Search found 36 matches

If the rods are actually too long and if they also have rolled threads, I would recommend rebending the hook. If they are standard rolled threads, the threads are actually fatter than the rod and you ...

Hi David,
I can tell by your playing in the video link that you posted, you won't have any problem at all getting up to speed within several years for sure and maybe faster. The process will also be ...

I purchased a set of beautiful legs from http://steelguitarparts.net

They are an apparently standard size from outside collet surface to shoulder at the start of the thread at 23-1/4" They see ...

The instrument is now ready for the smoke test and play-ability adjustments. I wish now that I had mitered the body so that the joint was right on the corner. That would have looked a lot nicer. I'l ...

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/19833_DSC04139__Copy_1.jpg

OK, I'll call it done after a few more pics although I'll still have a bunch of adjustments to make. Here is rodding the i ...

Just got the cross shafts on for a first fit. I'm almost ready to start with the pull rods. I also may have ordered the pedal rods a little long. I may have to re-bend the ends or exchange them. I als ...

Finally putting the business together. This is not without it's problems. I have noticed several little items that I wish I had done differently. I neglected to drill several holes that would have bee ...

I noticed a couple of the changers were a little sticky and so I took it apart and loosened them up a little. The rivets were juust a little snug. I loosened them up by tapping on the formed recess an ...

Oh yea, starting to take shape now. No underneath parts are installed yet.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/19833_6_1.jpg

Making a fingerboard. I decided to co-opt this banjo fingerboard pattern. I cut the pattern in maple then filled with black and sanded down. I lacquered the fingerboard before machining so that I woul ...

A little smooth and polish on the peghead.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/19833_4_2.jpg

Here it is with a few coats of lacquer before buffing and, oh yea, after turning over the edges on the aluminum and buffing that. I didn't bring the aluminum up to class A mirror surface finish becaus ...

Here's the first coat of finish. I like the look of oil in the wood, but it kinda kills the liveliness so I am going to destroy this piece by starting with 90% rosin and 10% linseed oil with a touch o ...

Now that I have finished all of my parts I am putting together the steel. The end plates are on temporarily so that I can make the edges meet correctly. It shouldn't be too long till I can play it. No ...

When thinking about efficiency of sound production and response in the pedal steel and other stringed instruments, there is an analogy in the energy efficiency of battery operated devices.

The maxi ...

JD:
That's for left handed players, right?

That's almost as good as me yesterday. I was spraying the cabinet with lacquer. I thought the screws were a little non-snug when i screwed it to the hol ...

Hi Ross,

Yep, we're definitely talkin' bout the same place. That's real interesting. It was probably the same old gent. I'm pretty sure I was working there at a later time than you. Working at Benj ...

Bobby,
I think your project probably took more determination than mine. You did both necks and had to scrounge materials. The resources for collecting information, gathering supplies, machining them, ...

Jim,
I agree on the sum total view of the playability. I think that those who have the good fortune to have a coherent elasticity spread uniformly throughout their instruments will probably have the ...

Jim,
Interesting about the 303 stainless. What was the diameter? The Franklin that I am copying as you know has a very large 5/8 shaft. In the business of making functional structures, the proof of t ...

It's finally starting to take shape. I only have one more miner part to make which is the end cap behind the bridge. Everything left is fit and finish which is itself a big job. The area by the inlaid ...

The shaft material for the bridge that I am using is linear rail shafting. It is tremendously hard and the only way to cut it is with something hard like diamond or grinding wheel. I mounted a dremel ...

I decided to make em in pairs. I knew there would be one or two rejects (and there are) and so I just made 10 in 5 pairs. Maybe I'll make a C6 neck later. The material I'm using for a spoil board here ...

I was able to get two pedals out of the peghead billet center recess.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/19833_20210327_171249_1.jpg

On to the neck. I'm putting a recess into the top of the neck and will install a wooden or composite faux fretboard instead of a decal. I still don't know what I want to put on the fretboard for a pat ...

Author	Message
Topic: MSA Sidekick pedal rods question
Don McKinley Replies: 3 Views: 887	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 26 Oct 2022 8:34 pm Subject: MSA Sidekick pedal rods question
Don McKinley Replies: 3 Views: 887	If the rods are actually too long and if they also have rolled threads, I would recommend rebending the hook. If they are standard rolled threads, the threads are actually fatter than the rod and you ...
Topic: Is it too late to start learning pedal steel?
Don McKinley Replies: 31 Views: 6059	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 26 Oct 2022 8:07 pm Subject: Is it too late to start learning pedal steel?
Don McKinley Replies: 31 Views: 6059	Hi David, I can tell by your playing in the video link that you posted, you won't have any problem at all getting up to speed within several years for sure and maybe faster. The process will also be ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 19 Jun 2021 8:59 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	I purchased a set of beautiful legs from http://steelguitarparts.net They are an apparently standard size from outside collet surface to shoulder at the start of the thread at 23-1/4" They see ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 19 Jun 2021 8:33 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	The instrument is now ready for the smoke test and play-ability adjustments. I wish now that I had mitered the body so that the joint was right on the corner. That would have looked a lot nicer. I'l ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 19 Jun 2021 7:10 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/19833_DSC04139__Copy_1.jpg OK, I'll call it done after a few more pics although I'll still have a bunch of adjustments to make. Here is rodding the i ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 26 May 2021 10:23 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Just got the cross shafts on for a first fit. I'm almost ready to start with the pull rods. I also may have ordered the pedal rods a little long. I may have to re-bend the ends or exchange them. I als ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 26 May 2021 9:47 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Finally putting the business together. This is not without it's problems. I have noticed several little items that I wish I had done differently. I neglected to drill several holes that would have bee ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 25 May 2021 2:15 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	I noticed a couple of the changers were a little sticky and so I took it apart and loosened them up a little. The rivets were juust a little snug. I loosened them up by tapping on the formed recess an ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 25 May 2021 2:11 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Oh yea, starting to take shape now. No underneath parts are installed yet. https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/19833_6_1.jpg
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 25 May 2021 2:07 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Making a fingerboard. I decided to co-opt this banjo fingerboard pattern. I cut the pattern in maple then filled with black and sanded down. I lacquered the fingerboard before machining so that I woul ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 25 May 2021 1:51 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	A little smooth and polish on the peghead. https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/19833_4_2.jpg
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 25 May 2021 1:48 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Here it is with a few coats of lacquer before buffing and, oh yea, after turning over the edges on the aluminum and buffing that. I didn't bring the aluminum up to class A mirror surface finish becaus ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 25 May 2021 1:31 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Here's the first coat of finish. I like the look of oil in the wood, but it kinda kills the liveliness so I am going to destroy this piece by starting with 90% rosin and 10% linseed oil with a touch o ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 25 May 2021 12:49 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Now that I have finished all of my parts I am putting together the steel. The end plates are on temporarily so that I can make the edges meet correctly. It shouldn't be too long till I can play it. No ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 7 May 2021 2:11 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	When thinking about efficiency of sound production and response in the pedal steel and other stringed instruments, there is an analogy in the energy efficiency of battery operated devices. The maxi ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 3 May 2021 5:26 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	JD: That's for left handed players, right? That's almost as good as me yesterday. I was spraying the cabinet with lacquer. I thought the screws were a little non-snug when i screwed it to the hol ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 1 May 2021 10:46 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Hi Ross, Yep, we're definitely talkin' bout the same place. That's real interesting. It was probably the same old gent. I'm pretty sure I was working there at a later time than you. Working at Benj ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 30 Apr 2021 11:05 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Bobby, I think your project probably took more determination than mine. You did both necks and had to scrounge materials. The resources for collecting information, gathering supplies, machining them, ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 30 Apr 2021 12:00 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Jim, I agree on the sum total view of the playability. I think that those who have the good fortune to have a coherent elasticity spread uniformly throughout their instruments will probably have the ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 14 Apr 2021 8:50 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Jim, Interesting about the 303 stainless. What was the diameter? The Franklin that I am copying as you know has a very large 5/8 shaft. In the business of making functional structures, the proof of t ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 14 Apr 2021 1:22 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	It's finally starting to take shape. I only have one more miner part to make which is the end cap behind the bridge. Everything left is fit and finish which is itself a big job. The area by the inlaid ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 14 Apr 2021 1:08 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	The shaft material for the bridge that I am using is linear rail shafting. It is tremendously hard and the only way to cut it is with something hard like diamond or grinding wheel. I mounted a dremel ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 14 Apr 2021 12:57 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	I decided to make em in pairs. I knew there would be one or two rejects (and there are) and so I just made 10 in 5 pairs. Maybe I'll make a C6 neck later. The material I'm using for a spoil board here ...
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 14 Apr 2021 12:52 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	I was able to get two pedals out of the peghead billet center recess. https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2020-03/19833_20210327_171249_1.jpg
Topic: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	Forum Section: Pedal Steel Posted: 14 Apr 2021 12:47 pm Subject: Design and build of a Franklin style 12 string.
Don McKinley Replies: 80 Views: 20482	On to the neck. I'm putting a recess into the top of the neck and will install a wooden or composite faux fretboard instead of a decal. I still don't know what I want to put on the fretboard for a pat ...