The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a brand new Fessy D-10, but I’m having a problem with the 5th (B)-string on the E9th neck. When I tune the A and C pedals, nothing happens when I flatten the pitch, unless I release the pedal in question and push it down again. Then the pitch has flattened as much as it’s supposed to. There’s no problem when I sharpen the pitch. Also, when I push the A or C pedal down, release it a little bit (not all the way) and push it back down, the pitch gets too sharp. When I release the pedal the string goes back to the correct pitch. When the steel is upside down there’s plenty of slack in all the rods, but when I turn it over there’s no slack in the A pedal rod. I moved the C-rod from the second to the third hole in the bell-crank because I thought the A and C rods were rubbing against each other, but it didn’t help, though it gave some slack in the C-rod. However, the problem is the same as before, so the slack didn’t do the trick. I’ve tried pushing in the cross-bar bushings for both pedals, I tried backing the nylon tuners all the way back and I’ve tried increasing the travel. Nothing helps! Seems to me that somewhere something is too tight, I just can’t figure out what… Hope somebody can help me, cause I’m running out of ideas…

On Fessenden guitars, and many others, there are 5 small hex bolts on the top of the changer end of your guitar. These are used to aid in tuning split tunings. The bolts extend into the changer area and can be seen when you look down into the string ends of the changer. These could have been over-tightened enough to limit the string travel. Check to make sure that these have been loosened out enough to allow free string return travel. Hope this helps.

Also, when I adjust my pedals on my Fessy,or I have just returned the guitar to the upright position, I have to give the pedals a quick tap to release them, since they sometimes stick. After that they work fine.
Rich.

Richard,
I checked the bolts and they don't touch the changer fingers. So that´s not the problem...
I need to tap my pedals too, when the steel has been upside down, so that's not the problem either. But thanks for your help anyway. It just confuses me that the rods have plenty of slack when the steel is upside down and absolutely no slack when flipped over...???
-AK

The weight of the pedals will always pull the rods down so there is no slack when upright. Next idea: with the guitar upside down, check the hex head screw on the pedal bracket that limits the downward travel. Maybe it is too loose or too tight.
Each rod in the bellcrank should have about 1/8 inch of free play before it pulls. If it is too loose, it will fall out of the bellcrank. Too tight means it is too tight.
When you have the guitar upside down , all the changer fingers should be straight across and no finger should be pulled out. Now activate the pedals with your hand, do you see the corresponding changer finger(s) move out and back in?

The A rod (5th string) has no free play when it pulls, and the same is the case with the C rod on the 4th string. I tried increasing the travel for both pedals, but there was no difference with the A rod, and I can't increase the travel of the C pedal any more since the E-lever shaft is in the way.
I checked the changer fingers, and nothing's wrong there...

Have you tried giving Jerry Fessenden a call? I'm sure he could help you with your new Fessie. After all, he built it.

Hi Ask: Is it possible to post some closeup pictures of the undercarriage? One close up of the left side, and one of the right? That may help us visualize some of the details.

Here are some close-up. Let me know if you want a different angle or other parts of the guitar. The third picture is the C-pedal bell crank in the middle(ish). Hope this helps. Btw I am in touch with Jerry via mail. It's a bit too expensive calling him from Europe...

I compared your pictures to my Fessy. The only thing I can see is that the one bellcrank seems to be quite far to the left, instead of vertical. It looks like it is too tight. If the nylon tuning nuts for all the bellcranks on that shaft were loosened, it should be more vertical. When the steel is upside down and you push up on Pedal C, does it go all the way up to the stopping nut? I can't really think of anything else to check.

Hi Ask,
A bit of an aside.. welcome to the forum..I can't say I have seen your name ever before. Are you new on the scene in Denmark? In any event, nice to see a Dane on the steel. Det er meget sjovt

We are neighbors sort of.. I came from Norway about 500 years ago and settled in Canada.

As to calling Jerry on the phone...No problem; get yourself Skype ... www.skype.com There you can make overseas calls for next to nothing. I call Norway for 2.4 cents a minute (about 12 øre)

I hope you get your Fessy issues straightened out. From all accounts, Jerry is a great guy to deal with.

Here's some reading:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... +fessenden
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... +fessenden
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... +fessenden
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... +fessenden

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... +fessenden

Richard,
I think you're right about the C-pedal bellcrank. It seems to me that the C-pedal 4th string rod is too tight. I loosened the nylon nuts for the C-bellcrank, and then it was vertical like the others, like you said. So, how can I make this rod more loose, keeping in mind that I can't increase the travel for this pedal, since the E-lever shaft is in the way?...

Bent,
Thank you very much. I always thought your name sounded pretty scandinavian, whenever it appeared on the forum. Now I know why. I'm quite new to the pedal steel scene in Denmark (I've played the instrument for about 1½ years by now). But I'm really a guitar player (been playing that for about 17 years). I just got hooked playing the steel after I borrowed one from a friend some time ago. Bob Hoffnar helped me getting started, and he has been very helpful to me.
I actually already have skype, I just didn't know you could call regular phones from it.

Ask,
You have a few great steel players there, where you can learn a lot from, starting with one of the pioneers Nils Tuxen.

And yes, Skype allows for regular phone calls. Just sign up with "SkypeOut" and buy time via your Visa/MC
10 euro seems to last forever!

On the Fessenden I had there was a chrome strip on the back apron.There are screw/bolts on it that adjust the tension in the crossrods.I was having all kinds of problems similar to yours and Adjusting these cleared it up.It never would have occured to me as it looks like the strip is merely cosmetic...
anyway I'm guessing thats the problem.

Hi Ask. What is your SKYPE id? I also have skype and I could call you (video) and discuss the problem more. If your Fessy is a new model, the only thing behind the chrome strip on the back are the holes that contain the brass bushings that allow the cross shafts to be removed or adjusted by pushing in or out. The pictures seemed to indicate that there was slack in the cross rods.Can you move the cross shaft on PEDAL C by hand now that you loosened the tuning rods? That will determine if the problem is the shaft or something else. They should move back and forth across the bottom as well as left to right.

(My SKYPE IS is Rich.Durrer CANADA.)

Richard,
I can move the C pedal cross shaft with my hand when the tuning nuts are loosened, so I guess the cross shaft is not the problem. Jerry has suggested that the 5th string return spring is too loose, since my lower finger moves when I use the A or C pedal, so I'm gonna try that later when I get the time and see if that works out.
Btw thanks very much for the skype-offer. I've added you, and I'll let you know if Jerry's suggestion doesn't solve the problem. Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

-A.K.

The return spring was the problem. The screw was actually a bit loose, so it needed a good tightening.
Thanks for all your help, guys! Much appreciated. And Richard, it was nice chatting to you yesterday.
I'm looking forward to spending more time over my steel than under it.
-AK

Hi Ask: That is great news. I am glad you were able to fix it and now you can get back to playing. I'll chat with you again sometime and see how you are doing. Rich.

Skype is old fashioned IMO.There however is a way for Europeans to call to the states for $39.95 the first year and $19.95 per year there after.

Have someone in The United States send you a "Magic Jack" usb stick.
Plug it into your computer en voila......you can call anybody in The States for nothing.

Ron

Ask, I don't want to hijack your thread but I just want to say that Skype is not the least old fashioned. On the contrary, it is a great way of phoning overseas, and calling long distance in NA. Not only that, but I can use Skype wherever I go in the world. All I need is access to a computer. I log on to my Skype account and call Canada or wherever for the same amount per minute.
The 10 euro worth of time I buy lasts me on average 4 months and I call overseas a LOT. No need for magic sticks or whatever. Skype is the greatest solution in a long time. PC to PC they can't be beat of course.. video chat for FREE all over the world. Try THAT with a Magic stick and a phone

Ok, I guess the skype thing is a whole different topic. Let´s save that for another time...
My Fessy is working as a dream now, so I´m gonna go back to playing it now.
-AK