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Topic: LKL blocking access to A pedal |
Fred Hedgecoth
From: Virginia, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2020 12:42 pm
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I'm a novice learning on a Mullen Discovery after playing (sort of) an early 70's Sho-Bud Maverick with 1 knee lever. I had no problems getting a good stomp on the 3 pedals since there was no left knee lever to get in the way. Now I am constantly hitting the LKL by accident. I tend to sit toward the middle of the guitar...perhaps I need to move further right? I'm just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this issue. _________________ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth |
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Tucker Jackson
From: Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2020 12:56 pm
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For reasons that I don't understand, pedal steel players have traditionally centered their seating position around, say, the 15th fret. Guitar makers therefore mount their knee levers assuming this. If you sit at the actual center of the guitar, the levers may seem like they are awkward to use.
Take a look at some videos of the greats. You'll often see that the right leg is shooting out pretty straight, perpendicular to the rear apron of the guitar. Meanwhile, the left leg goes under the guitar at an almost 45-degree angle. Sho-Bud guitars used to even go so far as to mount the left knee levers to move on a plane that was at an angle from the rear apron rather than parallel to it so as to match up with the angle the leg was coming under the guitar.
If you move your seat over to the right, you'll likely need to make some pedal and knee lever adjustments. You start with the seating position and then adjust the guitar around where your knees naturally are. Same with the pedals.
For example, you may find that the height of the A and B pedals relative to each other may need adjusting since your foot is coming in at a different angle and it's now easier to cock your foot over and hover over the A-pedal (assuming you play the Emmons set up). I don't know about the Discovery, but there are adjustment screws on some guitars to set how the knee levers hang from their brackets. You may need to touch those up. Make the guitar fit you, not the other way around. |
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Fred Hedgecoth
From: Virginia, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2020 1:17 pm
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Thanks Tucker! I live in Richmond, VA. Can you come over and help me with the adjustments!!! _________________ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth |
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Gene Tani
From: Pac NW
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Posted 19 Jan 2020 1:31 pm
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Maybe you didn't get a manual: https://mullenguitars.com/owners-manual
Also Billy Cooper's not close but not that far away either _________________ - keyless Sonny Jenkins laps stay in tune forever!; Carter PSG
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew |
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David Nugent
From: Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 20 Jan 2020 6:25 am
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Fred..Reside in Goochland so not far from Richmond, would be pleased to help you in any way that I can. Send a P.M. and we can set up a time. |
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Donny Hinson
From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 20 Jan 2020 6:49 am
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Changing your seating position, or increasing the lever spacing by changing the lever angles, will sometimes help.
Also, does your knee move sideways when you're working the pedals? Some players have a problem with "rocking" their knee from side to side when they're activating and de-activating pedals, or switching from A&B to B&C (not everyone has good flexibility of their ankle). Some guitars are more tolerant of this movement because of lever placement and spacing. But ideally, your knee should move very little unless you're activating a lever, or covering a large distance between two pedals, and moving your heel, e.g. from pedal 1-4, or pedal 5-8. |
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Fred Hedgecoth
From: Virginia, USA
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Posted 20 Jan 2020 1:02 pm
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Danny...I tend to move my knee abit while working the A and B pedals. Like I said, I'm just learning so I will have to concentrate on that area while practicing. Thanks for the advice! _________________ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth |
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Richard Sinkler
From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 20 Jan 2020 1:43 pm
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Fred Hedgecoth wrote: |
Danny...I tend to move my knee abit while working the A and B pedals. Like I said, I'm just learning so I will have to concentrate on that area while practicing. Thanks for the advice! |
What I used to have students do was to have them grab their knee with both hands, and the bend their ankle to the right and left to train those muscles to be able to move without having to move their knee. In no time at all they were able to bend their ankle in both directions without their knee wagging left and right. You can even do this on the couch watching TV. _________________ Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Ian Rae
From: Redditch, England
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Posted 20 Jan 2020 5:03 pm
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There isn't enough TV for all the things you can do on the couch. But I've done a lot of useful practice watching cricket or baseball _________________ Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Bobby D. Jones
From: West Virginia, USA
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Posted 20 Jan 2020 11:02 pm
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If your guitar is set up ABC pedals (Emmons set up) you may need to raise the A pedal a little higher than the B pedal. This way you will not need to roll your foot as far to the Left. Check the alignment of the Right Knee Levers and volume pedal. Most guitars are set up till your right leg is a near perfect right angle to the body of the steel, When your foot is on the volume pedal and right leg centered between the Right Knee Levers.
When you sit down at the steel you need to be comfortable or you will not want to stick with it and practice very long at a time.
Good Luck and Happy Steelin. |
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Per Berner
From: Skövde, Sweden
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Posted 21 Jan 2020 2:22 am
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Ian Rae wrote: |
There isn't enough TV for all the things you can do on the couch. But I've done a lot of useful practice watching cricket or baseball |
How do you watch cricket without falling asleep? |
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