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Topic: Stringmaster: more downward pressure/use a heavier bar? |
David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 9 Apr 2020 7:41 am |
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I have a D8 and T8 Stringmaster. When I play them I find I have to use a heavier tone bar and apply more downward pressure to get a clean/non-buzzy tone from the strings than compared to all my 6 string lap steels.
I'm not sure why this is. Something about Stringmasters? Something about the set up of my particular Stringmasters?
I don't think it has to do with the scale length of the Stringmasters as some of my 6 string lap steels are shorter or longer scale, and I don't have this issue.
I thought perhaps because the Stringmasters are 8 string necks vs. the 6 string necks of all my lap steels, but that doesn't seem to make sense as I still have to push down harder and use a heavier tone bar when tipping my bar and playing only one string.
Any insight into this?
Thanks!
David |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 9 Apr 2020 8:02 am
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couple questions...
What kind of tunings do you use? I use a couple with BIG bass strings and out of the box I found a big .064 bass string did not work well with the existing nut...top of the string sat too high, so would actually keep the bar off of the lower strings near the nut. I actually had Jimmy Hudson mill me a couple new ones with slots that would allow the big bass string and it worked ok...
So I guess, do you notice it more closer to the nut...all the way up and down the strings? Any particular pattern to it? If you set the bar flat without a lot of extra pressure...which strings sound clean and which are buzzy?
_________________
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 9 Apr 2020 9:03 am
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I think part of your problem is because you are going from a 6 string guitar to an 8 string guitar.
You are baring more strings. 
Erv |
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Gene Tani
From:
Pac NW
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Posted 9 Apr 2020 2:58 pm Re: Stringmaster: more downward pressure/use a heavier bar?
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| David DeLoach wrote: |
I have a D8 and T8 Stringmaster. When I play them I find I have to use a heavier tone bar
Thanks!
David |
As Nic was saying, lay a straightedge on the strings at bridge/nut and see how even they are.
How heavy /long/diameter is your bar?
Mine top out at 3 3/8", 15/16", 270 grams, 9.5 ounces. It's basically a version of this, the standard 10 string pedal steel bar:
https://www.bjsbars.com/store/p17/15%2F16%22_10_String%2C_Plain.html
Buying a bunch of bars ot try out weight/length/diameter gets expensive, even more so for custom size/weights, then there's powdercoated and Delrin etc ones. Maybe there's somebody local that will let you borrow some for 10 minutes.
_________________
- keyless Sonny Jenkins laps stay in tune forever!; Carter PSG
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew |
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Mike Harris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 9 Apr 2020 5:37 pm Stringmaster pressure
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| David, I also feel I have to use an inordinate amount of pressure on my Stringmaster, especially near the nut. And I feel the middle strings are noisier than they should be (yes, I block with my right hand). I am going to try a lighter gauge across the board and see if that helps. Will let you know. |
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