Compensaters

Marty Letz · From: Iowa City, Iowa, USA

Ok so Iâ€™ve been play a universal tuning for a while as I donâ€™t really play the 6th tuning all that much but itâ€™s fun to jump on and off it. I have three uniâ€™s. A â€˜94 Franklin, a 2013 Williams, and a â€˜74 push pull SD12. Iâ€™m going to be selling my Emmons as soon as I get around to it but all of these guitars the 12 string, 4th pedal do not return correctly. Until I hit my 5th pedal. Bill at Williams says he has compensators he can install on the Williams and if I get him proper measurements probably on the Franklin, I love both of these guitars and I had Mr. Franklin tune that guitar up many years ago as I play a day tuning plus I wanted a extended vertical knee. I didnâ€™t know anything about compensaters then and as nice as my Emmons is,( itâ€™s been tuned up by mike Cass ), itâ€™s too heavy for this old man to drag around anymore. The 12string 4th pedal it the boo wop for those who donâ€™t know. So when I replace the â€˜74 SD12 Emmons what guitar should I go to that has either a good return on the 12 th string or and probably plus a compensater? Letz

Dale Rivard · From: Ontario, Canada

Hi Marty, I have no experience with 12 string guitars but I can tell you the 2 Mullen steels I own, don't have return compensators and don't need them. I have a double neck G2 and a Discovery and every string that both raises and lowers, returns true(in tune). That's including lowering the 10th string a whole tone.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I thought All Franklin's have tunable drop return compensators. My 82 D-10 Franklin had them, and the prime reason, at the time, for buying a Franklin.

But, if a different pedal fixes the return problem, that is not a compensator problem. That is some mechanical binding problem and the first place I'd look at is the changer fingers. Oil the changer fingers as a first step. Make sure the oil gets down to the axle. 3 in 1 oil is good. DO NOT use WD40. Other areas to look at are the foot pedals - they need periodic lubrication too. Also cross shaft lubrication. You don't have to "inundate" it with oil but it does need periodic/proper oiling.

I had two lubrication problems in the 38 years I had my Franklin (both were in the first 5 years). 3rd string changer finger was not getting proper oiling and was sticking (why I said to make sure the oil gets down to the changer axle). Also tight foot pedal due to lack of oil.

Marty Letz · From: Iowa City, Iowa, USA

All 3 of my guitars have this same problem and talking to a couple other uni players they’ve told me this is a typical problem. Yes I oil the heck out of these guitars and the only pedal board I need to oil is the Franklin. Mr. Franklin sr also told me to use nothing but motor oil. Weird.

Steve Mueller · From: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Hysteresis is a physical fact on most steels on all strings with a raise and lower. You may not be able to always "hear" it on a particular string, but it's almost always there. It matters, in my opinion. Get pitch return comps from Bill Rudolph. It will solve your problem.
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2016 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2015 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2023 Williams S12 4 x 5, Milkman Amps, 1974 Gibson Byrdland

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

I have a couple of new MSA Universal 12 strings that work pretty well.
Seems like any new guitar would be smoother like a Mullen or Williams.
I chose MSA because they sort of have a background with 12 strings. Also, Mullen would not make an S-12 Universal at that time.
Very Happy with the MSA

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MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes

Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

My Infinity doesn't have them and doesn't need them. The roller nuts a large in diamete iwth a skinny ale. - Seems to eliminate hysteresis.

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