The Steel Guitar Forum

I came by a old Fender (BLACK) PEDAL STEEL ,THREE PEDALS A ONE KNEE..From what I can learn its about 1970 and said to be a beginners model..Does not have cable but pull rods..The changer is my problem as it looks to be some kind of pull release I think,will add photo..Need info on tuning the guitar,as I know nothing about this style of changer...Hoping some of the fender people on the forum ,can get me a hand..It looks to be in very good condition for the age..



thanks to anyone out there that can help me....thanks again

If it is like a ShoBud Mavrick you tune the pedals with the tuning keys, and tune it open with the allen screws in the rear of the changer.

THE END PLATE IS OPEN JUST LIKE A ALL PULL BUT JUST FINGERS,WITH RODS THROUGH THEM AND PLATIC TUNER NUTS, DONT KNOW THE CORRECT WAY TO TUNE IT....

I just played on a friend's Shobud a few weeks ago and it sounds similar. I ended up tuning this one by going back and forth between the tuning keys at the headstock and the tuning nuts in the endplate. It took a few times to hone it in though. I suspect Winston's post above may be a more direct method.

Hi Richard, I have the Fender Artist S-10 model and the way to tune it is this: Plug in a tuner and tune all the strings to the E9th tuning. Then starting with pedal A depress it and see what the tuner reads. If it's higher or lower than what it should be you then adjust it by turning the plastic hex screw on the opposite end of the tuners until the correct note is achieved. Repeat this procedure for the remaining pedals and knee lever. Leif

The Artist is a pro model from the same era (1975-1977) and is probably an all-pull changer, so tuning technique may be different than this pull-release student model.

Hmmm, from the pix it looks different than a Maverick. Looks like you might tune open strings at the pegs,then tune raises at the endplate nylon nuts, except for 2 and 8. For those, engage the KL and tune at pegs, then tune open notes using nylon nuts. Looks like the nylon nut on 8 might be screwed in too far.

That's my best guess from looking at the photos. I could be all wet. If you post this on the Pedal Steel page you may get more responses.

This is one of about 3 or 4 project I have going,this has been setting for a while..May just sell it for a few bucks, and spend on for a lap steel Im building..Should be worth a few bucks for someone looking for a cheap guitar....thanks for the replys...

It looks like the changer fingers rest on the wood when they are in the open position (except the 2nd and 8th string).

The nylon tuners must not touch the fingers when they are in the open position, but are used to tune the strings to the raised note.

So, tune the strings to the open notes at the keyhead.

Press the pedals, and tune the strings to their raised pitches using the nylon tuners.

Release the pedals.

If any nylon tuners are pressing against the fingers, they will hold it out of tune, and more pedal travel will be needed.

The pedal travel adjusting screws can be seen in the 3rd photo

To tune strings 2 and 8:

Activate the knee lever until the fingers are touching the wood, and can't go back any further, and tune the strings to their lowest pitches at the keyhead.

Release the lever, and tune the strings to their raised pitches using the nylons

do to no time to really mess with this guitar,I am putting up for sale, thanks for the replys...

1. tune the beast at key head first.
2. press raise pedals and tune at keyhead.
3. adjust the raised strings when pedals not engaged, at end plate.
4. tune lowers open at keyhead then engage knee lever and tune at end plate.