short in stature

Daniel Eaton · From: Weare , NH , USA

I'm giving some thought to shortening the legs & pedal rods an inch to an inch and a half to overcome my physical attributes { small feet,short legs,large sunken chest and pinned left wrist to prevent rotation}.
I know a machineist that can do this but I really don't want to do anything that would depreciate what I feel to be a fine looking Sho-Bud Pro2.
Any in-put from you folks that may have done this and wanted to kick themselves after? Should I sell the Bud and buy a new single Fessey {just 3 hours up the street}that can be built around me,I mean for me?
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Sho-Bud D10 With 8 & 4
Peavey Reno

Pit Lenz · From: Cologne, Germany

Daniel,

Being not among the tall ones myself, I had two legs and the rods of my Carter cut by an inch and a half, nothing for the faint hearted to stand in the shop and watch!
The rear legs had just the solid inner parts shortened just to push them in deep enough. With just a set of new rods they could be put on front position to have the original height back. The inner parts of the swapped rear legs would stick out 1,1/2" then, but the pedal bar would be back in the original position.
The reason I did so was mainly ´cause I don´t have a manufacturer around the block
This might be a solution for you, but
since you have a fine instrument there (not that the Carter ain´t) , why don`t you simply get yourself (no, rather your guitar) a set of shorter legs and pedal rods?
You would leave the steel in it´s original state and just play the lowrider version?
I´d guess in the end it´s also cheaper to keep´er..... Wink

Tamara James · Posted 28 Dec 2008 2:09 pm **alterning legs**

I hope I am not speaking out of turn here. I am of the not-tall-enough-for-my-steel group also. I would like to suggest that you consider having legs and rods made to your needs. Save the original legs. That would keep the steel in a resale-able condition and the new legs would most likely fit on the new steel if you should buy one. It seems to be a better method than cutting exisiting legs and making the steel harder to resell if you need to do that for some reason. There are several folks around who do this work for a living. I can suggest one.
click here for Don Burrows Shop

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

Learned on a "standard" height guitar. A new purchase was shorten by 1 inch.

It was like sitting in the cockpit of a fine sports car. Everything in reach, where it was supposed to be and very responsive.

h
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Howard Parker

03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard

Daniel Eaton · From: Weare , NH , USA

I sure appreciate your ideas. They're just what I needed, to do what has to be done. All though I was some what surprised at the price of new legs. When I comited myself to this inst. I'd have to make some adjustments and shortening the legs sure beats cutting a large halfmoon hole in the c6 section.thank you all.
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Sho-Bud D10 With 8 & 4
Peavey Reno

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Tamara speaks the truth. My experience says "trust her on this."

Spend the money, which probably will be 200 bucks +/-, and get new legs and rods made to the correct length for your stature. When you sell the instrument you can part with the original legs/rods, and your short set can be used on your next guitar.

My steel legs and rods are 1.5" short from standard, and I've retained the original legs so that I wouldn't have to discount the sale price of the guitar for the non-standard legs, when I do part with it.
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My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Daniel Eaton · From: Weare , NH , USA

Herb,the damage is being done on pay-day. Sure hope I still have a job when I get back from my 3 weeks vacation. I just can't imageine selling it,I want'ed one for too many years. I may just cut the originals and let my son worry about it when he inherits it{he's 6'2"}.
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Sho-Bud D10 With 8 & 4
Peavey Reno

Stuart Legg · Posted 29 Dec 2008 8:17 pm

Lower the back legs and raise the front. I know that sounds stupid but it works.
I have found for smaller statures, lower the back legs to fit the knees and then raise the front till the pedals when pushed clear the carpet. Most PSG can be adjusted to fit any stature by using the existing adjustments.
This assumes you don't mind the steel slanted back toward your body. A great number of pickers prefer this slant.
For instants Bo's dad was 5'5 and Bo is 6' 2" and the same steel was adjusted to fit both using this method. It could have gone much lower for even a smaller person or much higher for a taller person.
Here is a picture of Bo's PSG adjusted this way.

Daniel Eaton · From: Weare , NH , USA

Stuart, I've already tried that.With the c6 side down it's still a inch taller then my lap. Raising the E9 side puts the knee levers to high to reach.Going for the RKR or RKL puts me on a very loud pedal and it's still hard to reach.
The damage should be done tomorrow and I hope to be back in business
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Sho-Bud D10 With 8 & 4
Peavey Reno

Chris Bauer · From: Nashville, TN USA

What Mr. Parker said...

I'm just on the short side of medium height (5-10ish) and it never even occurred to me to play a shorter guitar until I sat behind one. I don't really know now why I was so astonished at how much easier it was to play but there's no denying it.

That said, if you chop it, DO keep the originals - most of the rest of the world will want a taller guitar.

Daniel Eaton · From: Weare , NH , USA

Sorry Chris, the originals are a lot shorter now.Hope to get the pieces back tomorrow. Times are to tough right now to buy repops. I just want to get back to the steel so the wife will stop calling it a "nice piece of furniture".When it's been a while since I've practiced that's what she calls it.
Dan
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Sho-Bud D10 With 8 & 4
Peavey Reno

Tom Quinn · Posted 31 Dec 2008 5:02 pm

Playing steel with lowered back legs is illegal in 12 states and three counties in Alabama. It's jes' plain un-natchural! Plus it will kill your wrists...

Dick Sexton · From: Greenville, Ohio

When your short, string height may not be the only concern you'll have. And buying a steel based on your physical size could mean your stuck with it. Using shorter legs and rods is an option and I've done that, but the placement of the levers under the steel for someone as short as I am, then becomes a concern. Turned 65 yesterday and just measured in at 5'21/2" tall in my playing shoes. For me, I'm most comfortable when my forearms are level to the floor. That puts the string height at a scant 27.5 inches. "That looks like a toy" is a common comment, but I don't have to worry about many sitting down to my steel and out picking me. They just don't fit.

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