| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Sideways" pull rods...
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Sideways" pull rods...
Bob Carlucci

 

From:
Candor, New York, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 6:11 am    
Reply with quote

Setting up another steel ,I keep wondering if I am the only one with this problem.. On steels with solid pull fingers, it seems it is quite difficult to get ALL pull rods pulling completely straight..
Sooner or later you MUST go around a few fingers and SOME rods will be pulling the changer fingers at an angle.

I know the rods can be bent to go around, but sometimes that is not easy to do neatly with a pliers while under the steel..Anyone with any good ideas??.. I come pretty close, but the look of those slightly angled rods bugs me.. It does not seem to effect the performance, but looks lousy.

Maybe thats why I prefer guitars where the pull finger is split in two,allowing rods to go through.. {MSA, Carter}.. Easy to keep everything running straight and true,looking neat as a pin.

Do you guys BEND the rods or let them pull at a small angle??.. I am NOT having a problem really ,the guitar re rodding/copedent change/set up is going well, but I am just wondering if I can make it look "factory"... bob
View user's profile Send private message
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 6:24 am    
Reply with quote

I never have the rods run at an angle. If absolutely necessary, I bend them to make them work.
Erv
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 6:42 am    
Reply with quote

The key is to set up the pedals nearest the changer first. It's very important to have the shorter rods pulling straight. The longer rods can operate at a very slight angle with no ill effects. Bending rods is a last resort in some cases.

If the changer was designed properly, it wouldn't really matter if the rods were on an angle.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Darvin Willhoite


From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 6:47 am    
Reply with quote

Usually it is necessary to bend the pull rods to get around bellcranks, or knee lever mounts to keep the pull on the changer in a straight line. Here is a picture of the bottom of my MSA Classic SS that I added 4 knee levers to, for a total of 8. I use a pair of large vise grips and custom bend the rods as needed for clearance. Sometimes it takes a couple of trys, but they'll work fine when you're finished.


------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording


View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 6:53 am    
Reply with quote

I will NEVER bend a rod while under the guitar or while it is in any way connected to anything else. Study the problem, remove the rod, bend with visegrips & pliers, or even better, with a bench vise and pliers, check fit and repeat as necessary. It's the difference between sloppy & half-assed or precise & clean. Not to say that my undercarriage is immaculate--I've done some stuff in a rush that cries out for upgrade but I would never try to bend a rod in place.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Ray Minich

 

From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 6:56 am    
Reply with quote

Darvin, that looks like the tank farm plumbing at the refinery next door. Awesome.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bob Carlucci

 

From:
Candor, New York, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 7:16 am    
Reply with quote

Getting the knee rods close to the changer straight is usualy not a big problem, but both my E pulls ore on right knee[RKR=E/ Eb.. RKL=E/F].. So there is NO way get those lined up exactly.. Something has to move or be bent.. I usually "split the difference" and the "L" in the rod will make up for the angles a bit.. Now, when I run the E-F# rod on pedal 3,it MUST go around these two bellcranks.. Again ,I prefer to let the rod kind of "glide" past any obstructions,{within reason of course"]as oppossed to bending it.

I guess a lot depends on how many pulls there are.. I recently sold a ProI S 10 w/5+5 and there were rods angled and bent up, going every which way... It worked fine but was creepy looking.

Bill Rudolph worked on this particular Williams a year or so ago, and I saw no bent rods as I got started tearing it down... anything that interfered was
"gone around" at the slight angle I mentioned. I will probably keep it that way, but I need to order some parts anyway and I'll ask his opinion... thanks for the input... bob
View user's profile Send private message
richard burton


From:
Britain
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 10:55 am    
Reply with quote

Get a Push-Pull Emmons.
One rod from the changer finger, through as many bell cranks as you like.
No bending of rods, and no mis-alignment.
R B
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Curt Langston


Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 3:49 pm    
Reply with quote

Carter has a rodding chart on their website. It is really helpful in arranging the pulls. You might be able to use the blank chart to regroup. Might help.
View user's profile Send private message
Darvin Willhoite


From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 4:18 pm    
Reply with quote

Hmmm... I guess my MSA looks "sloppy" and "half----" as I formed most of the pull rods as I was installing them. I'm glad I'm now enlightened.

Here's some closer pictures of my bent rods.




------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording


[This message was edited by Darvin Willhoite on 09 July 2005 at 05:35 PM.]

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bob Carlucci

 

From:
Candor, New York, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 7:17 pm    
Reply with quote

Darvin.. yikes!!... looks like you could get somethin' caught in there if you're not careful ... bob
View user's profile Send private message

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