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Topic: Starting on a 6 string |
Matthew Puro
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2022 8:26 am |
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Hi all,
I've been digging through the forum and appreciating all the wonderful resources and discussion.
I'm 3 days into learning on a 6 string pedal steel and I'm hoping to be able to fake my way through 5 or so songs by late summer with my country band.
Tuning is E9 (the middle 6 strings - E-F#-G#-B-E-G#), 3 pedals and 2 left knee levers set up Emmons style.
First, my pedals and levers were terribly out of tune. I successfully tuned the A, B, and C pedals. Successfully tuned left knee lever left. Then realized I should have first tuned the left knee lever right, which is where I ran into an issue.
While tuning the left knee lever right (which drops the E strings 1/2 step): I engaged the knee lever right, used the main (left side) tuners to tune to D#, released the lever, then used the right side fine tuners to tune the string up to an E. Engage the lever again and now the D# is way off. Repeat the process and now when the lever is unengaged the E is way off. Repeat x10 until the right side tuners are screwed fully in (literally can't screw them in further because my tuning key is at max depth). Both E strings are closer but still completely out of tune. Am I doing something wrong? Is it possible that the lever was set up for something else than to drop the Es 1/2 step, and can't be made to do so without further adjustments?
Second, if anyone knows of resources specifically for learning 6 string pedal steel, I would much appreciate them.
Thanks!
Matt |
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Charlie Hansen
From:
Halifax, NS Canada and Various Southern Towns.
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Posted 22 Mar 2022 9:33 am
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Screw the plastic tuning nut on the right end of your guitar out until it has no effect on the tuning and start over again. The tuning nut is obviously overtuned. There are others on here that know far more than I but that would be a start.
_________________
I don't know much but what I know I know very well.
Carter S-10 3X5, Peavey Nashville 112, plus Regal dobro and too many other instruments to mention.
Bluegrass Island CFCY FM 95.1 Charlottetown, PE, Canada, on the web at cfcy.fm.
A Touch Of Texas CIOE FM 97.5 Sackville, NS, Canada,
on the web at cioe975.ca. |
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Matthew Puro
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2022 9:45 am
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Thank you Charlie! I just found a stickied post on overtuning/undertuning, which seems to be my issue.
I'll give it a closer reading this evening! |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 22 Mar 2022 10:52 am
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| What brand guitar to you have? Many of the starter guitars are pull and release changers which require a different procedure for tuning the pedals and levers. I don't know if those methods are included in the sticky. |
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Matthew Puro
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2022 1:13 pm
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Hi Jerry,
It's a Lone Star. Is there any easy way to tell the difference?
Many thanks! |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 22 Mar 2022 2:07 pm
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Posting a picture of the endplate on the changer end showing all the rods and nylon tuners going thru the holes will answer the question.
I don't know if there were manufacturing/design variations in the Lone Star 6's but I recall seeing one here on the SGF that was an all-pull. |
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Pat Chong
From:
New Mexico, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2022 4:37 pm
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Hi Mattthew,
There is an easy way to tell the difference.
When your changer is "at rest", (no pedals or levers are pushed):
1. An all pull changer: All the changer fingers should line up, and all the changer fingers have a return spring.
2. A pull-release changer: At rest, the changer fingers do not line up, no return springs on each finger.
There are exceptions, so this method is not foolproof. On an all-pull, things may not line up if the tuning nuts are overtightened. But this is a quick way to tell. And yes, there are different methods of tuning each changer type. However, as Jon brought out, a picture would help...
Pat. |
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Matthew Puro
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2022 2:12 pm
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I really appreciate the responses. Here's a couple of pictures.
 [/url] |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 23 Mar 2022 2:28 pm
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Yep -- that's an all-pull changer.
fyi, the 'tell' is that the raise & lower fingers are split into two pieces. On a pull-release changer, there is just one slab with holes in it. The rods will either pull the changer to raise the string or release the changer to lower.
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Matthew Puro
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2022 2:52 pm
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| Great! Sounds like I should be able to follow the stickied post to fix my tuning issues then. |
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Bud Harger
From:
Belton, Texas by way of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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Posted 27 Mar 2022 3:22 pm Call Jim Flynn…
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Jim builds Lone Star steels and can help you with all of that.
He’s in Salado, Texas.
A great guy!
bUd
_________________
bUd
1969 Emmons D-10 8f/4k; Evans Amps; Benado Steel Dream. |
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