U-12 Fessenden??

Grayson Joe · From: Raleigh,Ms.39153

Can some of you Fessenden U-12 players give me some comments on your U-12, the action, body drop ect. i,m thinking about going back to the E9th/B6th, how smooth is the pedal& K/L on these guitars? i,v tryed the D/10 and the action is good on those.

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Joe Grayson,Monticello ms

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

There's no difference in the action between the two. If you like the action on the D-10, you'll like the U-12 as well.

David Doggett · Posted 20 Dec 2004 1:28 pm

Joe, I had a used Fessy uni. When it was stolen I got a used Zum uni. While the Fessy is a fine guitar, I prefer the Zum. They both sound good. But my Zum has smoother action and is easier to adjust. With the Fessy I had some popping at the end of pedal travel that I could not get rid of. It seemed to have something to do with the return springs. The pull-rods twist a little at the end of the travel, and this can cause binding and a rough end to the travel rather than a solid stop. The bell cranks are too soft and easily get bent so that they don't easily slide on and off the cross-rod, and you have to bend the slots apart to but the pull-rods in the bellcrank slots. Mine was used, and I had to make a lot of setup changes. If you get one from the factory with your setup already installed, everything might be okay. I just found that the Zum is designed really well - and the looks are incomparable.

I know a top D10 player who feels the opposite - he liked the mechanics better on his new Fessy than on his old Zum. I think a uni is the biggest challenge to a builder, because it has so many changes on a single neck. I have most of the E9 pedals and levers pulling the lower three strings the same as the strings an octave above. This puts 3 or more pulls on strings that have only two or 3 on a 10-string. It is more difficult to get all of those pulls starting and ending close together for smooth action.

This is all just my opinion. I don't mean to demean any particular brand. But when you come on the Forum looking for hard information, I think you deserve a straight answer - and this is mine.

BTW, my grandmother was a Buford from Monticello. I know the family goes back before the Civil War there, but I grew up in North Mississippi and was only in Monticello once.

Grayson Joe · From: Raleigh,Ms.39153

Thanks David & Jim, this infro. helps me on slection a U-12, i owened a 1983 U-14 for 13 years and the pedals& K/L were smooth on that model, at present i,m playing a 2002 D/10 Mullen and its a fine playing steel in tone & action, i just want to get back to the U-steel, and i understand that some of these U-steels the pedals&K/L is a little hard on action ect. I tryed a U-12 Mullen an early 90,s on a single frame and the action was great on that steel, and would go for a U-12 Mullen, but they only make a U-12 on a double frame now, i perfer one on a single frame. anyway thanks a lot for the infro.

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Joe Grayson,Monticello ms

tom anderson · From: leawood, ks., usa

I own both an Excel u-12 & a vintage Williams u-12, both on a single frame. I think the Excel is the finest built steel I have ever owned with very smooth pedal action, good tone, etc. I also love the Williams & though it is older, the tone is wonderful. I do notice slight differences in knee lever action, or pedal action on the Williams, but am only aware of it after I get up from one & sit at the other. It doesn't even seem worth quibbling about. The keyless tuners on the Excel are easier to adjust, but both guitars hold tune well. The newer Williams may have a better mechanically made keyless tuner, I haven't tried a new one. I would recommend either of these, especially if you want a single frame. Carter or GFI may also have single frames available. Carter has a used Mullen on it's website that looks like a frame & 1/2.

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