Tips and Tricks for Steel

Scott Swartz · From: St. Louis, MO

I thought I would start a tips thread, maybe enough people will join in that it will earn a "sticky" at the top of forum.

A couple small ones for keyed guitars.

1. To help tuning stability as well as preventing slippage of the string on the tuning key post, when stringing up I wrap one turn "up" the post, then cross over and wrap at least 3 turns down the post. This will cure any slippage issue on string 1, ie not being able to tune up to pitch because the string slips, its tends to happen on string 1 because of the greater angle up to the roller nut. The crossover locks the string very effectively. A very old idea I know but worth mentioning, I actually do this on all the plain strings.

2. When changing strings and I get to strings 1 and 2, I remove them both, and put string 1 back on before string 2. If string 2 is not present there is more room and it is much easier to get string 1 on.

[This message was edited by Scott Swartz on 29 June 2006 at 01:25 PM.]

Gary Shepherd · From: Fox, Oklahoma, USA

3. Wipe the spaghetti sauce from the strings when your 4-year-old is done playing your guitar. It will sound better.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

Here's a couple of handy ones: http://www.markvanallen.com/tips.html

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Mark, I use a two halves of a spring type clothespin to temporarily retain the ball end of the string, and hold it onto the pin. Variable wedgability.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

For string slippage, all I do is put a reverse-bend in the string on the opposite side of the tuner hole. then put only 2-3 winds on the peg, stretch the strings before playing - no slippage, ever, and no tuning problems.

Been using that reverse-bend for 30+ years and strings NEVER slip, ever, on any instrument.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

In my string-changing mode, I always grab a little rectangular pencil eraser to hold the ball ends in, and needle nose pliers to cut down on the dreaded "cuticle-stab" wounds.

J Hill · From: Colorado, USA

For a year and a half now I've crossed my fingers and hoped a string never breaks. So far so good. I hope this tip works for you.

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Leila - Can you post some pictures of you playing with your fingers crossed?

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

And my favorite tip, "don't give up your day job".

John Daugherty · From: Rolla, Missouri, USA

Gary S, since most steel players are so poor they don't know where their next meal is coming from, a better solution is: "Lick the sauce from the strings".

In the process you might even find a new "LICK".

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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

"Variable wedgability"

Funniest thing I've seen today. Thanks, Ray...

Ward Skinner · From: Mission, TX * R.I.P.

I use the Carter/Newman method of changing strings, leaving 1/4" mas o menos sticking through the tuner hole and bending it down. My finger nails are hard enough to make the bends, but the 6th string is the booger, and has ended up under my fingernail one too many times.

After a few beers one evening, our drummer/master fabricator fashioned a tool at my request. He took a welding rod and made it into an L shape, flattened the longer end and drilled a hole in it towards the end. Just fit the end of the string through hole and bend, so much easier. I will have him add a V notch at the end as well, which I think may be quicker.

David Doggett · Posted 30 Jun 2006 3:48 pm

I don't find a need to kink the string on the other side of the post. With the ball end attached to the changer, I pull the string out and cut it to the proper length. The light gauges are cut about a post and a half past the string's post. The heavy gauges are cut 2 to 3 posts past the strings post. Then with the post hole vertical I stick the string in until it is just short of touching the body. Then I turn the key until the hole is horizontal to the body and pull it hard to put a kink in it right where it goes in the hole. Then I hold it up toward the middle with my left hand to keep pressure on both ends and reach over and wind it with my right hand and a winder until it touches the roller nut and draws down into position. Easy as pie. It never pulls out of the hole, and there are no crossovers. As I wind it up to pitch all the slack and slippage comes out. This is fast and easy and works on all gauges with no problem.

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Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

Ward Skinner · From: Mission, TX * R.I.P.

David, you're trying to rain on my welding rod tool (pat. pending) parade. For a paltry sum + S&H I can have one at your door next week. Seriously, thanks for the tip, I'll try that next time.

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

Try this on your plain strings only. Take a piece of cloth with a little dab of "Mothers polish" or any other type of metal polish cleaner. Then pinch the string with the cloth with the polish and drag string through several times and then drag the string through using a clean cloth with no polish.

You won't believe the black crud that comes off a new string. Do not try this on wound strings.

Joe Smith · From: Charlotte, NC, USA

Hears a tip that works for me on those really long outdoor gigs. Bring along a can of Spam and some crackers. You never know when you might get hungry. Of course you should bring a couple of beers to wash it down. Mmm.

Harold Dye · From: Cullman, Alabama, USA

When changing strings, never take wire cutters and cut the strings before you release the tension. Far too much excitement!!

Kenny Brown · From: Auburn, Alabama, USA

after every low to high varying different bit of advice you receive..........

do what works for you the most.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

when a string breaks, make sure the ball end is out of the changer

C. Christofferson · Posted 3 Jul 2006 10:34 am

Iv'e heard it said - don't ship a guitar (6 string) on an airplane without loosening the strings. Would the same apply to a PSG?

Jerry Roller · From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

If you are shipping a pedal steel, be sure and put tight fitting wooden support blocks in the ends of the pedal bar compartment to keep the partition from being busted loose.
Jerry

Dave Potter · From: Texas

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

I never cut the wound strings before I get it tuned unless I have a 90 degree bend in it first. I started doing this with my Telly that came with the slotted tuners. The have a hole you stick the bent end into then wrap around the shaft.
The winding can come loose if you cut the string without a bend in it.

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