The Steel Guitar Forum

Is there any reason you would not want to put this lower on your B to Bb lower lever, for me it would be my LVK...... thanks Guys, Gary

I would find the half stop to be problematic on a vertical lever.

Not both lowers just the full lower and leave the half lower on the RKR

I would not trade that for the B-Bb change.

I will keep the B-Bb and add the lower to it

If you do that, then with the 125 grip you wouldn't be able to lower the third of the chord without lowering the tonic also. If you don't care about that, go ahead - but I wouldn't want to lose that ability.

Ian Rae wrote:If you do that, then with the 125 grip you wouldn't be able to lower the third of the chord without lowering the tonic also. If you don't care about that, go ahead - but I wouldn't want to lose that ability.

+1 on that. Plus you would lose the ability to get unison notes with 2 lowered and 5 raised. I use that unison once in a while and not just for that Emmons stuff of hitting both C#s and have the note take off in different directions. I wouldn't do it, but as Ian says, if you don't care about the things you will lose, go for it. Copedents are by nature, meant to be personal.

The reason I am asking these question is that I have a friend with Neuropathy in his right leg and can't feel the half stop. What are your thoughts to fix this problem for him..................thanks

Gary Arnold wrote:The reason I am asking these question is that I have a friend with Neuropathy in his right leg and can't feel the half stop. What are your thoughts to fix this problem for him..................thanks

How does his guitar accomplish the half stop? What brand of guitar? If it uses the 9th string lower to set the half stop, you can increase the tension of the lower return spring on the 9th string. If it is adjustable, try tightening it up 1/4 turn at a time. If not, loosen the string 9 so there is no tension on the finger. Cut 1 loop off the spring, make a new loop to hook onto the finger. That will increase the tension on the 9th string pull to make a more solid half stop. You might be able to cut two loops off, but that may make the lever too hard to press if he has neuropathy. The changes you mentioned could probably work for him. Question him on how he uses those changes. Losing the things Ian and I mentioned may not matter to him. Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks guys

A lot of people with no particular medical condition find they can't get on with half-stops. The answer might be to install a separate lever.

If the issue is not being able feel the half stop, the solution may be to just hear it. Many a player is known to “half” A pedal and it works very well, just ease into it until it sounds right. Levers may or may not be a bit trickier to do this with, but it’s something to keep in mind. I know more than one pro that if they can’t get a really good feel stop, they’d rather not have one at all and just listen for it.

How about putting it on the E to F (LKL) leaver

Gary Arnold wrote:How about putting it on the E to F (LKL) leaver

You'll lose the 2 scale tone (D#) on string 2 in the A & F position. If he doesn't do scale runs from the A & F position, it could work. He'll need to decide what he can do without to see if the full lower can be added to another existing lever. Does he use the full tone lower? Many players just lower 2 to D and get along fine.

I haven't thought this out fully, but maybe tuning string 2 to C# and raising it to D# on the F lever might work. He would need to change the half step lower to a raise to get the D note on the original lever. There are several players that tune 2 to C#.

Any reason not to add it to the E > Eb lowers like many Universal players do? If be curious to hear folks thoughts on that for a straight E9.

Thanks
Baron

Thanks every body for your comments, we will close now, gary

Gary Arnold wrote:Thanks every body for your comments, we will close now, gary

Is there a final verdict?

E to Eb lever for now, thanks

Cool, so you are adding your D# to C# on your E lowers knee a la universal? Any other E9ers do this? I’d love to know!

Thanks
Baron

I will update this change once I give it the time needed to see if it is workable,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, gary

I couldn't put the Bb lever and 2nd string pull together. However, I tune my 2nd to C# and raise it with a knee on 12 universal.