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Topic: 12 string PSG given to me |
John Boyte
From:
Lake Providence, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 16 Dec 2019 4:36 pm |
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| Today, I had a friend give me his dad's guitar. It is an EMCI/RX5000, serial #FG4196. Some of you may know from the Model number, but for those who may not, it is a single 12 with 5 knees and 6 pedals. It has apparently been in "storage" for a while but appears to be in good shape as far as I can tell. I don't know anything about a 12 string of any kind really! I noticed on pull rod had come un-hooked from where it was attached (maybe called a bellcrank). It had several slots it could go in and I certainly don't know which one it slot it came out of. I would appreciate any advice on what to do as far as getting it checked and in working order. As far as I know it may work as is! Thanks in advance! |
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Brian Hollands
From:
Geneva, FL USA
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Posted 16 Dec 2019 5:22 pm
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EMCI's are great guitars. Here's a recent thread https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=345252
There are others, search MCI and EMCI. Your guitar is a welded frame and almost certainly a universal (U-12).
This may help
There is also an owners manual which shows the rodding for an E9. Shoot me an email through the forum and I'll reply with a copy. Can't send an attachment directly.
Pictures may help (and we'd like to se them anyway)
_________________
'81 Sho-bud LDG, 2 EMCI's |
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John Boyte
From:
Lake Providence, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 16 Dec 2019 6:57 pm
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| I am old and ignorant I guess! I have not been able to figure out how to post pics on forum yet. Maybe I can get a youngster to help figure it out...will surely try and post some though ASAP! |
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Jeremy Threlfall
From:
now in Western Australia
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 16 Dec 2019 11:35 pm 12 string PSG given to me
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Mr. Threlfall has a good suggestion there should be wear, black, oil or something the distinguish the hole the pull rod goes in on the bell crank so it can be installed.
The MCI copendent posted by Brian Hollands is set up for Emmons/Nashville pedals. If it happens to be set up Day/Newman there would be several changes. A and C pedals would be reversed and the F knee lever may be on RKR. Here is a copy of the Day/Newman copendent to compare.
Sorry it is up on its end. This may help you figure out how the guitar is tuned, Then you will have to figure out how you want to set it up.
good Luck with this adventure. Happy Steelin. |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 17 Dec 2019 4:18 am
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GAVE you an EMCI??. "Friend" is an understatement!
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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John Boyte
From:
Lake Providence, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 17 Dec 2019 5:52 am
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| He's been talking about giving me this guitar for several years. It was his dad's, who even though we have been friends for 30-40 years, I never knew his dad...don't know if he ever lived here or anything else about him, his music, etc. He also gave me a rack box with 2 rack mount delays...don't know if they work or the quality of them. One is an Ibanez DD100, the other an MNIFEX DDX1024. It at least appears that he knew something about PSG due to the equipment. I am certainly going to try and find out more and let y'all know! Thanks for all the help so far...I am sure I will have lots more questions! |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 17 Dec 2019 6:04 am
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Hi John. Congrats on receiving a great steel guitar.
www.steelguitar.com has a lot of information for pedal steel guitars including the owner's manual for MCI guitars which is the earlier version of the EMCI.
Study the conventions on pg.7 and pg.9 for the locations and pedal/lever id for rodding your guitar here:
https://www.steelguitar.com/manuals.html
_________________
proud appalachian american
those of you who think you know everything annoy the he!! out of those of us that do. 
never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level then beat you with experience-Mark Twain- |
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Brian Hollands
From:
Geneva, FL USA
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Posted 17 Dec 2019 7:03 am
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Thanks Jerry, I couldn't remember where I'd gotten that manual from.
First thing I'd suggest is finding your A pedal (likely first pedal on the left) and seeing if it give you a whole step raise on string 9 or on 10. If A raises 5 and 9, it's a universal. If it raises 5 and 10 it's extended E9. That'll give you an idea which copedent chart to start with keeping in mind that it could have been changed to something non-standard.
Regarding the rod that's loose, it's a common problem caused by the deterioration of the o-rings that originally held the rods to the bell cranks. Replacing the missing and deteriorated o-rings with either zip ties or with o-rings made for automotive A/C systems (Viton or similar) is the usual fix.
If you can't tell which slot the rod came out of by looking at it or by the rodding chart, just put it back in the slot closest to the cross shaft and see what it does. Likely it'll either raise or lower that string less than the desired amount (the raise will be flat or the lower sharp). Keep moving it further away from the cross shaft one slot at a time until it hits the desired pitch. Keep in mind that if that rod is providing a whole step change, one of the closer slots may give you an in-tune half step change.
Which rod fell out and what else is on that pedal or lever?
_________________
'81 Sho-bud LDG, 2 EMCI's |
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John Boyte
From:
Lake Providence, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 17 Dec 2019 10:24 am
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| I think you may have just solved one problem Brian. when I saw that rod off and put in in a slot to prevent damage, I was wondering what held it in the slot. I don't remember seeing O-rings anywhere. Like I said, I don't know how long it's been since this guitar has been used. I bet most, if not all, O-rings may have come off and certainly all would need to be replaced! |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2019 2:16 am 12 string PSG given to me
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If the guitar uses O rings to hold the pull rods in the bell cranks. First suggestion is take good pictures of the underside of the steel. This would let you put rods back in the right hole easy is they fall out. You may want to consider replacing all the O rings. Time has probably taken its toll on the O rings and may be missing or fail at any time.
Good Luck in this project and Happy Steelin. |
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Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
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