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Topic: Loosening the pedal action |
Brandon Housewright
From:
Statesboro, Georgia, USA
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Posted 17 Jul 2003 12:41 pm |
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| I recently had a tune up on my guitar, but when I got it back the pedal action on A & C pedals are awful tight. In other words, a lot of force is needed to push them all the way down. Is there something I can do at home to loosen the action? |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 17 Jul 2003 12:52 pm
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| What kind of guitar? |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 17 Jul 2003 5:03 pm
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Unfortunately, you should have let the setup guy know B4 you had him work on your guitar that easy pedal action was important to you. On any guitar, you're dealing with leverage. You can have short throw OR easy action, or anything in between, within limits. A lot of players prefer short, stiffer action and if you don't specify the setup guy will probably give you whatever he prefers. Basically, the more you spread the throw out over a longer distance, the less apparent force it takes to make the change -- so it can be short and stiff or long and easy. Depending on the guitar, there are several degrees in between. Also, some guitars have helper springs for raises and some guitars just have easier action, due to their design.
If you look underneath an all-pull guitar you will see a multi-position bellcrank that attaches the cross shaft (where the pedal or lever is attached) to the changer by way of a pull rod. Where that rod is attached to the bellcrank and which hole it is going through in the changer are points of adjustment.
If you paid to have the guitar set up and you're not happy with it -- and you are near enough to the set up guy -- take it back. He can probably help some.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Brandon Housewright
From:
Statesboro, Georgia, USA
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Posted 18 Jul 2003 9:15 am
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| Thanks Larry. My guitar is a Cougar S10 that I plan to sell in a few months when I get my new S12 Mullen. I want it to be right before I sell it of course. The thing is that the B pedal is just as before, easy. And the knee levers are easy, too. Only the A & C pedals are different. I'm really green to mechanical issues with these things because my guitar is the only one I've ever played. But I played Buzz's Sho-Bud and good lord the action was smooth and there was a third of the travel required to use the pedals or levers. I guess I'll carry it back. |
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Bob Metzger
From:
Waltham (Boston), MA, USA
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Posted 19 Jul 2003 3:58 pm
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After playing steels with long, easy action, I would never go back to the short, stiff throw. I don't think there's any comparison.
Bob M. |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 19 Jul 2003 7:44 pm
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no disrespect, but this reminds me of the old and true..
"if it aint broke, don't fix it".
HOW many times have I experienced this scenario and heard others talk about it. IF a PSG has a problem, tell whoever you take it to,
"FIX that problem and leave the rest alone!"
"Or I will bile ya in earl. And that goes fer the mule ya rode in own tooo!!" 
carl |
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