The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi, friends! Just wanted to introduce myself, I'm a new member. I'm 26 years old and love classic country music...I was raised on Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams, Hank Thompson, George Jones, Faron Young, Buck Owens, the list goes on and on. I've had a guitar of some kind in my hands since I was 2 years old. I imagine the rest of my story is pretty similar to a lot of other pedal steel players here - I've been playing electric lead guitar since I was 13 and in the back of my mind, I've always wondered if I could play steel guitar.

After years of looking at different steel guitars on the internet and doing my research, I finally decided I'd take a leap of faith and shell out the money for a Carter Starter. It arrived in the mail last Tuesday (July 15th). I've been playing it about 2-3 hours a night after work, every day since then trying to master licks and learn some tunes. I was doing pretty well until this past Monday night (July 21st). Just one day short of having my steel guitar for a week, I was using my RKR lever when I heard a loud "snap". I inspected the bottom of my steel to find that the pull rod connecting the RKR lever to the changer had literally snapped in two! I believe I was using the lever in a normal matter. I wasn't purposely trying to smash it in with force or anything.

I examined the broken pull rod and it appears to me like its made of plastic (I'm not saying it is, it just appears that way). My question is...what should a pull rod be made out of? Has any one else had experience with a pull rod breaking in two?

I just turned a Starter over, and while the rods look like they are pretty inexpensive, they appear to be metal. From the looks of things, it seems you could just go down to a hardware store, get the same diameter rod, bend it at the right length, and be in business.

Or call up Carter and have them send you the part.

I see no reason to quit playing the guitar, you just will not have that lever until it gets fixed.

All this advise from a total rookie, so it's worth what you are paying for it.

Thanks for the advice, Brick!

If you don't need to thread it at one end, go to lowes, or home depot, and buy a piece of rod that is used to tie up the grid for acoustic ceilings. The wire is about the same diameter, and cheap. I do not know anything about Carters, but try it. Your only out about a buck, and have wire to spare.

I don't know about that acoustic ceiling wire. It's pretty easy to bend. I would want a little bit more strength. You can use welding rod that is the same diameter. Maybe just go to a local welding shop and talk to the owner. He would probably just give you a rod or sell one real cheap so you don't have to buy a quantity of rods.

EDIT: You say you just got it in the mail. If you bought it from one of the online music stores like Musicians Friend, I would send it back and get an exchange. You will be out a guitar for a little bit, but I think they should replace a defective unit.

Also, if they say you abused it by hitting the lever too hard, just tell them that if you hit it hard enough to break a metal rod, the guitar probably would have flown out your front door.