Bob,
I copied the following from the Carter website: http://www.steelguitar.com/askbud/askbud17.htm
Compensators:
There are two (2) types of Compensators:
Tuning Compensators: are extra "pulls" that allow you to be in tune with the pedals down (E9 to A6 when the "A&B" pedals are used). A typical implementation is to flat the two (2) F#'s (strings 1 and 7) about 1/8 of a tone.
Return Compensators: are extra rods typically attached to a fixed point, such as a cross-brace. These make sure any string that both lowers and raises will return true. Not all steels use or require this type of compensator.
The Carter site has a wealth of information on the mechanics of PSG - all-pull and push-pull.
Tuning compensators will only be necessary if you tune your steel to Just Intonation (JI). If you tune Equal Temperament (ET) - all notes "straight up" on the meter to 440 Hz as reference point - as I do, you don't need to compensate.
Hope to have helped.
Rainer
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Remington D-10 8+7, Sierra Crown D-10 gearless 8+8, Sierra Session S-14 gearless 8+5, '77 Emmons D-10 8+4, Sho~Bud Pro-I 3+5, Fender Artist D-10 8+4, Peavey Session 400 LTD, Peavey Vegas 400
[This message was edited by Rainer Hackstaette on 20 January 2004 at 05:55 AM.]
