adjusting lever/rods for 2nd string

[Matthew Warman]

Hi all- the lever which lowers my second string lowers it only from D# to D, a half tone. I'd like to be able to lower my second string a full tone to C# as well. Is this something I can do myself without needing a degree in mechanical engingeering? Thanks!

[richard burton]

If your guitar is a regular All-Pull type, an easy way (but at the expense of a stiffer knee lever movement) would be to move the rod that activates the lower to a hole (on the bellcrank, not the changer finger) further away from the bellcrank pivot.

If it's a Push-Pull, don't mess with it (unless you are sure what you are doing), but get back to the forum for advice.

[Matthew Warman]

thanks Richard. It's an all pull. I forgot to mention that this knee lever, besides lowering string 2 a half tone, also lowers string 9 a half tone at the same time. Is this something that I need to take into consideration before I move the pull rod for string 2 into a lower hole on the bellcrank?

[richard burton]

Have a look at the nylon tuner on the second string lower.
Has it got a lot of movement (when you activate the knee lever) before it starts lowering the string?
If so, you might get away with just tightening the nylon tuner until the string drops a full tone.

If the nylon tuner is tight up to the finger, then a different approach is required.

Ideally, it's best to drop the second string a semi-tone, and, at that point, the ninth string semi-tone drop should 'juuuuuust' start

This acts as a 'half-stop' feel mechanism for your second string.

Now you carry on pushing the lever, and both strings reach their destination at the same time

This is not easily accomplished, unless you have a lot of holes in the bellcranks, but I would start by moving the second string pull-rod down a couple of holes in its bellcrank.