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Topic: Home-build falling at the first hurdle? |
Tony Boadle
From:
Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 9 Nov 2013 6:31 am |
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Hi all....my home-build six-shooter has stalled, no replies so far in my search for a changer mechanism or even just some fingers that I could build a frame around.
I'm waiting on a couple of replies on another Forum, but in the meantime, another question.
If I'm left with no choice but to try and build a changer myself, could I use aluminium? Easy to work with compared to steel, and cheaper than brass (if I could get it)
This will be a home-use hobby guitar, so I don't expect too much wear and tear.
Maybe I could re-inforce any wear points with inserts or similar?
Access to various metals where I live is zero, I'd need a two hour drive to a large hardware store just to get some aluminium strips. I could get mild steel locally, but I'm not really set up for heavy cutting and shaping.
All replies welcome. I need cheering up!!!! |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 9 Nov 2013 6:43 am
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you could make the fingers out of Al (MSA did), but you'd probably want to use steel roll pins to mount the strings in and a steel axle.
Pull-release fingers are most often half-teardrop (roughly like an airplane wing), and pull-release will be adequate for your needs.
They're usually kinda thick, about 3/8" (don't ask me for metric, I'm 'murican)
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Tony Boadle
From:
Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 9 Nov 2013 6:59 am Home-build
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Thanks Lane, that's just great news. Aluminium it is then, the project is back on it's feet and ready to run. Consider me cheered up for the weekend. And don't worry about the metric conversion. Over here in the timber yards you can still here people asking for 3 metres of 2" x 1"
Have a good weekend and thanks again.
Regards from a cold, damp, dull County Cork.
Tony |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Tony Boadle
From:
Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 9 Nov 2013 7:49 am Home build
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Wow, there's some really useful pics there (and a fair few weird ones!)
Hours of viewing and plenty of links to explore.
Many thanks,
Tony |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 9 Nov 2013 9:56 am
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My Marlen pull release fingers don't use a pin to retain the string, they have a through-hole.
They also have 4 holes to accommodate different positions for the raise and lower rods.
The fingers are made from aluminium, and if my memory is correct, they are 1/4" thick, so nylon spacers are required to achieve the standard 11/32" string spacing.
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 9 Nov 2013 4:26 pm
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I'll tell you one thing NOT to do., and I cringe to think that at the time I thought it might work.  During the middle 60s I built a pedal steel completely of wood. The rods were dowling, the pedals were wood, the cranks were wood, most of the mechanism was wood. As you can expect, it didn't stay in tune. The wood expanded and contracted with the weather and the moving parts tended to squeak and stick as they rubbed against each other. 
Eventually I threw the mechanism out and it became a console non-pedal steel, in which guise it worked and lasted for years. 
But that's the sort of thing you do when you can't afford a store-bought instrument. Pedal steel guitars were almost nonexistent in England at the time, and those that were around were only for the rich, not for a starving student such as I.  |
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Ron Pruter
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2013 7:56 pm
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Tony, Try Wayne Link of Linkon Guitars, Canada. He has a ton of stuff. RP
_________________
Emmons SKH Le Grande, '73 Fender P/J bass, Tick tack bass, Regal high strung, USA Nashville 112. |
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Tony Boadle
From:
Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 10 Nov 2013 1:53 am Home build
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Hi Richard...reply posted under the 'Project commenced, day one' heading.
Hi Alan...I had actually considered an all-wood PSG
(I'm a retired cabinet-maker) so thanks for warning me off!
Hi Ron...I'll mail 'em today and thanks. |
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Tony Boadle
From:
Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 10 Nov 2013 1:59 am Home build
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| Ron....any further details for Wayne Link or Linkon Guitars? I can't find anything through Google.... |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Tony Boadle
From:
Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 10 Nov 2013 5:04 am Home build
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Many thanks for the link, Richard.
PS: PM sent. |
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Jim Williams
From:
Meridian, Mississippi, USA - Home of Peavey!
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Posted 10 Nov 2013 6:30 am
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I'm sure you are keeping an eye on Ebay? I've seen several changers on here in the past...maybe you could modify a ten string changer some way? Just a thought.
_________________
GFI SM10 3/4, 1937 Gibson EH-150, 2 - Rondo SX Lap Steels and a Guyatone 6 String C6. Peavey 400 and a Roland 40 Amps. Behringer Reverb Pedal. |
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Tony Boadle
From:
Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 10 Nov 2013 6:47 am Home build
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Watching ebay regularly, thanks Jim.
Modifying a 10 string would be a good way to go.... |
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Chris Lucker
From:
Los Angeles, California USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2013 8:11 pm
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I have some push pull fingers used to update guitars in the 1959-1962 era. I mean push pull and not solid finger pull release. They were made by a guy who was one of Paul Bigsby's assemblymen.
You can email me about them.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars. |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2013 10:26 pm Home build falling at the first hurtle
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| I have been there done that and have the scars to prove it. I built a steel about 1968. I had a big advantage, I worked in a factory with a good supply of raw materials and a machine shop with lathes and milling machines and cutters. I found a man who made pickups about 50 miles from where I lived. A local foundry had masters for Pedals, Pedal bar and End plates and Key head. Got all these parts as rough casts. I do not want to throw water on your fire. I suggest you set down and look at the whole guitar before you jump in to deep. Break it down and start hunting parts or materials to build each part or set of parts before you jump in. Body, Changer, Changer housing, Key head and rollers, End plates, Neck, Fret board, Pick up, Plug in, Wiring, Pedal Bar and Pedals, Rod hookup to pedal, Pedal rods, Legs, Cross rods. Levers and Rod hook up for cross rods, Cross rod Bearings. Knee Levers. Then all the Springs, Nuts, Bolts and Washers. Dies, Taps and drills you will need. I could not find a good changer frame and ended up making a master of wax, a mold of Plaster of Paris and Casting the Changer frame out of a broken aluminum transmission housing for the alumnium. If you need help I will help if I can. Personal E-Mail me. GOOD LUCK if you proceed on this project. |
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Tony Boadle
From:
Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 11 Nov 2013 4:29 am Home build
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Bobby, thanks for the warning...I'll bear all that in mind althought my project will hopefully be a very simple six string with four raises.
I'll either be converting my RK lap steel or building a basic home-use only experiment. (Famous last words?) |
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Tony Boadle
From:
Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 11 Nov 2013 4:34 am home build
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| Chris, thanks, e-mail on the way. |
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