Half-Stop History?

[Joe A. Roberts]

Been wondering as late if anybody knows the early history of the half-stop.
Who invented/was the first to use the half-stop on string 2?
i.e. was it a specific person or manufacturer? What year thereabouts?

I know Buddy used the D# to C# on "Touch My Heart" (1966) but I've seen people say he had a floor pedal that dropped that D# straight to C# back then.

Thanks!

[Pat Chong]

Hi Joe,

The half-stop (aka "feel-stop") has been a "standard" addition since I have started about 10 years ago. So where it came from/who started it is an interesting question, I'd like to know the answer, too.

[Ian Rae]

Like many inventions, it came about by accident. History tells us that back in the pull-release days, the first knee lever to be added lowered 2 to D and 8 to D#. Once it was possible to lower 4 along with with 8, the 2 lower acquired the 9th lower to C# as its new buddy. When folks started taking 2 down further to C#, in order to get there they had to slacken the 9th string pull to get enough travel, and there would be a "feel" where it kicked in. This could be made to coincide with 2nd string D.
This kind of stuff still goes on without a separate component.

[Joe A. Roberts]

Thanks for clearing up that "chicken or the egg scenario" Ian.
I wasn't sure if the 9th string lower came before the half-stop or if it was a byproduct of it.

[Rich Ertelt]

Like many inventions, it came about by accident. History tells us that back in the pull-release days, the first knee lever to be added lowered 2 to D and 8 to D#. Once it was possible to lower 4 along with with 8, the 2 lower acquired the 9th lower to C# as its new buddy. When folks started taking 2 down further to C#, in order to get there they had to slacken the 9th string pull to get enough travel, and there would be a "feel" where it kicked in. This could be made to coincide with 2nd string D.
This kind of stuff still goes on without a separate component.

I was working on Touch my Heart the other day, with the whole step drop on string 2. And at the 8th fret, he lowers 2 a whole step, and grabs the V chord, with the 8th string lowered a half step. I wonder if he just made the 1/2 step pull a whole step and kept the 8th string lower? That would make sense, playing with it, it would be a physically smoother move than I have to, with 2 knee levers. I wonder if that would have had the 1/2 step "feel" on string 2? Seems it probably would have naturally had that, like it has now with string 9, but I haven't found anything on it.

At least that is what I am getting slowing it down and listening. Plus Ricky Davis did a tab for it like 15 years ago, and shows the lower on sting 8. That would be with a "modern" setup, of course. So It matches what I think I am hearing.

If so, then half stops have been around a while? Not sure, would love to hear more on this from guys with more experience.

[Ron Pruter]

When I worked at Sho-bud in the early 70''s, that 2nd string/9th string half stop thing was already going on. RP.

[Ian Rae]

Good to hear that confirmed by an actual witness!
Thanks, Ron