| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic PSG leg length
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  PSG leg length
Tim Bridges

 

From:
Hoover, Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jun 2004 5:29 am    
Reply with quote

I'm wondering, when saddled under the guitar, what would be the optimum height for the legs? Obviously, this is going to be a somewhat personal preference. However, it would seem that if the guitar sits a little too high, it makes the KL's more difficult to operate. Does anyone have a general recommendation as to the ideal height? How should the legs situate in regards to the KL's? I am thinking about visiting Charlie Strepp, builder of the guitar, to help custom fit the height. Is this the best approach? Thanks in advance.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
C Dixon

 

From:
Duluth, GA USA
Post  Posted 22 Jun 2004 6:00 am    
Reply with quote

Tim,

I do not know how long the legs are on a given PSG. But I do think you are wise in going to a builder to have thim "size" the guitar for you. There is nothing more frustrating on our instrument than to have the guitar too high or too low. And it is not only the levers (although that is of major concern IMO), but where one's arms naturally lay with respect to the top of the guitar is of great concern (to more than a few players) also.

You will save yourself a lot of possible needless frustrations by getting this taken care of BEFORE you have one built.

carl
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Ed Naylor

 

From:
portsmouth.ohio usa, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 22 Jun 2004 6:30 am    
Reply with quote

Most Steels have legs 26-27 inches long. Since they are adjustable you should have no problem unless you are 5ft2 or 6ft4.Most players fall into the 5ft7-6ft range. Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jun 2004 6:46 am    
Reply with quote

I'm in the process of having a new Williams built for me. I was at Bill Rudolph's shop last Friday and we were working on the details. He had me sit at a couple of different steels to help determine the proper height. His standard length for the legs is approx. 25 1/2" to bottom of cabinet. The height to the top the strings is approx. 30 inches. He will vary the length of the legs to whatever you want, but this is pretty much standard. I checked my Emmons and Sho~Buds when I got home and they came real close.
Erv
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
William Peters

 

From:
Effort, Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jun 2004 7:18 am    
Reply with quote

My standard height guitar was way short for me... I'm 6' 3". When I sit on my steeler bench, the tops of my legs are 25 inches off the floor. At the "standard" height, with my right foot on my vol pedal, my leg was tight against the rear apron. I had to get 2" oversize legs and pedal rods for my present guitar, which made the bottom of the aprons 27 1/2 inches from the floor. This dimension works fine for me, but then I don't have any vertical levers, so that .could make a difference

I just ordered a Mullen Royal Precision, and sent Mullen dimensions of my legs to help with the setup since I cannot go there in person.

I haven't been able to play anyones "standard" height guitars, which is a bummer.

Bill
www.wgpeters.com
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jim Smith


From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jun 2004 7:23 am    
Reply with quote

Instead of getting longer legs, another possibility is to cut an inch or so from the legs of your steel seat. I'm 6'2" and my guitars are an inch taller, but I can get under a regular height guitar with a cut-down seat.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
David Doggett


From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
Post  Posted 22 Jun 2004 7:42 am    
Reply with quote

The rear apron should clear the top of your legs by about an inch, to give you enough room to work a vertical lever. So it all depends on your seat height, leg length, and the size of the rear apron on the guitar.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
John Daugherty


From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jun 2004 7:55 am    
Reply with quote

I used the same approach as Jim Smith except I made a slip-over extension that I can remove if necessary. Someone once called me "no-butt John". Now you understand the reason for increasing the leg height.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger
Ray Minich

 

From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
Post  Posted 22 Jun 2004 8:21 am    
Reply with quote

Don't you also have to increase the lengths of the pedal rods if you make the legs longer? It would seem that the pedals would be too high off the floor otherwise.

Easier to whack some off the seat legs I would think.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jun 2004 12:22 pm    
Reply with quote

I play a regular height steel but order my pac a seat with about an inch longer legs.
Erv

[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 22 June 2004 at 01:23 PM.]

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Nicholas Dedring

 

From:
Beacon, New York, USA
Post  Posted 23 Jun 2004 5:23 am    
Reply with quote

How does lowering the seat make it easier to fit under the guitar? It's my knees that don't fit under a standard height instrument... they're going to be the height they're going to be no matter what.

I would say the axe being a half inch too low is harder to live with than being a half inch high. Those right knee levers are a bear to work on if you're hitting them real close to the pivot point... no mechanical advantage when you are that high up on the lever with your knee.
View user's profile Send private message
John Daugherty


From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 23 Jun 2004 10:50 am    
Reply with quote

I raised my seat for one guitar. The other guitar is a little lower. I raised the back guitar legs a bit. It doesn't raise the pedals enough to notice the difference but it sure helped with the levers.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger
Tim Bridges

 

From:
Hoover, Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 25 Jun 2004 4:22 am    
Reply with quote

My appreciation and thanks go out to all replies. I guess my thoughts are that ergonomics can be all about "feeling at home" on the guitar. I can't extenf the distance between my heel and my knees. I'm gonna have to live with what the Good Lord gave me. Adding height to my seat doesn't change that. Yes, adjustable legs are on the guitar, but it seems as though they are longer than what was on my Sho-Bud. I agree, the pedal rods would also need to be shortened. I guess this weekend I'll really take a hard look at this and your responses. I bought my Derby from Charlie in Dallas. So, maybe a call to Charlie and a trip to Brooks, KY may be in order. Thanks again.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron