The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic B Benders for dobro
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  B Benders for dobro
Michael Breid

 

From:
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2023 9:13 pm    
Reply with quote

Besides the Bigsby Palm Pedals which are hard to find, has anyone invented B benders for a dobro. I would like to find some benders for the D (1st) as well as the B (2nd). With my small fingers I'm unable to "pull" the first or second string while playing like some of the guys with Georgia hams for fingers. If anyone has any Bigsby Palm Pedal "arms" they are not using I'd like to purchase them. I can mount my Bigsby Tele base on my dobro. Smile
View user's profile Send private message

Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 18 Jan 2023 8:58 am    
Reply with quote

Here's a discussion from 2001 that may be relevant. Unfortunately the links on that page are no longer active.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Lee Rider


From:
Fort Bragg, California, USA
Post  Posted 22 Apr 2023 6:25 pm     Dobro Bender
Reply with quote

I work with Gene Parsons of StringBender. Gene started working on a foot pedal idea for Buck Owens years ago but the project died when Buck passed away. We worked up a prototype bender pulling with the strap from the headstock that worked pretty well but we both got busy and did not pursue the idea. It worked pretty well, just push out on the neck.
_________________
StringBender Musical Instruments selling Gene Parson's StringBender products
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

K Maul


From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2023 4:16 am    
Reply with quote

Duesenberg makes palm levers that raise OR lower strings. A spring holds the string to be lowered up to pitch. They are expensive but very well engineered. On this G tuned Beard Decophonic it drops #2 B-A and raises #3G-G#.



_________________
Kevin Maul: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Decophonic, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Webb, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Lee Rider


From:
Fort Bragg, California, USA
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2023 7:42 am    
Reply with quote

Quote:
Duesenberg makes palm levers that raise OR lower strings. A spring holds the string to be lowered up to pitch. They are expensive but very well engineered. On this G tuned Beard Decophonic it drops #2 B-A and raises #3G-G#.


I have one of the Duesenberg dobro benders. Set up for raising strings 1 and 2 but found that doing 2 raises at the same time really puts it out of tune. Have not tried a lower yet, figured that I might need a roller bridge for that.
_________________
StringBender Musical Instruments selling Gene Parson's StringBender products
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

K Maul


From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2023 2:39 pm    
Reply with quote

Lee Rider wrote:

I have one of the Duesenberg dobro benders. Set up for raising strings 1 and 2 but found that doing 2 raises at the same time really puts it out of tune. Have not tried a lower yet, figured that I might need a roller bridge for that.

I’ve tried D tuning, raising string 2 a whole and 3 a half. Generally I found it awkward so that’s why I tried lowering the B to A. I like it. Raising G-G# gives me a fuller dom 7 3 frets up and other useful passing chords. A roller bridge wouldn’t work for me because of the Fishman pickup. I use a graphite pencil on the grooves in the bridge and nut and that keeps the bends smooth. No need for a roller.
_________________
Kevin Maul: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Decophonic, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Webb, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

D Schubert

 

From:
Columbia, MO, USA
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2023 7:37 am    
Reply with quote

A long time ago, I mounted a Hipshot B-Bender on my Dobro, replacing the standard tailpiece. Tuned it to open E and could raise the B to C# when seated, like a right knee lever right. It was functional, but I put it back to stock after a period of experimentation.

With the Hipshot bender or Trilogy multi-tuner tailpiece, the change in string tension does result in some tuning/de-tuning issues.
_________________
GFI Expo S-10PE, Sho-Bud 6139, Fender 2x8 Stringmaster, Supro consoles, Dobro. And more.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP