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Topic: student pedal steel all screwed up new from factory? |
manny escobar
From:
portsmouth,r.i. usa
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 5:56 pm |
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| I was asked to help someone who just bought a brand new student pedal steel with 3 pedals and 2 knees. The A pedal was making a creaking noise which I fixed with 3&1 oil. The new owner said she received it from the factory as is. I never saw a steel with the strings wound backwards down around the bottom of the tuning pegs instead of over the top. They were wrapped with what looked like factory precision. However the G# string was wound in the right direction sloppy looking. It turned out to be a .017 thick. Stepping on the B pedal did not break it. It was like a tight bridge cable. I was told it came from the factory like that. I replaced it with a .012 and tuned up the pedals and knee levers. It was not even close to being in tune. Has anyone else encountered such a problem. I hesitate to mention the manufacturer, but it is a well known builder. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 7:17 pm
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Edited to remove any hint as to who the builder MIGHT be.
The real reason for my post is, yes, I have seen some players wind their strings on the pegs opposite from what we think as normal. They sometimes do it to stop buzzing or rattles at the roller nut, by putting more downward pressure at the nut.
It's really sad to think that a builder would let a guitar leave their factory like that.
_________________
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 55 years and still counting.
Last edited by Richard Sinkler on 15 Nov 2013 1:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Eric Philippsen
From:
Central Florida USA
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 5:56 am
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A squeaky pedal on a brand new steel? Happens, and a shot of oil is a shrug of the shoulders. Strings wound down instead of up on the posts? Eh, odd for a builder to do that, but maybe. An .017 being strung for a G# (3rd) string? No way. Way out of tune? No way.
However, here's a plausible possibility that would explain all but the squeaky pedal. That is, someone changed the strings before you got it and that someone didn't know anything about pedal steel. Hence the winding-oddity and the 3rd string substitution. Then they attempted to "tune" the steel at the endplate and progressively dug themselves into a deeper hole. That would easily explain the tuning issue. We've all seen steels that have been hopelessly out of tune because of someone's uninformed attempt at it.
At the very least, I would call the manufacturer and discuss it with them. I have no doubt they would definitely want to talk about it. Do that before printing any specific maker's name. That's only fair and no steel builder needs bad (perhaps undeserved?) publicity. |
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Jason Putnam
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 7:02 am
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It's sounds suspicious to me. Did the instrument ship straight from the builder/factory or was it purchased from a dealer/middle man? Most of the builders that I've seen are super meticulous about the products that leave their shops. Sounds like a middle man that doesn't know what he's doing to me.
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1967 Emmons Bolt On, 1995 Mullen PRP 3x5,Nashville 112, JOYO Digital Delay, Goodrich Volume Pedal, Livesteel Strings |
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 7:38 am
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Well, first of all, I would contact the builder first, to find out what was up about the condition of the "new" steel. In my minds eye, it shouldn't have been set up that way and the builder should be aware of that. Unless, they have a valid reason to do it that way. But, I doubt that. Anyway, contact the builder first and let him know how it was received.
Mistakes do happen. The new owner should get some sought of justification for the mishap. That would be like buying a new car with squeaky wheel bearings and no power steering belt. Annoying to drive and wouldn't steer very well. |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 7:53 am
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| Probably built on a Monday. |
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Chris Lucker
From:
Los Angeles, California USA
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 12:49 pm
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The 0.017 third string is the tell. That is likely the third string from a light 6 string guitar set.
I imagine the guitar was sold through a guitar Center or a music store and the monkey working there replaced the broken third string with what he knows as a third string. Hey, a G and a G# are almost the same, right? The same string must work, right? That is what he was thinking.
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Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars. |
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Eric Philippsen
From:
Central Florida USA
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 1:15 pm
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| What Chris Lucker said........that's probably what happened. |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 1:23 pm
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| I was not aware of any music stores selling new pedal steels. 3 + 2 would rule out a NOS Carter Starter. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 2:38 pm
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| I can't believe it came "direct from the builder". It had to have been somewhere that either a newbie steel player that didn't know or a music store that obviously had no idea. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 16 Nov 2013 5:06 am
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Many times, airplanes are made by people who don't know how to fly.  |
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Eddie Cunningham
From:
Massachusetts, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2013 7:44 pm Home built steel ??
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| Manny , Are you sure that steel wasn't one of your home built steels that was stolen years ago ?? All plain strings look alike to me ?? What's a few thousandths anyway !!?? From ole geeze |
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manny escobar
From:
portsmouth,r.i. usa
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Posted 18 Nov 2013 6:22 am
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| I didn`t build it but I liked the simplicity of the changer mechanism. I`m not going to tell you who the female picker is but her itinials are Mickie Lee Marshall. Speaking of building, let`s see now. Edddie, you built a tin frying pan 2x4 plank lap steel that you play very well. Doug, I was a bit intimidated but we had a lot of fun playing the gig on November 9th with you on lead guitar. Back to the guitar. She said she received only a peice of paper with the guitar, no manual. I had to go online to recollect about tuning the E raise/lower strings. |
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Wayne Quinn
From:
Cape Breton.NovaScotia
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Posted 18 Nov 2013 2:09 pm Shame
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it's so sad to see someone buying a new instrument.excited about getting it and have this happen .. SHAME SHAME .on who ever is responsible . 
_________________
D10 Carter, SD10 Mullen .Nashville 400,. peavey 112 Boss DD3., RV5, |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 18 Nov 2013 6:35 pm
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| Jack Stoner wrote: |
| I can't believe it came "direct from the builder". It had to have been somewhere that either a newbie steel player that didn't know or a music store that obviously had no idea. |
I have to agree with Jack. Most builders have 4 or 5 knee levers as stock. Unless the person ordered the guitar special with only 2 levers.
_________________
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 55 years and still counting. |
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 18 Nov 2013 7:22 pm
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| Well, did the owner contact the builder yet? I'm sure we're all curious about the outcome. |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 19 Nov 2013 12:16 am
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I don't understand the point of this thread.
We're discussing a guitar that we have very little information about. I'd like to at least know what brand or model it is......and maybe even see some pix.
We literally "don't know what we are talking about"
Last edited by Tony Glassman on 19 Nov 2013 7:50 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ed Heins
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2013 1:04 am
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| I think Sam Ash is the only large retail music store that routinely sells steels. This is no way an indication on whether they are associated with this situation, but they do sell steels on line and in some stores. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 19 Nov 2013 11:48 am
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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 55 years and still counting.
Last edited by Richard Sinkler on 19 Nov 2013 12:45 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Bill Howard
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2013 4:50 pm GFI's
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| Right after I joined the forum a few years ago I think it was Al Vesel who said he bought a GFI d it was either new or near new it had bent changer fingers,that done him in with GFI. I played one that looked just like that link to Sam Ash, i have never played a more JUNK feeling pedal steel. Wobbly legs pulls wouldn't come back, tinny sounding. i mean yes it was a student model but gee whiz folks even a new player needs a little accuracy.. That GFI was no where NEAR accurate,If I had goten a GFI instead of that little Black Fender i would probably quit 34 years ago |
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Pete Conklin
From:
Austin, TX
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Posted 21 Nov 2013 11:16 pm Re: GFI's
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| Bill Howard wrote: |
| Right after I joined the forum a few years ago I think it was Al Vesel who said he bought a GFI d it was either new or near new it had bent changer fingers,that done him in with GFI. I played one that looked just like that link to Sam Ash, i have never played a more JUNK feeling pedal steel. Wobbly legs pulls wouldn't come back, tinny sounding. i mean yes it was a student model but gee whiz folks even a new player needs a little accuracy.. That GFI was no where NEAR accurate,If I had goten a GFI instead of that little Black Fender i would probably quit 34 years ago |
So based on your vast experience with one guitar, that who knows what somebody did to it before you played it and second hand info on a bent finger(which I know GFI would remedy), which could have happened in shipping, you are willing to tarnish the reputation of a fine company with outstanding people dedicated to the advancement of the PSG? |
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