Carter Changer Problem

Bob Snelgrove · From: san jose, ca

Hi Guys,

Changed strings on my Carter and now the 3rd string is binding when slowly pulled. I hear a loud click as it unbinds. When I looked underneath, I see the lower return spring on that string losing tension and re tensioning as the click sounds. If I hold tension on the return spring, the problem doesn't occur. The spring is not adjustable. I never had this problem before and thought it might be the .0115 I was trying (Jagwires). I put on a .011 and the problem is still there. A light application of 3 in 1 oil at the top of the changer didn't help either.

thx

bob

A. J. Schobert · From: Cincinnati, Ohio,

I would contact them talk to bud or john on there tech line or I'm sure they will post a response

Bobby Boggs · From: Upstate SC.

Bob, if a stretched spring is your problem??.You'll have to cut if off, make a new hook and reinstall it.Or you could do what I did.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

It always happens on a Friday after close of business, doesn't it? Go figure.

Sounds like maybe the ball end of a string caught in the changer. Just a guess.

Jim Bob Sedgwick · From: Clinton, Missouri USA

I had the same problem on my Williams a few years ago. Luckily the return springs were adjustable. Check for a ball end caught in the changer and if that's not the problem it is the return spring as was stated above. Good Luck (the problem was not hard to fix, if I remember correctly) Also, you might want to lubricate the rivet holding the raise and lower plates together on the finger.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

if the problem was NOT there before you changed strings...

go backwards...

Sounds like a Ball end stuck in the changer fingers...been there done this...

Steel Guitars changers do not DIE in between changing strings...

DO NOT adjust the spring tension without talking to John or Bud first...Changing the tension will not eliminate binding..it will make the pull more stiff or less stiff...The problem is not the spring...

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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite

Frank Parish · From: Nashville,Tn. USA

This is one thing that annoys me about the Carter guitars. On the Emmons p/p, Legrandes, Derbys and several others, the string end will fall out to the ground when you break one. A few times I've had to get a flashlight and hunt for the broken part before I could replace the string. That takes time and holds the band up. I didn't know this when I first bought a Carter and was a long time trying to figure out the problem.

Bob, like Tony said, you probably got the ball end of the string caught up in there somewhere.

Bob Snelgrove · From: san jose, ca

I don't think it's a ball end because no strings were broken when removed. Maybe something else fell in there. I'll have it upside down in the case before the gig today and I'll take a look.

Bobby B: you be nice

bob

Bill Miller · From: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

I've noticed that sometimes a broken ball end can be hiding in the changer for some time without causing a problem. Then all of a sudden you take your guitar out of the case and find a ball end has fallen out. At times my strings break and fling the ends clear. Other times the ball will drop right through to the floor without hanging up. Only once has one actually caused an obstruction in my changer. If it happened often I would try inserting a piece of foam rubber in the rear of the changer housing as someone suggested in an older thread.

[This message was edited by Bill Miller on 10 June 2006 at 08:09 AM.]

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

I traded for a used D10 Carter and it did the same thing. I found that a couple of the coils on one of the springs was rubbing on a metal plate that runs between the springs and the nylon tuners.

I had to take a small screw driver and carefully bend the spring away from the plate which stopped the noise.

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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Chuck Walker · From: Cody, Wyoming, USA

Bob, my Carter started doing exactly the same thing about a week ago, except in my case, it happened after I replaced the third string when it broke. I retreived the broken ball end of the string before replacing it and have scoured the changer for any foreign objects. I hope that John Fabian reads this post and provides some insight into what might be necessary to fix the problem. I have not yet taken the time to call them directly. It is quite distracting to say the least.

Chuck

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Well I just looked at my Lashley Legrande( again) and I am here ta tell ya, if the string breaks the ball end may not fall to the floor. It may fall onto a flat space ( part of the changer assy) below the bridges and guess what, the only place it has to go is into the fingers if you don't retrieve it.
And also, if the ball end does drop down to the little shelf area as I refer to it, it is very difficult to retrieve as it is underneath all of the Allen screws for the changer fingers so ya gotta work a bit to get it removed..

sorry...Emmons Legrandes ain't exempt...

I have seen countless Emmons Legrande owners with rubber sorta spacer inserts behind the ball ends which prevent the ball end from falling down into the changer.From those Cats is how I came up with placing a length of foam directly behind the ball ends of the changer to prevent them from dropping down on my Carter.

This issue is not just a Carter issue.

Please lets not make it one...

t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 10 June 2006 at 01:42 PM.]

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Let's not make Bob wade through other peoples' incorrect speculations, like what happened in this thread.

[This message was edited by Lee Baucum on 10 June 2006 at 03:16 PM.]

Curt Langston · Posted 10 Jun 2006 2:24 pm

Yeah, that seemed a little sharp to me too.

[This message was edited by Curt Langston on 11 June 2006 at 07:33 PM.]

Terry Pendlay · From: Effingham Illinois, USA

HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. JUST CHANGED ALL SPRINGS AND USED 115 ON 3RD STRING/ THE B PEDAL CLICKS ABOUT 1 OF 5 TIMES THE B IS PUSHED DOWN. CAN NOT FIND ANY BALL ENDS AS STRING DID NOT BREAK JUST OLD. I HAVE A CARTER SD10 LOOKING FOR ANY IDEALS/ TERRY

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

When I got my Carter D-10 a few weeks ago, the first thing I noticed was a clicking in pedals A+B. After a few minutes of investigation, I was relieved to discover that I left a small gap between one of the leg adjusters and the pedal board, which was causing a noisy click related to my pedal being engaged. I tightened the pedal board and made sure it was secured tightly between the leg adjusters and the rubber feet. This eliminated the problem.

(Edited for spelling)

[This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 12 June 2006 at 08:16 AM.]

Bobby Boggs · From: Upstate SC.

Never in 30 years of playing every series of Emmons ever built.Have I had a ball in get caught in the changer.Not saying it can't happen.Just never happen to me. Anyone ever had a ball end get wedged in an Emmons changer? Just curious??

I think Carter has instructions on their site on the proper way to tighten return springs on a Carter. Or you could look in your carter manual.

If my speculations are inncorrect.I'm sorry.However, the last time I checked.The Forum was still open to the public..

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Last night I turned my Emmons Lashley Legrande upside down to put it in the case, and guess what fell out on to the floor as I was going thru the motions...!

My Carter was on the other side of the room and said..

"Hey, don't look at me "

I don't recall ever having a string drop down into the changer of any of my Steels. On the Carter if I can't locate the ball end it is usually found in an odd ball place, but not in the changer fingers.

Generally if a string breaks the ball end falls onto my right foot.

A nice short piece of foam behind the ball ends will prevent this from ever happening.

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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

I don't think I've ever owned a steel that didn't spit out a ball end when flipping it over into the case. My Sho~Bud lived on 'em. I borrowed an Emmons recently that offered one up no problem. And my Carter spit one into the case just this weekend. I thought it was par for the course on all steels. I am a notorious 3rd string popper, though. I can't keep track of the ball ends. My MSA Universal was the only guitar that never popped a third, with about 30 shows under its belt before I traded it.

Larry Strawn · From: Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.

I just sold an Emmons SD/10 and until I started putting something behind the ball end it would drop the ball into the changer about 9 times out of 10. Sometimes I would have to turn the guitar upside down and shake it to get the ball end out! This is not the reason I sold the guitar, but it is something I experienced personnly.

Larry

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

Chuck Walker · From: Cody, Wyoming, USA

John Fabian called this morning and suggested several things for me to try. In my case, the problem turned out to be a combination of lubrication and a weak return spring. I swapped the third and seventh string springs (in my copedent the seventh string is never raised or lowered) and that solved the problem.

Hats off to John for taking the initiative to call and to try to insure that his customer found a solution. In my experience, this is typical of the service provided by the Carter Steel Guitar family.

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Larry Strawn · From: Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.

I haven't had any experience with the Carter folks yet, but I've noticed how John Fabian always sees to come to the rescue when needed concerning Carter problems, some times for other brands also! Sounds like these folks are going the extra mile!

Larry

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

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