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Topic: Lowering Spring Adjustment Screws |
John Booth
From:
Columbus Ohio, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2022 2:24 pm |
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Guys,
I've never touched these on any of my steels, but the curiosity is getting the better of me.
Can someone explain what they do, how they work and if there would ever be a need to adjust them?
Thanks !
JB
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Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2022 2:56 pm
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They counter the force exerted by string tension. Without them any/all your strings would exert a force that would lower the string pitch indefinitely I suppose or to a point where the lower scissor or finger run into something like the body of the guitar.
To adjust them, back them out, counterclockwise, until you see the lower finger start to part from the stop, then turn them clockwise a couple turns ensuring the scissor comes back into contact with the stop. Fool around raising and lowering the particular string and make sure that lower scissor only leaves the stop when you use a pedal/lever that lowers the pitch. |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 21 Feb 2022 2:58 pm
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The spring brings the string back from lowering. Raises have no problem, using the string tension to return to pitch. Lowers need assistance. In general, the least amount of spring tension that reliably and consistently returns the string to pitch is the right tension. You can loosen the spring until the lower does not return the finger 100% to its stop, and then tighten it until it does return to its stop, and then give it another little bit of tension. Manually release the lever s.l.o.w.l.y and see if it returns solidly.
The spring is essential. But it adds resistance so unless you like & want a stiff action, the best setup (in my opinion) is one with the least spring tension that 100% reliably returns the fingers to their stops.
edited to note the posts, below, of John Hyland and Ian Worley which expand on this and correct my oversimplification.
Last edited by Jon Light (deceased) on 22 Feb 2022 1:40 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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John Booth
From:
Columbus Ohio, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2022 3:44 pm
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Thanks guys. So it's all about the lowers returning properly. Thank you !
_________________
Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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John Hyland
From:
South Australia
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Posted 21 Feb 2022 11:58 pm
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| On some finger mechanisms the raise moves the top of the lower finger. so the spring not only returns the lower it stops the lower pulling out during a raise. |
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Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
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Posted 22 Feb 2022 10:58 am
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| John Hyland wrote: |
| On some finger mechanisms the raise moves the top of the lower finger. so the spring not only returns the lower it stops the lower pulling out during a raise. |
This is the most important thing, and the reason they sometimes needs adjusting. Even when spring tension is adequate to hold the lower scissors firmly against the stop at rest and to return them consistently when lower is engaged and released, the springs also need to hold the lowering scissor firmly against the stop when a raise is engaged. If not, the tuning of that associated raise will be unstable. This often requires more tension than than what is required for the lower alone, particularly for raises in the holes closer to the center of the scissor assembly.
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All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest - Paul Simon |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 22 Feb 2022 1:37 pm
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| Ian Worley wrote: |
| John Hyland wrote: |
| On some finger mechanisms the raise moves the top of the lower finger. so the spring not only returns the lower it stops the lower pulling out during a raise. |
This is the most important thing, and the reason they sometimes needs adjusting. Even when spring tension is adequate to hold the lower scissors firmly against the stop at rest and to return them consistently when lower is engaged and released, the springs also need to hold the lowering scissor firmly against the stop when a raise is engaged. If not, the tuning of that associated raise will be unstable. This often requires more tension than than what is required for the lower alone, particularly for raises in the holes closer to the center of the scissor assembly. |
Excellent.
I think my habits of visual observation of the fingers during lower and raise are so automatic that I forgot this essential fact. My statement above re: loosening the spring tension as much as possible while maintaining consistent lower return is quite incomplete without this discussion of the raises. |
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