Child size pedal steel

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Mike Preuss
Posts: 124
Joined: 3 Apr 2021 11:22 am
Location: Mount Vernon, Washington, USA

Child size pedal steel

Post by Mike Preuss »

I built a pull release steel for my 5 year old daughter. Its my first successful pedal steel build. Its pretty rough around the edges, but it sounds great, holds tune, and my kid loves having a guitar just like her dads :D
I could go into details about the building process. I didn't have every tool I would have liked sums it up pretty good.
I tried to make it as kid-friendly as I could. No knee levers, 8 strings and a simple copedent based on F major.

1 F
2 C
3 A
4 F
5 C
6 A
7 F
8 C

Pedal 1 raises each C to D
Pedal 2 raises each A to Bb
Pedal 3 lowers each F to E
Pedal 4 lowers each A to G

With this she has the chords F, A-, Bb, C, C7 and D- easily available at the nut. Whether or not she takes to it I'll just have to wait and see. Ive already heard some very nice sounds coming from her bedroom which makes it worth it for me already. Massive thanks to b0b and the forum for the information, examples, and people to ask questions of and buy some difficult-to-make parts from.

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John Larson
Posts: 577
Joined: 8 Jul 2020 10:00 am
Location: Pennsyltucky, USA

Post by John Larson »

Can you build a hot pink steel in adult size? The part of me that loves all things over the top 80s dayglo wants one.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Give praise to the Lord with the harp, chant unto Him with the ten-stringed psaltery. Sing unto Him a new song, chant well unto Him with jubilation. For the word of the Lord is true, and all His works are in faithfulness. The Lord loveth mercy and judgement; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
- Psalm 33:1-5
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Bobby D. Jones
Posts: 2916
Joined: 17 May 2010 9:27 am
Location: West Virginia, USA

Post by Bobby D. Jones »

That is a neat guitar. And Pink makes it really 1 of a kind.
Hope your daughter enjoys all of Daddy's work, And stays with music and the guitar.
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Tim Toberer
Posts: 1048
Joined: 23 Oct 2021 11:58 am
Location: Nebraska, USA

Post by Tim Toberer »

That is so cool! What is the scale length? You don't really get the idea of what this thing is till you see her sitting with it. Barbie dream house pedal steel! Future Cindy Cashdollar maybe? Great job. Thanks!
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richard burton
Posts: 3854
Joined: 23 Jan 2001 1:01 am
Location: Britain

Post by richard burton »

Nice Job, but a word of caution:
Explain to your daughter (if you haven't already) that it is not wise to lean forward and have her face too close to the strings, just in case a string breaks and damages her eyes.

I apologise for bringing this to your attention, it's just something that always gives me cause for concern whenever I see a child sitting at a pedal steel
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Mike Preuss
Posts: 124
Joined: 3 Apr 2021 11:22 am
Location: Mount Vernon, Washington, USA

Child size PSG

Post by Mike Preuss »

Hey thanks folks! A hot pink guitar sure would stand out on stage. I let her pick out the spray paint can from the hardware store.

I went with 24.25" as the scale. Just copied another guitar I had since I don't know what changing scale length does to string gauges and tuning...yet.

And that is really good safety advice, I appreciate that comment.
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Larry Dering
Posts: 5777
Joined: 17 May 2013 11:20 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Post by Larry Dering »

Now that's a way cool build and the pictures are priceless. Superb job.
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