Replacing the plain 6th string with a wound on a push pull?

Mark Greenway · From: Lake Kiowa, Texas

What has to be done for me to start using a wound string in place of the plain string for my 6th string?

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

1) Loosen the collar on the sixth string, at the bell crank.

2) Tune the changer for the new, much shorter sixth string raise.

3) Reset the collar on the sixth string to balance with the 3rd string raise.

You may, or may not, need to change the compression spring on the sixth string to get the balance properly set.

Mark Greenway · From: Lake Kiowa, Texas

Thanks Paul. I really appreciate you taking the time to help.

Thanks a lot

Jerry Roller · From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

Mark, I don't think you will be able to lower the 6th string a whole tone with a wound .020 or wound .022.
Jerry

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

Oops!! Jerry's comment reminded me that the wound string takes a much longer throw, not a much shorter throw. But the steps I outlined are the same.

I actually tried a wound sixth on my push-pull and it worked really well. But I don't lower the sixth string at all so can't comment on the issue Jerry raised (except to say Jerry probably knows what he's talking about.) I went back to a plain sixth because I prefer the tone. Just my preference.

Mark Greenway · From: Lake Kiowa, Texas

Hello Jerry,

Hey, I just recieved two sets of strings in the mail from Mike Archer today, and they have your name on them. I didn't know you had a series of steel guitar strings. How cool.

Anyhoo, you could be right about the wound string. I am going to give it a try anyway. It seems like I had that done to an Emmons all pull that I had back in the 80's.

Jerry Roller · From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

Since you mentioned it Mark, these are really great strings, none better in my opinion.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I like the Mangan strings for tone and general longevity. except their 38s. I break 10th strings more even than 3rds.

For the record, it wasn't the Jerry Roller ones. I still buy them. I like the tone
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

I'm not sure if a wound sixth string will lower a whole tone on a push pull either, but it's easy to try by loosening the adjusting screw and pushing the lower finger back by hand. The raise will take about the same travel as the third string, so move the wire hook to the hole closest to the changer like the third string is.

richard burton · From: Britain

I use a 22 wound on my push-pull, raising a half-tone, and lowering a full-tone.
The changer will handle it, but because of the extreme finger movement, I had to fabricate a couple of bellcranks, to gear the movement at the knee lever to a manageable amount.

Russell Powell · From: New York, USA

Back in the day, we all thought that the wound sixth wouldn't work well on a PP. I never missed the wound string in that position. Guitar will work much smoother with the plain string, I think

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