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Post new topic String Tuning "Bender"?
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Author Topic:  String Tuning "Bender"?
David Knutson


From:
Cowichan Valley, Canada
Post  Posted 12 Jan 2019 11:12 am    
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Quite a while back I saw a piece of hardware that clips onto a string, above the nut, and allows a measured retuning of that string. I thought it might have been on Stewmac, but I haven't found it there so far.

In my case I'd like to be able to shift from my normal eight string G6 tuning to E7 by raising the Gs to G#s. Can anyone point me toward that piece of gear? Or was I just dreaming? Confused

Thanks all.
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David K
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David Knutson


From:
Cowichan Valley, Canada
Post  Posted 12 Jan 2019 12:13 pm    
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Found it. It's called Pitch-Key, in case there is other interest out there. Here's a link.

https://www.pitch-key.com/testimonials/
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David K
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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 12 Jan 2019 1:34 pm    
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elderly

Yeah, I've been looking at them for a while. Every time I decide to order, they're out of stock...like now.
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David Knutson


From:
Cowichan Valley, Canada
Post  Posted 12 Jan 2019 4:10 pm    
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Jerry, if you hit the link in my above post and select "Where To Buy", there are a couple of other U.S. dealers listed there.
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David K
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David M Brown


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 13 Jan 2019 7:50 am    
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I have a lap steel set up with 3 pitch keys - the basic tuning is A low bass, but flipping the Pitch-Key knobs makes it open E or C#m7.

low-high

E A E A C# E .

E B E G# C# E

E B E G# B E

all with the same set of strings.

I got mine off of Ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pitch-Key-Preset-Tuning-Alternative/222536708932?hash=item33d038b344:g:a8EAAOSwGYVW9aKW:rk:2:pf:0
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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2019 11:22 am    
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I got a couple coming from reverb.com For anyone interested, they have them at 15% off with free shipping for a couple more days.

The seller is Guitar Plus USA. Feel free to message me if you can't find the path.
Edit: I guess it's easier to just post a link: Arrow clickhere


Last edited by Jerry Overstreet on 16 Jun 2019 1:39 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Tom Campbell

 

From:
Houston, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2019 1:22 pm    
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I have two of them. One is on my 8 string A6. Lowers my 5th string to Eb...making the A6 in to a B11.

The other one is on my 8 string E9. Raises my 2nd string C# to a D.

Once adjusted, they work very well.
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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 28 Jun 2019 3:44 pm    
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I did get 2 of them while they were on sale. I wanted one particularly for the 2nd string on the resonator to raise the B to C for a song.

I just got the other one because they were on sale. I put it on my acoustic straight guitar for a E to D drop.

I'm sure I'll find other uses for them. Lap steel etc. too.

It works pretty well, it's accurate once the stretch is out of the string. It might just be me, but I have a little hassle getting the thing on.

I have 4 or 5 gadgets that do this on my standard electrics....some Hipshot D drops and a Timara string drop. My favorite there is the Hipshot, which is also twice the price, but that doesn't work on the dobro.

FWIW, it takes a bit of rotation depending on the string and pitch used. It feels a bit rough as well as the little adjustment screw is metal to metal on the base guide. It would be smoother and probably less abrasive if it had a nylon tip to ride on the guide.

Still, it's reasonably priced and will do the job in many situations.

Also, keep in mind it's not a bender as in b's or palm benders...it's a pitch changer for alternate tunings.
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Garry Vanderlinde


From:
CA
Post  Posted 29 Jun 2019 9:33 am     Timara String Drop
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I use a little goodie called the Timara String Drop. It's a lot like the original Scruggs tuners on 5 string banjos. I've got 5 of them on my lap steel and switch between C6th/A6/B11 and C#m7. It's not perfect, because the roots always change when you switch tunings, but it gets you into the ballpark fast.
http://www.timarastringbenders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SD1

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