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Topic: Why cant I tune my 6th string? |
clive swindell
From:
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK
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Posted 4 Nov 2002 2:36 am |
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I changed the strings on my Mullen S10 last evening for the first time and now I cant get the 6th string to tune with pedals down when it is in tune with no pedals. If I tune the pedal, then the no pedal goes out. It must be that the string is not being stretched enough with the pedal.
The only thing that I can think is that I am using a 20 Wound George L string wheras the previous string was possibly a 22Plain.
Can anyone tell me what Dell Mullen puts on his new guitars as standard and is this likely to be the problem?. |
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Roger Kelly
From:
Bristol,Tennessee
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Posted 4 Nov 2002 3:52 am
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| That's your problem....use a .022 plain and it will tune. |
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Ricky Littleton
From:
Steely-Eyed Missile Man from Cocoa Beach, Florida USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2002 3:57 am
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Not familiar with the Mullen, but suspect since you've gone to the wound string, you will most likely need to change the bellcrank position for the 6th. The wound string will require more pedal travel than the plain. As a rule, most folks use a 22 plain for the 6th, but as everyone Lloyd Green uses the wound 6th string and probably many others. Personally I still like the 22 plain for the quicker pedal throw.
Hope this helps.
Ricky
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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Dan-Echo, E-Bow
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Allen Peterson
From:
Katy, Texas
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Posted 4 Nov 2002 4:58 am
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I once had the same problem only it was with my 5th string. It broke while playing one night and I changed it in the dark. I just could not get it tuned with the pedals down. Thinking I had a major problem in the changer I took it over to Dr. Bobby Bowman. It took him about 30 seconds to figure out that I had put a 22 plain where I should have put a 17 or 18 plain string. He replaced my 22 with a 17 and it tuned right up with the pedals down. Man did I feel stupid having to have Bobby change my sting for me. He was very gracious and made me feel like it could have happened to anyone. Thanks again Bobby.
Allen Peterson |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2002 7:48 am
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My LeGrande will not make the change from G# to F# with a wound 6th string no matter how I change the bellcrank around. Somebody said to use a 24 gauge wound but I haven't tried it.
Erv |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 4 Nov 2002 11:14 am
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Erv,
Put a 22wound on the sixth. Forget the bell crank for a minute, and literally push the changer finger manually, to see if it will drop a full tone. My Carter drops a 22w no problem, I would think that a Legrande could equal that. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2002 2:42 pm
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Richard:
I pretty gave up the idea of a wound string. I was getting it close but the return spring was stretched out so far that the lever was getting hard to push so I gave up.
Erv |
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clive swindell
From:
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK
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Posted 5 Nov 2002 1:50 am
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Problem solved! - thanks everyone, what would I do without you.
Del Mullen e-mailed me to say it was originally set up for a 0.20 Plain so I changed the wound for plain and it works just fine.
What concerns me is that I bought 6 new sets of strings at St Louis, 3 have a wound 6th string and 3 have a plain 6th string. Now what would I have done if I had been on a gig and had to change the 6th string and put the wrong one on? |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 5 Nov 2002 11:49 am
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Erv,
I made an attachment for my steel (which conveniently passes through the bell crank), which allows me to use a much longer return spring on my sixth lower. This considerably reduces the pressure required to lower a wound sixth string a full tone. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 5 Nov 2002 1:20 pm
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Richard:
You're a lot smarter than I am. But then,
most people are! 
Erv |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 5 Nov 2002 4:59 pm
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I had that problem before but it was because I was "overtuned". There needs to be slack in the rods for the pedals to work right.
A way to see if that is a problem is to make sure all your rods can wiggle back and forth a bit. If the rod that affects that string is tight then that is the problem. Another thing to check is if when the pedals are not down does the open string change pitch at all when you turn the hex (changer end) tuners.
Bob[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 05 November 2002 at 05:09 PM.] |
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Steve Knight
From:
NC
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Posted 21 Jun 2006 3:36 am
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The forum is fantastic. This thread really saved my neck.
I changed my strings late last night & couldn't get my 6th string to come up to A. The lower was tuning perfectly to G (nevermind that I normally have it lower to F#, it was after midnight & I was too tired to catch this.) I found this thread & realized it must be because I switched to a wound string, as I've never touched my undercarriage. But, I was using the same set of strings I always use? The package said 22 plain, the inside string sleeve also said it was a 22 plain. Well, sure enough, someone at the factory slipped a 22 wound into my 22 plain set, even with the wrong packaging! Uggh. Luckily I had 1 spare 22 plain.
This thread saved my neck because I'm leaving at 8 a.m. for my first gig. It's out of town & I'd have no time/place to get my steel checked out before hand. I would've been forced to play without using a B lever on my 6th string.
Thank you Bob & all the people who post on the forum!
SK |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 21 Jun 2006 12:42 pm
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When you switch to a wound string, it should be a little higher gauge than the corresponding plain string to maintain similar tension. That will cut down on the extra throw that gives some people problems with a wound 6th string.
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Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards
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Mike Mantey
From:
Eastern Colorado, USA
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Calvin Walley
From:
colorado city colorado, USA
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Posted 21 Jun 2006 5:33 pm
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Allen,
Bobby Bowman is one of the few people in the steel business that can make beginers feel like they are smart, not stupid
he is a true gentleman
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Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Jun 2006 7:14 pm
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Clive. You might also try a 020 plain.
I've found a 022 to be to "clunky", and a bit too "active" on a standard pickup next to a 26 wound on the 7th string. For that reason I had JW build a pickup that had raised magnets under the lighter wound strings. It evened up the response a lot on my Marrs Retrofit even though I use a 020 for my 6th.
Just a couple thoughts.
EJL |
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