Fitting a PSG

[James Inkster]

Hi,
About a month ago I got my first PSG -- a nice Carter (pro) S10.
I've been playing a lot and find myself stiff and sore, and I'm not sure about the ergonomics...

For a seat, am I correct that it should be tall enough that my knees are at 90 degrees?

Likewise, should my arms be at 90 degrees?

I'm starting to feel like I might need to cut an inch off the legs of the guitar -- I find i have to reach my knees up to contact the L/R pedals (or is that normal/expected?)

Any advice appreciated... I want to get this right before my pre-existing carpel tunnel gets worse!

[Tucker Jackson]

It sounds like your seat is maybe too short. The people that make Pac-a-Seats for steels report that the typical height is about 20 or 21" -- that's to the top of the foam, which compresses a little when the player sits on it. This is taller than a typical chair you have around the house. A foldable bench that keyboard players use that can be adjusted to around 20" is a nice inexpensive alternative to a Pac-a-Seat.

If you are well under 6' tall, you may need to lower the height of the guitar by one inch. You would need 3 shorter pedal rods and probably at least two legs that were cut shorter for the front legs. Check it out, but I think two of the legs on Carters can already go very low and could be used in the rear. It's the front ones that would need to be cut or replaced. Al Brisco of Steel Guitars of Canada is the supplier of Carter parts.

Beyond that... if you're a newbie, you should know that knee levers are mounted on most steel guitars assuming the player is going to center their body around the 15th fret rather than the middle of the guitar. So, before adjusting any pedals or knee levers, be sure you are seated in that position. Your right leg will be pointing straight forward, but your left leg will be going under the guitar in a skewed fashion, pointed at the pedals.

The pedals can be adjusted, and you may benefit from lowering them a little. I start by getting the one that needs to be lowest, the B-pedal, about 1/2" from the floor or even a little lower. This becomes the fixed standard to which the other two pedals are adjusted

So, you'll adjust the A- pedal relative to the B-pedal. You want to be able to do the following two moves with equal ease so that you are not accidentally touching a pedal while you are supposedly hovering over it:

Hold down B-pedal while hovering over A-
Hold down A-pedal while hovering over B-

After adjusting, your A-pedal will end up a bit higher than the B. When you step on them together, they will bottom-out level to the floor, or pretty close to that.

Set C-pedal using the same method as above, setting it in relation the B-pedal's height so you can easily hold one down and toggle the other one up and down.

Once you are sitting up at the proper height and have the pedal height optimized, you can fit the knee levers to your body. I like them to hang around 1" from either side of the knee. Not too close... you need to be able to move your legs ever so slightly to work the floor pedals without accidentally touching one of the levers. On an all-pull guitar like a Carter that has a feather touch, any slight pressure on a lever will accidentally detune the string if you lean your knee against it a little due to it being a little 'in the way.' So adjust them so that never happens. Otherwise, 'as close is possible' is my preference.

To make the adjustment, look for the small dark allen screw in the side of the lever itself. You can screw it in to move the lever away from your knee -- or unscrew it to move it closer.

[Lee Baucum]

Likewise, should my arms be at 90 degrees?

In my (far from being expert) opinion, yes.

In my case, my picking and blocking improved a lot, once I got things set to where my arms are parallel to the floor, elbows tucked in, near my side.

~Lee

[Chris Tarrow]

can you post some pics of yourself in playing position that would help.

[Donny Hinson]

Hi,
About a month ago I got my first PSG -- a nice Carter (pro) S10.
I've been playing a lot and find myself stiff and sore, and I'm not sure about the ergonomics...

For a seat, am I correct that it should be tall enough that my knees are at 90 degrees?

They should be something only close to that. Exactness is not required as long as you can comfortably operate the knee levers.

Likewise, should my arms be at 90 degrees?

That's not as important if you play a single neck. It's more important if you play a double neck because the inside neck will interfere with your forearms.

I'm starting to feel like I might need to cut an inch off the legs of the guitar -- I find i have to reach my knees up to contact the L/R pedals (or is that normal/expected?).

You should only need to raise your leg to operate the vertical levers! You should be able to move your legs to either side very easily to operate the left and right levers.

Can you sit at the dinner table for a couple hours and not be stiff and sore when you get up? You should be as comfortable playing as you would being seated and doing any other activity. I have arthritis, and I get stiff and sore if I sit anywhere for a couple of hours. Age has a way of doing that.

[Mitch Ellis]

I have arthritis, and I get stiff and sore if I sit anywhere for a couple of hours. Age has a way of doing that.

Yessir. Age and bad tempered horses.

Mitch

[James Inkster]

Thanks for all the tips, thanks folks!
I was sitting with a skew, at the 15th, as suggested.
I've raised my seat a bit higher, and lowered the pedals significantly...
Lowering the pedals has made a *huge* difference for me, for ease of playing. It feels akin to playing a guitar with low action

Is there a downside (tone, etc) to having lower pedals? Why do some people prefer them higher?

Thanks again

[Richard Sinkler]

Is there a downside (tone, etc) to having lower pedals? Why do some people prefer them higher?

Not that I ever found. Strictly personal preference for comfort while playing.

[Bobby D. Jones]

About Pedal Height. Pedal height depends on shoe heel height and the flexibility of a players ankle and foot joints.

As long as the pedals go down solid against the pedal stops, But you want about 1/2" clearance. So if you set the steel on carpet, The carpet height will not interfere with the pedal operation.