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Topic: Optimum pull rod/ bellcrank/ finger placement |
Adam Traynor
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 19 May 2020 7:45 pm |
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Hi ... I am new to the forum and am starting to get back into playing steel after stopping playing for the last 7 years. My question ( the answer is probably buried somewhere here, but I’ll ask anyway) is how do you determine the best slot in the bellcrank to put the pull rod in? I would guess for raises, the more tension you want to raise the string, the higher up you would put the pull rod, to give the greatest amount of throw?
Also, as a general rule, which hole in the changer finger would you put the pull rod in? The higher the tension on the string, the lower the hole in the finger?
I’m asking because I am having a lot of trouble getting the 6th string to stay in tune. It always seems to come back sharp. I raise it to B with a vertical lever. I also lower the 7 th string from F# to E.
For the bellcrank that raises the G# to B, the pull rod is on the highest slot. The pull rod goes to the highest hole in the finger.
For the bellcrank that lowers the F# to E,, the pull rod is in the second highest slot in the bellcrank, and goes to the lowest hole on the lowering finger.
I’ll try to post photos once I figure out how to
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 19 May 2020 9:41 pm
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| The shortest pull is achieved with the rod being in the position furthest from the cross shaft on the bellcrank and closest to the changer axle- that is also the stiffest. The reason that there are multiple holes/slots in each is twofold: 1- to allow for multiple changes on the same string and 2- to allow for balancing changes on a pedal or lever. Balancing helps the play-ability of the guitar by enabling all changes on that pedal or lever to start at the same time by varying the rod positions at each end. A classic example is the 3rd and 6th string on the E9th tuning. Generally the 3rd string is a .011 and stretches quite a bit more than the .020-.022 on the 6th string so getting them to start at the same time requires the 3rd string rod closer to the top of the bellcrank and/or closer to the changer axle than the rod for the 6th string. It is also important to note that there must be free play for all changes in order to be certain that the changer scissors are returning to their neutral position allowing the guitar to be tuned accurately. If you are lacking free play(checked by moving the bellcranks freeley toward the changer just a titch without changer scissors/fingers moving) then the result is usually lack of proper return or inability to adjust the change to pitch. The cure is either adjusting the pullrod placement or backing off the pedal/lever stops to allow for more range. |
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Eric Dahlhoff
From:
Point Arena, California
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Posted 20 May 2020 6:31 am roller nut
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If you raise a string and then it comes back sharp, you might check that the roller nut is not binding. Loosen & move the string and see if the roller turns smoothly.
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"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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Adam Traynor
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 20 May 2020 7:04 pm
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I tried that and at least one of the rollers was slightly binding. Possibly there was a burr on the nut or the roller. Hopefully that is the problem. However, I just removed the guitar from the case after sitting at least 3 years. I’m just getting back into playing.
I stopped playing for some unknown reason. One possibility is that I slowly came to realize that no matter how hard I try, I likely never progress beyond a certain skill level... just trying to be happy with what I can do... |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 20 May 2020 7:39 pm
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Sounds like this guitar is a candidate for a good cleaning and check out of the nut rollers and shaft.
Be sure to keep the rollers in order. And put back in the same slot removed from. A good way to keep them in order is take a plain string like the 5th string off the guitar, Cut key winding off end, string the rollers in exact order. Stick end through brass string button and bend tight. Clean and check Rollers, Clean shaft and polish with 0000 steel wool, Check slots for burrs and Aluminum Oxide bumps. Lube. Good Luck and Happy Steelin |
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