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Topic: VKL too high to reach Any Solutions? |
Bill McCloskey
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Posted 14 Nov 2022 6:29 pm |
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| The Vertical knee lever in my sho-bud pro 3 is out of my reach in any practical sense. Is there some sort of slip on extender that would make it easier to reach? |
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Jim Fogarty
From:
Phila, Pa, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2022 6:43 pm
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| I bought some foam rubber, rolled it into a tube and taped it that way, and pulled it over my LKV. Gave me just enough extra size to make it work better for me. |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2022 7:00 pm
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| Pool noodle or foam pipe insulation slipped over the lever. |
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Glenn Demichele
From:
(20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2022 7:41 pm
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I put a Franklin V knee lever on my Franklin. The problem was that if I adjusted it so I can hit it, the case wouldn't close. My solution was to cut a piece of plywood as thick as the lever, then glue some heavy (and ugly) fabric around it to make a lever pocket. I then stiffened the fabric with wood glue, then put a layer of silicone caulk inside the pocket to make it grabby. Works great, but I have to remember to slip it on when assembling the guitar.
_________________
Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5. Both amazing guitars! Homemade buffer/overdrive with adjustable 700Hz "Fender" scoop., Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x TDA7294 80W class AB amps, or 2x BAM200 for stereo. TT12 and BW1501 each in its own closed back wedge. Also NV400 etc. etc... |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 14 Nov 2022 8:33 pm
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| Glenn that is something. Seems like there would be a small business here . Thanks for the suggestions. |
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Kenny Davis
From:
Great State of Oklahoma
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Posted 14 Nov 2022 9:58 pm
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Bill - I had the same problem. If you have the curved style levers, this could work.
I drilled a hole just above the original hole that set the height. After you remove the roll pin, loosen the screw and nut and move the lever downward to the desired height and use a fine point sharpie to mark the new hole and drill through the bracket. Find the appropriate size roll pin and replace. You can see the bracket through the original hole, it doesn't take much to drop it to a good height!
_________________
Best lyric in a country song: "...One more, Moon..." |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 15 Nov 2022 9:35 am
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The LKV on my LeGrande D10 is virtually useless for this very reason. I like to sit to the right behind the guitar and that means my left leg is already somewhat extended; engaging that KL is next-to impossible. To make things harder, the LKV is mounted about three inches in from the rear apron.
It's different with the vertical on my C6 - it's easily reachable because it's centrally-placed and is mounted right behind the rear apron. Currently, that's raising both Es to F and very useful it is.
I love my Emmons, but those almost-non-adjustable verticals are a real challenge. It sounds like a potential cottage-industry for someone. 
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, Quilter TT-12 & TT-15, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 15 Nov 2022 10:17 am Re: VKL too high to reach Any Solutions?
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| Bill McCloskey wrote: |
| The Vertical knee lever in my sho-bud pro 3 is out of my reach in any practical sense. Is there some sort of slip on extender that would make it easier to reach? |
Bill,
You could always make a flag for it.
Had that problem with my PRO-I and wound up making an extended crank and a real long lever.
Not a big fan of non standard parts but.........
_________________
John Drury
NTSGA #3
"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr |
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Ron Funk
From:
Ballwin, Missouri
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Posted 15 Nov 2022 5:29 pm
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I had the same problem on the Vertical Lever for my C6th neck
'had a spare knee lever, so shortened it and rounded the ends......into a "stub"
'Went to Lowe's and bought short piece of aluminum channel the same width as existing vertical lever on my steels.
Glued the "stub" to the aluminum channel, and glued short piece of Velcro inside the channel
Applied 'receiving strip' of Velcro on bottom of existing Vertical lever
Sturdy and simple to attach and remove
Same method may work for you -
Ron
Last edited by Ron Funk on 26 Nov 2022 7:43 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 16 Nov 2022 8:12 am
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| Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and inventions. I do not have the tools or skills to do most of the suggestions here, although I got some ideas of what might work. I think there is a small business here for someone. |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2022 8:45 am
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| Get some soft foam pipe insulating tubing (not the rigid stuff) at the hardware store. Cut it to length with a pair of scissors. Skill Level: 0.5/100 |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 16 Nov 2022 9:28 am
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| Yeah, that was my thought Fred |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 16 Nov 2022 10:08 am
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Maybe this will work?
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Billy McCombs
From:
Bakersfield California, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2022 11:10 am
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_________________
78 Emmons PP,Great tone.82 Emmons SKH #56 |
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Jerry Horch
From:
Alva, Florida, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2022 1:16 pm Love it
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Bill..that last idea could come in very handy for outdoor gigs...
_________________
Franklin D10 /Walker Sterio Steel JBL's /DigiTech Quad4/ Korg Toneworks/ Dobro DM 1000 / Santa Cruz Guitar VA |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2022 1:16 pm
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😂Definitely the right idea!
| Bill McCloskey wrote: |
Maybe this will work?
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But try this
Depending on how stiff the lever is, there will be some give in the foam. But it should reduce your kick-up by at least 1/2”.
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Dennis Detweiler
From:
Solon, Iowa, US
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Posted 16 Nov 2022 4:53 pm
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I put a short piece of pedal rod on both of my MSA verticals with a ball and socket. Set it to the height that I want and unhook the ball from the socket like a floor pedal connector and let the vertical lay down inside the guitar when it is unhooked. Works great.
_________________
1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8. |
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Steve Spitz
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2022 11:48 am Hight
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I’ve used Bicycle (BMX style) hand grips, and golf club hand grips . They slipped over the levers, and were really comfortable.
I’ve also used hard foam and a thin zip tie or two on RKR. Feels good, works good. |
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Steve English
From:
Baja, Arizona
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Posted 18 Nov 2022 2:48 pm
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Here's what I did with a previous Rittenberry:
All three left levers are 1/4" aluminum channel stock. The vertical has the wood piece screwed to it. All easily removable and very firm and rigid when installed. These all folded up and fit in the case when attached.
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Always remember you're unique..... Just like everyone else |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 18 Nov 2022 5:35 pm
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| Has anyone thought of strapping something to their leg? Like a sock wrapped in elastic around the thigh? |
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Glenn Demichele
From:
(20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2022 6:35 pm
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Maybe you'd look pretty goofy on break...
_________________
Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5. Both amazing guitars! Homemade buffer/overdrive with adjustable 700Hz "Fender" scoop., Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x TDA7294 80W class AB amps, or 2x BAM200 for stereo. TT12 and BW1501 each in its own closed back wedge. Also NV400 etc. etc... |
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Richard Alderson
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2022 8:19 am
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Vertical knee levers on some guitars are just better placed than others and that's why body fit is so important, or even a critical and determining variable. Also a great vertical lever will not only be within reach, it will engage and change the string pitch just by moving the lever up a fraction of an inch, by barely touching it upwards.
This is not really a solution but ............Since you are just starting out you can concentrate on A & B pedals and E levers until next spring, and by then you will have either gotten a different instrument or you will have done some sort of a vertical flag on the one you have got. Using the B flat vertical lever tends to come later in most instructional sequences, and there's always a way around it just for one note in one song.
_________________
Derby SD-10 5x6; GFI S-10 5x5; GFI S-10 5x5; Zum D-10 8x7; Zum D-10 9x9; Fender 400; Fender Rumble 200; Nashville 400; Telonics TCA-500. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 19 Nov 2022 8:49 am
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Clear tubing from Lowes or Home Depot, comes in various sizes and slips right over the VKL. I use a large size on at least 3 levers.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 19 Nov 2022 9:06 am
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Just to add, Richard:
The B to Bb is so important to me that I wouldn't dream of having it on a lever that was in any way difficult to engage.
I have it on RKL.
I'm looking forward to my Williams: their VKLs are infinitely adjustable. |
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Patrick Timmins
From:
Seattle
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Posted 20 Nov 2022 3:12 pm
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Had a client a while back with the same issue and wound up fabricating a dog leg lever similar to this one. Probably should have took a picture of it. This one is a dog leg lever for skinny legs.
It folded away perfectly and could be returned to factory condition with the old lever in a couple of minutes. Would be pretty easy for any little machine shop in your neighborhood.
Patrick.
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Microphones, Recording, and lots of pedal steel guitars! |
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