Is everyone a steel "mechanic?"

Steven Black · Post by **Steven Black** » 20 May 2006 4:49 am

Hey Mark, if I came up on a bad car accident and saw someone laying there bleeding I would call for an ambulance, and if I see a severly damaged steel guitar on the other side bleeding bell cranks and rods I would perform a life saving emergency surgery, and if I can not save it I would have it life flighted to Bobby seymour's steel guitar hospital.

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 20 May 2006 5:54 am

After starting a country machine shop in 1972,i've learned a lots thru the years.

Not afraid to tackle most things these days,remember EVERYTHING has a way of working.

Some things are just more difficult!!!!!
I tore a TOASTER all to pcs. just knowing i could fix it(SURE ENOUGH I THREW IT IN THE TRASH))
Got to really study,use your thinker on most steels,usually its pretty simple if you go the right way!!!!!!!!!!!!!

farris

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 20 May 2006 7:29 am

Bobbe was that you and Marvin That just Flew over and tryed too Zap me with that laser again? Thats all I have to say about that. Randy

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 20 May 2006 7:38 am

"I've always worked on my own instruments, but I think I've done them more harm than good. I'm not a very good mechanic. Keep that in mind if you ever buy a pedal steel from me. There should be a warning label."

Now you tell me!

(b0b changed my Day set-up to an Emmons on my old Rusler..it's fine.)

Ken Thompson · Post by **Ken Thompson** » 20 May 2006 8:03 am

I'm glad to hear there are few others out there that are like me. Thanks Marc, nice to meet another just like me.

I am capable of at least recognizing a problem and then making a minor repair when I can see what the problem is. However, I would never take my steel apart just to do it or to repair a major problem.

I have been very fortunate since I was able to purchase my first new steel and have never had a serious problem that requiered me to make a fix during a gig. I believe in taking care of my stuff so as to prevent a major problem on the job.

Thank you to Carter for building a solid, dependable steel that allows me to travel with confidence even though I am mechanically challenged.

I am planning to get another steel in the future but I have daughters that are using up my slush fund right now with weddings and college so it will have to wait a while.

Can't wait to check out the new Jackson and Sho-Pro steels.

John Coffman · Post by **John Coffman** » 20 May 2006 2:06 pm

I know I am a better at working on them than playing them. With 20 years of maintenance, working on electroincs, computer, mills, lathes and other shop tools. Work on them is easy. Playing another story. I'll get back with you when I have 20 years of playing and see if things change. Men are men we will tinker with things it is in our DNA. Nurse please pass me the sledge hammer (this is a fine tuning device left only to trained skilled professional).

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Thomas SD10 3/4 and D10 8/5 Beginner

[This message was edited by John Coffman on 20 May 2006 at 03:11 PM.]

Colby Tipton · Post by **Colby Tipton** » 20 May 2006 5:59 pm

I had to be, I started out on a crossover.

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 20 May 2006 9:38 pm

I am sort of a "fix it up" guy. My first pedal steel was a Fender (cable action) double neck 10 string. Boy was that thing a mess of complicated cable and pulleys!

A previous owner had added 2 knee levers fabricated out of 1"x2's, so I added 2 more. One by one the cables broke and I re-soldered them and replaced some with bike cables. I was always browsing the hardware isles buying brackets and turnbuckles and anything that I could use to make it work smoother.

I think many steelers are tinkerers but the old cable guitars were way too much trouble, even for a "fix it guy." I have a Shobud LDG now and I don't have to mess with it at all.

Dom

[This message was edited by Dom Franco on 20 May 2006 at 10:42 PM.]

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 20 May 2006 9:45 pm

As long as Dr. Bobby Bowman is less than an hour from my house, I don't do any work on my guitars. Jody.

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 21 May 2006 5:58 am

When I started playing, I bought old,..I mean old steels just to start out on. They were in decent playing shape, but there were no parts readily available. There isn't anyone close that works on them either. So, I had to do quite a bit of tinkering. It helps to be a little mechanically inclined. My "new" Sierra guitar however,will probably travel to Scotty's in St. Louis if and when it needs help. In fact Don Curtis went over my old Fender 2000 when it got in real bad shape, and turned it back into a regular player!

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 21 May 2006 11:05 am

When I first started playing I noticed some of the long-time players who couldn't gig if their guitar was acting up, until they got it to a tinkerer. I just assumed that learning to work on 'em was part of the package. I made all of the guitar and mic cables for my band back then as well, (some of them are still going strong almost 30 years later).
I can't see leaving yourself in the lurch over a relatively minor repair.

A few years ago, our band was headlining at a large festival. I had already played with three other acts durning the day, no problems, but when I hit the first notes of our headlining set, my "F" lever fell off the guitar, with the capture bolt and nut falling through the plank stage into the mud 20 feet below.
I stuck it back on with a bent allen wrench and some duct tape, and it stayed that way for another couple of years.
Wouldn't want to do without that lever even for a set!

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 21 May 2006 4:55 pm

MVA,

What color duck tape did you use?? I carry silver tape in my repair kit, it seems to work best!!

I really don't like the idea of doing major work on my steel, but you really should be able to make qwick fixes at the gig!! Just get R thru the gig then to some one who knows what they are doing!

Larry

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"Fessy" S/D 12, 8/6 Hilton Pedal, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 21 May 2006 9:41 pm

Guys, remember when you are working on your steel, Be GENTLE. Never force any part. Just use a BIGGER HAMMER.

Al Terhune · Post by **Al Terhune** » 21 May 2006 10:00 pm

Through my own Allen-riggin' and help from Ricky Davis via email, I've done about everything you could do to a steel -- at least an old Sho Bud and new GFI.

Al

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 22 May 2006 4:27 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I stuck it back on with a bent allen wrench and some duct tape, and it stayed that way for another couple of years.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you've fixed it enough to work, leave it alone.
Today's lesson, courtesy of MVA

[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 22 May 2006 at 05:27 AM.]

James Cann · Post by **James Cann** » 22 May 2006 6:47 pm

I've always been glad to have gotten Dad's mechanical and Mom's musical genes, and it was always great that neither's lack of the other's ability kept either from presenting themselves sincerely, albeit to sincerely rude effect.

If you want rude effect far beyond sincere, watch me try basketball.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 May 2006 7:05 pm

I've always been pretty much a mechanical dunce. Tinkering just doesn't turn me on. And, like someone said earlier, I've got my hands full just tryin' to play the durn thang!

But I CAN, and DO change my copedant when I need to. It's not my favorite activity, but I know how to do it and get it done. Forutnately, the need doesn't arrive all that often.

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 22 May 2006 7:57 pm

Me too Jim. I have dismantled several steel guitars myself and by hook or crook always got them back together in playable condition. But I DO NOT ENJOY THE ACTIVITY.
Thank God for those that do like refurbishing guitars. My philosophy is "If it ain't broke enough, don't try to fix it."
Proper maintenance such as keeping the guitar clean and lubricated will go a long way towards keeping it operating as it was designed to do. JMO

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 22 May 2006 9:26 pm

I have a 30 year old steel and am clueless about this instrument.

Thankfully Chuck Back is only an hour and a half away in Tuscon.

I have been observing Chuck while he works and have just begun to understand a little more...I'd bet he's glad to hear this.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 24 May 2006 3:07 am

You don't need to be a mechanical genious, but please get to know enough to make adjustments, lube it, and trouble shoot... Just lay on your back under the guitar, working pedals and knees,observing the way everything moves, pivot points, friction points etc etc. Just do it often enough that you can visualize what the parts do and when, how everything "relates" under the steel, spring action, changer action during raises and lowers etc...

Do it for 5 minutes at a time a few times a week and after a short while you WILL have a better understanding of the pull mechanism... you really need to learn what you can about the instrument you play IMHO bob

Carlos Polidura · Post by **Carlos Polidura** » 24 May 2006 3:48 am

IT'S A BIG ADVANTAGE WHEN YOU KNOW HOW TO...
YOU CAN SAVE BIG BUCKS.
CARLOS

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 24 May 2006 5:31 am

Living in a small rural town in Alberta Canada, there's no one around locally to help me adjust my guitars, so when I first bought my PP, I consulted folks on the internet, mainly the guitars former owner and my good friend, Bruce Hamilton. He gave me all kinds of answers to my detailed questions about setting up my PP to the point of me suggesting to him about providing some of this basic setup knowledge on my website, which I did. Prior to this I had always thought of myself as a complete mechanical klutz, but it's amazing what you can do when you have too. Just need the tools and the knowledge and a little self-confidence.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 24 May 2006 6:47 am

The underside of a pedal steel is about the most confusing thing I've ever looked at!
Especially the PP guitars. I am definately
mechanically challenged!

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Mullen RP D10 /8x5 / Nashville 112/ American Tele
pickin for Jesus

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 24 May 2006 7:42 am

Just be more than happy that the government hasn't ordered emission controls to be installed on them yet...

Carlos Polidura · Post by **Carlos Polidura** » 24 May 2006 10:48 am

RAY... I WOULD TAKE A COURSE ON THAT IF I HAD TO.