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Greg Gefell


From:
Upstate NY
Post  Posted 14 Sep 2007 9:48 am    
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I saw a great video demo of Brad Davis' bender system here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TQlqRLtaKs

These bender systems don't appear to be for sale anywhere so I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas where to acquire the cable system/pedal necessary to pull this off on a homemade console steel guitar?

I plan to run the cable down the left leg and put a pedal on the floor wherever it felt comfortable. I have enough distance between the nut and the tuners to allow for the hardware.

BTW - It is not my intention to make these for sale for anyone else, simply borrowing a great idea that would help me add some pull(s) to my personal guitar. If you know where I can buy one off the shelf I will. It would save me alot of hassle.
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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2007 9:32 am    
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You might prefer checking out the Higgins Peg Bender. It replaces one tuning peg with a bender unit that uses a cable attached to the strap at the shoulder - works like a short-throw version of a Parsons-White. I've used it on a D-28, Variax, Les Paul, Strat...it's simple to install, works very precisely, and is non-invasive (at most you need ONE peg mounting screwhole on the back of the head, but sometimes not even that).

Comes with different ferrules so you don't even need to ream out the peg mounting hole. Once you adjust it right, it works smoothly, easily and you never hit it accidentally. Brad Higgins as really good with support as well...and is also a heck of a steel player.

http://www.bradivarius.com/pegbender.html

Before my hand injury took me out of the game, I had them on 4 guitars. I still have the Variax set up, and it's sweet having a b-bender on a "Gretsch", "D-28", "Super 400" "Electric Sitar", etc etc. I can't play guitar for more than 20 minutes due to the injury(or disability...whatever) - but I can lay down tracks with it.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional
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HowardR


From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2007 11:34 am    
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The Higgins Peg Bender lowers the string.....at least mine does....
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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2007 12:05 pm    
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You must have installed it backwards...or installed an in-line model on the wrong side of a 3-on a side (or visa-versa). Call Brad and if you have the wrong one I'm sure he'll figure it out.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional
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HowardR


From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2007 12:11 pm    
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I have a few benders that Brad Higgins made for me, for some of my "dobros"....with a foot pedal & cable....they are lower only.....
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Darvin Willhoite


From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2007 1:21 pm    
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Or you can bend all six strings with this contraption.



_________________
Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro.
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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2007 10:06 pm    
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OK Howard...now I get it. I know Brad does custom work. Based on your post I thought you were noting a problem and wondering how to fix it!
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional
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Greg Gefell


From:
Upstate NY
Post  Posted 17 Sep 2007 8:22 am    
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It looks like the Peg Benders are no longer being made.

I still think the Brad bender idea would actually work better for my application - a console steel where I want the cable to come out the bottom (floor facing)

I'm willing to try a peg bender if someone will sell a spare.
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Mark Vinbury

 

From:
N. Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA
Post  Posted 17 Sep 2007 9:26 am    
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How does this one work?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUAULCawbMs&mode=related&search=
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Gene H. Brown

 

From:
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
Post  Posted 18 Sep 2007 8:18 pm     brad bender
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Or you could just learn how to play pedal steel and you would have the whole ball of wax rolled into one Mr. Green
Gene
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Don Blood


From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 18 Sep 2007 9:52 pm     Tim Wallis has another version, check this out!
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I think this is cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxN9fELTiwQ&mode=related&search=
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Jacek Jakubek


From:
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 20 Sep 2007 10:51 pm    
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Oh man, some of these B-bender players on those videos and other videos on youtube are awesome!

They sound just like a pedal steeler, and with Telecaster tone to boot! If I didn't see it I would have thought it's a real pedal steel.

I got to get one of those myself.
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Richard Bowden

 

From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 3 Oct 2014 2:42 pm     Re: Brad bender ?
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Greg Gefell wrote:
I saw a great video demo of Brad Davis' bender system here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TQlqRLtaKs

These bender systems don't appear to be for sale anywhere so I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas where to acquire the cable system/pedal necessary to pull this off on a homemade console steel guitar?

I plan to run the cable down the left leg and put a pedal on the floor wherever it felt comfortable. I have enough distance between the nut and the tuners to allow for the hardware.

BTW - It is not my intention to make these for sale for anyone else, simply borrowing a great idea that would help me add some pull(s) to my personal guitar. If you know where I can buy one off the shelf I will. It would save me alot of hassle.
If you are not dead set on having a floor pedal, I have non-defacing, wrist pedal activated benders for acoustics and many electrics including dobros and lap steel guitars and can custom make for almost any guitar for less than $200. They require no holes or guitar modifications. Check out my website!
_________________
Richard Bowden
www.bowdenbbenders.com
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