The Steel Guitar Forum

Iain wrote:I posted these pics in a separate thread, but I might as well add them here, I guess, since the bender unit's Duesenberg.

Yes, there are compromises enforced by the bender levers

, but it's still a pretty cool unit and works well

I bet one of these would be nice on an MSA Superslide lapsteel along with a Goodrich Match-Bro or Bobbe Seymour's Bo-Bro.

I hope they have an 8 string model in the future for lap steel.CARL

I have four levers on mine, and I find that most of the time I only use two. So, whether you have a six string instrument or an eight string instrument this unit can be fitted with more levers than you can actually use. The only problem you would have with an eight string instrument is that the width of the unit, as it comes, is only wide enough for six strings. The answer would be to carry two of the bass strings to the left of the unit on a separate bridge.

My experience, by the way, is that the springs fitted to the unit are not strong enough to bring strings from the fourth onwards back to pitch when you release the lever.

The only problem you would have with an eight string instrument is that the width of the unit, as it comes, is only wide enough for six strings. The answer would be to carry two of the bass strings to the left of the unit on a separate bridge.

I was eyeballing one recently for just that and it is tight. As I recall, I figured that the best result would be to mill a little off the bass side shoulder to give the string and saddle / mini bridge some breathing room. That or maybe lose the roller saddles that it comes with and put it behind an stand alone 8 string roller bridge.

Good to know about the spring thing too as I'll be testing those waters soon.

After having used the Multibender on a lap steel for the last six years, I've taken it off and I'm building a resonator guitar from scratch that will incorporate the Multibender. I think having palm levers on an acoustic guitar will be more useful to me than on an electric instrument.

I wonder why the unit is provided with mounting holes at the front, but none at all at the back of the unit. I realise that I can drill holes there if needed.