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Topic: Pedal Mechanics Issues |
Ryan Parker
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 6 May 2020 11:11 am |
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I recently purchased a used Fessenden Six Shooter. I am excited about going from guitar to pedal steel. I had dabbled with a Zum Steel a few years back, but am hoping that the Six Shooter will be a nice transition instrument. Here is my issue:
The second pedal is loose and doesn't tune just right. It sits lower than the first pedal, and it doesn't pull enough to bring the Bs up to C#s. Upon inspection of the magical "underworkings," I found that the bell crank finger is loose. I have attached a pic and video.
Anyone have any suggestions? I am fairly handy, and would like to get this fixed (if it needs fixing?). Thanks!
Video link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ko3DFRvDhYKdJnmptofLkqpCLI-ZO7qd
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Ryan Parker
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 6 May 2020 11:13 am Follow Up
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| You can see in the picture, the left side lever bar that gets pulled down is all the way up against the top, while the lever bar on the right is hanging down just a smidge. |
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Tucker Jackson
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 6 May 2020 11:33 am
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It's normal for the B-pedal to be adjusted lower than the A-pedal, so that, in and of itself, doesn't indicate a problem. Pedal height is adjustable (where the rod connects to the pedal itself) to make them work better depending on how your ankle turns. But if you can't tune up that pedal, or if it's hitting the floor...
Based on that design, with no adjustable pedal stop on the undercarriage, it may be OK (and required for that pedal) that the bar that the pedal rod attaches to doesn't touch the top. The important stop point is that screw that it hits when you push the pedal all the way down. The 'play' you're seeing in the pull-train may be normal, since the B pedal is only raising a half-step compared to the A pedal. So it's going to naturally need to start out closer to that stop-screw at the point where the tension kicks in as compared to what's happening with the A pedal.
That 'play' in the pull-train goes away with the guitar set up with a pedal rod and pedal attached. The weight of the pedal itself will pull the train slightly tight against the tuning nuts.
What happens when you try to tighten the nylon nuts for that pedal to get it in tune? Can you get it from G# to A? If not, unscrew both nuts for that pedal all the way so they aren't raising either string. Make sure the open strings are tuned to G#, then try to tune them up to A again. |
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Ryan Parker
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 6 May 2020 1:15 pm
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Tucker,
Thanks so much for this response. I will check all that out and trouble shoot. You cleared up some confusion for me. This website is such a resource!
Take care,
RP |
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Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
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Posted 6 May 2020 7:10 pm
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I've never seen a six shooter in person, but if it's like most "pull-release" guitars, you have to tune the raised notes first at the key head with the pedals engaged, then release the pedals and tune the open notes on those four strings with the nylon nuts in the end plate window. If there is not enough travel in the pedal to provide the full raise as you've described, you'll need to back the nylon tuners out a little on those two strings until the range of motion is adequate, then tune the raised notes at the key head then re-tune the open notes with the nylons.
There could be other stuff going on, your video doesn't show enough of the rest of the guitar to know if something else might be amiss. |
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