Compensator rods v The laws of Physics

[Jif]

It's all down to one's ears probably. I can't bear to hear a chord that is slightly out of tune, and my playing improves greatly if I feel that my guitar is fully in tune. I listen to the odd youtube clip where someone is miles out of tune and I think to myself "Surely they can hear that they are out of tune" but obviously they don't. Compensators move strings to such a fine degree that once they are in place you very rarely have to touch them again.

Ditto to that Ken, when I removed the original compensator rods and played it without them it was very obvious to me why they were there in the first place, hence I put a rod onto the F lever doing the same lift and it sounds fine now.

Calum, it seems to work for me, pity the problem comes back after a period. It will be interesting to see how long it holds after the changer flush!

It really doesn't seem logical when you think about it, you are raising string 6 slightly in the AF position, then if you engage the B pedal that rod should override the compensator rod, as in the compensator rod should then become redundant, i.e. slack as the tuning peg is no longer against the finger pull. If anything you would think it would not return to open tuning, no pedals or levers engaged. I'm sure there is some logical reason for it but I can't figure it

If you find a more permanent solution Calum, I'm all ears.

[Haddock]

My cunning plan is the answer to the question, 'How do you raise a string without using the raise finger?' First Barnes Wallace style test tomorrow to see if it works...

[Ken Byng]

PM sent Calum.

[Jif]

My cunning plan is the answer to the question, 'How do you raise a string without using the raise finger?' First Barnes Wallace style test tomorrow to see if it works...

Does this cunning plan involve little nozzles which spray the g#'s with supercooled liquid when the A pedal is depressed and tiny blow torches which heat the strings back to room temperature when the A pedal is released, if so I've tried it and it doesn't half make a mess of your guitar

Alternatively, you could have a rod on a lower finger that slightly lowers the G# with no pedals and levers used and a reverse mechanism which releases the rod when the A pedal is depressed bringing the G# slightly up in pitch. That might work better than using the raise finger as the lower springs would be more likely to return the lower finger to it's default position

[Haddock]

Geoff you are on the money! I probably gave too good a clue right enough......
Have tested the principal and it works fine but I need more bits and got sidetracked by my new change on middle E so its not happening this weekend! Did the big clean and everything is as it was so cunning plan is the way forward.
Cheers

[Haddock]

And to answer my own question, to raise without using a raise finger, you remove a lower. Love this machine!
And Donny’s hair gel is another whole can of worms.....

[Mcneilwaeasteel]

Calum
I have been following this post with interest for the past week and have reached the conclusion non pedal steel has greater advantages other than weight
Regards Donnies hair gel issue a little bird has told me there are no worms available anywhere near Colintraive
Just thought I'd add this comment to further boost my "blue box" count!

[Jif]

Geoff you are on the money! I probably gave too good a clue right enough......
Have tested the principal and it works fine but I need more bits.....
Cheers

Yeah man, these tiny blow torches are a bit of a speciality item

Good idea though, a bit of thinking outside the box to solve a problem, application of the NOT gate principle. Got to wonder though is this something that is specific to a Legend 12, others such as Ken and Will are using the same method using the raise fingers and don't seem to have any problems with it.

For me I think I will stick to a bit of lube every couple of months, it also has the benefit of noticibly improving the overall feel and action of the mechanics in the guitar. Doesn't seem to have worked for you unfortunately, are you using the A pedal or F lever to drive the compensator rods? From memory I think the problem lessened when I swapped from using the A pedal to using the F lever.

Anyway, if your new method works all and good, keep us posted on progress

[Haddock]

Hi Geoff
I’ve tried both A and F to work the comps and it’s the same result except when it’s A, the A pedal minors get stuck which is not so good. Mitchell suggested a wee bump on the B would sort it but actually it needs a bump on F if that’s the operator.
Will slacken them off for the moment until I’ve finished with this 'working for a living' carry on.
Don’t suppose you have a picture of your undercarriage? The non rude version would be preferable
Then I can compare with what I’ve done. I totally understand why it doesn’t work and totally don’t understand why it works on everyone else’s ! It just shouldn’t......
Drink!