Your feelings on helper springs ?

Ron Pruter · From: Arizona, USA

Bobbe Seymour said,regarding ShoBuds, most people just take em off. I like them and feel they just make sense. What brands have helper springs ?What's your feelings?
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Emmons SKH Le Grande, '73 Fender P/J bass, Tick tack bass, Regal high strung, USA Nashville 112.

Dickie Whitley · Posted 21 Mar 2013 3:13 pm

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I've not much experience with them, but I'll relate what I have. On my older Zum, I had to take them off of several strings that both raise and lower. On some changes, the helper springs interfered with the lowers making the change. On those changes, I just took them off.

I didn't take them off the ones that didn't interfere or raised only. There might be fewer problems on more modern guitars, I don't know.

Overall, I didn't really notice any difference in the playing feel on the pulls where they were removed.

Out of a dozen or so pedal steels I've owned, this is the only one that had the helpers.

I would guess that on most guitars that have just the basic changes, they would probably be OK, but on loaded up guitars where a lot of long raises and lowers occur on the same string they could be more problematic. That's my guess.

Dean Holman · From: Branson MO

I can't play a guitar very well without them. Guitars that play decent without them, have a longer travel and I like a shorter travel. The only guitars I know that have them are Zums, Rittenberry, Mullen G2's, I think Franklins have them and I'm not sure but I think Williams guitars have them. Someone help me out as I am sure there are probably others that have them.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

No raise helper springs on my Willy that I know of.

Dickie Whitley · Posted 21 Mar 2013 3:49 pm

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I see. No, I wouldn't choose the option. Most modern pedal steels that I've played have such nice action that I personally wouldn't have a need for them....that and the other issues I stated earlier. But whatever works, Yessir Winking

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

I also had the problem of getting a 6th string full lower with the "helpers" so I took them off my Zum.

Before removing them, I couldn't rest my left foot on the pedals without a small amount of pedal activation. Trying to keep my foot perched above the pedal to avoid that caused left leg muscle fatigue and cramping. After their removal, both problems were solved.

So I prefer a bit of pedal resistance. It also seems to make half-pedaling easier.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i try to keep my steels free of any unnecessary junk as much as possible.
my willy still raises up with no help!

Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

Chris glad to hear your willy has no trouble raising up.' Very Happy

'
I found raise helpers can help reduce cabinet drop on some guitars I've owned in the past. They can make quite a difference in pedal pressure on an extended E9 whereby three octaves are being pulled by one pedal. You can overdue it though and create return problems.
I'm not sure I'd use any helpers if I owned a double or single 10.
My new Infinity S12U has provision for all 12 but only two positions have them equipped. This guitar also has adjustable pedal return springs which likely counter the pedal weight issue.

A springs scale is handy to judge which pull is hardest and benefits.

Hans Holzherr · From: Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland

It depends on what you are used to. My benchmark is the Schild which has helper springs. I've installed helper springs in a Carter, an MCI, and a Fessenden. While the geometry of the MCI changer is not so 'helper spring friendly', the positive effect on the Carter was more pronounced. Same with the Fessy whose raise fingers are pre-drilled to accommodate a spring.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

None of my guitars have hekper springs, and I really don't care for them. Just one more thing to get out of adjustment, IMHO.

richard burton · From: Britain

I like a short throw on the pedals (and levers), as it means that my left foot doesn't have to rock excessively when holding one pedal down whilst releasing an adjacent pedal, which in turn means that my left leg movement is minimal, which in turn means that I can mount my left knee levers closer to to my left leg.

I use helper springs to allow me to get shorter pedal/lever throws.

I also make modifications to the lower return springs (on my all-pull steels) to minimise the incremental increase in pressure when activating a lever.

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