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Topic: What are "flags" for? |
Jeff Metz Jr.
From:
York, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 23 Jan 2013 9:55 pm |
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I am wondering about flags on pedal steel knee levers.
They look cool to me, but whats the purpose?
Is it just more coverage so that you can hit the lever easier? Would it be hard to install home made ones and would it devalue a steel? THanks
_________________
Mullen G2 SD10 , Lil Izzy Buffer, Goodrich 120 volume pedal, Boss DD-7, Peterson Strobo flip, Peavey Nashville 112 |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 23 Jan 2013 10:28 pm
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| Comfort. Yes, homemade ones would probably devalue your steel. |
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Mitch Ellis
From:
Collins, Mississippi USA
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Posted 23 Jan 2013 10:44 pm Re: What are "flags" for?
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| Jeff Metz Jr. wrote: |
I am wondering about flags on pedal steel knee levers.
They look cool to me, but whats the purpose?
Is it just more coverage so that you can hit the lever easier? Would it be hard to install home made ones and would it devalue a steel? THanks |
Jeff,
From what I've been told and noticed for myself, the flag is mainly for comfort. A Knee lever that pulls more strings than the other knee levers will usually be stiffer or harder to engage. For that reason, if that knee lever has a flag on it, your knee will be pressing against a wider surface than just the knee lever itself, therefore making it more comfortable. I wouldn't think that a home-made flag would devalue a steel if it was a neat and professional looking job.
Mitch |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 23 Jan 2013 11:29 pm
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If it looks professionally done, I'd think it would have no effect. If it looks homemade, it'd reduce the value
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Ransom Beers
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Posted 24 Jan 2013 5:42 am
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You can also wave flags at a "Rainbow" rally  |
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Dick Sexton
From:
Greenville, Ohio
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2013 8:33 am
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| I like a flag on the RKR. Sometimes if I'm not scootched up close enough to my guitar I have a hard time reaching that lever. Emmons has a flag that folds out on that lever, nice! |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 24 Jan 2013 8:58 am
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Same as Erv. It's as much about access as comfort I think.
Some guitars have the right acting levers mounted on the center rail which puts them toward then center of the guitar and further away from the player. This is the case with my Mullen and also the Derby I used to own.
I think it depends somewhat on the location of the lever in relation to the rear apron and the player's knees.
Last edited by Jerry Overstreet on 24 Jan 2013 9:20 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Posted 24 Jan 2013 9:20 am
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An Emmons-style flag is easily made from 1" angle aluminum stock with a hacksaw, a hand drill, and a tap. It requires only one mounting hole drilled inconspicuously into the knee lever and wouldn't devalue the instrument at all.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 24 Jan 2013 11:55 am
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| Like Erv, only moreso. My size 14's make me position my foot far enough back that it increases the angle at the ankle. A good sized flag moves RKR back far enough that I can use it without "flooring" the volume pedal all the time. And Lynn Stafford put one on my Zum using exactly the right angle trick described above. Works great, and you could make it quite long, if necessary. |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2013 8:20 am
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Some guys can only get as close to the steel as their belly will let them and therefore a flag on some levers is the only way they can get to that knee lever.
Ricky
_________________
Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 25 Jan 2013 5:53 pm
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| You haven't experienced steel guitar panic until you are on stage in front of a large audience and your knee lever gets stuck in the folds of your pant leg. Flags eliminate this condition. |
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Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
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Posted 26 Jan 2013 3:31 am Re: What are "flags" for?
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This is one of the conversion "Flags" Richard Burton made for me, for my "ressurected" Sho-Bud which many Forumites know about. You're looking at the LKL. You can see he's cut the tear drop part of the lever to add the "Flag" ....I've often found the rounded bit on the tear drop lever catches the knee bone. The "Flags" make such a difference. I'm using that "Bud" on a session tomorrow. She has literally been to hell and back, but still plays so sweetly  Bought her in 1977 here in U.K. ... was converted from an extended E 9th to a universal in 1981.
Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 26 Jan 2013 8:20 am Re: What are "flags" for?
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| Jeff Metz Jr. wrote: |
I am wondering about flags on pedal steel knee levers.
They look cool to me, but whats the purpose?
Is it just more coverage so that you can hit the lever easier? Would it be hard to install home made ones and would it devalue a steel? THanks |
Well, I don't think they look "cool". To me, they look like something tacked on to fix an issue that someone didn't have time to deal with properly. (Or else, they'd be on all levers.) Yes, many times, they "extend" a center mounted lever so you can hit it more easily. But some players just like them because the stock levers aren't really that comfortable, the builders just used extruded aluminum bar stock that's been polished.
I've seen far too many steels that the owners claimed were "machined works of art", and the builder didn't even take the time to radius the damn edges on the knee levers. 
Yeah, I notice things like that.  |
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Gary Preston
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 26 Jan 2013 8:33 am
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| Guys Mr. Sexton makes some nice after market flags . Like them or not ! Donny said it right some levers just don't feel good on your leg ! |
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