The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi All

This may seem a daft question,but I've only had my guitar 8 weeks.

I know how to tune the Pedals on my PSG,but do I need to tune the Knee Levers/strings,and what too?

I am using a Standard E9 Tuning.

Thanks

Alan

Which make of steel do you play? Push-Pull, or all pull? ......it will be nice if we're all on the same page.

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Alan:

Tell us what kind of steel you're playing, Push/Pull or All Pull. There's a difference. Pro or Starter steel??

OOps! Looks like Nic and I posted at the same time with the same questions.



<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by John Bresler on 06 February 2006 at 11:27 AM.]</p></FONT>

lots of tuning out there here is what i use
D lever lowers the Es 442 to D# 440
E lever D# 439 to D 439
F lever Es to F 435
G lever F#s 441 to G 441
lots of other tuning this is just the one that seems to work for me

After you have tuned the open strings and pedals, play the most common chord you typically use the knee lever for. Tune the lever by ear to sound good with that chord (without changing the tuning of any of the unlevered strings). If there are other chords you use the lever for, try them and tweak if necessary. If you want to know where it is on a meter, tune first by ear, then look at the meter for future reference. That's the traditional way, and probably how most pros do it. On the other hand, if you tune all the strings and pedals straight up, then tune the levers that way.

Calvin,could you give us your open strings and pedals numbers as well.It looks like a simplified Jeff Newman chart.I like it because there is no .5's in it.Thanks.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by John Sluszny on 06 February 2006 at 12:11 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by John Sluszny on 06 February 2006 at 12:33 PM.]</p></FONT>

Hi Guys

Thanks for the replies.

My guitar is a WBS Student,I don't know what it is Push/Pull etc,it's all new to me,I haven't changed anything.

I guess what I am asking is,do the Levers need tuning as the Pedals do,or are they always in tune when the guitar is in tune?
Said it was a daft question!!!

Recon I need some education regarding the Levers.Why would I Need/Want to change them anyway?

Be gentle with me,I'm new to PSG.LOL

Thanks

Alan

Yes you need to tune the levers same as pedals... by ear or by tuner what ever is your pref..
move the levers and look at the end hex rods.. see which one moves and turn it
good luck.. Ken

john it pretty much that newman tuning i just don't wory about the .5s

alan yes you do have to tune the knee levers , often the knee's will be the only thing that needs tweeking and aftera while you will notice it when they are out

calvin

I should say i gave up and got a peterson
tuner and it has helped me much.
after a while you sort of figure it out.
sitting in the house one can lose there mind tuning a PSG, it is best to just play it as much as possible and rest assured.
it will come to you in time
P.S. Make a list of the notes you want on each string. pedal, lever.
a beginer gets so much information and it is very confusing at first

Alan,
You can get a tape from Bobbe Seymore about the basic maintenence on PSG. You only need to know if you have an all pull, or a push pull. I got it and it helped me understand the mechanics on my steel. He also has tuners, i couldn't do it without one.
Call Bobbe at 615 822 5555

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David.C. Wright
GFI SD10 Dynacomp RV-3 Evans SE200 Strats POD Fender Deluxe Reverb

Check out B0bs method right here. I think you can find it at the bottom of one his posts or look at the top of the page and go to tunings.

Now for the big question

What should they be tuned to.

Nothing fancy,just what they were when I bought the guitar would be acceptable.

Thanks

Alan

Thanks Calvin,so do I,works great.

Alan,
I guess that your steel will be of the All-Pull design.

As you are a beginner, don't get bogged down with all this 'plus or minus 5 cents' nonsense: it'll make you nuts.

Just tune, say, the fourth string, with no pedals or knee levers activated, to E. (tune at the keyhead).

Now activate the lever that raises this string a half-tone, and tune this string to F, with the nylon tuner at the right-hand side of the steel (as you're sitting at it).

Now release this lever, and activate the lever that lowers the fourth string a half-tone.
Tune the string to Eb using the nylon tuner at the right-hand side of the steel.

That's it !! <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by richard burton on 07 February 2006 at 11:49 AM.]</p></FONT>