, LA
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Posted 20 Jun 2005 4:11 pm
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I'm 6'1 and it's 24 1/2 inches from the floor to the top of my knee when I'm sitting at the guitar. I fit under a standard Emmons, and can't play a 1" lower at all. I probably ought to be using a 1" raise.
Forget the wood block, guys. Go get yer self some of these:
Charlie Too |
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Chris Brooks
From:
Providence, Rhode Island
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Posted 21 Jun 2005 6:22 am
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Carter has you fill out a form with various measurements on it (no, not THAT measurement!!). Then they put together the steel for you.
I am 6' 6". The fit on my SD-12 was perfect. Absolutely no adjustments needed. Clean!
Chris |
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