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Post new topic Fender Cable Knee Lever Installations
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Author Topic:  Fender Cable Knee Lever Installations
Russ Wever

 

From:
Kansas City
Post  Posted 6 Nov 2019 10:08 pm    
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Just finished up adding two Cable-Operated Knee Levers to Tom Andersons Fender
1000 and thought I'd put up a few pics & vids here. Pretty much self explanitory.

I fabricated all parts but the screws and roller-link. The knee levers
have an adjustable angle at their pivot joints via allen-screw.

The half-stop is a 40 thread-per-inch with a thread-depth adjustment.

Cables were chosen over cross-shafts & bellcranks which lent itself to
mounting the levers on a bias to be better suited to the motion of the
players leg than a typical perpendicular cross-shaft.

The cables & pulleys also seem to fit in better with the 'retro' period
of the rest of the guitar than the 'cross-shaft & pullrod' style.

~Russ

Parts ~> click

LKL ~> click

LKR ~> click

The pictures below are taken before 're-populating' the guitar with it's
pedals cables, giving a 'open view' of the knee-lever cable routing.











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Johnny Cox


From:
Williamsom WVA, raised in Nashville TN, Lives in Hallettsville Texas
Post  Posted 6 Nov 2019 10:40 pm    
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That's great Russ. I still have the Fender 400 I learned on. Should llm d have you knee it up for me.
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Bob Carlucci

 

From:
Candor, New York, USA
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2019 4:55 am    
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spectacular work.. Glad you used cables as well, many I have seen don't... outstanding! bob
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Michael Sawyer


From:
North Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2019 5:00 am    
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Super workmanship.
Angeled knee levers great idea
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Bob Carlucci

 

From:
Candor, New York, USA
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2019 8:53 am    
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Not sure you are interested Russ, but I know for certain that there are a LOT of guys out there with cable job fenders that would be more than happy to buy those setups if you have a way to produce them in quantity at a fair price.. Between selling them as kits for do it yourself guys, and installing them yourself, there is a market for them , I know that for certain. Fender made a LOT of those cable steels between 58 or so and 71 or so, and there are a LOT still without levers, or with crappy lever setups that were installed 50 years ago.. just a thought.... bob
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no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
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Dennis Montgomery


From:
Western Washington
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2019 2:45 pm    
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Very clean! I made my 400's knee levers with $30 of parts from Home Depot's hardware aisle...and it looks like it! Still works great though Winking
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K Maul


From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2019 4:58 pm    
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I agree with Bob C. There could be a market for these. My Fender could use two of this high quality.
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Bruce Wandmayer


From:
Sedona, AZ
Post  Posted 22 Dec 2019 9:34 pm    
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I completely agree as well. Great work! You're a master craftsman. I'd love a couple of those knees if you'll make them and sell them.
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Bruce Wandmayer
Sedona, AZ
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 23 Dec 2019 2:50 am    
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I had a Fender 2000 and George Lewis, when he was at Sho-Bud, had a knee lever made for me. Worked good.

I had it hooked up like the knee lever in the old one volume Sho-Bud instruction book. RKL, lowered 2nd and 8th.
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Ross Shafer


From:
Petaluma, California
Post  Posted 23 Dec 2019 8:04 am    
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Nicely done!
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tom anderson

 

From:
leawood, ks., usa
Post  Posted 25 Dec 2019 12:54 pm     Russ’ work
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I’ve taken this guitar out twice now on gigs and it works perfectly. The guitar player commented on the great tone! I also love how he carried on the cable mods. I’ve read a lot of negative things about cable Fenders, but this one plays great even for a 60 year old guitar. I have several wonderful more modern steels but I couldn’t be happier with this and the job Russ did.
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Thomas Stone


From:
San Francisco
Post  Posted 25 Dec 2019 6:41 pm    
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Very nice! Do you have a source for the miniature sheaves, pulleys, turnbuckles, etc.? I have a project coming up that could use some hardware like that.
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Bob Carlucci

 

From:
Candor, New York, USA
Post  Posted 25 Dec 2019 7:58 pm     Re: Russ’ work
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tom anderson wrote:
I’ve taken this guitar out twice now on gigs and it works perfectly. The guitar player commented on the great tone! I also love how he carried on the cable mods. I’ve read a lot of negative things about cable Fenders, but this one plays great even for a 60 year old guitar. I have several wonderful more modern steels but I couldn’t be happier with this and the job Russ did.

Most of the negatives about the old cable Fender steels are from those that didn't have their guitars set up right.. Over the years I have owned 4 of them, and every one played as well as anything built during their time, and to be honest, the 800's with 2 up 2 down changers played better than some of the more modern steels I have owned.. they are easy to adjust, but VERY different from rodded guitars, and every one I bought was all out of whack when I got it.. Once carefully set up and WELL lubricated, mine were all great players, and I miss having one... bob
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no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
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