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Topic: About those pesky pedals...................... |
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 19 Dec 2009 12:20 pm |
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After having played my great and wonderful Emmons push-pull since 1972........
I've noticed that the pedal, down-pressure actions/forces required to operate them on the four-neck, 1956, BIGSBY, electric, Hawaiian steel guitar are much more strenuous than on the Emmons.
Do any of you BIGSBY players.....out there have a solution for this STIFF PEDAL PRESSURE?
Will 3-in-1 oil, sewing maching oil or other petroleum product alleviate this stiffness/problem?
I anxiously await your knowledgeable expertise...... |
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Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 19 Dec 2009 1:47 pm
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Howdy Ray
There have been several threads on a lub called “TryFlow “
Or something like that -- it sound like it a teflon lub --
For what its worth I us a sewing machine oil and been
satisfied with the results |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2009 2:20 pm
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I'm pretty sure that's Triflow with an i, maybe no w. Can't find my can right now. But it may just be that the mechanism requires more force. Try a pair of these;
Diver's boots. 40 pound model |
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John Polstra
From:
Lopez Island, WA, USA
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Posted 20 Dec 2009 9:33 am
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Those shoes look perfect, John. But . . . do they come in red?
John |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 20 Dec 2009 10:04 am
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John,
They don't come in red. But,,, they do come in "sandal" style, that you could wear with your red Keds Hightops!
They'd look spiffy with Ray's tux! |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 20 Dec 2009 10:39 am
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Ray, I would take it over to Tom at Sierra. Surely he can set things right.
Pete B. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 20 Dec 2009 10:43 am
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Ray
Getting back to your original question, which really can only be answered by a few of us here... namely, those fortunate few who own both Emmons PP's and Bigsby/Bigsby-type guitars, this is what I've found. Probably no more than a half dozen or so guys here in Forumland.
I too experienced a "not-too-bad-but-still-kinda-stiff" pedal action on my 10-10-8 PA Reissue guitar. But when I removed the actuator return springs the pedal feel loosened up considerably, and string tension had no problem in bringing the string back to proper pitch. Those are the expansion springs that
attach to the lever mechanism on one end and the underside of the cabinet on the other, near the front apron.
My only lower change is also on a pedal with a raise change, what would be pedal 6 on a standard C6 tuning. All my other changes are raises. If a pedal only lowered a string, the actuator return spring might be necessary.
So I removed the springs on both my PA Reissue and the Gerry Gerard Bigsby. Both pedal actions are as smooth as my PP Emmonses, both of which play like buttah.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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John Polstra
From:
Lopez Island, WA, USA
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Posted 20 Dec 2009 10:53 am
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| Herb Steiner wrote: |
I too experienced a "not-too-bad-but-still-kinda-stiff" pedal action on my 10-10-8 PA Reissue guitar. But when I removed the actuator return springs the pedal feel loosened up considerably, and string tension had no problem in bringing the string back to proper pitch. |
I've read similar advice a couple of times recently on the forum -- from people who know a whole lot more than I do -- and I'm tempted to try it. But I have this nagging question: if it's better without the return springs, why do the builders install them in the first place?
John |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 20 Dec 2009 11:13 am
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John
Bear in mind I'm referring specifically to the two Bigsby guitars I own, and what was addressed in Ray's original question; NOT to all the various pedal return springs/devices that unspecified builders put on their own individual brands.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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John Polstra
From:
Lopez Island, WA, USA
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Posted 20 Dec 2009 12:22 pm
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Thanks, Herb. I understand you were speaking specifically about your Bigsby. Still, I do wonder why those springs were put there in the first place. Just to be clear, I'm not questioning or doubting your advice at all. I'm just curious about the original reason for those springs. My wife says I think too much.
John |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 20 Dec 2009 12:28 pm
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| Ray.......give Todd Clinesmith a call. He knows those guitars inside-out. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 20 Dec 2009 12:56 pm
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Slight correction to my post above:
I also have the equivalent of C6 pedal 5, which does lower string 5 a half tone. However, the string still returns to pitch without the need for the return spring previously mentioned.
Okay, carry on, dudes.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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