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Tuning the Pedals and Knee Levers

  
     

We recommend you familiarize yourself with the adjustments section of The Steel Guitar Information Resource as they apply to your steel guitar.

There are two basic types of changer mechanisms used to raise and lower the strings on a pedal steel guitar.

  1. All-pull Systems:    All-pull systems account for almost 100% of all the steel guitars made today. The system on your guitar is most probably an all-pull type.

  2. Push-Pull Systems:    Steel guitar manufacturers basically have stopped manufacturing the Push-Pull changer mechanism (a few builders MAY still be making this mechanism). Push-Pull guitars were noted for their tone. The push-pull mechanism handled relatively simple setups well. More complicated, modern copedants and universal tunings, requiring triple-raise and/or triple-lower, showed the older, push-pull mechanisms to be inadequate and/or hard to implement and maintain for most players.

To tune the different types of steel guitars, follow these steps:

Type 1    All-Pull Steel Guitars.

Type 2    Push-Pull Steel Guitars
  1. Without using any pedals or knee levers, tune each string to the desired pitch by using the tuning keys. Work the pedals up and down occasionally while tuning to insure that the strings are properly stretched.

  2. Fully activate the pedal or knee lever to be tuned and note the movement of the tuning nuts on the right endplate. The holes in the endplate correspond to the string positions. There can be up to six (6) holes for each string. The 2 or 3 bottom rows lower string pitch and the 2 or 3 top rows raise string pitch.

  3. To tune a pedal or knee lever that lowers the strings, use the tuning wrench on the corresponding bottom row tuning nut. To lower the string more, turn the tuning nut in a clockwise direction. To raise the string pitch of a lowering pull (lower it less) turn the tuning nut counterclockwise.

  4. To tune a pedal or knee lever that raises the strings, use the tuning wrench on the corresponding top row tuning nut. To raise the string more, turn the tuning nut in a clockwise direction. To lower the string pitch of a raising pull (raise it less) turn the tuning nut counterclockwise.

Note: A slight amount of slack is necessary in the linkage system to provide room for normal tuning. See Pedal and Knee Lever Adjustments.

Tuning the "Half-Stop" The "half-stop" on the 2nd string (Eb) string of the E9 tuning is adjusted as follows:

  1. Tune the open tuning with the key as usual.

  2. Tune the full-tone change (typically Eb to C# ) with the respective nylon hex nut.

  3. Tune the halftone lower "feel" by adjusting the nylon hex nut or 1/2-stop adjustment. The nut should be adjusted to contact the half-stop changer finger when the 2nd string reaches its halftone change (Eb to D). the 1/2-stop adjustment will usually be located under the guitar.

  1. Without using any pedals or knee levers, tune each string to the approximate desired pitch by using the tuning keys. Work the pedals up and down occasionally while tuning to insure that the strings are properly stretched.

  2. The holes in the right endplate and their respective hex socket head screws correspond to each of the string positions. There will be two (2) holes for each string. The bottom row controls the open string pitch or "middle tone". The top row controls the amount of string movement to bring a string being lowered to pitch.

  3. Press and hold the pedal or knee lever that raises the string that travels the farthest. Tune it to pitch at the keyhead using the tuning machines.
    Note:    Plain strings require more travel than wound ones. The smaller the gauge or core wire, the greater the travel.

  4. Release the pedal or knee lever and check the open pitch tuning. Raise the open pitch (middle tone) of the string using an allen wrench to turn the corresponding hex socket screw in the bottom row clockwise until your reach the desired open pitch. Lower the open string pitch (middle tone) by turning the hex socket screw counterclockwise.

  5. Activate and hold the pedal or knee lever that lowers the desired string. Raise the pitch of the lowered string using an allen wrench to turn the corresponding hex socket screw in the top row clockwise until your reach the desired lowered pitch. Lower the lowered string pitch by turning the hex socket screw counterclockwise.

  6. For string that are raised or lowered using more than one pedal or knee lever, tune the second raise (or lower) by adjusting a small spring loaded tuning assembly located behind the collar on the bell crank.


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