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Author
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Topic: Maverick Tuning procedure
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Bob Metzger
Member From: Waltham (Boston), MA, USA
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posted 21 February 2005 11:31 AM
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I'm fixing up an old Maverick for a friend and I got it playing well and in tune. Is there a tuning procedure online somewhere that I can give to this friend, who is a beginning player, so he can save himself next time when he throws it out of whack? I know these steels don't tune up like my Pro I and LDG but I can't be bothered to to put pen to paper if its already been done online somewhere. Thanks, Bob M. |
David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 21 February 2005 11:40 AM
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The Maverick raises hold the changer finger to the body and have no tunable stop. So you have to tune the keys with the pedals down. When you let off of the pedals, string tension pulls the fingers against the tuning screws in the end plate. So you tune the open strings with those screws. The lower lever should have a spring that holds the finger against the body, or against a tuning screw while the lever is not activated. You tune the open string with the key while the lever is not activated. When you activate the lower lever, it lets string tension pull the finger against the tuning screw in the endplate. So you tune the activated lower there. |
Bob Metzger
Member From: Waltham (Boston), MA, USA
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posted 21 February 2005 01:06 PM
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Thanks , David. Although that is correct and understandable to me, I think there could be too much technology there for my beginner friend. Did Sho-Bud ever print 'Maverick Tuning for Dummies'? |
Mark van Allen
Member From: loganville, Ga. USA
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posted 21 February 2005 01:48 PM
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Bob, a good thing would be to have him get a copy of Winnie's Pedal Steel Book. Very clear tuning instrucitons with diagrams, and all the great instruction as well, which includes mention of the maverick-type tuning limitations. I had that book when I had my first maverick, and among other things it answers a lot of pre-emptive questions like "why can't I get all the licks I'm hearing on records?" and "what are the advantages of a more advanced guitar?". ------------------
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
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Herman Visser
Member From: Rohnert Park, California, USA
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posted 21 February 2005 02:07 PM
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Bob I have the booklet on the Maverick E9 tuning from Sho-Bud>If you want a copy email me. Herman |
Bob Metzger
Member From: Waltham (Boston), MA, USA
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posted 22 February 2005 10:11 PM
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So to summarize/simplify, would it be correct to say:For Raises:
First, pedal down, tune raised note at headstock. Then, pedal up, tune open string at changer endplate. For Lower(s):
First, tune open string at headstock, then engage lever, tune lowered note at changer endplate.[This message was edited by Bob Metzger on 23 February 2005 at 01:25 AM.] |
Rick Schmidt
Member From: Carlsbad, CA. USA
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posted 23 February 2005 08:08 AM
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Hey Bob...funny I'm going through the same thing with a student on mine, only he has the Fender/Shobud version of the Maverick. You know me...it took me awhile to figure it out myself.  BTW, youre lucky to be in Boston now...we're having really scary weather back here in So Cal. |
David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 23 February 2005 09:21 AM
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Bob, I put the mechanism stuff in there because, when I had my Maverick, understanding the mechanism helped me remember how to tune. If I forgot, I turned it over and looked at it and it was obvious how you had to do the tuning. Your last post has the simple explanation right, at least for the raises. I'm actually not sure about the lowers. I think that is the way mine worked, but I'm not sure about all Mavericks. You could conceivably have the lower spring hold the lever against a tunable stop under the guitar, then release to let string tension pull the finger against either the body or a tunable stop in the end plate. And some people have described a suspended finger that allowed both a tunable lower and tunable raise on the same string. There is really no substitute to just turning the thing over and observing how it works. |
johnnyb
Member From: Wendell, NC, USA
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posted 23 February 2005 04:27 PM
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.[This message was edited by johnnyb on 04 June 2005 at 07:08 AM.] |
Bob Metzger
Member From: Waltham (Boston), MA, USA
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posted 24 February 2005 11:32 AM
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Certainly lots of good explanations here, thanks to all for contributing.Most steel players I've met are clever guys, know music very well and hold a strong understanding of the mechanics and physics of their steel guitars. My friend, although a lovely guy, has trouble tuning his six string acoustic, doesn't realize that 'treble' means high sound and 'bass' means low sound. I don't want to blind him with science. The KISS method was invented for guys like him. But I like him and want him to enjoy himself when playing music. Some people out there approach music like it's some sort of mystical seance, where things like tuning up, and playing in tune are sidebars to becoming one with the audience. He and I have slightly different approaches to this thing. Hey, Rick, how goes it? Lots of rain in So. Cal.!! Don't float away! But remember, summer's around the corner next month!! Bob M.
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