The Steel Guitar Forum

As I am still trying figure out what all is going on the underbelly of my guitar. I have a few questions. First off, looking at the end plate where the changer resides, there is an extra notch cutout on the lowering side of the changer. I have a tuning rod attached to it, but I'm not sure what that tunes or adjusts. I'd appreciate a little help from my Carter Cohorts.



For my second question, after tuning the open strings and the pedals, once I release the "B" pedal, the open 6th string sometimes comes back a little sharp. Unlike other guitar that have a horizontal screw in the end plate, how do I adjust that? I assume it's a spring tension adjustment for that pedal.

Works the 2nd string half stop feel/point.

Are the rods binding any? Usually a raise returning sharp is the pull not releasing all the way, or a finger needs A SINGLE DROP of oil.

Thanks Jan and Lane.

The rods MIGHT be binding a little. I'm not sure what I should be looking for, or should or shouldn't feel, or hear. I do notice something every now and then...almost like a snap, like something caught.

robert: i know it is a long way from panama city to my house, but if you can get your guitar to me i will fix it for you....thanks jack

Jack, Thanks for the offer. I can live with it for a awhile, but if it gets to the point that it's really bothering me, I'd love to come up and have you look at it and spend some time with you. Besides, it's only about a 2 hour drive. Thanks again.

Robert, if you hear a "snap" or feel a hitch, I don't think it's gunge.
It might not help much to put the guitar in the case to check, since gravity may cause the rods to sit differently, and it behaves fine on the bench, but it might help.
Since it's a huge PITA to get your head under the guitar looking up while you actuate the pedals, I WOULD check for the source of binding by CAREFULLY looking at the pullrods for signs of scraping all along the length.

Usually the B pedal on Carters is "split" with the RKL. Can't tell on your guitar. You may be tweaking the wrong raise.

If you don't have a manual that discusses the feel stop and split tuning procedure you can download it HERE!

h

From experience, that snap, if it is at the start of the pull, can be the lower return spring starting to pull and snaps back. That drove me nuts for a long time. It was my B pedal also. I would try to see what was going on with the guitar upside down in it's case. I would hand activate the pedal and not hear it. Finally, I laid on the floor underneath the guitar and saw the lower return spring moving a tiny bit and then return to it's normal position. If that is what is happening, you might have to cut one "ring" off the spring to make it hold tighter. I actually just replaced the spring. Happened on another pedal and I replaced that one too.

If you hear and feel a bit of a click or snap,you might have a "dog bone"that's wore out or even broke.
Check the puller rod at the curled end that's what hooks on to the brass dog bone to create a pull for your string

Thanks for all the input guys! Even though everyone has different opinions on subjects like picks and what shoes to wear while playing a gig, the help from people on this forum with learning and tweeking, or just plain fixing a pedal steel guitar is priceless. I don't seem to be having any troubles with the guitar at the moment. Of course that may change when I sit down at it tomorrow. I'll let y'all know if something seems out of place. Thanks again.

Ralph Donahue wrote:If you hear and feel a bit of a click or snap,you might have a "dog bone"that's wore out or even broke.
Check the puller rod at the curled end that's what hooks on to the brass dog bone to create a pull for your string

When I have had the dog bones break, I have never heard a snap, but the two I broke, were on stage. It's pretty easy to diagnose the broken dog bone. Normally, the rod won't pull the changer finger. And on one I had break, the rod just fell from the bottom of the guitar onto my knee.

But, I would recommend, to anyone with a Carter, to periodically check the dog bones. Nothing worse than having on break at a gig.