Why do Ya'll do that?

Todd Brown · From: W. Columbia , South Carolina

Why do some steel players put tape or some type of material in a staggered pattern on the pedal rods? Can you not just put something on the side of the coupler or on the bottom of it, to label the pedal rods.

To me, it looks cheap and pointless. The Fessy I got recently, had masking tape on each pedal rod like that. Also has the # for which pedal it goes to, on the side of the coupler. Seems a little redundant, no.

There's a beautiful lacquer Fessy for sale right now that has tape on the pedal rods. WHY???

Steve English · From: Baja, Arizona

In a dark club, it makes setting up much easier.

There's a reason for every little trick that has been around for years. After you get a chance to experience it, especially on a nightly basis, it'll make loads of sense.

The tape, or markings don't have to be ugly, there's many ways to do it just as there are many colors, cars, guitars, drinks, women, etc to please all of our different taste.

MSA has an excellent solution.
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Todd Brown · From: W. Columbia , South Carolina

Seems like pulling them out of the bag, that would take longer. You would have to maybe lay them out first. Or, maybe get one wrong and have to switch it around!

Why not just have it labeled on the bottom, or side of the coupler. That way no one can see it. That's how all my steels have been. Never had a problem in a dark club. Then, I got this Fessy, and it had masking tape wrapped around all the pedal rods. Tacky!!

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Bill Rudolph w/Williams Guitars will sell you a set of numbers that you can attach to the pedal rods.
Very neat!

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I agree. I don't like the looks of the tape on the rods. I took a Sharpie pen and wrote the numbers on the bottom of the coupler. I also have a label maker that I printed the numbers on and wrapped around the rod near the hook where it is not visible from the front of the guitar. This could also be done with regular masking tape and a sharpie they make fine point ones that work great for these tasks.

Bryan Daste · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

On my Sierra I just used a Sharpie to write a number on the end of each pedal rod, and a corresponding number on the metal piece next to where the each rod connects. Using a paint pen or engraver might work even better under low light. But I agree, the tape look doesn't do it for me.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

The old Sharpies were better.

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

The black, old Sharpies sound better.

KP

Bo Legg · Posted 18 Aug 2011 3:09 pm

We live in a high tech world so I went with the latest technology.

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

Bo,you are one funny guy.Is there an App I can download to my iPhone so I can read those bar code's so as to know which pedal goes which which rod?
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John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

When I used to work at Performance, we used a stamp to punch the number onto the side of the pedal coupler. Last couple I assembled, I rubbed black into the stamping. Couldn't be easier!

Bobby Snell · From: Austin, Texas

Bo that's the funniest thing I seen in a while! Can you do some for a D-10?

I've got some tape only on 2 of the 8 pedals, but I don't wish to remove it. It's vintage.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

And to add to the fun you could embed RFID tags into the bar code labels... Smile

My Dekley rods are all stamped with an impressed number. Just gotta have a flashlight and glasses to read them in a dark room.
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Lawyers are done: Emmons SD-10, 3 Dekleys including a D10, NV400, and lots of effects units to cover my clams...

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

I've never had the vertically visible rod markers.
I use those little peel-off stickers that come with blank vhs-tapes.
A,B,C,4,5,6,etc... Stuck to the bottom of the rod.
But I like the idea of maybe lightning bolts or skeleton bones as rod position markers.
It sucks to set it all up then sit down and find out your pedals are switched and your A pedal feels 8 miles high and P6 is in the dirt or something like that.

Chris Schlotzhauer · From: Colleyville, Tx. USA

If you mark your rods you can't play the pedal rod lotto

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=30475&highlight=lotto

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Chris I pulled 5 in order out the other night, but the first was rod 3.. so no chance for '8 in a row'. I never get tired of this game.
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"I'm nuts about bolts"

Michel Rose · From: Australia

I started playing in 1974 and in all those years of playing i have taken the rods out in perfect order only
once .

Todd Brown · From: W. Columbia , South Carolina

I pull them all out of the bag together,laying them on top of the leg bag, that is already laid out ,covering the bottom of the guitar. Then grab one by one , putting them on. Ain't got time to play games Laughing

David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

To help with setup in dark rooms, I painted the bottoms of the pedalrod clips in different colors (red(3),white(2),and blue(1)). When I added the fourth pedal, just left it unpainted.

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

I have number stickies on the bottoms of my Super Pro's pedal rods,and stamped numbers on my other 3 steels' pedal rods,so I could do as Ray does and use a flashlight to find the numbers-I already wear strong glasses-but it is much,much easier to pull all the pedal rods out at once,see the position of the white tape on each rod and put them on in order than it is to squint and hold a flashlight.I'm not sure I understand the OP's issue with a practical solution to an irksome problem.

Sonny Jenkins · From: Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx

Using a triangle file, I file VERY small notches on the rod near the hook end, one for pedal one, two for pedal 2 etc. No matter how dark the venue, a thumbnail over the notch, or blindfolded,,,,very simple.

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Same here, Sonny...

I have an older Williams, and Bill R. took the time to notch all eight rods up on the rod; just under the anchor hook. That's the way steel came through from the factory.

As you said, 'seeing' the marks isn't necessary. You can just feel them.
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Chip
Williams U-12 8X5; Keyless; Natural Blonde Laquer.

David Wright · From: Pilot Point ,Tx USA.

just buy a MSA, doesn't madder where this go..!! Laughing

Arty Passes · From: Austin, TX

I agree. Masking tape is tacky. That's why I use gaffer's tape. Much classier. And the glue won't stick. (Less tacky). Cheap? Yes. Pointless? No.
I got tired of trying to strain my eyes to figure out which was which, so I put thin strips of tape near the top so they are hidden. (I only have 3).
I agree with Dave and don't think his looks all that bad.
Now that you've mentioned it, I've given this a lot of thought, and I think I've come up with a brilliant solution: When I sell my Fessy, I'll take the tape off!

Ronnie Boettcher · From: Brunswick Ohio, USA

The rods on my Sho~Bud, have a real nice number embedded on the bottom of the coupler. Never had a problem. It is white, with a black number. Very neat, and professional.
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