Is your guitar on the level?

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

I play several different venues and am always having to adjust the back legs on my steel to fit the floor so that it doesn't wobble. Also, I have always just eyeballed the steel to see if it looks level. No more guessing. I bought a little level at Lowe's for $3.47 that levels both ways and is very small and thin to pack. If I had it to do over, I would have bought the single, longer level, that brick mason's attach to a string to lay a row of bricks level. When I bought the little level, my thinking was that I would lay it on the guitar, not the strings. I thought the string level would be too long.

But then when I started playing with where to put the little level, it dawned on my that I should place the level on the strings. I was thinking because of the different string gauges, the strings would not give me a flat surface, so I would not want to place a level on the strings, which was mostly true for a small short level. But wrong thinking if the level was about as long as the strings are wide. You want the strings level, that is what you pick. The rest of the guitar doesn't matter. LEVEL THE STRINGS, NOT THE GUITAR. True leveling each time you play will make your guitar have exactly the same feel and even possibly help you in not missing notes since you will be playing on the same playing field everytime you play or practice.

Your opinion, is this a good idea or am I just over thinking and it is a rather silly idea? I know I am going to miss notes anyway, which I just proved Saturday night and if there is any doubts, I will prove it again this coming Saturday with two gigs in one day.

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

Your guitar does not need to be level. Many with long arms prefer to tilt their steel away from their seat. I have short arms so I do the opposite; I tilt my steel back towards my seat. Do what works for your anatomy.

It is preferable, however, that you have a consistent position at your steel. If the floor is not level, but is consistently sloped one way or the other, the slope really shouldn't matter because your seat is sloped the same as your steel. Thus, your position at the steel is unchanged.

If the floor is sloped in an inconsistent manner, good luck!! Laughing

Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

I think it's good to be repeatable, especially front to back.
I came to PSG from having played dobro for quite a few years prior. I always played the dobro standing up and slanting it so the front edge was lower. It just seemed to make more ergonomic sense - not a whole lot lower. I do this on the PSG too just so it feels right.
I don't bother with leveling right to left. In fact if the floor has a favorable slant to it, you can do this trick whereby you position the bar close to the nut and just let it roll down the strings toward the bridge for a nice slow ascending slide like sound, ie nerdly PSG showmanship.
Nice to hear you got plentiful gigs.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I've always played mine level. I generally use the rear Left (keyhead end) leg to steady the guitar if needed.

When I change strings I will check and re-level the guitar.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

What Mr. Sutherland said. And I will repeat my warning about the wrists. The most important element is that your wrists neither dip nor hump when transitioning from arm to hand at the guitar.
If you really need a level, I have one for free built into my smartphone. I believe it is called Spirit Level
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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

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

totally overly anal nitpickingness for no good reason.

your steel might want to be comfortably set in a playable position.

...but wait...if you really want to have it exactly perfectly level and are willing to buy a performance levelling tool and spend the time at every gig to position it perfectly, be my guest.

i'm guessing that you don't play out at functions where you may be playing on lawns, decks, driveways, old funky stages or anywhere for that matter.
the world is not a level playing field and many gigs require quick setup. being adaptable is an admirable trait. my bandmates would laugh at you.

you will understand once you've played 5 to 10 thousand gigs.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

I'm a long-legged 6'2" tall. But my wingspan is even greater at 76". First few weeks after switching from a Shobud D-10 to my Kline Uni, I wasn't comfortable, but just figured it was because of the switch. Then one day I extended the back legs a little. Nirvana! My hands and arms were in perfect positions. Note in the pic, my "floorboard., mostly used on stages with old shag carpeting.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I sit a little 2" string bubble on the cabinet, not the strings.

Level body N & S and E & W. Most comfortable to me that way.

Then, when I take it out, I may have to adjust one or the other back legs to even it a bit for ea. stage.

richard burton · From: Britain

Is my guitar on the level?

Definately not, the back legs on my SD10 are adjusted at least 1 1/4" longer than the front legs, so that my wrists are at a comfortable angle, because I sit high at my steel.

Why do I sit high at my steel?

So that my ankles are at a comfortable position on the pedals, indeed, the seat height should be the first element to be set in the pedal steel jigsaw,and then the height and angle of the steel can be determined

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

I like the top of my guitars level. But that doesn't really have anything to do with setting up on an un-level floor. If the floor is not level, the guitar will tend to wobble when you use the knee levers. I just grab one corner of the guitar, shake it back and forth a little. If there is a wobble, I will adjust one of the rear legs a bit. I don't think it's necessary to actually bring out a level to do this.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Yes, that's what I meant Bill. I just initially level 'em up when I first get them.

No, I don't carry a level in my seat or anything like that, even though many venue stages are not level. Truck beds, hay wagons, etc., Laughing

Jack Aldrich · From: Washington, USA

I tilt my D8 non-pedal steels, especially when I'm playing them standing up. I keep my pedal steels level. I don't know why, I just do it this way. - Jack
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Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
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Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8

Carl Mesrobian · From: Salem, Massachusetts, USA

I just put my bar on the strings and give it a slight nudge both ways. Laughing

I set the front legs as low as I can (I'm a mere 5'9"), then set the back ones to get the twist out by eye.
_________________
--carl

"The better it gets, the fewer of us know it." Ray Brown

Carl Mesrobian · From: Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Like Lloyd Green??
_________________
--carl

"The better it gets, the fewer of us know it." Ray Brown

Steve Collins · From: Alaska, USA

If you level your steel wouldn't it stand to reason you must also then level your seat? If the stage is two degrees out of level and you level the guitar, then sit down on your seat, which is still two degrees out of level, then your body mechanics are already gone.
I just make sure the guitar is on all four feet, and away we go...

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

Now I've heard everything. Oh Well

Carl Mesrobian · From: Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Bill L. Wilson · From: Oklahoma, USA

After setting up on a flat bed trailer full of knot holes once, I remedied that, by cutting a piece of plywood the size of my steel. Then figured, I had better cut a smaller piece for my pac a seat. Now I can set up in the middle of a rodeo arena, on grass, or a trailer full of holes. But I have a little van, so the plywood is not a problem to haul. Now I'm always level with myself, even if I'm setting on a slight incline.

Bo Legg · Posted 18 Apr 2013 10:10 pm

This topic should have been titled
"When your not on the level you pull legs." Laughing

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

I played my steel tilted forward for about a year and then went back to level. I like it better level for some reason, and I do have long legs. Both my steel and pack a seat are 2 inches higher than standard. And yes, I have played on everything from wagons, trailers, truck beds, grass, asphalt, concrete, gravel, and everything in between. I take a piece of 2 ft. x 3 ft. 1/2 inch plywood with me to use in those situations.

My main point about using the level is to just get consistency in how the guitar sits everytime. Being level for the sake of being level is not important. But you guys are right, I don't level my pack a seat but I still have enough pivot in my old pelvis to hopefully make up the difference. Maybe the next time I play on a wagon, I will ask them to let some of the air out of the tires while I check to see if my pack a seat is level.

Howver you position your steel, IF IT FEELS RIGHT TO YOU, THEN DO IT. This is why I miss some notes completely and hit other notes sour. It just feels right to me, having done it for over 40 years.

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

I agree with Paul and Lane (big surprise, huh Lane). My guitar doesn't need to be perfectly level. I do play it reasonably level, which I do by eye. But with all the different stage issues, after a while, the guitar gets too out of "whack" for me and I carry a small picture frame level to get things back to level. I can usually tell when I place my bar on a string, let go, and it heads to one end of the guitar like an Indy race car. The main issue for being level, is from front to back. If it gets too far out, it affects my ability to keep my right palm om the strings and affects my blocking. Ans the left hand will sometimes not contact the strings at the same pressure as the others.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Others? Plural? How many hands have you got?
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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

Bob Cox · From: Buckeye State

put a level on the telecaster and it slid off the first chance it got

Jerry Foster · From: Missouri, USA

Wates of wuck Laughing

Ferdinando Ghidelli · From: Caserta, Italy

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Very Happy

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