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Topic: My C pedal suddenly stopped working |
Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 2 Jun 2004 3:52 pm |
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It won't pull the 4 the string all the way to F#. It was working fine and then suddenly stopped. I have no idea why. This guitar has a double raise/double lower changer, with an insert to change that partucular string to a triple raise, single lower.
The guitar is being shipped to Tom Bradshaw first thing in the morning for emergency surgery. |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2004 4:41 pm
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| Play without it. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 2 Jun 2004 5:27 pm
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Probably just a loose screw somewhere, or a stripped tuning nut, Mike.  |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 2 Jun 2004 6:57 pm
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What Bobby? and have a dull (not shiny) C pedal? 
What kinda axe is it Mike? Did the rod for that change move? If string 5 is working OK then at least the cross rod must be behaving properly, Like Donny said, suspect the tuning nut, or maybe the bell crank for that rod mighta slipped.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 02 June 2004 at 07:57 PM.] [This message was edited by Ray Minich on 02 June 2004 at 07:58 PM.] [This message was edited by Ray Minich on 02 June 2004 at 08:00 PM.] |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 2 Jun 2004 7:00 pm
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It probably is something really simple, but I looked and couldn't find anything obviously wrong.
The guitar needs a modification anyway, so this is my chance to get that done at the same time. |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 3 Jun 2004 3:18 am
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Hey Mike,
Just take that danged ol B to C# change off of that pedal like I did. Ralph don't use that so it wasn't intended to be on it. If you'll use the E to F# by itself it'll work fine.......JH
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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 3 Jun 2004 4:42 am
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On further inspection, I noticed that the part of the changer that is activated whemn one raises the string moves when I lower it.
The problem is definately in the changer. The bell crank has not slipped, and the tuning nut is fine.
The guitar is now 27 years old, and it has some other problems as well, although nothing as serious as this. I think it may be time to start thinking about a new one. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2004 5:15 am
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Donny,
I've been playing with a screw lose since I started and I don't seem to have the same problems as Mike ......Jim |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 3 Jun 2004 5:37 am
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" I think it may be time to start thinking about a new one."
Any excuse for a new Millennium. 
Mike, go ahead, you deserve it.
fred
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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real
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Jim Eaton
From:
Santa Susana, Ca
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Posted 3 Jun 2004 8:33 am
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Just how many times did you have to pump that C pedal to break it and have an excuse to get a new MSA, Mike???
JE:-)>
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Emmons D10 8/4 P/P -75'
Fessenden SD-10 3/5
MSA SD-12 4/4 - 76'
76'Session 400
86'Nashville 400
Bandit 112
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2004 9:08 am
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Mike,
If I am not mistaken, the MSA model you play has round crossbars. And the bellcranks are "squeezed" on by an allen screw. If my assumption is correct, a loose screw could be the problem (no pun intended ). But you are wise to send it to Tom. He will no doubt see it quickly and solve the problem regardless of its cause.
carl |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 3 Jun 2004 10:50 am
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Carl, you are correct. The guitar has round crossbars. But the bell crank has not slipped.
When I attempted to adjust the tuning nut, the string started to go sharp by itself, before is could be tuned to F#. As far as I can tell, the problem is in the changer.
BTW if I do buy a new guitar, I've have not decided it will be a Millenium. I am also considering Mullen, Zum, Fulawka, Williams, and Excel, and I'm open to other possibilities as well. I want to try out all the different brands before I make up my mind.
b0b, I can't live without my C pedal. I use it all the time.
Jerry, the B to C# raise is working OK.
As far as having a loose screw, I think we ALL do. If we didn't when we started playing, certainly trying to play thing thing has caused us all to go a little crazy. (In my case more than just a little.)[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 03 June 2004 at 11:52 AM.] |
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John Fabian
From:
Mesquite, Texas USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 3 Jun 2004 11:28 am
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| Quote: |
| I noticed that the part of the changer that is activated whemn(sic) one raises the string, moves when I lower it. |
This description is symptomatic of a return spring with too much tension.
Regarding your previously stated problem of not reaching pitch:
1. Check the string gauge to make sure you haven't accidently used an incorrect string.
2. With the guitar upside-down, activate the "C" pedal and make sure that the LOWERING finger is not pulling off during the raise. This symptom would indicate not enough tension in the lower return spring.
3. Make sure that the return stop plate does not have any grooves larger than about 1/16" deep. You'll have to remove the spring to see this. If there is a deep groove, remove the stop plate, rotate it 180 degrees so the non-grooved edge is now contacting the fingers, and re-assemble.
Note: Too much spring tension will rapidly cause excessive wear to the stop plate.
I think you will find the stop plate worn (3) and will also need to stretch the spring SLIGHTLY to reduce the tension on it.
You should also reduce the wear on the plate by keeping grease or oil on the front edge of the aluminum plate where the steel fingers contact it.
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John Fabian
Carter Steel Guitars
www.steelguitar.com
www.steelguitarinfo.com
www.carterstarter.com[This message was edited by John Fabian on 03 June 2004 at 12:36 PM.] |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2004 11:42 am
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| Quote: |
| I can't live without my C pedal. |
Death before dishonor! |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 3 Jun 2004 11:57 am
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It's amazing that these things actually need attention.. 
After Saturday nights gig I was packing up the Steel and realized the LKL was almost off the guitar it was so loose !
So I pretty much just blamed the guy I bought it from a year ago..I mean after all..
So Sunday afternoon I performed an "upsidedownectomy" and tightened and lubricated everything I could get my little fingers , allen wrench and open end wrench to. At the same time checked the springs and pulls for anything that seemed extreme or excessive.
Then I set it up to play a bit and I broke the first string on like the first phrase.So I just got up from behind the steel and moved on to a different adventure for the afternoon.
t
[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 03 June 2004 at 12:58 PM.] |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 3 Jun 2004 12:22 pm
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| After performing several of the "upsidedownectomies", and then working on my back on the floor like a transmission mechanic... I'm almost ready to build a rebuild stand like they use for engine blocks. Get an engine stand and modify the mounting plate to clamp the front legs to it. Then one could spin the PSG upside down real easy. That up, down, up routine gets old soon. [This message was edited by Ray Minich on 03 June 2004 at 01:23 PM.] |
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Nicholas Dedring
From:
Beacon, New York, USA
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Posted 4 Jun 2004 4:59 am
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| Could it be a lack of travel? If the nut is raising the string without pushing the pedal in, then you have too little slack space for the limited travel... increase the pedal travel a small amount, see if the problem diminished. I had that happen when I switched to a different set of string gauges. You will need to back off the nylon tuner for the B-C# raise on the C-pedal... but that might help. |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 4 Jun 2004 9:38 am
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Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I shipped the guitar to Tom yesterday.
The guitar was working fine and then all of a sudden it stopped. I did not change strings or anything. I had played the guitar less than an hour before it stopped working.
I think something in the changer is broken. Tom said this is possible, but he won't know till he gets the guitar and starts looking around. |
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Mark Herrick
From:
Bakersfield, CA
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Posted 4 Jun 2004 10:01 am
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| Quote: |
| I'm almost ready to build a rebuild stand like they use for engine blocks. |
Build yourself one of these:
Steel Guitar Repair Stand
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 7 Jun 2004 10:08 am
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If I remember right, one time I had an old broken string end lodge itself into the change, and caused that problem. It was a remnant from a prior broken string. Used a magnet on a rod to extract it.
Also, I had a problem once with too much spring tension, too. But, spring tension doesn't just change by itself.
I think its a string end. |
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