Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2007 5:46 pm |
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A local guy called me asking if I would fix his old Marlen for him.. He says he thinks "something is wrong" with his ABC pedals... from what I could piece together over the phone, it sounded like it may be set up Day style... He said the endplate tuners were SLOT head screws!!.. yikes...
I will not get too involved, but I am a pretty fair hack artist on pedal steels and will have a look,,,
anyone have a small amout of info to get started???
I imagine this may be one of the infamous "pull and release" style changers..
anything to watch out for???.. If its a really whacked out oddball I may pass,but I have fixed up many steels and should be able to figure it out if its fairly straightforward... we'll see... meantime, I would appreciate any small help... bob |
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David Collins
From:
Madison, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 3:29 am
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Hi bob,
From your description, it is most likely the pull/release type changer. (I have an old Marlen like this and it is AWESOME sounding)
Properly set up, they play and stay in tune very well.
To tune:
Tune raises at the key head with pedals or levers activated. Tune "open" note with slot head screw.
Tune lowers "open" at key head and "activated" with screw.
Like Push/Pull, slack and travel are critical. On the very first Marlens, the mechanics were welded, much like the Sho-Bud permanant. If this is the case, someone would have to really love the guitar to go to the work and expense of rebuilding. That would be worst case of course.
The springs on the changer end screws are a typical problem when tuning drifts a lot. They are easily obtained at most any hardware store and easily replaced.
There are small hex nuts on the rods at the changer finger. Here again, easily obtained and replaced. They need to be "nylock" or some type of secure fastener.
Pedal stops are a piece of cake once you look the system over.
Once you get your hands on this piece fo history, feel free to e-mail me. I'll be most happy to share my experiences on my guitar if it will help at all.
Good luck, and let's get this wonderful old guitar back on the stage!
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David Collins
www.chjoyce.com |
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