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Topic: E9-second string knee lever won't return to pitch |
Howard Steinberg
From:
St. Petersburg, Florida , USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2012 9:25 am |
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I had recently posted a request for some ideas as to how the lever that lowers strings 7 and 9 can be used. I received some great info from other forum members and set about checking them out. After about an hour the second string of my guitar would not return to pitch. The set-up is the second string is lowered from Eb to Db with a half stop at D. The 9th string is lowered from D to Db. The second string is the only one affected. The ninth returns and the lower is in tune.
My guitar is a 27 year old Mullen D-10. When I engage this lever it does not return the 2nd string to pitch. Looking underneath I'm seeing that the finger (not sure of terminology), near where the return spring attaches does not return all of the way into the changer. The changer is lubricated and it pushes in easily by hand. If I add some tension to the spring, manually, it goes right back in. I'm wondering if the issue is with the spring. Is there a way to adjust spring tension or can I replace the spring with one slightly stronger This pedal has always been difficult to tune, especially down to Db.
Another thing that I find interesting is that I can push the knee lever by hand and have the string return to pitch. Could something be up with the 1/2 stop??
Any info that can be offered is appreciated. Howard |
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Bob Cox
From:
Buckeye State
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Posted 7 Mar 2012 9:48 am
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| sounds like the spring. Just turn it a couple laps to start with. But before you do this , you may have another pull operating on this lever that is preventing it from returning. If thats the case you may need to add travel to that other pull to ensure enough slack where both pulls can return with a tiny bit of slack. If the second string is the only one you are pulling try tightening the spring a little bit but don't tighten so much it will be in another bind the other direction making it hard to engage. |
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Howard Steinberg
From:
St. Petersburg, Florida , USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2012 5:16 pm
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| Thanks for the tip, Bob. Allowing more slack on the 9th string fixed the problem of both strings returning to pitch. The 9th string tuned perfectly. The second is fine down to D and a bit sharp at C#. I can work with this compromise. Thanks again for your help. Howard |
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Ray Anderson
From:
Jenkins, Kentucky USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2012 5:35 pm
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I always try and tune the one with the longest travel or raise first. May not be the proper way to do it , but it woked in my situation. i.e. (whole tone and half tone on the same lever or pedal)  |
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