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Topic: Help with tuning issue - B pedal, 6th string |
Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 11 Jun 2013 12:38 pm |
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I have an MSA Sidekick (not ProAm). I do not have much problem getting my 3rd string & B pedal raise in tune, but the B pedal shoots the 6th string significantly sharp. Can't seem to find a happy medium.
What do I need to adjust to avoid the sharp note on the 6th string with B pedal?
Note - I have the same issue whether tuning straight up or "sweetened" (Peterson values). |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 12 Jun 2013 4:43 am
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| Any help from folks familiar with the Sidekick would be greatly appreciated. I am using the tuning method as described in the original manual included with the guitar. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 12 Jun 2013 9:11 am
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Sidekick is pull-release, right? Tune at the keyhead with B pedal, release B pedal and tune the G# with the wrench.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 12 Jun 2013 10:03 am
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
| Sidekick is pull-release, right? Tune at the keyhead with B pedal, release B pedal and tune the G# with the wrench. |
Thanks. Yeah, that's what I'm doing. If I get the G# in tune, the raise to A is sharp. If I get the raise to A in tune, the G# is flat. I have to compromise with a slightly flat G# and a slightly sharp A. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 12 Jun 2013 10:54 am
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You mean you tune the A note at the keyhead, but when you release the pedal, turning the screw won't bring the G# up?
How far off 70 is St. Charles? I'll have some time Saturday...
Never mind. You're IP by Chicago. My semi staya on I-70
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 12 Jun 2013 11:17 am
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
You mean you tune the A note at the keyhead, but when you release the pedal, turning the screw won't bring the G# up?
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No, I mean I tune the G# at the keyhead, push down the B pedal, and tune the A at the keyhead. Release pedal, retune the G# with the allen wrench at the bridge end. Push down B pedal, now the A is sharp, so I retune to A at the keyhead. Release pedal, now G# is flat, retune with allen wrench, push B pedal, and guess what? A is sharp.
...repeat ad nauseum. They are never both in tune. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 12 Jun 2013 11:36 am
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Hmmmm. The pedal is supposed to pull the finger all the way to the body. That means the A should be immobile,, with the adjustment at the changer altering the resting point. Turn the guitar over, and operate the pedal, observing the action of both 3 and 6. In such a simple system, positively Archimedean, you should be able to see the problem.
I'll bet the pull doesn't take the finger to the body.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 12 Jun 2013 11:50 am
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Alright, something to check out this evening. I shall report back.
Thanks! |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 12 Jun 2013 11:59 am
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The good news is you report that the other pulls work properly. So you havewhat the scientists call "controls"
Also note the behavior of pedals A and C. 6 will almost certainly act different.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 13 Jun 2013 5:50 am
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Ok, after looking under the MSA's skirt for awhile, I saw that the changers were all behaving consistently. So I tried the simplest thing - adjusted the screw at the top of the pedal rod, like I do to adjust the C pedal raise on the 5th string. Boom. Readjusted the raise on string 3 and all seems to be well.
I feel kinda silly, but hey, I learned. As is often the case, the simple solution is the right solution...thankfully. Guitar techs who know pedal steel are extremely rare in the Chicago suburbs. So when things go wrong, it's easy for me to panic. I'm always thankful when I find a simple solution that even I, the most mechanically UN-inclined person I know, can successfully achieve.
Thanks for taking the time and making the suggestions, Lane! |
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