The Steel Guitar Forum

Really having pedal problems. Should pedal 1 & 2 travel the same distance? Should they be the same height when they not engaged?
Thanks Don Hall

Really the player's preference. Some like them to start and bottom out together while others like them to follow the arc which the foot is traveling, depending on Emmons or Day setup.

It's very rare to find them traveling the same distance.
Most of us have them set to bottom out about the same point, and resting with the A pedal a bit higher (because it has farther to go).

I have my A pedal a little higher than the B pedal. This on Emmons set up. My reason for it is: when I use the A pedal, and the LKL lever, at the same time, I bend my ankle so I do not hit the B pedal. If both pedals are the same height, in the up position, and I rock the A pedal, my foot slightly hits the B pedal, and distorts the sound coming out of the B pedal strings. And yes, I have both of them finish on the same level, when both are pressed. My ankle does not bend as much as I got older. Also it works like Lane said in the previous note. The A pedal travels a wee bit farther. Ronnie

i have my foot pedals set about 1.75 inches off the ground. they travel about 1 inch when applied. so when they hit bottom they are about 3/4 inch off the floor. for me if they are too high its hard to play and not use any pedals. i would say its player prefference on how high the pedals are set. i like mine lower it just seems to work better with me. thanks sid

Donald Hall wrote:Really having pedal problems. Should pedal 1 & 2 travel the same distance? Should they be the same height when they not engaged?
Thanks Don Hall

IMHO, no and no. There shouldn't be a huge disparity, but then again, they should not be the same, either. I always advise players with supposed "problems" to have another player try the guitar before they go making changes. In my 50+ years of playing, I have seen countless guitars made less playable by owners who were "just trying to improve things".