5th knee lever

[Jerry Dragon]

This may not be the right category, if not, please move. My Dekley originally had 4 knee levers. A fifth was added, you push up with your knee. It lowers the 5th and 10th string. I am not sure by how many steps it should lower it. The 10 string is being lowered a whole step. The 5th string is being lowered more than that. I figure they should both lower the same amount and the 5th string should be retuned to match the 10th string? None of my other knees or pedals raise or lower more than a whole step I am pretty sure. I could use some pointers on using this lever. I have just started experimenting with it. Should I tune it a whole or half step lower?
Thanx All

[Tucker Jackson]

Hi, Jerry. Lowering the B strings a half-step is most common.

One way it can be used is as a 7th voicing, 2 frets back from the open chord position.

You can get some nice movement while playing a 7th if you also use the A-pedal. For example try this:

Play a partial C chord in the 8th fret on strings 4-5.

Then, slide back 2 frets and step on the A-pedal. This is good 7th chord position for that C.

Then, while the strings are still ringing, release the pedal and slowly bring in that B-string lower. This is just another voicing of the 7th.

[Bobby D. Jones]

Some tunings only have it on the 5th string B to Bb/A#.
On some sweetened tuning like Jeff Newman's.
The tuning is A# +2.

[Richard Sinkler]

I never got real fond of the 5&10 strings being lowered to Bb. But, if I did, I might lower string 10 to A. Many times I wished I had that change.

[Jerry Dragon]

I gather from your answers that I am just going to have experiment and tune them where they best suit me. I will leave the low B dropping a whole step and tune the high B to drop a half step and see what I like. As of now the high B is dropping more than a full step.
Thanks all.

[Richard Sinkler]

I gather from your answers that I am just going to have experiment and tune them where they best suit me. I will leave the low B dropping a whole step and tune the high B to drop a half step and see what I like. As of now the high B is dropping more than a full step.
Thanks all.

Definitely adjust string 5 to drop to Bb. If I had another knee lever, I would drop bot 5 & 10 to A with a half stop on string 5 at Bb.

[Ian Worley]

You may or may not already have this on your guitar, but to make the best use of the 1/2 step lower on string 5 you would want to have a split tuning rod on the lever so you can tune the split C note properly when the lever and A pedal are engaged simultaneously, separate from the Bb lower by itself. You use the existing lowering rod on the lever to tune the split C note, then use the added split rod on the raise side to compensate the lower by itself, which would otherwise end up flat. There are dozens of threads and diagrams on how to set that up if you do a forum search. Same would apply on string 10 if you're lowering it also.

[Ian Rae]

I lower 5 & 10 a ½ step with the splits that Ian describes. I use it a lot for minor chords with A&B.

[Jerry Dragon]

I lower 5 & 10 a ½ step with the splits that Ian describes. I use it a lot for minor chords with A&B.

I am short and have a hard time trying to push that knee up while engaging the A and B pedals. I am going to buy me some thick soled high heel boots.

[Richard Sinkler]

I lower 5 & 10 a ½ step with the splits that Ian describes. I use it a lot for minor chords with A&B.

I am short and have a hard time trying to push that knee up while engaging the A and B pedals. I am going to buy me some thick soled high heel boots.

Or make something like a wood block you can attach to the lever to reach your knee.

[Bob Watson]

There is a nice position for a 9th chord 2 frets down from the open position using the 10th string half step lower on strings 10, 8, and 6. Add the B pedal and you’ll get a #9 chord triad without the root. I believe it can also be used as a 13th chord a Tritone up.

[Ian Rae]

Thanks Bob - I'll try those.
Always on the lookout for 9ths and #9ths - love 'em!

[Jerry Dragon]

I lower 5 & 10 a ½ step with the splits that Ian describes. I use it a lot for minor chords with A&B.

I am short and have a hard time trying to push that knee up while engaging the A and B pedals. I am going to buy me some thick soled high heel boots.

Or make something like a wood block you can attach to the lever to reach your knee.

I am a retired machinist. Come to think of it I should get one of my buddies to make me a new lever. Thanx
Now if I could only learn how to play. I kid. It is coming along, slowly.

[Jerry Dragon]

There is a nice position for a 9th chord 2 frets down from the open position using the 10th string half step lower on strings 10, 8, and 6. Add the B pedal and you’ll get a #9 chord triad without the root. I believe it can also be used as a 13th chord a Tritone up.

I am going to create a desktop folder and start copying these pearls of wisdom and storing them there. Thanx.

[Richard Sinkler]

I am a retired machinist. Come to think of it I should get one of my buddies to make me a new lever. Thanx
Now if I could only learn how to play. I kid. It is coming along, slowly.

I was actually going to suggest that too. That would be the best plan of attack.

[Ian Rae]

To me, part of the fun is getting to do a little metalwork now and then

[D Schubert]

It's been a long time ago, but I installed a LKV B/Bb knee lever kit on my old Dekley. I was able to get the lever closer to my knee by replacing a machine screw / set screw with a longer one. The guitar is gone, no photos, but as I recall it was as simple as a trip to the hardware store.

[Bobby D. Jones]

A removeable wood addon works good on a vertical lever.
When designing a vertical knee lever it can't be to low. Unless in the design, The VKL can be folded over or have an easy disconnect so it will clear the case lid. When the guitar is cased.

[Bobby D. Jones]

DSC00900.JPG

This is a picture of a knee lever I made for a MSA Classic. The wood has a washer on the end that locks it on the lever, There is a flat place cut on the washer that allows the wood to be removed for casing the guitar.
edit add on.
The wood add on just needs to fit you.
I made this knee lever and sent it to a man in Illinois, I made the wood and advised him to cut it to fit him.