The Steel Guitar Forum

Posted: **30 Jul 2002 1:14 pm**

I'm in the middle of making up a 1/2 stop raise on 7th for the two Z.Bs. I own (pulling to G#, has anyone else out there placed a 1/2 stop or isn't it worthwhile?
I've been using a .026" plain string for years as I like the "slickness" can anybody see any negative reasoning behind these moves??

Bob Mainwaring. Z.Bs. and other weird things.

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Posted: **30 Jul 2002 5:17 pm**

I have a 1/2 stop on both strings 1 and 7. I played for 30 years raising them just to G, but recently re-rodded and now raise 1&7 to G/G# and 2 to E with a kind of weak 1/2 stop tuned by the activation of string 2.

Posted: **30 Jul 2002 7:27 pm**

I do the same as Jim.I have since 94.It is indeed a weak half stop.I can and have made it (the half stop)more pronounced.But it makes the knee to stiff for my liking.Mine is tuned to the 2nd string 1/2 step raise + the 4th string half step raise on C6th.All in all works pretty good.

Posted: **30 Jul 2002 9:00 pm**

Bob,
I don't know for sure, but I suspect that you may have to go to a wound 7'th string (probably a .026 or maybe a .024) to get a half stop. I think that maybe the .026 plain may have way too short of a throw to go along with the longer throw of the first string. I also doubt that you will get the half stops to be in tune together on both strings no mater what guages you use. If you have a comfortable place to add another lever that would raise both 1 and 7 a half, you'd probably be better off.
BB

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If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!

Posted: **30 Jul 2002 10:14 pm**

Well you could do like Jay Dee.He raises both F#'s to G#.When he wants the G note he half pedals the knee.My LeGrandes have the 14 hole bellcranks.This makes it much easier to fine tune the half stops. bb[This message was edited by Bobby Boggs on 30 July 2002 at 11:17 PM.]

Posted: **30 Jul 2002 10:45 pm**

Hey - thank's a bunch guys, I just finished making up the 1/2 stop and placing the channel aluminum mechanism where a nine pedal would have gone.
My lever for the change is left/right lever to right; i'm not too worried about the first string as it has way more movement that can be figured out, the seventh is now pulling to a definate tunable double stop.
My buddy George (One neck) Macdonald gave me the idea of bringing it up a full tone to G#
.....I like it George....many thanks....plus thanks for the input guys.

Bob Mainwaring. Z.Bs. and other weird things.

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Posted: **31 Jul 2002 3:26 am**

Are there any pictures on the Internet to show and explain the various different mechanisms for half stops?

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Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa

The Steel Guitar Forum

7th String 1/2 stop??

7th String 1/2 stop??