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Topic: Split tuning not returning to pitch |
Oliver Samland
From:
Hamburg, Germany
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Posted 29 Aug 2020 5:23 am |
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Dear fellow steelers,
while playing my mid eighties Excel, I realized that All of my splits are not returning to pitch completely - when used in a certain combination. For instance, I raise my B's to C# > then engage the vertical lever to lower the C#'s to C. All is nicely in tune so far. > Now I release the vert lever. Both C#'s return flat. When I release the A pedal, the B's are perfectly fine again. (Basically the same happens when raising the E to F# > then lowering the F# to F > then release the lowering lever to get back to F# = F# will be flat.)
The linkage is fine, no binding etc., also increasing the spring tension does not effect it.
Is this a mechanical limitation of sorts? Or can I tackle this phenomenon with a different tuning procedure?
Thanks!
Ollie
Edit: I'm sorry bOb, this was meant to be posted to the Pedal Steel section, can you moved it there, please? Thank you! |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2020 7:02 am
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| Depending on the length and composition of the cross shaft loading it and then only partially unloading it may contribute to what you are observing. |
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Oliver Samland
From:
Hamburg, Germany
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Posted 2 Sep 2020 7:48 am
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Jim, thank you for your input!
When I understand you right, this is not an uncommon problem, is it? I still don’t really understand the physics behind this (partly because I have problems focusing on steel guitar mechanics with a toddler clamped to one of my legs and a 4 year old to the other).
So is it depending on the design of the cross shaft in the first place? The rigidity of the material? Or can I tame it by changing the rodding/bell crank angle? |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2020 9:16 am
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| With a split you just need a tiny amount of pull so the pullrod should be really close to the cross shaft- you really don't want to feel it kicking in. Also I have had some success in the past by angling the pull closer to the nearest apron(one of the few times where function outweighs appearance)so the flex is minimized. It seems to be determined by the composition and conformation of the cross shaft as well as the location of the force. This all brings to mind something that a physics teacher once said- "When a fly lands on a steel bar it flexes. Just because you can't see it - it can be measured." |
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Oliver Samland
From:
Hamburg, Germany
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Posted 8 Sep 2020 6:39 am
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| Thank you again for your reply, Jim. I get the concept of what you are saying. Minimizing the flex. Your solutions won't apply to my guitar though, I fear. The Excel has changer finger travel-stop screws, not extra rods for the splits. However, although the string is still not coming back all the way, I got it to work a bit better. Not sure which of the meds helped, desparately lubricating (no no, not excessive) or increasing the tension of BOTH the return springs. |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2020 6:48 am
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| When the lower is limited, the tension on the other pulls changes as well. Even if you just had both the A and B pedals down and you release the B pedal, you may notice the C# note change a small amount. It all matters. |
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