The British Steelies Society

Hi, I am new here and just to be up-front I am not a 'Steel' player - though I am a guitarist in my 70's. Recently a very close and good friend passed away in his 90's and has left me his BENNETT single neck E9 PSG. Although he was a wonderful musician, some years ago he modified the BENNETT by adding one pedal and removing the 'A' and 'C' pedals. I would like to return it to its original set up before passing it on. I think I have all the bits, but I do not know which levers to re-attach to the 'A 'and 'C' bars and which stings to attach to which levers in order to achieve this. You may need lots of patience but can anybody help me please? I have it in mind that it was specially made but I have no paperwork, and there is no serial number or model number on the instrument. Many thanks in advance Gerry K

I assume you want to do the work youself.
Photographs of the underside of he guitar would be of some help to determine what will need to be done. What part of the country are you in Gerry someone may live close enought to assist?
atb
Pete

Hi Pete, thank you for your reply, I am really pleased that somebody can and is willing to help. I am in Norfolk, about 14 miles south east of Norwich. I will happily post some photos of the underside and anything else that may be helpful, but how do I post photos? again many thanks and atb! Gerry

I'm in the North west so your a bit too far away for a visit.
regarding Photos in posts. I used the attachment facility for this...Underside of a 12 string Bennet with an early type of bell crank yours may well be different.

Gerry K wrote:I will happily post some photos of the underside and anything else that may be helpful, but how do I post photos?

See Resizing and Attaching Pictures to Posts.

Hi Pete, I see you are in Whitchurch, I'm originally from Salford, and I lived in Nantwich/Crewe until 2005 so not so far away at that stage really, but too far to pop over now! I have some photos that may help. Yes I'm hoping I can do the work myself, I can see that attaching the pull-levers shouldn't be a problem, but I need to know which strings the pull-bars need to attach to for the 'A' and 'C' pedals. Eddie [bless 'im] doesn't seem to have thrown anything away so I expect I've got all the bits [Photo] You would have to forgive Eddie for using a 3 pin plug earth pin as a stopper! that's typical Eddie! Again many thanks Gerry

Hi Gerry - from the photos it looks like you have a "keyless" tuner pan; a picture of the top would help to see if it's all there. The three bell-cranks in the lower part of your last photo are GFI parts (or very similar) which suggests that they are compatible - that is good because that company is very helpful should you need to buy any bits.
I think you really need someone to spend a little time with you to help make decisions about lever placement and show you how to adjust the mechanism so it works properly. Particularly since it is a 12 string guitar - which can be one of several "universal" or one of a few "extended E9th" set-ups. The fact that I see only 4 pedals (3 on the guitar and one additional in the last photo?) suggests it was an extended E9th (popular "universals" have 7 - generally!).
I have no doubt that you're capable of doing the actual work, but think you'll need help to understand the set-up. For example, there are some additional home-made parts to the knee-levers; those bits of wood and pipe lagging have been added to make the levers more "knee-friendly" (they're called 'flags') but if they go back where they are in the underside photo, the case lid won't close
Using the forum we will need to advise on almost each part you fit to the guitar - fun for us, but pretty aggravating for you trying to get the job done in reasonable time

OK Gerry,
You have what looks like originally a 12 string Extended E9th with 4 Pedals and 5 Knee levers. So no big problem to return it back to that assuming all the bits are present.

It will possible be best if you do a complete re-rod once you've chosen the Copedent.

If you intend to play this guitar yourself? there are decicions to be made that depending how your left ankle moves dictates wether the pedals go ( left to right) A, B, C or C. B. A. That is to say, a Buddy Emmons setup or a Jimmy Day setup, this in turn dictates best position for the knee lever that lowers 4th & 8 String.

A not so typical copedent e.g. https://b0b.com/wp/copedents/john-mcclungs-extended-e9th/

PM me your e-mail 'cos this is probably going to get complicated...

Greg Cutshaw has a decent Copedent on his Williams http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Williams%2012%20String%20Keyless/Williams%2012%20String%20Keyless.html although he does have 6 knee levers.

Hi Wonderful 'Steelies!'
Thank you for your interest and I will try to put you more in the picture! I am not [yet] a steel player, The guitar was left to me on the death of a very good friend. He was keen that I had it and told me some 25 years ago he was going to leave it to me! Though I did try years ago I couldn't even tune a PSG let alone play one! so I was going to return it to its original set up and move it on, however, at this moment I am of the mind that I may try again is it is such a wonderful instrument!
At the moment I am totally ignorant of the correct terms and names - I even had to look up the meaning of the word Copedent so although I am really happy to receive advice and help you will need lots of patience!
I wish I lived closer to one of you in order to chat things through face to face as you seem to be genuinely nice helpful people but unfortunately it is what it is! So I will be doing the work myself, I am capable and not afraid of doing the work as long as I know what to move/disconnect/connect and to where!
Thankfully, Pete Lindsley has my email and has sent me some advice, and it seems that I need to decide what set up I want, so I have chosen to go with a simple A.B.C.
Yes you are correct that this is a 12 string PSG though it is only strung with 10 as this is the way my friend played it. and I think you are correct about it being a 'keyless' tuner [photo enclosed]
There are only 3 actual pedals and it is drilled for only 3, the extra one shown among the 'bits' is a spare as Eddie also had a twin neck and had spares for both. Eddie added the 'flags?' to the levers - he had very painful legs [probably due to his occupation] and I assume the padding helped! I don't know how many knee levers should be connected or where but there are spares and yes the case lid DOES close as long as one lever is removed!
At the moment we have visitors so I cannot actually start the work for the next couple of weeks but I am looking forwards to getting on with it!
Again many thanks for your interest and help.
Gerry