The Steel Guitar Forum

I changed my strings yesterday right before a job. Same gauge and brand. Tuned right up but then my lower E (8th string) would not lower to D# no matter what I did. It would lower to within about 20 cents sharp but no more. The higher E lowers just fine. I checked for something caught in the changer but didn't see anything. The pull rod is already in the bottom hole of the changer and in the top (farthest from the body) hole in the bell crank. I would up playing all night without this change. Boy did I miss it.
Any ideas?

Steve just some thoughts.Any chance the string you put on was a different gauge than the stated?? Mismarked? 2nd to get the low E to lower to Eb it shouldn't have to be in the top hole of the bellcrank. Unless you have shorter knee lever travel than normal.Check and make sure your split tuner is not holding you off.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Bobby Boggs on 12 May 2002 at 06:44 AM.]</p></FONT>

Steve,

Because there are so many different make and models of PSG's, I wouldn't venture a guess. What may cause this symptom on one guitar is not possible on another and vice versa being one reason why I can't offer any advice.

Please give us some more info, so that someone may hit it right on the head as to what is causing your problem. Give us as many facts as you can. The more facts, the more likelyhood someone will know the answer.

God bless,

carl

I asumed Steve was talking about one of his Legrands II's.Don't think he owns another brand. -----bb

Steve,
Watch the changer when you engage the lever. If you see the raise finger engaging, you may have the nylon nut tightened beyond the travel for that lever. If so, you may need to increase the travel at the lever stop. It is possible that you have the wrong gauge, as Bobby mentioned. Mislabeling of packages has been known to happen. I would try another string first, then determine whether the lever has enough travel. Just my two cents. Good luck.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro

Dr. Steve:
Which one of your guitars were you using?

Nick

Steve,
Check your split tuner screw,make sure it isn't to far in, then check the lowering spring tension,if it's to tight, the string will try to raise when it gets near the full lower position. Loosen it three turns(approx). Try these two things, take two asprin and call me in the morning.
Dr. Seymour Undercarrage III

Thanks guys...
Yes, I'm talking about my D10 8&10 Legrande II. I've been tied up all day with wedding planning for my youngest daughters wedding. I'm going to jump in to it tomorrow.

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Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas

Just out of curiosity, if a person replaced the string with the same guage string, would the other factors that people suggest need to be looked at. I mean, if a .014 string was replced with another .014 string, why would the lowering spring need adjusting? Or the travel of the pedal/knee lever. Doesn't make sense to me.

Somebody please enlighten me. Luckily I have never had these problems, but I would be interested in finding out why these other factors would change.

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Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler

I was going to say the same thing Bobby Seymour said. My splitter screw on my Williams worked itself too far in and I had the same problem. How the heck the screw could move in without Help I haven't a clue. Backed it off, Problem solved.

Richard,

I am with you all the way.

carl

Steve, are you positive you have the same gauge on now as you took off??

Different brands can vary in gauge..Also , it could have been mis marked..

If I were you, I would measure with a micrometer both the new and old strings..Your simptoms should not happen for no reason unless they are different..

I would guess the new string is slightly larger in diameter..

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Jerry Wallace-2001 Zum: D-10,8+6, "98 Zum: D-10,8+8,Nashville 1000,Session 500 ,Session 400 head only amp,Tubefex,ProfexII, Artesia, New Mexico
http://communities.msn.com/jerrywallacemusic http://www.jerrywallacemusic.com

simple.....
I changed the string and it works fine. Must have been mispackaged.

Thanks!

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Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas

Steve, I don't suppose anyone else ever did this goofy trick before but recently I replaced the strings on my guitar and did have to slightly tune the pedals but not much. I noticed that at the first fret the strings were not level and the 6th string was buzzing under the bar. How frustrating, I started having thoughts of the nut rollers not being gauged right and I had just never noticed it. It then ocurred to me that I had a wrong gauge string on the 6th string. I then realized that the 6th string seemed very flimsy and the 5th pretty tight. Yep, I had reversed the 5th and 6th strings. I have never done that before in 45 years as far as I can remember but it is something to watch out for. I can at least hope I am not the only one who has ever done that. Yep, I'm the same old guy that went to play a gig and left the legs, pedal bar and rods at home a few months ago.
Jerry<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jerry Roller on 12 May 2002 at 11:54 AM.]</p></FONT>

Frist thing I do if after I change strings and have a problem of any kind with a string, is put on another new one. It's only happened a few times, but has fixed my problem every time.

I've had a few new strings that would just not stay in tune....another new string takes care of it.

I wish I could take credit for them there smarts but I learned it from Winnie Winston's book.

Bob.