The Steel Guitar Forum

I have an old BMI D10 with 8 pedals, 5 knees. Everything seems to work OK, but I
noticed that on the C6 neck the 4th pedal which usually raises strings 4 and 8 (As) to B, ALSO lowers
string 9 (F) to what seems to be Eb. I was wondering if this is something that was intended (note: I don't see how to adjust this which seems strange)
or whether it is a mechanical problem. Do any of you have an idea about this? Thanks in advance for any replies/info!
(I tried to see how the changer is working but it is very hard to see - there are too
many parts in the way...)
chas<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Chas Friedman on 22 March 2003 at 03:20 PM.]</p></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Chas Friedman on 22 March 2003 at 03:21 PM.]</p></FONT>

I bet it's out of adjustment and really just lowers it to E, which would make more sense.

Chas,
Thanks, I thought that also; what is most confusing to me is the fact that there doesn't
seem to be an adjustment for that particular action - all the adjusting nuts seem to be
for other changes. Since I haven't used that pedal, I haven't worried about it much, but
I am pretty curious...and maybe I should use that pedal...
chas

Chas, you're welcome. I'm not familiar with those guitars, but there's got to be an adjustment somewhere, pedal travel perhaps. A remote possibility could also be string guage.

Chas F.> That F to E lower should be on pedal 8 along with the low C to A.
If in fact you have that F to E on the 8th pedal...than that extra pull on the 4th pedal is a added change someone put on there and the F to Eb is a neccessity 7b5 chord....ah...ha....just kiddin' like who needs that...?? but seriously if that 4th pedal is pulling that 9th string than it is pulling it at the changer or the rod for that pull is hooked to another rod by a collar for the other 9th string lower.
Those old BMI's had these long cross plate type bars that are able to hook on another bracket that will hook to another rod and pull it at the changer only when you engauge that certain pedal or knee lever.
I know I know...."What the he!! is Ricky Talkin' about??" ha....but if I saw your guitar> or you snap a shot of your undercarriage and e-mail it to me....I can tell ya for sure.....>heck I live just up the road from ya in Cedar Park...yeee haaa.
Ricky

Chas,

There might be part of a broken string inside the changer that is pulling both strings when you engage pedal 4. Try to look inside the changer between strings 8 and 9. Using a flashlight may help. If you see an obstruction between these changer mechanisms try to remove it with a piece of wire or small gauge allen wrench. You may have to remove a return spring or 2 underneath to get inside. Once you remove the foreign matter the change should work just fine. Just a guess on my part. Good luck.

Dennis

Thanks, guys. All good suggestions considering that you can't see the guitar.
However, after looking at the changer with a flashlight for a long time, I think there
may be some misalignment which is causing
some parts to rub. It looks like a nightmare
to take apart, so I'll probably have to live with it till I find someone more knowledgeable
to look at it.
chas

Professor Friedman, adjusting that change can't be any harder than Matrix Algebra.

I was enrolled in one of your classes a few years back at UT, one of the many EE students that all funnel through the math dept. I'm sure you remember me, I usually sat on the 4th or 5th row, about 8 to 10 seats in from the left (stage right)... my grades were er... uh... undistinguished.

Small world... I knew then you were a little different (in a good way), the musician thing explains a lot..

Bill,
I seem to recollect your name - I'm sure
I'd recognize you in person. You must be
a steel player, I guess.
I rerouted a bunch of pull cables and some
brackets, and I seem to have eliminated
most of the problems. I'm sure some more
will crop up, though...
We mathematicians have to have something
to do when we get tired of math, you know.
chas