| Author |
Topic: Minor design suggestions |
Ken Williams
From:
Arkansas
|
Posted 13 Nov 2007 6:58 pm |
|
These are few minor things I've wondered about in the design of the steel. I've, for the most part, always played an Emmons, so some of this may not relate at all to folks that play other brands.
First is the little rectangular plates that holds the pedalboard on. I've fiddled with those things while holding the pedalboard in place with the other hand. Seems like they're always turned the wrong way. It's a minor thing I know but it seems like there ought to be a better way. I did have a steel once that had screw that went through the legs and fastened on the other side with wingnuts. And maybe some brands have some type of quick lock system.
I love the Emmons(86) that I have but the vertical lever does not have an angle adjustment. All the other lever do. Of all the levers that need one, that would be the one. I have it extended closer to my knee with a block taped to the lever.I'm pretty well stuck with the heel height on my shoes. I'm sure many other brands, or maybe the newer Emmons has an adjustment. The other levers adjust with an Allen wrench, which is kinda cumbersome if the steel is set up. My thought is that there ought to be a quick, easy to get to, adjustment for the vertical lever. Maybe something you loosen, move the lever where you want, then tighten'r back up.
And lastly, is the little flap on the RKR lever. It may be just the way I sit at the guitar but I would like it better if the flap was on the other side, toward the front of the steel. I suppose it's made that way for people that play with volume pedal on the floor, several inches away from the pedalboard. I use a standard Emmons pedal that attaches to the pedalboard, and my knee goes a fair amount beyond where the lever is. So, needless to say, I have no need for the flap being on the backside.
Just thinking out loud. 
Ken |
|
|
 |
Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
|
Posted 13 Nov 2007 8:27 pm
|
|
Ken,
When I had an Emmons those were the same basic complaints I had also, with the exception of the verticle lever. My LKV was custom fabricated and installed by Jim Palenscar [Steel Guitars of North County] It had an adjustment screw that worked just fine.
Larry
_________________
Carter SD/10, 4&5 Hilton Pedal, Peavey Sessions 400, Peavey Renown 400, Home Grown Eff/Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY" |
|
|
|
Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
|
Posted 13 Nov 2007 10:39 pm
|
|
Hi Ken,
Your guitar is 21 yrs old and could use some updating, to make it user friendly. If you don't live near a good steel guitar mechanic, you may have to ship it to one the "EMMONS GURUS" on the Forum.
Roger |
|
|
|
Martin Weenick
From:
Lecanto, FL, USA
|
Posted 14 Nov 2007 4:32 am Adjustable Lever
|
|
Here is the vertical lever I build for my guitars. A simple matter to drill and tap a hole. Extra cost?, about$2.00 worth of parts.
_________________
Several custom steels. NV-112 Boss DD-7 |
|
|
|
Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
|
Posted 14 Nov 2007 7:21 am
|
|
I have a vintage Emmons and agree with your concerns, but the most annoying thing about it, to me, is the pin that you attach the ball end of the string to.
Also changing anything in the copediant is a major hassle.
Those issues, and the pedal board connection issue, is nicely resolved on my Carter and GFI, and probably most other modern guitars.
I put up with the Emmons quirks because I enjoy the vintage vibe. They're all keepers.
My first PSG was a 70s MSA Classic. It had the wingnut pedalboard fasteners. Way to easy to loose the wingnut on a dark stage! |
|
|
|
Jim Eaton
From:
Santa Susana, Ca
|
Posted 14 Nov 2007 8:27 am
|
|
My SD-12 MSA Legend has a very cool quick locking set up for the pedal bar and each of my 5 KL's has all the adjustment required built right in. The pedal rods also adjust with a friction clutch that you turn by hand. No need for KL flag's, mine are all in the right place to begin with.
Then there's my 75D10PP & my 72SD12PP, but as you said, you endure their quirk's because there just isn't anything else that sounds like a PP!
JE:-)>
_________________
Emmons D10PP 8/4 -75'
Emmons S-10PP 3/4 - 79'
Emmons S-12PP 3/4 -78'
MSA Legend SD12 5/5 -06'
Mullen S-12 4/5 - 1986
Nashville 112 x2 W/Knob Guards - Don't leave home with out one!
Walker SS rack system - 12"BW's
Quilter Steelaire Combo |
|
|
|
Allan Thompson
From:
Scotland.
|
Posted 14 Nov 2007 9:26 am
|
|
| I would like to see more manufacturers making the keyhead so that the strings can line up straight over the rollers. |
|
|
|
Ken Williams
From:
Arkansas
|
Posted 17 Nov 2007 7:27 pm
|
|
Someone said something in another thread that reminded me of this one. Several months ago I did some adjusting on a few things, one of which involved taking one of the little E clamps off. I went and bought a set of snap ring pliers. Got the one that came with the guitar off but lost it. I found some at Autozone. I thought I would never get that thing back on. I broke about 6 of them trying to get one on. Maybe they weren't the same type of metal as the ones that came with the guitar. Even if they didn't break, they are hard to get to and manipulate when you have poor eyesight and big old fat fingers as I. Seems like there definitely ought to be a better way.
Ken |
|
|
|
Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
|
Posted 17 Nov 2007 7:40 pm
|
|
Allan,
The MSA Legend has custom length shafts on each tuner in the keyhead to allow each string line up with it's roller.
Greg |
|
|
|
