The Steel Guitar Forum

Just watched a video talking about this,,How do you do it,,parts needed etc etc

What kind of compensator are you asking about; pitch return compensator, cabinet drop compensator, or tuning compensator?

Was it by chance my video regarding putting a compensator on the first string (E9)?

Paul,Yes I was asking about the 1st string compensator.I just watched your video about it on you tube.I notice the slight out of tune sound when I use those 1st and 2nd string.

The compensator I was referring to in my video I would call a tuning compensator. Please understand I am by no means an expert on all forms of compensators.

To add a tuning compensator to the first string, all you are really doing is adding an extra lowering rod to the knee lever that lowers the second string to D. The extra rod that is added is configured just as you would any other lower. The only difference is that you only lower the first string slightly; much less than a half tone.

My knee lever that lowers the second string a half tone also lowers the ninth string a half tone. That's a very common configuration. I added the compensator to that lever, so now the first string is also lowered. I used all the normal hardware to add a third lower to the lever, and installed that hardware exactly as you would for any another lower. It's just that one of the lowers, the first string which is the tuning compensator, is tuned to only slightly lower the first string.

I can only tell you what hardware you'll need if you play an Emmons Push-pull. Your steel may have different requirements.

Please let me know if you need more explanation.

PS: I can't imagine ever playing another steel without having such a first string compensator. I find it incredibly useful to have those strings in tune, and this compensator gives me no problems and hardly effects the feel of the lever.

PSS: I want to also add: This compensator on the first string will probably only work if you only lower the second string a half tone. You need a solid pedal/lever stop on the lever if you expect to hit the right pitch on the compensated note on the first string.

If this lever on your steel has the full tone lower, with a feel stop for the half tone (D), I doubt you can make this work. I dislike all half-tone feel stops and have none on my steel, so I wasn't giving up anything by trying this.

So, if you have the full tone lower with the feel stop for the half-tone on this lever, and you are not willing to get rid of it, don't bother trying this. It probably won't work.