The Steel Guitar Forum

Guys,

my first setup that Stan suggested with the F# on top won´t work well. It seems that I´ve cleaned and polished the changer unit, espacially the bar that holds the changer fingers not enough and took a wrong grease or the bending and wear problems that John mentioned happend... maybe both.
That bar had a lot of wear and I thougt I had done a good job. Will polish it much better now. Than I´ll try the setup Steve suggested with the G# on top so the rods will pull more straight not to the side too.

The rods that are used at my guitar are plain to the end no threaded ends. The thing that stops it - don´t know how to call it- has a hole were the rod fits and a screw from the side to save it.

After the hours under the Sho-Bud and your comments, I think my old D9 is so in my heart, that I won´t carry it around for playing. So I open a new topic at "Wanted To Buy". I´m looking for a Fender 1000, years ago I´ve owned one.

Will be back when the E neck works well.

I have to thank you all a lot !!! I can´t say that enough. Here is NOBODY around that could help, so I´m very, very happy that you helped me.

Best wishes
Bernhard Ballweg

Here are some things to look out for to get it running right.

Make sure the holes in the finger are smooth and that the rod isn't hitting or getting stuck inside the finger. Watch the finger from under the guitar as you press the pedal. Notice how the rod is doing as the pedal is pressed. Your finger could be set in the wrong spot as in back to for or two far forward to start with and then when the pedal is engaged the finger pinches the rod and then sticks a bit. Look to see if one finger is dragging against another.

There normally are very small washers between the fingers. If they aren't there then each finger will rub against the one next to it and will cause all kinds of problems. This system doesn't have springs to help things to return, it only uses the strength of the string. So any dragging or sticking will mess it up. Don't mash the fingers together too much with the part that is mounted on top of the changer that holds them in place. Give them a bit of room so they can move freely.

Check for burs of rough spots inside the fingers at the alxe and the rods holes.

Use Triflow on the changer rod before you put it together so it gets in there.

Good luck,

Bernhard Ballweg wrote:Guys,

my first setup that Stan suggested with the F# on top won´t work well. ... Than I´ll try the setup Steve suggested with the G# on top ..

Yeah, I only mentioned that one because it's the most "modern" setup..I'd think Steve's will work better.

Steve, the fingers are very clean and smooth in all holes and there is enough space that they could move freely. But there aren´t any washers with this guitar.
...make sense to use them.
Any ideas where to ask for ?

Stan, I´d like to use the more "modern" tuning but it seems it wouldn´t be the best for that old lady.

As guitars and music are much, much loved by me, my buisiness makes the money for the family and the price for that are long, long hours "ready for service" there. So it all took long time to get the set up with try and error... but with the help of you guys I´m on my way :):)

Benny

Each pull release type guitar that I have has washers between the fingers. I think they are worth it. Use metal that is very thin, have the center be the size of the axle and make sure that they don't stick up above the top of the finger. I believe that the point is just to keep the fingers from rubbing against each other. I think somebody mentioned small parts.com or something like that for online orders. If that is the right name I think you can get new or extra collars there as well. I believe that is what you have behind the fingers. Make sure the collars are no wider than the finger or they will hit the fingers next to them when they move.

Lee Jeffries mentioned just the other day some kind of high tech-ish washer that is kind of a lubricant in itself. Maybe he will pipe in.

The company I work for uses these brass "shim" washers from McMaster Carr;
http://www.mcmaster.com/#washers/=4rw7e6
But look through their catalogue for your needs.
Click on the "round hole" pic, then
scroll down to "materials" and click brass or maybe bronze, then
scroll down to "Application" and click "shimming washer."