DIY Pedal Steel Guitar - Part 1 - The plan
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- I thought it would be fun to take what we learnt making the slide guitar to the next level, and it is time to add some pedals. I really like the ideal of being able to play a chord and morph it in to a new chord, by bending individual strings.
I think that pedal steel sound is really unique and it has the futuristic metallic sound similar to how I enjoy the sound of electric pianos.
I make some mistakes and make some improvements as I progress this design.
Please do let me know your thoughts on this design and how you might change it. I know there are a few DIY guitars out there so it would be interesting to hear from others that have created their own.
Please join me for the next part where I create the body.
Ooh! Hey, I might be able to offer something for this project, insight-wise. I found an antique pedal steel that was completely home-made.
The notes were bent by little rods that went through the 'headstock' behind the nut. They had slots cut into the top, and then a roller in the slot made from the ball-ends of guitar strings. The pedals are just levels with cables, that connect to little levers under the rods that press the bottom of the rods and lift the string to the new pitch, based on a set screw.
My dream is not to use levers and rods... hopefully that will keep the parts and the cost down.
How is your instrument to play?
Very interesting video
Thanks for visiting
Roller everything and keep your string pulls as straight as possible if you want to keep strings from breaking. It also helps with tuning stability.
You can also extend a string past the bridge and have levers operate on that segment, like a B bender on a Telecaster. Also it may be unconventional, but your tuning machines don't all have to be at the same end if it simplifies the mechanics and doesn't confuse the user too much.
Some solid advice here! thank you! and... a b-bender you say....
@@deancoyle Rob Scallon did a fairly detailed video about a B bender Telecaster-type guitar. czcams.com/video/2k4337pXrtQ/video.html (and the maker's video is czcams.com/video/vWiu05DflR4/video.html )
The idea is exactly the same as the levers on a pedal steel, except that there's only one, and you activate it by pulling down on the entire guitar (or conversely, pull up on the strap button). There are some other systems that have two or three but you need the right hand to operate all but one.
But keep doing you though, just wanted to let you know I’m stil here after Three years
THREE years! oh man - i didn't think it was that long...
Great video, man... but... why not resume the electric piano project?... I really loved that project. I even bought the book "Classic keys, keyboards sounds that launched rock music" because of your first videos.
Hey the electric piano is still going on, I have been a bit busy the first half of this year, but will get some updates posted soon.
Out of interest how is that book?
@@deancoyle I really enjoyed it. It is mostly about the history of several instruments from that time (50s, 60 and 70s mainly). It has design details, but it is not a DIY guide or deeply technical book.
The demo around 1 minute in is missing the testing audio, but otherwise thats pretty cool!
Some good points here. I am not sure on the brand but I did by a better tonebar and sustain is soooooooooooo much better.
Bro when we getting the Rhodes?
Good point!! I haven't given't up on it and still working on it in the background. Hopefully I will post an update soon.