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Topic: why do some steel's legs loosen up while playing |
Lee Bartram
From:
Sparta, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 27 Aug 2010 7:36 am |
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| I've had 3 or 4 Mullen guitar's and 3 or 4 different Carters guitar over the year's. on some of them while playing the legs come unscrewed and loose, while other don't. Any ideas why and how to keep it from happing? |
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Steve Hitsman
From:
Waterloo, IL
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Posted 27 Aug 2010 3:54 pm
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| That happens with my Emmons, too. Howcum? |
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Dale Rottacker
From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
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Robert Parent
From:
Gillette, WY
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Posted 27 Aug 2010 4:49 pm
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| Wide tolerance between the mating parts. At least one piece is aluminum which wears quickly. The angle of the leg and the body in combination with the weight of the body helps to lock the pieces together. I am rather surprised they last as long as they do. |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 27 Aug 2010 5:18 pm
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I have that problem with one of the legs on my
Carter.
When it happens I greese a little dental floss and
wrap it around the threads on the leg end and
tighten it on.
Temporary solution but it works for me.
RT
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Leonard G. Robertson
From:
Ozark, Mo. USA
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Posted 27 Aug 2010 5:29 pm Leg loosens
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| I use good fitting "O" rings (packing) that sits in unthreaded portion at bottom of threads. Works for me to keep slight friction & stays in place over & over. |
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Rick Winfield
From:
Pickin' beneath the Palmettos
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Posted 28 Aug 2010 2:13 am Right rear
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This has happened to every guitar I've owned(4), and it's always the Right Rear leg. I assumed it was because my (RKR) is my most used, putting added force in that direction.
Rick
PS: correction- LKR
Last edited by Rick Winfield on 29 Aug 2010 3:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Graeme Jaye
From:
Spain
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Posted 28 Aug 2010 2:39 am
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So far, I haven't experienced this problem.
However, I did think about it and came to the conclusion that it's because you are constantly pushing the instrument from side to side (with the knee levers) and this is bound to loosen the legs unless you do something to absorb that movement - such as the O rings mentioned earlier (that's a very neat idea).
_________________
Graeme
Some of my music here |
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Steve Hitsman
From:
Waterloo, IL
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Posted 28 Aug 2010 3:34 am
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| Maybe some blue Loctite? |
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Lee Bartram
From:
Sparta, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 28 Aug 2010 5:57 am
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thanks guys for all the replies I am going to try the O ring that is a great idea..
steve I think the Blue loctite would be a bit too much. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 28 Aug 2010 9:20 am
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I like the Loctite idea - but only if you're in a permanent resident gig somewhere!!!
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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James Marlowe
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 28 Aug 2010 9:30 am
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I found 'wave' washers to work real well. They're real thin and take up very little room.
_________________
J.R. Marlowe
Life has many choices. Eternity has TWO. I choose Heaven.
Black '95 Zumsteel SD10, 4+5;Black Mullen RP SD10, 4+5
NRA Life member |
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Storm Rosson
From:
Silver City, NM. USA
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Posted 28 Aug 2010 10:49 am
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 I used inside star lock washers back in my day |
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Bob Cox
From:
Buckeye State
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Posted 30 Aug 2010 6:46 am
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An easy solution to this is to wrap a couple passes of teflon pipe tape around the threads. This tape comes back off easily. Keep a roll in your seat,sold at plumbing supplies even at walmart. beleive me this stuff is the ticket. It will even save you on a loose tunning nylon nut. Be sure and wrap it clockwise
if you don,t it won,t work properly. |
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Joe Naylor
From:
Avondale, Arizona, USA
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Posted 3 Sep 2010 8:00 am
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My 2 cents I have fixed them with teflon pipe tape and an "O" Ring
It is simply the side movement from the knee levers and the leg stud being steel and the end plates being aluminum
The ones I have fixed that last the best is with teflon pipe tape since the "O" ring gets lost. Simply keep a roll of teflon tape in the steelseat.
Assuming you have a steelseat. HOPE YOU GUY GET A SMILE OUT OF THAT ONE - it was ment to be a funny
Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com
_________________
Joe Naylor, Avondale, AZ (Phoenix) Announcer/Emcee owner www.steelseat.com *** OFFERING SEATS AND Effects cases with or without legs and other stuff ****** -Desert Rose Guitar S-10, Life Member of the Arizona Carport Pickers Assoc., Southwest Steel Guitar Assoc., Texas Steel Guitar Assoc., GA Steel Guitar Assoc., KS Steel Guitar Assoc. (Asleep at the Steel) tag line willed to me by a close late friend RIP |
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David Griffin
From:
Jimmy Creek,Arkansas via Cowtown, USA
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Posted 3 Sep 2010 8:05 am
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I knew a guy back in Texas who used to stick a toothpick into the holes on the back of his old Sho-Bud before he screwed them in. Believe it or not it worked! 
_________________
http://www.myspace.com/davidagriffin |
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Ray McCarthy
From:
New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 4 Sep 2010 2:34 am
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I remember reading somewhere a big name player saying that if you can feel the vibrations in one of the rear legs when you pick a string (without amp) your guitar will have good tone.
So--maybe guitars with legs that are always coming loose (like my Derby) have good tone  |
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Joe Cook
From:
Lake Osoyoos, WA
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Posted 4 Sep 2010 3:02 am
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| Maybe your guitar is drinking before the show. |
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Alan Harrison
From:
Murfreesboro Tennessee, USA
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Posted 4 Sep 2010 4:07 am Blue Loctite
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Blue Loctite makes it difficult to close the lid on the case!!!!! I tried the O ring solution and it works pretty well.
_________________
Mullen (Black) Pre G-2 9x7, B.L. 705 PUP's, Evans SE 200 Telonics NEO 15-4, BJS Bar, Peterson Strobo Flip, Steelers Choice Seat, Folgers Coffee and Hilton Pedals.
"I Steel Without Remorse" |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 4 Sep 2010 7:46 am
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I don't understand 'wrapping it clockwise' - wouldn't that depend on which way you were holding the leg when you did it?
Seriously - does it mean that you grasp the leg in your left hand and, looking at the threaded end, wind the tape clockwise (left to right)?
Both my Emmons steels and my Derby suffer from occasional loose legs!!! 
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 4 Sep 2010 8:55 am
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I just reach over and give it a little twist. Works every time!
We had a big change in the weather here today, and both my legs feel loose! |
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 4 Sep 2010 9:21 am
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On any pipe thread using teflon tape, when you are done with the winding and pinch off the remaining roll, you want to be sure the pinched end of teflon is going in the direction of the tightening. ie. if it were the other way, then the end could start to unwind as well as all the teflon you just placed on the threads.
Clockwise = just hold the leg in your hand and look at the top of the threaded end so you're looking straight-on at it. Then just start winding the teflon, starting say at 6:00 then to 9:00 to 12:00 to 3:00 etc. That's clock-wise.
We don't have to worry about it in the steel world, but in other worlds there are reverse threads, too. A counter-clockwise application would be needed here.
_________________
Chip
Williams U-12 8X5; Keyless; Natural Blonde Laquer. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 4 Sep 2010 9:35 am
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"A counter-clockwise application would be needed here."
Or, as they say, across the pond, "anti-clockwise!" |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 4 Sep 2010 9:40 am
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Thanks, Chip - that's very clear!
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 4 Sep 2010 9:57 am
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_________________
Chip
Williams U-12 8X5; Keyless; Natural Blonde Laquer. |
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