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Topic: Mechanical genius required! |
Tony Boadle
From: Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 10 Apr 2016 2:07 am
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I have fitted two simple knee levers to my 'SX eight stringpkus Multibender' lap steel....the knee levers pull down twoof the three 'Bender fingers. It all works fine, an ideal solution for my needs.
The only drawback is the amount of knee movement required to pull down the B to C# finger. I know I could lower the point where the pull-cable meets the knee lever, but that might then be too low andinterfere with my knee.
I didn't listen too carefully during physical science lessons at school, so I'm just wondering if there's another solution (involving levers, pulleys or anything else) that would reduce the amount of knee lever movement to achieve the same pull travel on the finger?
'Why didn't I think of that' solutions welcome!
![](http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1504/10036_IMG_20160410_091913_1.jpg) |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From: Saugerties, NY
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Posted 10 Apr 2016 6:16 am
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Carters sometimes used an extra puller, inserted between the main cross shaft puller and the changer. Their intent was actually the reverse of your need, to reduce the pull for the purpose of synchronizing the pulls of the 3rd and 6th strings on E9 (the two strings needing significantly different leverage due to gauge/physics.) and hence their rodding would be the reverse of the illustration.
This quick graphic illustrates an additional puller that introduces a gear-up lever into the works.
As to how it will affect the feel of the lever....I have no clue. Trial and error is the only way. Multiple holes and a simple connection method could make the testing process fairly simple.
![](http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1504/753_bellcrank_leverage2_1.jpg) |
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Tony Boadle
From: Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 10 Apr 2016 10:25 am
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Great idea....and a cool graphic! Many thanks. |
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Peter Harris
From: South Australia, Australia
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Posted 11 Apr 2016 1:52 am
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Ambush a local kid and steal his Meccano Set... ![Laughing](images/smiles/icon_lol.gif) _________________ If my wife is reading this, I don't have much stuff....really! |
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Brad Bechtel
From: San Francisco, CA
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Posted 11 Apr 2016 6:36 am
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You might ask this in Pedal Steel rather than Steel Without Pedals. I have a feeling you'll find more experienced people in that section. _________________ Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Tony Boadle
From: Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 11 Apr 2016 1:15 pm
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Peter Harris wrote: |
Ambush a local kid and steal his Meccano Set... ![Laughing](images/smiles/icon_lol.gif) |
I'd be amazed if any kid would know what a Meccano set
was these days....you're showing your age! |
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Tony Boadle
From: Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 11 Apr 2016 1:20 pm
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Brad Bechtel wrote: |
You might ask this in Pedal Steel rather than Steel Without Pedals. I have a feeling you'll find more experienced people in that section. |
Thanks for the suggestion Brad....I'm falling between two stools here, neither one nor the other.
Maybe I should start a new section altogether! 'Steel without pedals but with knee levers and a Multibender'
Kinda catchy ain't it? |
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George Piburn
From: The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Peter den Hartogh
From: Cape Town, South Africa
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Posted 12 Apr 2016 3:38 am
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Try a heavier gauge string. It will pull faster. |
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