Improved sound

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 1 Sep 2003 2:45 pm

When I purchased my Excel three and a half years ago, the keyless fingers floated on a single pivot point.

Just before I prepared to go to StLouis, Mitsuo Fujii built me a new keyless head to accomadate his new "anti cabinet drop" feature.

I never gave the sound part a thought. But wow, because of the way the new head works, there is a tremendous improvement in the sound. After analyzing why, I discover that the new head, causes all the strings to be in constant contact with the body of the guitar.

I am thrilled with this revelation. So not only do I have no cabinet drop now, but I have a much improved sound.

Praise my precious Lord for his many blessings, and my sincere thanks to Mitsuo Fujii.

carl

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 2 Sep 2003 6:31 am

...that's great Carl.

Do you have a way to show us a picture?
Does Mitsuo work here in the states or Japan.

Many thanks, Rick

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 2 Sep 2003 6:48 am

Rick,

I do have a digital video camera with a computer IEEE connector on it. I might just try it.

Mitsuo Fujii who owns Excel is strictly in Japan. I might add, I have never seen a builder Sooooooo willing to please. When I was perusing builders to build me a guitar with certain of my own specs, he was the only one that would consider my requests.

Not only did he consider them, but he built it exactly as I had asked. This was no simple feat; since I wanted over 30 (some major) changes to his stock guitar. Yet he did itl and never once indicated it was a problem.

My deepest appreciation to Mitsuo for this.

carl

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 2 Sep 2003 10:36 am

Carl-Good! So now you have Carter's BCT. Or something like it. I am glad to hear about Excel always improving his design....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Dirk B · Post by **Dirk B** » 2 Sep 2003 11:45 am

I was very intrigued by the beautiful Excels at the ISGC this year and am more so after reading your post, Carl.

Bill Stafford · Post by **Bill Stafford** » 2 Sep 2003 7:51 pm

Hi Carl, was nice seeing you at the show. Glad the new keyless tuners work better for you. And that steel guitar Mitsuo built for Al Vescovo just has to be the most perfect and most beautiful instrument on the market. Folks, this was a fourteen string C6 tuned steel with more than numerous changes. Ten pedals and at least six knee levers. Anxious to hear this beauty.
Bill Stafford

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 2 Sep 2003 8:28 pm

As an Excel owner and proponent,I was anxious to see your guitar,meet and visit with you at the Excel booth - especially after your personal invite,but when I arrived on Friday afternoon,I was told you had folded up shop and gone home. What happened?
-MJ-

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 3 Sep 2003 5:09 am

Michael,

Please go to the following link. It will explain what happened. I am very sad we did not get to visit.

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum15/HTML/004647.html

May Jesus bless you always,

carl

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 3 Sep 2003 7:05 am

"3. A positive cure for the problem of double lowers (or raises) NOT coming back true if the half tone change is held while the whole tone is engaged and released. Many positive comments on this one. It is a very very simple device to cure it. Most anyone could do it."

Now that's something I would have been interested in seeing.I addressed it pretty sucessfully on my Sierra by replacing the aluminum cross shafts in questuion with hardened steel ones but have not yet gotten around to sorting out the same problem on my Excel. I have heard thet Jerry Fessenden fixes it by putting a physical stop on the bellcrank itself(on the half step lower)- is that what you did?
-MJ-

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 3 Sep 2003 7:36 am

Yes Michael,

In essence it is the same. Here is what I did:

1. Installed a fixed rod at the left end plate.

2. Insalled an adjustable swivel on a separate bellcrank on the E to Eb crossrod. This bellcrank is located right next to the 4th string E to Eb lower bellcrank.

4. Ran the fixed rod thru this swivel.

5. Engaged the E to Eb knee lever and adjusted the swivel to just touch the fixed rod, (to prevent ANY further travel of the bellcrank once the E to Eb is engaged).

That is all there is to it. It cures the problem 100%.

I must explain something however. The Excel (as you probably know) permits underslung bellcranks for lowers (if you wish). Since my LKR lowers my E's, I took advantage of this. This freed up a hole in the lower fingers and eliminated the need to have a reversing lever; which I really like.

So, there is NO reversing mechanism on my LKR. In other words, the bellcranks move in the opposite direction. Thus the fixed rod I insalled was at the left end plate.

This would not work on any crossrod that moved the normal way. But you could achieve the same thing by installing a strap from the front apron to the middle of the guitar (towards the changer) that would serve as a fixed point to install the stop rod. Everything else would be the same.

Hope this helps dear friend.

Finally, to whoever might be interested. The problem we are talking about is not peculiar to any specific guitar. ALL PSG's who have a double lower (or raise) will experience the problem.

That is, IF you engage the half tone and hold it; then engage the whole tone and release; the half tone change will be flat (or sharp in the case of raises). It is caused by the crossrod flexing (or twisting in my case).

carl[This message was edited by C Dixon on 03 September 2003 at 08:38 AM.]

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 3 Sep 2003 7:57 am

It is caused by the crossrod flexing (or twisting in my case).

The crossrods here don't seem to flex or twist; they are stronger than that. Instead, what I see is that one or both ends of the crossrods move a little at the ends, and come to rest slightly differently in their bearings, as tension on the pullrods is relieved (by actualting the other pedal) and then reapplied (by releasing the other pedal).
Regardless of the cause, Carl's solution is a good one. There are other similar ways to do it. Anything will work as long as it stops the rod puller (aka bell crank) itself right at the point where the half tone pull is in tune.