The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a Mullen (not Mullen) with the screws at the changer, and would like to know the proceedure for tuning the splits. I serched the archives but nothing came up. Thanks Alan

I printed this and put a copy in my seat, got it off the forum somewhere.

This works on guitars that have the Allen screws on the end of the neck.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPLIT TUNING
Split tuning is the ability to tune the note that you get from a string that is both raised and lowered at the same time. If your string has not already been adjusted for split tuning, you will need to add about 10% more travel into your lowering pull rod and then perform the following steps:
STEP ONE: Tune string open with the machine-head tuning peg.
STEP TWO: Depress raise pedal only and tune raise with the hex nylon nut.
STEP THREE: Release the raise pedal and with the lowering pedal depressed, tune the lower with the hex nylon nut.
STEP FOUR: Depress the raise and lowering pedals at the same time. This gives your split note. You will notice that the note is a little sharp. While depressing both pedals, adjust the lowering nylon hex nut clockwise (in) until you obtain the proper pitch.
STEP FIVE: Depress the lowering pedal only and notice that this note is a little flat. Turn the Allen screw on the end of the neck (behind the changer) clockwise (in) until you obtain the proper pitch.
STEP SIX: Repeat all steps to ensure the string is in tune.
QUICK TOUCH-UP TUNING FOR SPLIT TUNING
REPEAT STEPS FOUR AND FIVE

Similar steps fro ZumSteel manual:
Split Tuning Option
Guitars equipped with this option allow you to obtain a “combination or middle” note on strings that are raised a full tone and lowered a half tone, or vice-versa. The tuning procedure for each string that is affected is as follows:

1. Tune the string to its open-tuning pitch with the Tuning Keys as described in Basic Tuning.
2. Tune the “raise” note with the Nylon Nut as per the Basic Tuning procedure.
3. Engage both the “raise” and “lower” functions by pressing the proper pedal/knee lever combination at the same time.
4. Tune the “resultant/middle” note with the Nylon Nut that lowers the string, turning clockwise to flatten it or counter-clockwise to sharpen it.
5. With only the single pedal/knee levers that lowers the string engaged, tune the “lower” note with the Set Screw in the end of the neck, right side, behind the Changer Finger for that string.

Thanks Scott and Roger, I'll print this out and put it in my pac seat. Alan

I've always done it opposite to what Zum says, but I find it really doesn't matter, either way will work.

(1) Tune the open with the tuning key
(2) Tune the raise with the nylon raise pull rod nut.
(3) Tune the full lower with the allen screw at the end of the changer
(4) Tune the split with the pedal pressed and the knee lever "pressed" - tune the lower pull rod nylon tuning nut.

Jack's method works for me on my Mullen. The simpler the better for me I can't remember it from one time to the next anyway. ....

Thanks to all of you, I have Stan's problem, I have to tune the split so seldom, I forget between those times. I have a split screw that the threads not very tight on and it was working loose. A little Blue Loctite took care of that problem. My wife says I have a loose screw anyway. Thanks Again, Alan

"Now I feel better all over more than anywhere else"

And for those guitars that don't have the hex nut at the back of the neck, eg: Carter, EMCI --- check out this link.

http://www.steelguitar.com/askbud/askbud31.htm

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=

Patrick Laffrat wrote:With tuning screws through the bridge of the changer:


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Without tuning screws you need extra pull rod
>>>, See John Fabian's video about the split tuning


by Buddy Emmons

Crowbear,
Great graphics! Kind of like the diagrams in Winnie's book, but 21st century!
Jack

Thanks CrowBear, "A picture is worth more than a thousand words", and a lot easier for my feeble mind to grasp..Great diagram. Alan

i'm just passin' it on from the archives here

Thanks for the diagrams. I needed this info today when adding a split on an old pro 1 sho-bud. Its clever how it works when adding the extra rod. Works accurately too. David

Ecellant, I just need a few extra rods and will be ready to go!

I just ran into an issue with tuneable splits on a friend's Zum, hope someone knows the answer.

I got the pedal A with X lever raises and lowers nicely set up, using split screw to get the B's to lower a half step using just X lever.

But the guitar also has the Franklin pedal, just both B's lowering to A. That split screw prevents the B's from lowering the whole step needed on Franklin pedal.

How do you overcome that problem?

Thanks!

Georg thanks so much for the helpful info and diagram. That was my hunch, this confirms, really appreciate it.

Can you just tune the full step lower on Franklin pedal with a tuning rod on the end as normal, then use that extra lowering rod to get the half step lower with X lever? Seems like the split screw wouldn't be necessary, though it is a feasible way to go. Curious as always!

With the full step lower in the equation, the stop screw becomes useless (I'd remove it and put it on the 2nd string).
To split A&X, you'll need the 3rd raise rod, like they said