My steel is tricky to string - changing the bridge?
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- Kathy Freeman
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My steel is tricky to string - changing the bridge?
I have an ABM Sentinel 8 string steel (23 inch scale) which is great except for changing strings. You have to keep the string in place at the ball end as you wind which is challenging. I'd like to know
A)is it mechanically feasible to change the bridge for a more user-friendly one? I am not a purist about how it might look.
B) if so - long shot - do you know a good steel guitar maker/luthier in Germany, especially in the Berlin area who could order and install it?
Maybe someone here has some idea? Thanks.
A)is it mechanically feasible to change the bridge for a more user-friendly one? I am not a purist about how it might look.
B) if so - long shot - do you know a good steel guitar maker/luthier in Germany, especially in the Berlin area who could order and install it?
Maybe someone here has some idea? Thanks.
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- David Ball
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It's a common problem on pedal steels.
You could take a pencil or a knitting needle or something (maybe even an acoustic guitar bridge pin) and stick it into the hole in the bridge to keep the ball end stuck down where it belongs while you tune up. Mainly, wedge something into the hole to keep the string ball in place.
Dave
You could take a pencil or a knitting needle or something (maybe even an acoustic guitar bridge pin) and stick it into the hole in the bridge to keep the ball end stuck down where it belongs while you tune up. Mainly, wedge something into the hole to keep the string ball in place.
Dave
- David Ball
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- John Rosett
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Another thing you might consider is having it converted to string through the body, like a Telecaster. It's hard to tell if this is feasible from the pictures, but maybe a skilled luthier could drill down through the existing anchor holes, and install ferrules like these in the back: https://www.stewmac.com/parts-and-hardw ... rules.html
"it's not in bad taste, if it's funny." - john waters
Very cool steel! Seems like a capo or masking tape would hold the ball ends in without string tension.
No idea about German builders bt for replacement bridges, you could ask georgeboards.com, Ryan Rukavina, Bill Hatcher, some other people on the forum.
https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=rukavina
https://www.georgeboards.com/parts.html#nuts
No idea about German builders bt for replacement bridges, you could ask georgeboards.com, Ryan Rukavina, Bill Hatcher, some other people on the forum.
https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=rukavina
https://www.georgeboards.com/parts.html#nuts
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- Allan Revich
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I recently bought a beautifully machined aluminum bridge and nut from Ryan Rukavina. I’m very pleased with it. Came with wood screws and was very easy to install.Gene Tani wrote:Very cool steel! Seems like a capo or masking tape would hold the ball ends in without string tension.
No idea about German builders bt for replacement bridges, you could ask georgeboards.com, Ryan Rukavina, Bill Hatcher, some other people on the forum.
https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=rukavina
https://www.georgeboards.com/parts.html#nuts
Current Tunings:
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D/f – f D A D F# A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D/f – f D A D F# A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
- Cody Farwell
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If you don't have any golfing friends, I would go to any shop selling parts for acoustic guitars and get some (wooden) bridge pins..even if you had to whittle them down just a bit, that's got to be the easiest and cheapest way rather than taking your steel to bits...as David Ball said much earlier.
...just saying....
...just saying....
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- Kathy Freeman
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- John Rosett
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- Nic Neufeld
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I kind of like that bridge, certainly looks interesting. The adjustable intonation isn't useful but are those rollers?
I like John's suggestion of a luthier drilling holes and installing ferrules for string through body. The only trick with that, there doesn't look like there's much wood between where the holes would be and the edge of the body...but string-through might even improve sustain. At least that's what the folk wisdom says (I have no idea if it is true).
I like John's suggestion of a luthier drilling holes and installing ferrules for string through body. The only trick with that, there doesn't look like there's much wood between where the holes would be and the edge of the body...but string-through might even improve sustain. At least that's what the folk wisdom says (I have no idea if it is true).
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- Bill Groner
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Here is one I made that was pretty close to the edge of the wood. You would need a Luthier with a mill to do a nice job. If need be you can just mill the pocket "U" shaped and use the aluminium as the end of the body instead of fittin it all the way round like I did. Thought since the original post was from England, I'd do the spellin the way they do.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
- Steven Pearce
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- Kathy Freeman
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- Kathy Freeman
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wow that IS close to the edge, but shows it's doable, thanks mate (that's what they say in the UK)Bill Groner wrote: Here is one I made that was pretty close to the edge of the wood. You would need a Luthier with a mill to do a nice job. If need be you can just mill the pocket "U" shaped and use the aluminium as the end of the body instead of fittin it all the way round like I did. Thought since the original post was from England, I'd do the spellin the way they do.
- Kathy Freeman
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the bridge is fixed, non adjustable. Which is one less thing to considerNic Neufeld wrote:I kind of like that bridge, certainly looks interesting. The adjustable intonation isn't useful but are those rollers?
I like John's suggestion of a luthier drilling holes and installing ferrules for string through body. The only trick with that, there doesn't look like there's much wood between where the holes would be and the edge of the body...but string-through might even improve sustain. At least that's what the folk wisdom says (I have no idea if it is true).
- Dennis Saydak
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- Bill Groner
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Wow that IS close to the edge, but shows it's doable, thanks mate (that's what they say in the UK)
Even closer.........cause it is the edge! I like to make my lap steels short and there isn't much real estate left when it comes to the bridge. My avatar picture is that lap steel with the string through aluminium plate. Funny thing, I sold it to a workmate of mine and he moved here from London.
Even closer.........cause it is the edge! I like to make my lap steels short and there isn't much real estate left when it comes to the bridge. My avatar picture is that lap steel with the string through aluminium plate. Funny thing, I sold it to a workmate of mine and he moved here from London.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
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You may (?) also find it easier to use one of these to take up the initial slack on the string when you install it.....
https://www.originalartisan.com/product ... der-black/
....the exercise generally goes a LOT more quickly ...I would not go as far as using the electric versions, but...
https://www.originalartisan.com/product ... der-black/
....the exercise generally goes a LOT more quickly ...I would not go as far as using the electric versions, but...
If my wife is reading this, I don't have much stuff....really!
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