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Topic: Steel Guitar Repairs?? |
John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Jun 2003 9:29 pm |
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There are so many good Steel Guitars being built nowadays, as well as there were in past years. There is one thing that I cannot quite understand! Why is there such a large market for Repairs and Rebuilding on these supposedly Fine Instruments? Don't people take good care of them or are they not as good as they are claimed to be? In 54 years, I have owned quite a lot of Steel Guitars, both PSG's and NPSG's. The only times that I needed any work done on my instruments was to update the copedent, but; never due to breakage or parts wearing out! I won't carry on with this matter, but; I'd like to hear some reasonimg behind this necessity! With an open mind on this, I remain, “Uh~” ƒƒ< “Big John” wknsg®
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‘Til L8R, “Uh~” ƒƒ< “Big John” wknsg® http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 7 Jun 2003 10:03 pm
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Well when I started out playing years ago...I had no idea how the thing worked mechanically...and would need someone to help me adjust something..cause I didn't know how...or couldn't get it right as things get un-adjusted through the years.
I did finally learn how everything worked and how to adjust it properly...and how to clean this part or replace that part...as things would break or get dirty or just not work as new; because of the dirt that gets in the piviot joints of the changer over time(and you can't just plop a drop of oil in there and have it new again).
And those piviot joints not working perfectly smooth...is what sends the adjustment over time...outta wack...and puts stress on pull spots and brackets and springs..and strings...and bushings...and bla bla...and that's what makes those other parts wear or get to where you just can't pull it enough anymore...or too much tension on the knee or pedal...or not enough...
So this is what happens through the years as one plays and does not know how to maintain the guitar properly and/or adjust it properly....and I had to have folks help me do this....until I learned and now I can do it for myself and others....and some folks just know how to do it and some don't...and has NOTHING to do with making the music on the instrument.
Ricky |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Jun 2003 10:13 pm
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Thanks Ricky, your point is well taken and from the looks of your work, I'd say you've learned well! Such work should be done by compitent hands! “John”
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‘Til L8R, “Uh~” ƒƒ< “Big John” wknsg® http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels
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Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
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Posted 8 Jun 2003 5:36 am
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I had Excel D-10 wich I bought from Scotty in `91 and that guitar served me til `99.For eight years I played everywhere and all the time and never had a single problem with it.Once I had a gig and Tim Sargent and Klay Walker`s band were jaming with us somewhere in Montana.He broke my knee lever.I fixed that thing in 5 minutes.If I had have my recent push pull at that time with me,there would be no way that I would be able to fix that myself.I sold it because part of the changer broke.But it was totaly playable, still.Its not like I couldn`t send that to the shop and repair it for a few bucks,I was just ready for something else.I also take a good care of my guitars.
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 8 Jun 2003 6:50 am
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| Only the repair shops can answer this for sure. But my impression is that they don't spend much time replacing broken parts. They spend most of their time on cleaning, changing copedents, and upgrading with additional levers and pedals. People have this done on their own guitars after they've played them for many years, or they have it done on older guitars they buy used. Just my impression. |
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John Lacey
From:
Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 8 Jun 2003 7:44 am
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| John, I think the other thing that happens is that people set up their own guitars without a thorough knowledge of how levers work and in so doing screw up the setups. This is especially true with Emmons original guitars as they have so much variability in their setups, causing many people when they first get them to try to tighten everthing without leaving any slack. Hence the guitars come out feeling stiff and spongey. Then eventually they get fed up and send the guitar to a competent Emmons mechanic and he sets it right. |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 8 Jun 2003 10:21 am
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Jerry Fessenden and I were just talking about that very subject yesterday. In his experience (and mine, from talking to players through the years), MANY pedal steel players only want to know how to TUNE their guitar. The nylon tuning nuts are the only adjustment they ever make. This includes players of all levels, although pro players who have to be in tune, ready to go every day often have to learn how to make minor adjustments out of necessity. Some top pros get a new guitar every year or so for that very reason -- it's less likely to screw up when it's new and factory adjusted. Not that they CAN'T make the adjustments themselves, some players don't choose to spend their time tweaking their guitars. It really doesn't take THAT much time, however.
I agree with others who have stated that most pedal steels are pretty roadworthy. There's the occasional poor choice of materials (e.g., the infamous Sho-Bud pot metal parts), but, in general, they stand up pretty well. I played a Zum S-12 for twenty years with no parts failures and very few adjustments required. But I did learn how to set pedal and lever travel, adjust return springs properly, and lubricate the moving parts. I can't imagine NOT knowing how to do these routine maintenance procedures, but many players don't have a clue how the underside of their guitar works. THOSE are the folks who frequent the repair shops. I don't think they're repairing broken parts -- they're just getting their guitars returned to playable condition after getting out of adjustment.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 08 June 2003 at 11:25 AM.] |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 8 Jun 2003 12:59 pm
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| General rule of thumb.....anything with more than one moving part, will eventually require maintainence.......ain't that the truth! |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Jun 2003 1:08 pm
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That makes sense to me¡ I need a lot of 'mantinance' too!
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‘Til L8R, “Uh~” ƒƒ< “Big John” wknsg® http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels
[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 10 June 2003 at 11:10 PM.] |
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Nick Reed
From:
Russellville, KY USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2003 3:29 pm
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John, as you know I prefer Emmons P/P's over anything new or old on the market. Last year on a gig, I broke a ROD on my '66 black D-10. It was the one that lowers the E's so I had to carry it to Mike Cass to be repaired. Also, I've had to replace a few return springs underneath as well. Now keep in mind, this guitar is 37 years old. So to me, thats not bad being the only things I've had to get fixed lately. Other than that, sometimes parts wear out and a rebuild becomes necessary. But it's good there are guys like Bobbe Seymour, Mike Cass, Jeff Peterson, & Duane Marrs who can work on them.
Nick
PS. . .Hey Big John, I might need you to sub a few jobs for me this Summer. I'm getting somewhat too heavily booked at times. |
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