Pedal Steel Shop/Mechanic near Charleston, SC?

Patrick Shelton · From: South Carolina, USA

I just bought my first professional pedal steel. It's a Dekley S10 and seems to be in great working order, aside from one issue. I'm having trouble keeping the pedals elevated at the right height. Once I apply enough pressure to any of the three pedals, the deck that they're mounted to shifts upward, causing the pedals to droop down closer to the floor. It's still playable, but not ideal. And obviously not as it's intended to be set up. Any suggestions on what I might be able to do to remedy this problem?

Also, since the instrument is a bit older, it could probably use a good cleaning and just an overall tune-up. I used to live in central Virginia and once brought an old steel to Billy Cooper out in Orange. An amazing shop. I'd love to visit his shop again, but I now live in Charleston, SC. Not sure if there are any shops of that caliber nearby or any worthwhile mechanics who could get this thing in tip-top shape.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

scott murray · From: Asheville, NC

there's Billy Knowles in Kenansville, NC: http://steelguitareast.com
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1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Patrick, Had to read post a second time, What you are calling a Deck with pedals attached, Is called a PEDAL BAR.

The Pedal Bar is sliding up the leg, A quick fix would be cut a piece of plastic pipe. With the Pedal Bar at proper height, Measure from top of Pedal Bar to the leg adjuster clutch. Cut a proper length of plastic pipe and install on both front legs.

For A Neater Fix:
Take 1 of the legs to Ace Hardware or other hardware store and get 2 proper size Stop Collars, With Allen lock screws. To fit both front legs.

Remove the rubber feet and slide the lock collars up on legs, Replace rubber foot, Adjust pedal bar to proper height. Slide lock collar down to touch the pedal bar, Lock collar with Allen Screw.

The plastic pipe or lock collars will not allow the Pedal Bar to slide up the legs, When you shove down on the pedals.
Good Luck and Happy Steelin.

Patrick Shelton · From: South Carolina, USA

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Did Dekley change the way the pedal bar attaches to the front legs? I have a pre-Slimline, and the pedal bar attaches to the legs with a screw that goes through a hole in the legs and is secured with a wingnut. This would make it impossible for the pedal bar to move. The other method of attaching the pedal bar with the sliding plate that goes behind the leg could present this problem if you raise the front legs, like if you used longer pedal rods or a lift kit, without spacers between the leg clutch and pedal bar that Bobby mentioned.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Patrick Shelton · From: South Carolina, USA

Here's a detailed picture of the pedal bar and leg. Interestingly enough, I'm only having issues with movement on this left side. The right side stays in place nicely. Perhaps the previous owner install some longer rods (?) I'm honestly not sure.

Second picture is the guitar itself. Believe it's the Slimline model.

Thanks.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Thanks for the pictures.

In the second picture it shows the pedal bar on the right leg down 1 inch or so down from the leg clutch, The left leg, the pedal bar is pulled up snug against the leg adjuster clutch.

A quick cure, Would be cut a piece of scrap wood that would fit snug between the leg adjuster and the pedal bar. And a wrap of Duct Tape around the wood and the leg to hold it in place, Would make the pedals do their proper pulls. This would allow you to play the guitar without the problem, Till you figure out how you want a life time fix on it.

Good Luck and Happy Steelin.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Thanks for the pics and info. Is the right front leg longer or shorter than the left? Place the both next to each other and see if the clutch to the guitar end of the legs are the same. There definitely shouldn't be a gap between the clutch and pedal bar as there does not seem to be one at the left leg.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Patrick Shelton · From: South Carolina, USA

Yeah, I should've explained that I loosened the clutch prior to taking the second picture, as it was the only way to have any room underneath the pedals to at least make the instrument playable enough to determine if all the pulls were in tune. Which they are. It sounds great. Just gotta get that pedal bar leveled out and I'll be in business.

There's so sticky residue around the left front leg as well - perhaps the old owner had his own method of keeping in place - a method that's now worn off.

Thanks again for all the responses. New member to the forum, but I used old posts extensively in researching a good deal on a good steel. Got this one for 1780 tax and shipping all included. Really want to take it to a professional to have it cleaned and fine-tuned as well.

If anyone has any further suggestions about a shop nearby, please let me know. Otherwise, I might just haul it with me when I go back to VA for the holidays and give Billy Cooper a visit.

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