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Post new topic Fender 400,800 for non pedal
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Author Topic:  Fender 400,800 for non pedal
Kevin Ruddell

 

From:
Toledo Ohio USA
Post  Posted 16 Oct 2004 6:11 pm    
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Are the early Fender 400, 800 pedal steels useable for non -pedal playing ? Are they short scale ? Is the string spacing same as the Fender Dual Eight Professionals ?
If you would use them tuned to the C6 tuning what would your 4 pedals offer if you wanted to use them for chord purposes only and not moving passages. Has anyone played around with this ? I don't know a thing about pedal guitar.

thanks
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Chris Scruggs

 

From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 16 Oct 2004 9:13 pm    
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The early Fender 400's and 1000's(late 1957-1962) play like a 24.5" Stringmaster, since the tuning pan, nut, fretboard, and bridge are the same parts. I tune mine to the E9th Jerry Byrd used for the "Admirable Byrd" LP, but it works fine for early "pre Mooney string" playing.

Here it is:

1E
2B----C# (pedal 1)(pedal 4)
3G#---A (pedal 2) (pedal 4)
4F#
5E
6D----C# (pedal 3)
7B----A (pedal 3)
8E

Open it is E9th, with just pedal 2 down it is an E13/C#min9. With pedal's 1 and 2 you can do all the typical early pedal stuff, pedal 4 is just 1 and 2 on one pedal, but the advantage is when you press 3 and 4 at the same time, the entire tuning becomes A6, and you can do all the non pedal 6th tuning stuff.

So on a single neck guitar you can play Jerry Byrd's "Theme For A DJ" (open tuning), Webb Pierce's "Slowly"(pedals 1 and 2, or 4), "Lover" by Speedy West (pedal 2), or Noel Boggs "Steelin' Home" (pedals 3 and 4).

Another cool thing is you have Bud Isaacs' single pedal (pedal 4), and Jimmy Day's split pedals (1 and 2)all on one guitar.

Brad,

I know this is "No Peddlers", but it really seems that only non pedal players have any real interest in these guitars. I think we should give them "sanctuary" here, what do you think?
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Kevin Ruddell

 

From:
Toledo Ohio USA
Post  Posted 17 Oct 2004 7:05 am    
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Chris , thank you for your response and info. I can play my Goldtone 25" scale lap steel guitar fine, but slants are definitely more comfortable on my short scale Fender and GeorgeBoard non pedal instruments. I'm assuming all pedal instruments incl. the Fenders would not be short scale due to the nature of the instrument? Is this correct.
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John Bechtel


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 17 Oct 2004 8:41 pm    
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The Original 400's and 1000's had a 24½” scale. When the 800's and 2000's were introduced, the scale, thankfully; was shortened to 23”. The leftover body-length was taken up by the longer tuning-well(s), and the added mute-assembly(s).

------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
(2)-Fender ’49–’50 T–8 Customs
Fender ’65 Reissue Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
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Paul Arntson


From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 17 Oct 2004 11:02 pm    
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post deleted and moved to its own string - see "recommendation of Fender 1000..."

Sorry 'bout that, guys. I got carried away.
-paul

[This message was edited by Paul Arntson on 18 October 2004 at 10:39 AM.]

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basilh


From:
United Kingdom
Post  Posted 18 Oct 2004 3:12 am    
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Moved . to new home..

[This message was edited by basilh on 18 October 2004 at 11:27 AM.]

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Paul Arntson


From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 18 Oct 2004 9:24 am    
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see above.

[This message was edited by Paul Arntson on 18 October 2004 at 10:39 AM.]

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