Multibender installation

[Steve Atwood]

I saw a pedal steel song on Youtube that I had to learn, so I bought a Multibender for my six-string Gretsch lap steel. Since this guitar is strung through the body, the multibender has to be raised about 1/8" to clear the grommets. I think I'm going to have a machine shop drill the necessary holes in the back of the multibender, and cut two pieces of hard plastic, one to go under the front of the multibender where the screws go, and one to go under the new screw holes in the back, then install it myself. Is there any reason this wouldn't be a good idea? Would a metal plate be better, or wood (the manufacturer recommended a piece of hardwood)?

[Iain]

Good luck with it. Just for comparison, here's my multibender-equipped lap

[Larry Lorows]

This is pretty neat. I didn't even know they existed. Larry

[Jay Fagerlie]

Steve,
Seeing how the strings will now mount on the bridge itself rather than going through the body, I'd carefully remove the grommets so the top is flat.
IMHO, having the bridge snugly mounted to the top will sound the best.

Those things look cool...I feel my G.A.S. flaring up.....

Jay

[Harry Dietrich]

This is pretty neat. I didn't even know they existed.

You can see it all here.



http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... er&start=0

[Steve Atwood]

Jay, there are other issues affecting sound here too. (1) The string spacing will be slightly wider (I don't know if the strings not being directly above the screws in the pickup will make a difference). (2) If I do raise the multibender above the grommets the strings will be further away from the pickup. (3) I read somewhere that through-the-body stringing makes for better sustain. This is experimental for me, I guess, and I want the wider string spacing and higher height, so I'm willing to sacrifice the tone. If I leave the grommets I can go back to the original bridge if I want.

Iain, from your photos it looks like you only used the screw holes in the front of the multibender. Do you think that's enough?

Another question I have is exactly what size screws to use. And what are the six screws for that go across the middle of the unit (it doesn't look like they're necessary to hold it together)?

I appreciate the feedback, Thanks

[Iain]

"Iain, from your photos it looks like you only used the screw holes in the front of the multibender. Do you think that's enough?": all I can say is that I've had no stability and/or tuning problems with it fitted that way.
It works very well...any problems are due to my cack-handed playing(!)