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Topic: Question about Jackson Raise/Lower Mechanism. |
Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 30 Nov 2010 1:27 am |
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I just cruised the Jackson Steel Guitar site, and there is a model (or two) where the raises are tuned (and pulled) at the changer end, and the lowers are tuned at the key head using screws in the top of the key head. The keys actually move (see video below). My question is, how do you tune more than one lower, to different notes, with just the one screw? An example would be strings 5 & 10, where some lower those strings from B to Bb, and also lower them to A on the Franklin pedal. Unless you tune the lowest lower (to A) with the screw and they have some sort of adjustment in the undercarriage for the half step lower (to Bb), I don't see a way to do it. There was very little information on their website, and no details about this. But knowing the Jackson's, they would never overlook this function. It is truly an amusing concept. Heck, if I had the bucks, I would buy one just to watch the tuning keys move 
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
EDIT: I just took another look at the pics of the undercarriage, and noticed a cutout in the end plate at the tuning key end. It has what looks like a single row of nylon tuners, still making me wonder about tuning multiple lowers. It looks as if the lowering bell cranks are mounted in a pocket or space between the bottom of the guitar and the necks.
If anyone has one of these guitars, or knows more on it's operation, I would love to hear it. This is one the most fascinating guitars I have ever seen.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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mtulbert
From:
Plano, Texas 75023
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Posted 30 Nov 2010 8:23 am
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Richard
I saw this when they first came out with it. Really cool but I believe that it is problematic as well. Johnny Cox had one of these and I remember at the show in Dallas watching David Jackson trying to figure out why a drop was not working properly. Not sure if this is even an option these days. A call to Jackson would let you know for sure.
One thing for certain is that the tone of that guitar was fabulous.
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Mark T
Infinity D-10 Justice SD-10 Judge Revelation Octal Preamp, Fractal AXE III, Fender FRFR 12 |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 30 Nov 2010 10:45 am
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Richard, I play a Jackson Steel and it's one awesome steel guitar! Everything about the Jackson Steel is wonderful! The Jackson Brothers, David and Harry know how to build wonderful steel guitars that play well and sound awesome! I'm so happy to play Jackson Steel Guitars! I love the Jackson Steel! I have no problems with my BlackJack Custom. The Jackson Steel has a wonderful, clear, and bright tone. I love everything about the Jackson Steel Guitar!
Brett |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 30 Nov 2010 12:55 pm
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I was just wondering about the mechanics on how this guitar works. Not in the market for a new guitar.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 2 Dec 2010 1:06 pm
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No problems with this design, I have hade several new ones, NO PROBLEMS!!
If there were any problems at that show, it may have been some very simple problem, but I probably could have fixed it with a quite small hammer in less than an hour! 
Seriously, a great design! I also have a '60 Bigsby with the same system, Great working deal here.
Jackson, the best guitar I have scrutenized in years, the reason I dropped Carter and Rittenberry.  |
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steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
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Posted 2 Dec 2010 2:03 pm Answers Anyone
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| Yeah, I'm also curious about the questions Richard clearly raised in his post. Would anyone who has played one of these guitars care to answer those questions? Thanks, stevet |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 2 Dec 2010 3:49 pm
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Bobbe... I also find it hard to believe that Jackson would produce a guitar with problems. If one had a problem, it may just be a fluke (heck, all makes can have a problem crop up now and then). And I carry a 10-lb sledge hammer to repair my guitars
I really don't want to bother them as I am sure they are busy. I'm not thinking of buying one, so I don't want to waste their time. I'm just real curious.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 3 Dec 2010 10:04 am
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Richard my brother, you couldn't do much better than Jackson guitars, myself and my company will stand behind this transaction.
Bobbe |
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Johnny Cox
From:
Williamsom WVA, raised in Nashville TN, Lives in Hallettsville Texas
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Posted 3 Dec 2010 3:25 pm
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The Jackson guitars are great. I had a Shot Jackson model. It played and sounded great. The situation Mark referred to was a problem with me not fully understanding how the guitar worked. It certainly was not an issue with the guitar. The Madison 63 is my favorite.
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Johnny "Dumplin" Cox
"YANKIN' STRINGS & STOMPIN' PEDALS" since 1967. |
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David Ball
From:
North Carolina High Country
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Posted 3 Dec 2010 5:37 pm
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I have a guitar made by Jon Frye back in the early sixties for Eddie Bush--it has a lower mechanism very much like the Jackson guitar, with the machine heads swiveling to lower the strings. I'm still working on the guitar to get it "right." The biggest issue I see with a swiveling machine head/lower arrangement is that it really accentuates any machine head backlash problems that might be there.
The Frye guitar has old Grover Sta-Tites on it, and they're pretty worn out. Whenever the tuner-swiveling lowers are put into use, the guitar goes out of tune because of the worn gears. I'm going to replace these and I believe it will be fine afterwards. But as clever as it is, I don't think that the machine head lowers will ever be as accurate over the long haul as a changer-side lower can be. As long as the machine heads are tight, it should work great--the changer is just a little more immune to machine head problems.
All of that said, the Jackson guitars look really interesting to me. Every raise/lower arrangement that's been invented to date has its own set of issues. I wouldn't let the keyhead side lowers of the Shot Jackson model put me off...
Dave |
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