Pull-release tuning order (see my 5/16 post!)

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

I'm about to get my first pull-release (2023 6-string Maverick HD), after 5 years away from pedal steel, formerly all-pull....the 6 string is pretty simple, but does have all the combos of raise, lower, both, plus add an intermediate change (E-F# RKL on string 5), and tuning order is not easily found in the old posts....
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THE QUESTION:
What order do you tune in for each? lowers/raises/opens/intermediate?
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This post seems to summarize the place you tune, but not the order...comment/edit if you like:
-If a string only raises, tune raises at the keyhead, opens at the screws in or just above the deck behind the changer.
-If it only lowers, tune open at the keyhead and lowers on the screws in or just above the deck,
-Does your guitar have a window like most all-pull guitars? If so, for strings that raise and lower, tune raises at the keyhead, open notes on the nut/other threaded fastener on the raising rod, lowers with the screws in or just above the deck
-intermediate raises like the F lever tune under the guitar on the raise rod in the vicinity of the bellcrank). (EDIT:THERE NOW IS AN ENDPLATE TUNER FOR THIS)
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Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

Andrew Goulet · Posted 14 May 2023 4:38 pm

I have a pull-release Marlen. I first tune the highest note of a string at the keyhead, then the lowest note behind the changer, then the intermediate note under the guitar (for my guitar this is a stop screw on the bell crank).

This always seems to work for me. The guitar stays in tune and is rock solid.
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Marlen S12 and a ZT Club

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

Andrew -
Sounds good...I'm still not sure about the low E...I've got Eb (LKR), E (open), F (LKL), F# (RKL) to tune....

And the other E has Eb, E, and F....are you saying to tune the E "under the guitar"? (which actually is at the end plate near the top for mine)

And For tuning, I guess I need to let go of the concept of the “open” string being equal to the string note name and tuned at keyhead, as is the way on other instruments…

Thanks...
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https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

I've got two videos published by Jackson on the setup and tuning of the Maverick. After a quick search, I can't find them online. Can't figure out where I originally found them.
If you want them, let me know and I'll upload them to my Drive and give you the link.

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

Found them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V52h4BVeuU0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aQf_agIme0

Andrew Goulet · Posted 15 May 2023 5:58 am

Sorry Steve, I realizing that our guitars are quite different as I only raise or lower a string not both. It seems like Jon has posted some good resources though.
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Marlen S12 and a ZT Club

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

You should contact the nice people at Jackson Steel Guitars and not possibly be misguided here by someone who does not know how your guitar works.

There could well be a certain process built in to your specific model guitar that is contrary to what a different model or manufacture of guitar calls for.

Best to ask the people who built if for a definitive answer. Don't take the chance of following other directions and getting the whole thing fouled up.

I could tell you how the pull release guitars that I build function but it might not be the same as what you have. Every day I deal with people who have followed different instructions and made a mess of things.

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

Thanks all!

Yes, I do now realize that pull-release has gone through an evolution and individual guitars can be different.,..Dawn Jackson even mentions that in one of her posts here...

I'll check out the videos and then compare to my guitar when it arrives...hopefully they were made after the major changes were over on the Maverick...
-S
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https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

Whoops!!! this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni9aTKZwxZo

says to tune all strings to the "open" at the keypad, i.e. to the note corresponding to string name....and then do all the lowers and raises at endplate.
(Must hold lowers engaged to avoid obstruction to set raises.)

this seems just like an all-pull method...and different than all the posts here on how to do it

IN this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aQf_agIme0
he says to do it that way because with the open strings in tune you can keep playing and then touch up the levers/pedals later, if you go out of tune at a gig...
????

These videos were made some time ago, so perhaps things have changed??
_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

I spoke to Dawn Jackson at Jackson Guitars, and she said the method is identical to an all-pull guitar - tune the opens at the keypad, and then the raises/lowers at the end plate. Easy-peasy. Just like her Dad advises in all the videos...her other advice was not to pay attention to the forum for tuning a Maverick...

I don't know if this method, quite different from most other advice, is because the modern Maverick is different from older pull-release systems, or because they have just found it to work just fine...Dawn says that she actually calls the Maverick an all-pull guitar, just to make tuning clear...

She also advises substituting strings in the GHS Boomer set she ships on the guitar...use a .012 instead of .011 for the high G#, and a .022W instead of .020P for the low G#. She says those have more stable tuning and less breakage.

_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

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