14 holes?

Bryant Aycock · Post by **Bryant Aycock** » 4 Feb 2009 5:01 am

Tell me Guys, do you really need 14 hole bellcranks?
Thanks,
Bryant

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 4 Feb 2009 6:13 am

If you really want to "time" the pulls perfectly so that they all start and stop at the same time, the more holes/slots, the better.

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 4 Feb 2009 11:33 am

With square or hex crossrods, yes. Oldfashioned round crossrods, no. (But it's a PITA getting them adjusted.)

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 4 Feb 2009 11:39 am

I don't understand the reasoning behind what you said Rich. Even though you could change the position of the bellcranks somewhat on the round-holed cross shafts, it would be way more of a pain and look sloppy having the bellcranks at different pulling postions as opposed to all aligned nicely (whaddya want- good flavor or good taste

).

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 4 Feb 2009 11:52 am

Jim, as I said, it is a pain in the butt to do it. Having bellcranks at an angle changes the leverage so the different pullrods are moving a different distance. Yes, it doesn't look as neat as all bellcranks perpendicular to the body, but I'm not worried about people looking up under the guitar while I'm playing. (My playing sounds worse than it looks, anyway.)

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 4 Feb 2009 12:07 pm

Gotcha- and it is a PITA

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 4 Feb 2009 12:26 pm

Bryant
If nothing happens Clyde and I are going to see you all Friday night in Goldsboro,
Billy

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Feb 2009 12:43 pm

Most of the pedal steels I've worked on with round cross shafts have a flat spot on the shaft for the set screws.
It helps hold the bellcrank in position so it doesn't move around.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 4 Feb 2009 12:49 pm

Bryant Aycock wrote:Tell me Guys, do you really need 14 hole bellcranks?
Thanks,
Bryant

No, IMHO it's overkill. There's far too many pro players playing without 14-hole bellcranks to make any reasonable person believe they're necessary.

(Unreasonable people may try to convince you otherwise, though!

)

Doug Palmer · Post by **Doug Palmer** » 4 Feb 2009 1:25 pm

Jim is correct. The idea is to get the fingers starting and stopping at the same time. You can also change the stiffness of the pedal or knee lever. The holes in the changer fingers also affect the travel distance.

DP

Bryant Aycock · Post by **Bryant Aycock** » 4 Feb 2009 1:59 pm

Thanks Guys for your input. I guess we're all right. I just like to stimulate good discussions about this instrument we all love so much. Can you tell me the difference between an Emmons LaGrand and a LaGrand II?
Thanks,
Bryant

Bryant Aycock · Post by **Bryant Aycock** » 4 Feb 2009 2:08 pm

Hey Billy,
I'm looking forward to seeing you guys Friday night. Because of the scarcity of places to play, we are going to play this little "beer joint" at least once a month, on a Friday night for the door and tips. Maybe it will grow into a waterhole for musicians. Be prepared not to hear beach, southern rock, or rock and roll (maybe a little). Just HONKY TONK music.
Thanks,
Bryant

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Feb 2009 2:11 pm

Bryant,
The LeGrande II has 14 hole bellcranks and the LeGrande does not.

Bryant Aycock · Post by **Bryant Aycock** » 4 Feb 2009 3:43 pm

I guess Donnie's term "overkill" is what I'm asking about. Here is another example. Do you need a high speed ball bearing to support the cross shafts. The shafts don't move even 90 degrees much less one complete revolution. Why is a bushing not ok? This "machine" had to evolve and today's guitars are truly engineering marvels. They have evolved and so have the prices. How many have been bought with a 401k loan or a second mortgage. How can our young guitar players afford to get started. I know you can't build one for nothing, but cheaper wouldn't mean less than necessary quality. Come on!!!
Thanks,
Bryant

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 4 Feb 2009 6:51 pm

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 4 Feb 2009 7:08 pm

Bryant Aycock wrote: Here is another example. Do you need a high speed ball bearing to support the cross shafts. The shafts don't move even 90 degrees much less one complete revolution. Why is a bushing not ok? How can our young guitar players afford to get started. I know you can't build one for nothing, but cheaper wouldn't mean less than necessary quality. Come on!!!
Thanks,
Bryant

No. You don't need ball-bearing cross-shafts, or ball bearing anythings in a pedal steel, for that matter. IMHO, it's another example of overkill.

Pedal steels are still a bargain, however, and most of the whoopie-wow features a lot of players "want" (as opposed to "need") aren't really necessary. Just like with a car, anyone who wants one can find one that does the job for a reasonable price.

It's good you're questioning things. (A lot of players don't.)

Knowledge is power only if a man knows which facts not to bother about.

-Robert Lynd

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 4 Feb 2009 7:26 pm

I have a '93 LeGrande that came from the factory with the 14 holes.

Apparently there are no 'rules'.

Thanx,
Jim

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 4 Feb 2009 7:45 pm

The LeGrande II came out with 14 hole bellcranks but Emmons continued to use the LeGrande decals until the supply was all but used up. I have a 94 LeGrande II with the old decal.
Jerry

Tyler Hall · Post by **Tyler Hall** » 5 Feb 2009 10:26 am

I've decided that I ought to get rid of some overkill. I'm going to take the ball bearings off my guitar. While I'm at it, I think I'll take the power steering pump off my pickup. It's just overkill.

BTW, have you ever played a guitar with 14 hole cranks or ball bearings? They sure do balance up nice, and boy do they play soft... kinda like power steering...

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 5 Feb 2009 11:17 am

About 5 holes is plenty in my opinion.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 5 Feb 2009 11:26 am

But 14 is definitely not too many. How many pixels does it take to make a clear picture?
Jerry

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 5 Feb 2009 11:26 am

I play a Mullen U-12, which has 5-hole cranks and I was even able to balance out all three G# > A pulls on the second pedal. It would have been easier, though, with more holes and more options.

Lee

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Feb 2009 11:34 am

Maybe somebody can enlighten me, but I remember reading of a pedal steel that had some kind of a screw business on their bellcranks so you could adjust the location of the pull rod to virtually any position.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 5 Feb 2009 11:40 am

I only need one hole per bellcrank. Problem is, it's in a different position on each one.

Why doesn't someone invent a bellcrank with movable hole? I'd buy a whole set of 'em.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Feb 2009 11:48 am

Bob,
That's what I was talking about!
You could move the "hole" where ever you wanted it.

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14 holes?

14 holes?

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14 holes?

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