Tuning pedals and levers?

David Berry · Post by **David Berry** » 1 Oct 2004 11:31 am

I've been playing steel guitar for about 11 months. I'm becoming a much more confident player and I just love the instrument A LOT. However, I still get kind of anxious when I'm out playing or jamming and find I have to tune my pedals and levers. Besides, they were just in tune when I left the house (grin)! I haven't had to tune the splitter or compensator yet, thank goodness. I can barely tell you what they do, much less tune them! What should I do to get over my fear of doing what should be relatively simple maintenance? I have a good ear, but you know what it's like when lighting is not good, people are talking, background noise, etc., and you hear, "we're waiting for the steel player." Thanks![This message was edited by David Berry on 01 October 2004 at 12:32 PM.]

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 1 Oct 2004 11:42 am

The #1 piece of advice is don't touch the pedal & lever tuners until your strings are warmed up. If you come in from the cold (or in from the hot into a/c) and start tuning your guitar and pedals you will be chasing after in-tune-ness all night. Let body heat get the strings to where they are stable, then start tweaking----if it's necessary. I discovered that it often isn't necessary once the guitar has stabilized.
[This message was edited by Jon Light on 01 October 2004 at 12:42 PM.]

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 1 Oct 2004 1:30 pm

What's the difference between a Pedal Steel Guitar and a '58 Buick?

You can tune the Buick...

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Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 1 Oct 2004 8:39 pm

Before I start a gig, I always pick the strings a little to be sure they sound pretty close to being in tune. I never touch the tuner until after the first set, when everything has settled in and warmed up.

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 2 Oct 2004 8:10 am

My old friend Bud Carter taught me a trick. Before you tune your guitar, rub your hands back and forth on the strings a while. This quickly brings the strings up to body temperature. Unless you switch to a different brand or gauge of string, you should not have to tune your pedals often........JD

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 7 Oct 2004 2:23 pm

Like everyone here is saying, it's always a good practice to play the thing for a few minutes, and then tune it. Once new strings are properly stretched and seated (that might take a few hours' playing), the pedals and levers should require very little tuning adjustment. Many nights, I never had to tune my pedals at all. If the tuning nuts aren't loose, the set up should remain pretty stable. If not, something's probably worn out, or out of adjustment, or maybe the guitar wasn't real good to start with.

One other thing...when your guitar sounds in tune with itself, and in tune with the band, it's rather pointless to "double-check" it with a tuner.

Larry R · Post by **Larry R** » 15 Oct 2004 5:53 am

Concerning stage noise and other noise in general while tuning, you'll be wise to buy either an amp with a headphone jk or a small mixer. Both have come in very handy prior to going on stage or just moments before opening up at an important gig. My new Evans amps have the headphone jk. I also have a Behringer UB1202 mixer that I have on stage with me just in case I need to tune without having to get up off my seat and go behind the amp to plug in the headphones. Also with the Behringer, I can use it in place of an amp when traveling and practicing in the hotel room. Also, I can plug in a tape recorder to it or portable CD player to practice with. It's probably one of the best small investments ($149 but you can get less expensive models) that I've bought concerning music gear. I bought a $12 pistol case at Academy sporting goods store and the mixer with the power adapter fit just fine in it. The case is not airline proof but I didn't buy it for that. I just needed an inexpensive case that would protect the unit to a moderate degree for my traveling needs. Besides, the original carton it came in was getting in poor condition.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 15 Oct 2004 7:26 am

I agree with everyone above. You shouldn't be having to diddle with pedal and knee tuners at a gig. If everything is perfect when you leave home, once the instrument has stabilized to the temp changes, and you've tweaked the string tuners, the pedals and knees should be as they were at home. If not, there may be some mechanical issues.

For tuning the strings and the occasional tweak of a pedal or knee, headphones are really nice to have. POD and other effects units usually have headphone jacks. And believe it or not, most headphones can be plugged directly into an amp speaker jack. Unplug the amp's speaker, and check that the headphone has at least as high an impedance as the amp is rated for. Most headphones have 4 ohm or greater impedance, which is fine with most amps. I've done this for years with no problems. It doesn't hurt the amp, and you probably wont blow the headphone speakers because your ears wont let you.

David Berry · Post by **David Berry** » 15 Oct 2004 7:37 am

Thanks for all the good advice!

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 15 Oct 2004 1:48 pm

I knew a guy who carried a hair-dryer to heat up his guitar during these cold Ohio winters. I thought it was hilarious. But then I've got a Kline, and I just never have to tune the pedals and levers as long as I don't change guages or brands,