Consistently not pressing the A pedal down enough. Raise it?

Jim Fogarty · From: Phila, Pa, USA

So,

Even after playing a a year or more, I still seem to slip into the habit on my Stage One of not pressing the A pedal (and occasionally the C) down far enough.......screwing with the pitch.

Right now, I've got the C highest, A lowest, with the B in-between.

I've tried different pedal heights, but what's the general rule? Should I raise the A and C? Lower the B more? Try them even?

Advice?

Thanks!

- Jim

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Have them even AT THE BOTTOM OF THE THROW.
If you're not gigging with it and always practice in the same room, have them stop a half inch off the floor/carpet (if you have a thick pile carpet, you can let them touch the top of the pile).
This will have the A and C pedals resting a little higher because they have longer throws.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Jim Fogarty · From: Phila, Pa, USA

Ok. That helps. I have them almost touching my very low carpet. Should raise them all, and adjust so that they're even when engaged.

Thanks....as always....Lane. You're my sensei!!

Tim Heidner · From: Groves, TX

I've been having the same problem, I'll be doing some adjusting. Smile

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

If you're not depressing them all the way, you might want to raise them a tick.
You might also just want to adjust your habits. Run it all the way to the stop
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Jim Fogarty · From: Phila, Pa, USA

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

If you are practicing on carpet you may very well be pressing them enough but the entire pedal rack is moving down into the carpet. Place some kind of a border under the two front legs, small piece of thin plywood etc....

Also carry two pieces in your SEAT, ya never know when you may need them on a gig.

I had always been told, A and C the same height, B slightly lower , you want to be able to feel the A or B with your foot when on the B pedal. This is where that term "rocking" came from. Your ankle moves right or left, not your foot
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Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Don R Brown · From: Rochester, New York, USA

Two suggestions:

1. I went to Home Depot and got a 4x4 foot piece of plywood. That puts a solid base under the steel, the volume pedal, the seat - everything. More stable for YOU, and the pac-seat is not wearing holes in the carpet. Made a difference. Ballpark $20 and well worth it IMHO.

2. You have some good advice above on pedal adjustment. And/or/but - adjusting pedal rods is simple even for newbies and for those without gobs of technical knowledge on a steel. Go ahead and play around with it. Adjust it up, down, whatever, play a day or two (or only a minute or two if it makes things worse) and then try something else. You are not going to ruin it or do anything which can't be reversed. Figure out what works for YOU.

_________________
Many play better than I do. Nobody has more fun.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I'm probably different than most. Having them all even doesn't work for me at all. And I don't care if they all bottom out at the same level (time?).

I play Day style, but this would be the same if I played Emmons style.

A pedal is the lowest
B pedal a little higher than A
C pedal a little higher than B.

This allows me to bend my ankle to where I can press each pedal with one side of my foot while keeping the pedal next to it un-pressed. It also allows for releasing a pedal while keeping the one next to it pressed. I pretty much never press a pedal where the surrounding pedal doesn't have one side of my foot hovering over it so I can press it along the pedal I currently have pressed in an instance.

Having the pedals at different levels allows me to just pivot my heel and hit all combinations without having to shift my foot. Also keeps my knee pretty much motionless. Works for me.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

On my Stage One, I have A & B at about the same height, with C higher.
B & C bottom out about the same, A is noticeably higher.
This works out well for me because my foot rolls much better to the right than to the left. With A lower than B, I was always nudging B into some unwanted dissonant shlocktone.
+1 on minimizing the aforementioned foot and knee shifting.

Kevin Fix · From: Michigan, USA

You do want the pedals to bottom out evenly. If you are playing on carpet beware of the pedals bottoming out on the pile of the carpeting. I have 2, 1/4" x3"x3" plywood squares that I put under the front legs for carpet. (especially for thick pile).

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Fred, bottoming out together is the generally accepted way to set up the pedals. For most this works OK but if it works better some other way then set it how you want.

Franklin · Posted 9 Jan 2018 5:36 am

Jim,

We all deal with different physicality's... Set your pedals heighth according to what is most comfortable as you rock the pedals....

My A B & C pedals are set to bottom out in a slightly curved shape.

When setting up a guitar I start with the B pedal because it is my pivot position or home base. For comfort it has to be my lowest as it bottoms out.

Then I adjust the A and C pedals so that they are raised from where the B pedal bottoms out..Both are adjusted to a point of comfort for my ankle...I know its the right height when its really easy for me to rock A and C pedals with the B pedal.

All The Best
Paul

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I use two 1 1/4" rubber pieces under the rear legs to raise guitar up just a little. That prevents the carpet problem. These are round in shape, rubber pieces that are used with furniture legs. Four to a pack at Ace Hardware for $2.99 . I painted mine black. Come in brown. Easy fix. Thanks.

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