Palm Levers on a Pedal Steel ?

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 10 Jul 2012 4:52 pm

I find knee levers uncomfortable. Maybe I'm just the wrong shape, but I've yet to find a pedal steel where having your legs in the right position to work both the pedals and knee levers is comfortable, especially for a long session.

Has anyone ever tried using palm levers to do what the knee levers are set up for ?

I'm not talking about using a Duesenberg MultiBender. I realise that that wouldn't work on a pedal steel. I'm talking about palm levers connected up to the mechanism by rods and/or cables, to supplement the existing pedals.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 10 Jul 2012 5:05 pm

Wow, I couldn't even begin to think how awkward and uncomfortable it would be to try and actuate some kind of lever with my hand as I was trying to pick.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 10 Jul 2012 5:11 pm

Richard Sinkler wrote:Wow, I couldn't even begin to think how awkward and uncomfortable it would be to try and actuate some kind of lever with my hand as I was trying to pick.

Actually, it's not as awkward as it sounds. I have a lap steel which I fitted with Multibender palm levers (see below), and, since you push them down with your palm, they don't interfere with your picking fingers.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... ight=wrist
After initiating this post I did some searching, as I suddenly remembered Mike Perlowin mentioning his wrist lever at one stage (see above).

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 10 Jul 2012 10:49 pm

What about blocking? Got any clips of you playing that?

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 10 Jul 2012 10:50 pm

Alan, Have you thought about a wrist lever ? YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC,

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 11 Jul 2012 4:23 am

Alan, have you thought about moving the levers to more comfy places?

Michael Maddex · Post by **Michael Maddex** » 11 Jul 2012 5:41 am

Alan, I'm not too crazy about knee levers either, but I do not think that palm pedals are the solution. Personally, I have a six-pedal, no knee levers, Fender 400. How about considering heel and toe pedals. PAB built at least a couple that way. Here's one that I think that you will recognize:

Just my food for thought. HTH. Enjoy.

Steve Allison · Post by **Steve Allison** » 11 Jul 2012 8:15 am

MSA did it years ago I believe. Don't think it caught
on for I have not seen it since then. Chime in Reece
pls.

Peter den Hartogh · Post by **Peter den Hartogh** » 11 Jul 2012 9:02 am

For the right hand could these fit behind the changer?

Or you could use the left hand and have this one mounted on the bar?

Vertical wrist levers. You push down on them,they're never in the way,you can
hit them with any part of your forearm and you don't have to fold them up

Levers surround the right wrist, allowing to get 4 of the 7 Standard E9 pulls

Dallas Cheked · Post by **Dallas Cheked** » 2 Feb 2013 8:06 pm

Michael Maddex wrote:Alan, I'm not too crazy about knee levers either, but I do not think that palm pedals are the solution. Personally, I have a six-pedal, no knee levers, Fender 400. How about considering heel and toe pedals. PAB built at least a couple that way. Here's one that I think that you will recognize:

Just my food for thought. HTH. Enjoy.

This seems to be the "Al Petty model". I believe he pioneered the heel/toe pedal concept.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Palm Levers on a Pedal Steel ?

Palm Levers on a Pedal Steel ?

heel & toe

Re: heel & toe