Springs Locking up when dropping G# to F# on 3rd string

Gerald Shaw · From: Florida, USA

I've just completed installing a new vertical lever on my Mullen RP. My intent was to drop both G#'s to F#, on the 6th and 3rd strings. The lower on the 6th string worked fine. When I tried to lower the 3rd string a whole tone, however, the strings streched a great distance and stuck, they would not return to start position. So the spring hangs up fully stretched.

Is the 3rd string whole tone lower on the thinnest string too much for the changer to handle, or is there some other technique I can try. Also, on the pedal stop, I'm shaky on this. If the thicker string needs requires the pedal to move much less distance than the thinner one how can the pedal stop be correct for both? I'm reluctant to put the pedal stop in until I get the 3rd string issue resolved.

Appreciate your assistance. Thanks

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

I've never attempted the 3rd string lower for a full tone as the half step is a long way and a full step seems nearly impossible.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I'm inclined to agree with Jim, but you never know: it does seem like a radical pull.
I doubt your problem lies in the spring. I suspect your pull is binding somewhere. Try pushing on the lower finger, NOT THE ROD, to see that it moves freely.
Take it from one who had several hair pulling moments rerodding a guitar, it's easy to bind a pull.

As to your last question, it's a matter of leverage. There's a diagram on one of these threads on this page, complete with an explanation (I'm embarrassed I needed it, but I did) that shows how you can select bellcrank slots and changer holes to have long and short throws working together
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Probably what's happening is that the 3rd string lower finger is moving so far when fully extended, the angle of the spring causes a coil to grab and hang on to the plate [underneath the springs] in this photo. There's not a lot of clearance there and I've witnessed this same sort of thing when setting up very long plain string pulls on my own Mullens.

I don't doubt the changer is capable of such a long pull with the right gauge string, but it's a ton.

I would suggest a call to Mike or Del at the Mullen factory to see how they would set up this change.

Good luck!

Gerald Shaw · From: Florida, USA

Thanks for the replies. Jerry, I think what you describe is whats going on. It's like the string gets hung up on something and locks.

I think I'm goin to move the other rod to another pedal and give up on the 3 string drop. I researched and it seems like a lot of guys have the 6th string drop, but don't do the 3rd string along with it. Thanks.

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

Don't know anything about the Mullen changer, but I put the 3d and 6th string G# to F# lower on all my steels and have experienced hang-up, or just spring-scraping noise, for 3d string lower on all initially. On mine it has been the spring scraping against or getting hooked up at the front edge of its own lower finger, that has caused problems. The finger gets pulled so far back that its front edge sticks up (or rather "down" with the PSG in playing position).

Have been able to eliminate the problem on all my PSGs by turning the spring 180 degrees, or bending the spring's hook-up on the lower-finger slightly, so the spring naturally bends a little away from the finger when stretched. That will keep the spring away from the stop-plate too, if that's what it gets hooked up on now.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

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