Other Pedal Dobros?

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 7 Jun 2002 9:55 am

peter,
since you're very much into the 'rube goldberg' mindset, you may like my latest plan. i've always been jealous of guitarists with their wireless roaming freedom, so i'm planning a pedal steel attached to a motorized wheelchair...perhaps with a forklift type hydraulic frontend unit. if you'd like to invest...

Pete Grant · Post by **Pete Grant** » 7 Jun 2002 10:00 am

Chris, I've always wanted one.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 7 Jun 2002 11:33 am

Dan, the contact pickup worked well enough in terms of transmitting the sound of the strings. The problem was that it also picked up and amplified all the mechanical noise from the pedals.

My guess it that any peizo pickup on any kind of pedal steel guitar or pedabro would do the same thing, regardless of where it was placed.

I hope that isn't the case. But the only way to find out is to experiment. Have you thought about installing such a pickup on your pedabro?

db · Post by db » 7 Oct 2004 6:02 pm

Hi,
Let's re-open this one.
I have just released the production model of the new DOBRO 'G' assembly.
It has three pedals that:
Raises the 1st string up to an "E"
Raises the 2nd string up to a "C"
Lowers the 3rd string down to an "F#"
for the standard 'GBDgbd' tuning.
It comes with a replacement Graph Tech "String-Saver" saddle and a mounting bracket.
It is attached just like the STD tailpiece, making it a "reversable" installation.
So, the instrument can easily be returned to "Stock".
Click on the "R & D Department" link on the website:
Bigsby Palm Pedals
To see "chord finder" & copedant charts.

Or figure out what it can do with this "Alternate Tuning Applet"...
http://www.taropatch.net/tuning_applet.htm#TARGET

------------------
Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E&A[This message was edited by db on 28 December 2004 at 09:25 PM.]

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 8 Oct 2004 4:36 am

Weldon Myrick used palm-pedals on his eight-string dobro, it's all over Jesse McReynold's new CD.

Drew

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Fessenden D-10 8+8 / Magnatone S-8 (E13)

db · Post by db » 7 Nov 2004 4:50 pm

Mike...

"If Earl Scruggs didn't play it, it's wrong!!!"

I am not sure if you were just saying this in jest!
But, you know that Earl designed & used special tuners to make quick pitch changes of his strings.
Why can't a Dobro player do the exact same thing?

[This message was edited by db on 07 November 2004 at 04:51 PM.]

db · Post by db » 7 Nov 2004 5:13 pm

Mike...
I have done many installations on Dobros without any "cabinet-drop" or "pitch-return" problems as long as you use a "low friction" material for the saddle and nut.
Yes, of course, the results are better with "square-necks" than "round-necks".
I do not know what Dave's problems were... But, I thank him for "giving-up".
I'll gladly take the customers that he has refused.
[This message was edited by db on 14 November 2004 at 05:26 AM.]

db · Post by db » 7 Nov 2004 5:37 pm

Here is a guy that is willing to take on the Paul Franklin Sr. Patent...
http://www.bradivarius.com/
There is no photo... but he says that he will make one for you!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 7 Nov 2004 7:26 pm

Dan, there is a photo of Brad's pedal dobro. It's in a pop up box.

I don't know if there would be a patent issue. Brad's is so much different than a Pedabro.

Are you sure he's willing to make them? When I met him at the PSGA show 2 years ago, he said that he made one for himself, and that was going to be it.

db · Post by db » 7 Nov 2004 9:09 pm

No, I cannot say what he will or will not do.
Contact him direct.

Mark Butcher · Post by **Mark Butcher** » 8 Nov 2004 5:55 am

If any of you want to try making a palm pedal dobro then you could modify a cheap Fender or Ozark by fitting a stoptail piece (you need to beef up the tail block to sit under it) and use a couple of Ez-benders like I have here on a lap steel http://www.marksmandolins.com/Chat3b.html I have done it to a resonator and it works, the 'pedalbro' looks awe inspiring but you can do this for under a $100.

------------------
Sho-Bud Pro 1
Many stringed things.
www.marksmandolins.com

Pete Grant · Post by **Pete Grant** » 8 Nov 2004 7:29 am

I had three palm pedals (one was converted to a wrist lever) on my first 10-string dobro from 1977 to '78. I found I had to change my hand position a lot whenever I used them. That's when I decided to get better at knowing my fingerboard and using slant bars.

I found that palm pedals were kind of fun for a while, but just can't replace real pedals.

I also had a knee lever on my Melobar electric made from a Hipshot. It was kind of fun, too. The knee lever came through the plush body. The change was to lower the root note D to a C#, giving me a F#mi (and allowing me to raise the F# note to a G with the bar--or bending behind the bar up the neck), giving me most of an A7 chord). But, since I usually play the Melobar standing up, it wasn't all that efficient. I may put that on another instrument just for fun.

db · Post by db » 8 Nov 2004 5:56 pm

I recently did an install of a three pedal assembly on a "High 'G' GDGBDG tuning" that:
Raised the second string 'D' up to an 'E'
Raised the third string 'B' up to a 'C'
Raised the fifth string 'D' up to an 'E'
I set-up the 3rd string pedal to be a "Swing-Arm" to get the position "just right".
When palm pedals are used "vertically" the positioning is more curtail!
This "adjustable pedal positioning" made the assembly infinitely more useable.
[This message was edited by db on 08 November 2004 at 06:25 PM.]

Richard Nelson · Post by **Richard Nelson** » 14 Nov 2004 7:23 pm

Peter the way you play that national you have, what the hell do you want a ped-a-bro for? Take deep breaths , relax open a bottle of yer mates merlot have a glass and say to yerself I'm great are'nt I. The next time you are over in Ireland I'll let you look at mine , but no touching .

Pete Grant · Post by **Pete Grant** » 15 Nov 2004 7:09 am

Thank you, Richard.

db · Post by db » 21 Nov 2004 4:20 pm

You need it because more than "every other" recording that has a "Dobro"
is actually a "Ped-A-Bro" (more than likley played by Paul Franklin Jr. himself)...
So, how do you "cover it" without actually reproducing the bends?
OK...You can't get a "Ped-A-Bro"... So you've got to get a "Match-Bro"!
Or, actually get a real Dobro "set-up" to do the actual bending of the strings!
Bigsby Palm Pedals
Use of "DOBRO" Bigsby Palm Pedals are endorsed by Curtis Burch...
Application is to be featured in his next instructional seminar.
Direct contact for further information.[This message was edited by db on 28 December 2004 at 09:29 PM.]

db · Post by db » 15 Dec 2004 10:22 am

OK . . . It's now released!
The DOBRO 'G' Palm Pedal Assembly
I've got copedant & chord charts and some photos "up" on the website now.
Check it out:
Bigsby Palm Pedals [This message was edited by db on 28 December 2004 at 09:31 PM.]

Grant Johnson · Post by **Grant Johnson** » 15 Dec 2004 10:49 am

Hey Dan - I emailed you a week ago with my coverplate measurements and I hadn't heard back. Also my computer was down for a couple days last week...
Can I get an update?
Thanks,
Grant

db · Post by db » 11 Feb 2005 7:02 pm

see next message[This message was edited by db on 12 February 2005 at 01:39 PM.]

db · Post by db » 11 Feb 2005 7:13 pm

There are some events that are upcomming that feature special attention to the application of palm pedals to Dobro.

Jim Heffernan will be in NYC on the 1st of May . . .
See : http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/006353.html

Also, Curtis Burch will be doing some sessions during June 13th through the 17th in Maryville Tennesse . . .
See: http://www.flatpik.com/

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Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A&G
[This message was edited by db on 12 February 2005 at 01:37 PM.]

db · Post by db » 11 May 2005 5:18 pm

Curtis Burch will be doing "Palm Pedal" lessons on June 15th Maryville Tennesse . . .
See: http://www.flatpik.com/
I do not know if that have a "day rate".

I am trying to see if I can get there with the latest models.

Dan Balde[This message was edited by db on 11 May 2005 at 06:21 PM.]