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Post new topic Fender 400 Copedent
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Author Topic:  Fender 400 Copedent
Jean-Sebastien Gauthier


From:
Quebec, Canada
Post  Posted 13 Dec 2022 6:41 pm    
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Hi all, I'm working on a 8 strings E9 copedent for a long time and I think I found a good one. I tried top 8 and then bottom 8 and in both I miss something so I came up with this one:

Tab:

     1  2  3  4    LKL LKR  LKR  RKR
F#   
G#   G     A
E             F#    F        Eb   D
B      C#     C#        Bb
G#   A     A
F#
E                   F        Eb   D
B      C#               Bb


With this tuning I feel like I have everything I need and I like having no D string so I get a full 6 strings B6 with the Eb lever.

I really like the Fender, it play well and sound amazing but before I work on installing the levers I would like to have your opinions.

If I really need 2 more strings I will consider buying something like a LDG but I hope to be alright with the Fender.

I love the playing of Ralph Mooney, Tom Brumley, Lloyd Green, Al Ruggs and Jimmy Day. I really don't have any interest in playing more modern style than that. The 60s is my favorite country era.

Any suggestions, cue, opinion or experience is welcome.

Thanks!
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K Maul


From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2022 7:21 am    
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That first pedal is VERY Mooney-esque! I like this setup.
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KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing.
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier


From:
Quebec, Canada
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2022 2:22 pm    
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K Maul wrote:
That first pedal is VERY Mooney-esque! I like this setup.


Yes that’s the Mooney pedal!

If I only can get Mooney and Lloyd sound I would be happy. That and having my 6 strings B6 lap steel with bottom strings make me very satisfied. That’s why I don’t think I need or want a 10 strings.
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Tony Oresteen


From:
Georgia, USA
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2022 7:27 pm    
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Look at Bob's 8 string psg setup.

https://b0b.com/wp/about-b0b/8-string-hybrid-d6-g-copedent/

He uses 5 knees.
_________________
Tony
Newnan, GA

Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139, '71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster Quad black
PedalMaster D8
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Mark Perrodin

 

From:
Tucson Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2022 3:03 am     fender
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your tuning covers it all. which fender 400 do you have? long scale or short scale?
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Jim Palenscar

 

From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2022 8:06 am    
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IMHO the lower return springs on the cable series Fenders are WAY stiffer than necessary and replacing them w softer springs makes the guitar play a hole lot mo betta'.
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Dennis Montgomery


From:
Western Washington
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2022 2:08 pm    
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Jim Palenscar wrote:
IMHO the lower return springs on the cable series Fenders are WAY stiffer than necessary and replacing them w softer springs makes the guitar play a hole lot mo betta'.


Absolutely! On my 400 I also drilled holes rigging up threaded eye hooks as a way to further lower/customize the tension. It may not be pretty but it feels great Winking


_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK

Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW

Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
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Ethan Shaw

 

From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2022 2:42 pm    
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Dennis, that's a great idea! Jim, do you know a source for those springs? All the local hardware places were a bust for me.
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Dennis Montgomery


From:
Western Washington
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2022 3:14 pm    
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Ethan Shaw wrote:
Dennis, that's a great idea! Jim, do you know a source for those springs? All the local hardware places were a bust for me.


Thanks! You probably notice I have a couple different type of springs. The heavy gauge ones are stock (I don't lower those strings so didn't need to replace them). For the light ones I used stock Stratocaster vibrato springs. Had to bend one of the ends to fasten securely but no big deal.

Cheap and should be easy to buy singles at any good local guitar oriented music store...or...I just found them on amazon. Fender sells them in a package of 6 for $10 to $12 Winking

ps: Can't help but laugh that they're officially called "tremolo springs"...the whammy bar doesn't adjust tremolo, it adjusts vibrato Rolling Eyes
_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK

Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW

Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2f0JOyiXpZyzNrvnJObliA
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Jim Palenscar

 

From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2022 3:24 pm    
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I have a box of springs that I draw from. It doesn’t take much and you can get them at most hardware stores and just make your own with a pair of side cutters and then bend the ends. I use an expensive (IMHO) bender called a Hook-On but a pair of side cutters works fine after slipping a rod or Allen wrench through the spring to keep the rest of it straight whilst bending the ends over.

Last edited by Jim Palenscar on 15 Dec 2022 5:22 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier


From:
Quebec, Canada
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2022 5:14 pm     Re: fender
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Mark Perrodin wrote:
your tuning covers it all. which fender 400 do you have? long scale or short scale?


It’s a short scale, I had a long scale in the last and didn’t like it.

There me with my 400 plugged in a 1969 Twin.
https://fb.watch/hrvDZIZ0dK/?mibextid=qC1gEa
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier


From:
Quebec, Canada
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2022 5:15 pm    
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Jim Palenscar wrote:
IMHO the lower return springs on the cable series Fenders are WAY stiffer than necessary and replacing them w softer springs makes the guitar play a hole lot mo betta'.


Yes I stretched them!
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier


From:
Quebec, Canada
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2022 5:16 pm    
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Dennis Montgomery wrote:
Jim Palenscar wrote:
IMHO the lower return springs on the cable series Fenders are WAY stiffer than necessary and replacing them w softer springs makes the guitar play a hole lot mo betta'.


Absolutely! On my 400 I also drilled holes rigging up threaded eye hooks as a way to further lower/customize the tension. It may not be pretty but it feels great Winking




Good job!
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Mark Perrodin

 

From:
Tucson Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 16 Dec 2022 4:21 pm     vid
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hey jean,
that was a cool video. good energy. playing live is so fun. you did good.
mark
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier


From:
Quebec, Canada
Post  Posted 16 Dec 2022 6:59 pm    
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Thanks Mark, I'm really just a beginner on pedals, I used to play non pedal steel but its lot of fun!
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David Ellison

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2022 11:53 am    
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What do you use the Bb lever for? ...just curious.
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Rich Sullivan


From:
Nelson, NH 03457
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2022 4:21 pm    
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David,

Think of the Bb as A#. With that lever engaged you now have an F#9 chord (without a 5th). That lever is analogous to the 5th pedal on a C6 neck.

Rich
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Tim Whitlock


From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 26 Dec 2022 8:44 am     Re: fender
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier wrote:
Mark Perrodin wrote:
your tuning covers it all. which fender 400 do you have? long scale or short scale?


It’s a short scale, I had a long scale in the last and didn’t like it.

There me with my 400 plugged in a 1969 Twin.
https://fb.watch/hrvDZIZ0dK/?mibextid=qC1gEa


Very nice Jean! I think the 8 string Fender is a great match for your style of playing.
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier


From:
Quebec, Canada
Post  Posted 6 Jan 2023 9:08 am    
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Thanks Tim! Sometimes I would like to have a more modern S10 or D10 pedal steel to play what people plays but I think that my own taste for music fit better with that old Fender!
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