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Topic: strings that are both raised and lowered not staying in tune |
Slim Heilpern
From:
Aptos California, USA
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Posted 5 Apr 2016 9:33 am |
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I am new to pedal steel (as a player) and just received my used Fessenden D12 circa 1998 and am having an issue on strings that are both raised and lowered.
For instance, on the E9:
String 6 (G#) with pedal 2 is raised to A, and is lowered to F# with RKL. G# to A and back is fine, until I take it down to F# with the RKL, at which point it doesn't quite make it all the way back to G#. Subsequently taking it back up to A with pedal 2 then returns to G# OK.
I'm hoping this isn't normal  .
Any suggestions?
_________________
Chromatic Harmonica, Guitar, and Pedal Steel (Williams U12 Series 700, Emmons lap)
http://slimandpenny.com |
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Brett Robinson
From:
Nashville, TN
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 5 Apr 2016 10:30 am
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Try a drop of oil on the pivot rivets. Or a shot of Triflow.
They need that every year or so.
_________________
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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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 5 Apr 2016 10:54 am
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| Lift the string off its roller at the headstock end and make sure that the roller turns freely. Oil it if necessary. |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 5 Apr 2016 5:29 pm
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All the above good suggestions. I'm betting 1 to 2 full turns on the lower return spring, (screw in to tighten.) will fix you right up. Also check for crossbar drag if the change is on a knee lever that the shaft spans from front to rear apron.
b. |
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Slim Heilpern
From:
Aptos California, USA
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Posted 5 Apr 2016 7:13 pm
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Thanks all for chiming in so quickly with great advice! Looks like it was a combination of a stuck roller and a spring that needed tightening.
More challenges ahead, I'm sure....
_________________
Chromatic Harmonica, Guitar, and Pedal Steel (Williams U12 Series 700, Emmons lap)
http://slimandpenny.com |
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Tim Brady
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 17 Apr 2016 5:24 pm
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Do all brands have those spring tightening screws? I have the same problem on an old MSA.
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Tim Brady |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 17 Apr 2016 5:41 pm
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Pre-85 MSAs didn't have adjustable return springs.
_________________
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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Pat Chong
From:
New Mexico, USA
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Posted 17 Apr 2016 6:17 pm
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Hello, Mr Tim,
On the older MSAs, if the spring is not strong enough to return to proper tune, what can be done is to shorten the spring (i.e. cut a loop or two off). However, Psgparts sells a "drop-in" MSA kit to correct that, replacing all springs with adjustable ones.
http://www.psgparts.com/MSA_c10.htm
.....Pat.
Last edited by Pat Chong on 17 Apr 2016 8:29 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 17 Apr 2016 11:35 pm
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When I built my 12-string I didn't bother with adjusters, but if I build another I certainly shall.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Jeff Harbour
From:
Western Ohio, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2016 4:17 am
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| Quote: |
| Pre-85 MSAs didn't have adjustable return springs. |
I have also heard Reece say that once they (MSA) took the return spring adjustment out of the player's hands, their repair requests drastically decreased. That tells me that some of the very early MSA's might have had adjustable springs, but I can't confirm that myself. It is a fact though that at some point the old MSA company ('64-'83) DID switch to all fixed springs. |
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