I need help

For people who build steel guitars

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Matthew Murray
Posts: 29
Joined: 1 Jul 2022 3:27 pm
Location: Rathdrum, Idaho, USA

Post by Matthew Murray »

It is drilled into the front apron. But yes I think it had a knee lever at one point.
Bobby D. Jones
Posts: 2235
Joined: 17 May 2010 9:27 am
Location: West Virginia, USA

Post by Bobby D. Jones »

I have looked at the picture again.
Does the guitar have a Pedal Bar with 3 pedals, and 3 rods (Known as Pedal Rods) that run from the pedals to the body of the guitar?

If you have a Pedal Bar with Pedals and Pedal Rods, There is a possibility. If no pedal bar, pedals and pedal rods you may want to reconsider.

By looking at the marked Pedal 1 setup, Making the Bell Crank, The connector, And flat swivel bar with 5 holes. For Pedals 2 and 3. Then use 4 coat hangers to make 4 pull rods. You could get 3 pedals working.

Looks like Pedal 1 is already hooked to the 5th and 10th Strings.
Pedal 2 would need to be hooked to 3rd and 6th Strings.
Pedal 3 would need to be hooked to 4th and 5th Strings.

This would get the guitar setup with a basic 3 Pedal bare bones E9th Tuning. Then if you want to add a Knee Lever to add more, That would be another project.

A $5.00 piece of 1/2" steel bar from Ace Hardware or Lowes and a lot of hack sawing, filing and drilling could get you to a 3 pedal E9th set up.

I built a steel guitar about 1970, Got 3 pedals set up learned a lot. 3 pedals and bar slants, Played a lot of music. Played it till about 1998. I got a guitar with 4 pedals and 4 knee levers. Now I have a 7 pedal 5 knee lever S12 Uni.

Good Luck if you dive into this.
Matthew Murray
Posts: 29
Joined: 1 Jul 2022 3:27 pm
Location: Rathdrum, Idaho, USA

Post by Matthew Murray »

Thank you for the advice. I do have the pedal bar and pedals. So it should be relatively simple hopefully. In my mind anyways.
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Andy DePaule
Posts: 2576
Joined: 20 Jun 1999 12:01 am
Location: Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
Contact:

Patrick Timmins, Nice

Post by Andy DePaule »

Hi Patrick,
Nice workshop and great tools. :whoa:
Best wishes,
Andy :D
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
Bobby D. Jones
Posts: 2235
Joined: 17 May 2010 9:27 am
Location: West Virginia, USA

Post by Bobby D. Jones »

Did you have the pedal rods? Hope you can find them.
They would take some more parts and work to make.

The pedal rods would need some type of adjustable fixture to attach the rod to the pedal, And the pedals height could be adjusted. The pedal rods would have to have hooks bent in them, To hook to the levers on the pedal cross rods, And threaded to fit in the fixture attaching to the pedal.

A picture of the pedal bar and pedals would help in figuring out all needed.
Matthew Murray
Posts: 29
Joined: 1 Jul 2022 3:27 pm
Location: Rathdrum, Idaho, USA

Post by Matthew Murray »

Yes I do have the pedal rods.
Image
Bobby D. Jones
Posts: 2235
Joined: 17 May 2010 9:27 am
Location: West Virginia, USA

Post by Bobby D. Jones »

That is Great News to hear and see you have the Pedal Bar, Pedals, and Pedal Rods in possession.

PSG Parts, List they have those bars and fittings for pedal 2 and 3 you would need, Listed under Sho-Bud parts. 10th row down, Pull, 5 hole Mavrick, $19.45 each, And 4 clothes hangers, Maybe a new set of strings and a few extra .011 3rd strings .017 5th strings.

With some work and touch of oil here and there, It would be time to tune and start the journey of steel guitar.
You would have a basic 3 pedal E9th tuning.

Then add the knee levers along the way.
Good Luck and Happy Steelin.
Matthew Murray
Posts: 29
Joined: 1 Jul 2022 3:27 pm
Location: Rathdrum, Idaho, USA

Post by Matthew Murray »

Okay thank you.
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