Adding split tunings

[Nick Bidmade]

I'm playing an old Sho-Bud with undercarriage replaced by Bernard Curnow - so it's far from original, but no matter to me. Bernard is now retired, so spare parts are unavailable from him.
I want to add split tunings to strings 4, 5 & 6, so would need three bell cranks and three pull-rods, the bell cranks to fit on a 1cm square cross shaft. It's a bit like spaghetti junction underneath, but I think I can fit these in.
Does anyone know where I could get hold of what I need to do the job?

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Hi Nick, Would these solve your prob.... ? there are two of one sort and one different.... but they are all I have for square bar.... Jerry Fessendon gave them to me when I was in Vermont they are what he uses building the Fessies....

Attachments

[SteelieAJK]

Nick
Never done it myself and may be talking out of turn but looking at the diagram I don't think you need cranks, just additional rods & hex, the additional rods attach to existing cranks.

[Nick Bidmade]

Many thanks for the offer John, but I think Allan is right, I just need 3 x 3/16ths rods (presumably I cut these to size?) and whatever little gizmo it is that attaches the rod to the crank. The Curnow system has a little round brass jobbie that (somehow) fits to the crank. This little brass jobbie is drilled to take the rod and has a small allen-headed screw that tightens to hold the rod in place... I suspect there are as many variants on this as there are psg makers so don't really know if I'm making a rod for my own back (no pun intended), whether I should leave well alone, or seek skilled help to do the job properly. I should add that anything technical is pretty much beyond me... I can't fix anything that's broken and get a nosebleed at the sight of a screwdriver... but I have successfully made a few adjustments to my steel. I was going to take it to be set up, so decided to have a go myself, on the basis that if I was going to get it set up, any of mistakes could be put right - and found with a bit of trial and error, lots of photos on the mobile for reference, tweaking and twiddling, I did make enough progress, so still haven't had a 'pro' set up. Pedals creak, I get the occasional clicking from the E lower lever, so I will get it set up properly at some point... but am finding it's all good learning and adding to the enjoyment.
Any thoughts and advice gratefully received... I'll also post a couple of shots of the crank so people know what I'm waffling on about.

[Tony Russell Davis]

Yes, pics will be good. I think I know the system you've got (Sierra used similar? Pull-rod goes through the centre of a "split" bell crank and a collar nips onto it, no?) and it'll be better to follow suit or you'll end up with a rats nest under there; albeit a working one!
BTW, it's good to try and figure out the workings of your mechanism, once you understand it properly you can avoid much heartache when troubleshooting.

[David Hartley]

Nick,.

I am really confused with your request..

Why do you actually need split tuning on string 4, and maybe why on string 5?

Yes, you do on string 6 if you lower a whole tone on that string with a K or P....

[Nick Bidmade]

Hi David - thanks for replying.
This all started from 2 separate standpoints:
1 - to better understand how psg 'works' from a semi-technical point of view
2 - to see whether 'improvements' could be made to my own guitar - which I'm actually really happy with...
so - my first query was trying to understand why using the 'E' lower lever with pedals B+C resulted in a 'split' note that was sharp, while the E lower with A+B or 'open' remains in tune. One of the replies explained why this happens, but also showed how either screw thread adjusters under the changer (which I don't have) or extra pedal rods would result in a 'compensatory' fine tuning that would result in the E lower being in tune with both B+C and A+B or open.
So, going back to my guitar (details of which I gave in a previous post under this heading) - string 4 would require an extra rod if I were to use B+C and E lower lever. String 5 has a B to Bb lower with a vertical knee lever, perfectly in tune with open strings, but sharp when A or A+B also engaged. Thirdly, I have a whole tone lower on RKL on string 6 - G# to F#, which, when used with B pedal (A+B) results in a mid note that's sharp.
So, I have deduced (perhaps erroneously) that three additional rods would bring the sharpened notes 'in tune'.
As I said in an earlier post, this might be a)fruitless, b) pointless or c) beyond my (very limited) capability, especially as a bit of bar or pedal adjustment can compensate. My playing also probably doesn't warrant these adjustments as I am pretty much still a beginner on psg, but my ear tells me different!
So, that's the rationale - but I'm open to advice - difficult to give, I know, without the guitar and the player in front of you, but a few extra rods can't be that expensive, and I don't think I can do any damage - I can just take them off again if it doesn't work. (But that's a beginner speaking - others might know better!)
Thoughts and advice gratefully received.

[Nick Bidmade]

Uploading pictures seems to be much more difficult than learning psg I'm gonna check the forum back pages - John Davis must have had problems with this and posted 'how to' upload pics...

See you later

[Nick Bidmade]

As I suspected - uploading pics is totally beyond me... ho hum

[Arcada]

As I suspected - uploading pics is totally beyond me... ho hum

Did you look at Resizing and Attaching Pictures to Posts?