Getting actuators on blond Fender 400 (circa 1962?) to move

Gregory Ide · From: Minnesota, USA

My 400 was previously owned by Lucy Paulsen, who passed away in 2005 in Minnesota. I purchased it from her sister-in-law. It was tuned F# A C# E F# A C# E (A6)

Pedal A raises high E (string 1) approx.1.5 steps, and is attached to low E but does not move.

Pedal B raises high C# (string 2) about 1.2 steps to beyond D, and is attached to raise high F#, but actuator does not move

Pedal C raises high A (string 3) about 1.5 steps and raises low E about 0.5 steps

Pedal D lowers low E and low F# about 0.5 steps, and looks like it was never used.

When I flipped it over,it is apparent that the cables that attach to the lower string actuators were intentionally wound together so the actuators would not move. So, the actuators that move the wound strings are frozen, probably from lack of use.

Two questions:

1. Could Lucy have used a style of play where she only wanted each pedal to actuate a single string-in this case a high string-so the pedal action was lighter than if it had to move two strings? Is it possible the 1.5 steps indicates an attempt to make a wow-wow by stretching the string around a tone using the pedal? It is apparent from the wear marks that strings 1 2 and 3 (high E C# A) were played far more than the other strings, and all the other strings were wound, including the 4th string.

2. I've read in this forum-probably by Jim Sliff, use of lighter fluid to clean actuators. Do I have to worry about spilling the lighter fluid on volume and tone controls. If I put fluid on actuators and blow it off with an air compressor is that an adequate method to clean.

I want to use an E tuning and I've attached a 0.011 string as G# (string 1) and I can pull it 1.5 steps without breakage.

Thanks for your help.

Greg Ide

Note: I've been reading this forum for years, but this is my first post. I must commend you for the manners and hospitality I notice in this forum. I post heavily in other types of forums and the behavior of a few bad apples on those forums ruins it for everyone.

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Gregory,

Sorry I can't help with your questions about Lucy Paulsen's Fender 400. But I can tell you that Lucy and her husband Russ were a pleasure to listen to. The pair seldom missed Suneson's Music Center's weekly Saturday morning jams in the early to mid 1990's. They were frequently the first to arrive and among the last to leave.

Lucy was a great old gal, very friendly and approachable. She was a master of old-style country steel and seemingly knew every tune ever written. She was very proud of her nearly mint blonde Fender 400, and played it with a lot of love. What you have is a legendary instrument to many of us who knew and loved to hear Russ and Lucy Paulsen play together. Congratulations, you are fortunate to have it.

Sadly, Russ and Lucy Paulsen, and Roger and Char Suneson are no longer with us. It was definitely the end of an era when Uncle Rog retired and closed his store. I miss that place.

http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/11509156.html

For help with your Fender, The Fender Steel Forum is an excellent resource. If you have not already discovered this site, you owe it to yourself to check it out. There are guys on there who live and breathe those old Fender cable-operated steels.

Good luck with your 400, Jack

Gregory Ide · From: Minnesota, USA

Thanks Jack,

You are not the first to tell me how much they enjoyed Lucy and Russ. I'm sorry I never met them. Lucy's name remains on the front of the guitar in block letters. I don't know if Lucy purchased it new. Someone told me it came from someone named Meryl or Morral, but I think he is relying on a picture.

I actually like the A6 tuning, and with 321 and 765 a major and 432 or 876 a minor, the instrument plays like a table steel without the pedals. I've had no problem with string breakage after cleaning the bridge. I'm changing the tuning now because I find little instructional material for A6. I realize Herb Remington has materials, but I want to try an E tuning or maybe B6.

When I went to test it, it was nearly in tune after sitting in storage for over five years. The instrument has a strong 60 cycle hum at my house, but when I've taken it to duet at a house that has LED lighting, the hum is gone. A assume fluorescent lighting and the hot Jazzmaster style pickup don't mix. Suggestions on lowering the hum would be helpful.

Greg Ide

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

Remove the strings and lower-return springs, and apply a few drops of oil to the top of the changer fingers. After a day or two, the fingers should free up. When you can easily move the two parts individually in either direction, you can re-install the springs and strings. Smile

If you need detailed instructions on disassembly and cleaning, I can PM them to you. This is a very easy guitar to work on, but there's no necessity in doing more than you must to get it functional.

Norman Evans · From: Tennessee

Have you checked to see if the tuning screws have been adjusted to not allow any movement?

Gregory Ide · From: Minnesota, USA

Thanks for your help.. It turned out I did not have to clean the changer with the Naptha. It was dusty, but apparently had been lubricated with some type of dry lubricant, and is fully operable. All copedants I've tried allow smooth string movement and return. I'm now messing with pedal height, and I notice the D pedal which I'm using to lower the E's requires a lot of pressure, but I assume that is because the return springs are so strong. Lucy put pieces of tape around two of the the pedal rods, I assume to assemble in a certain order, but I've not figured out what that order is, or if it is even important now that I've changed so many things.

Greg Ide

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