The Steel Guitar Forum

A few days ago, seeing as how there was a 'Y' in the month, I decided to change the strings on my Sierra U12.
I broke a string 3 in the process, and I couldnt find the ball end afterwards, so it *may* have gone into the changer. I can't see it anywhere and I have turned the guitar upside down and shaken it etc and nothing has come out. This may be a red herring - I hope so.

Anyway, once I'd finished and the strings had been 'stretched in' I noticed something weird with my 4th string. Here is what consistently happens every time
1) I operate LKR, which lowers 2, 4 & 8. String 4 lowers correctly. No problem yet
2) now operate *any* change that raises string 4 (e.g C pedal or LKL or pedal 6), and release. Still no problem
3) now operate LKR again. String 4 lowers now only 50% as much as before. Releases ok.
4) operate LKR again. String 4 lowers 75% as much as it should
5) operate LKR again. Now string 4 lowers 90% of the way
6) operate LKR again. Finally 100% of the way lowered

I am 99% certain this behaviour was not happening before I changed strings.

I have looked underneath and can't see anything wrong.
Nothing seems to be overtuned.
The string that broke was a string 3 but the problem is with string 4

Can anyone give me a clue what is going on here & how to fix it ? I've been 4 days without a playable guitar now

Mickd, that broken piece of string is in there -- somewhere. You've got to find it.
I don't believe it will fall out on its own.

Wait 'til January, then change strings again.
Meantime, do what Bob says. Lost string ends account for 83.79% of all squirreliness in changer behavior.

I just changed the string for a new one, but it made no difference.
I just don't see any way of looking further into the guts of the thing than I already have done (short of taking the changer out - and that sounds like a big job that I don't feel qualified to do).
I tried giving it the once over with the vacuum cleaner but that made no difference either.
I'm stumped <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by mickd on 11 July 2002 at 02:41 PM.]</p></FONT>

First, are you sure that the lower return spring is not too tight?

Next, you could try removing all the pullrods for that string, and also removing the lower return spring. Then you should be able to wiggle the finger, raise bar, and lower bar, and they should move freely. If not, then maybe you can feel where it is hanging up.

Ernest
the return spring looks to be at about the max setting - but even so, the string 4 lower changer still moves a bit when I engage the C pedal (so doesnt that mean the return spring needs to be even tighter ?).

I have never removed a rtn spring before. Will I need special tools to be able to reattach it afterwards ?
Thanks
Mick

Somebody who knows the Sierra guitar really should answer this, not me.

But it can't hurt to loosen the lower return spring on that string, at least to the point where it's no tighter than the one on the 5th string. See what happens. There is a chance that it is too tight, and still it lowers a little when you try to raise it with the C pedal. Looseing it might make the C pedal easier to operate. If you remove it, I'm sure you can put it back.

Earnest
I loosened the spring, but then the E-lower no longer returned under normal circumstances
(even before I engage a raise).
Then I removed all the pull rods & took off the spring (it was easy after all). Trouble is I can't see what to do next. Should I maybe put some oil in there ?
How would I go about testing for the free movement/wiggling you refer to ? Should I insert a screw driver and push (from the end plate) ?
Mick

Take the string off too, then you'll be able to move the fingers by hand.

I took the string off too.
I then took all the changers/spring/string off on string 3 as well (where there is no problem) so as to compare good with bad.
I'm certain its a changer problem now, so I'll start a new thread & hope all the Sierra experts chip in.
Thanks for the help so far
(B0b - you can close this one)<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by mickd on 13 July 2002 at 09:30 AM.]</p></FONT>