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Author
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Topic: PSG leg length
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Tim Bridges
Member From: Hoover, Alabama, USA
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posted 22 June 2004 06:29 AM
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I'm wondering, when saddled under the guitar, what would be the optimum height for the legs? Obviously, this is going to be a somewhat personal preference. However, it would seem that if the guitar sits a little too high, it makes the KL's more difficult to operate. Does anyone have a general recommendation as to the ideal height? How should the legs situate in regards to the KL's? I am thinking about visiting Charlie Strepp, builder of the guitar, to help custom fit the height. Is this the best approach? Thanks in advance. |
C Dixon
Member From: Duluth, GA USA
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posted 22 June 2004 07:00 AM
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Tim,I do not know how long the legs are on a given PSG. But I do think you are wise in going to a builder to have thim "size" the guitar for you. There is nothing more frustrating on our instrument than to have the guitar too high or too low. And it is not only the levers (although that is of major concern IMO), but where one's arms naturally lay with respect to the top of the guitar is of great concern (to more than a few players) also. You will save yourself a lot of possible needless frustrations by getting this taken care of BEFORE you have one built. carl |
Ed Naylor
Member From: portsmouth.ohio usa
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posted 22 June 2004 07:30 AM
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Most Steels have legs 26-27 inches long. Since they are adjustable you should have no problem unless you are 5ft2 or 6ft4.Most players fall into the 5ft7-6ft range. Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works. |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 22 June 2004 07:46 AM
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I'm in the process of having a new Williams built for me. I was at Bill Rudolph's shop last Friday and we were working on the details. He had me sit at a couple of different steels to help determine the proper height. His standard length for the legs is approx. 25 1/2" to bottom of cabinet. The height to the top the strings is approx. 30 inches. He will vary the length of the legs to whatever you want, but this is pretty much standard. I checked my Emmons and Sho~Buds when I got home and they came real close.
Erv
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William Peters
Member From: Effort, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 22 June 2004 08:18 AM
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My standard height guitar was way short for me... I'm 6' 3". When I sit on my steeler bench, the tops of my legs are 25 inches off the floor. At the "standard" height, with my right foot on my vol pedal, my leg was tight against the rear apron. I had to get 2" oversize legs and pedal rods for my present guitar, which made the bottom of the aprons 27 1/2 inches from the floor. This dimension works fine for me, but then I don't have any vertical levers, so that .could make a differenceI just ordered a Mullen Royal Precision, and sent Mullen dimensions of my legs to help with the setup since I cannot go there in person. I haven't been able to play anyones "standard" height guitars, which is a bummer. Bill
www.wgpeters.com
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Jim Smith
Member From: Plano, TX, USA
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posted 22 June 2004 08:23 AM
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Instead of getting longer legs, another possibility is to cut an inch or so from the legs of your steel seat. I'm 6'2" and my guitars are an inch taller, but I can get under a regular height guitar with a cut-down seat. |
David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 22 June 2004 08:42 AM
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The rear apron should clear the top of your legs by about an inch, to give you enough room to work a vertical lever. So it all depends on your seat height, leg length, and the size of the rear apron on the guitar. |
John Daugherty
Member From: Rolla, Missouri, USA
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posted 22 June 2004 08:55 AM
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I used the same approach as Jim Smith except I made a slip-over extension that I can remove if necessary. Someone once called me "no-butt John". Now you understand the reason for increasing the leg height. |
Ray Minich
Member From: Limestone, New York, USA
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posted 22 June 2004 09:21 AM
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Don't you also have to increase the lengths of the pedal rods if you make the legs longer? It would seem that the pedals would be too high off the floor otherwise.Easier to whack some off the seat legs I would think. |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 22 June 2004 01:22 PM
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I play a regular height steel but order my pac a seat with about an inch longer legs.
Erv[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 22 June 2004 at 01:23 PM.] |
Nicholas Dedring
Member From: Brooklyn, New York, USA
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posted 23 June 2004 06:23 AM
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How does lowering the seat make it easier to fit under the guitar? It's my knees that don't fit under a standard height instrument... they're going to be the height they're going to be no matter what.I would say the axe being a half inch too low is harder to live with than being a half inch high. Those right knee levers are a bear to work on if you're hitting them real close to the pivot point... no mechanical advantage when you are that high up on the lever with your knee. |
John Daugherty
Member From: Rolla, Missouri, USA
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posted 23 June 2004 11:50 AM
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I raised my seat for one guitar. The other guitar is a little lower. I raised the back guitar legs a bit. It doesn't raise the pedals enough to notice the difference but it sure helped with the levers. |
Tim Bridges
Member From: Hoover, Alabama, USA
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posted 25 June 2004 05:22 AM
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My appreciation and thanks go out to all replies. I guess my thoughts are that ergonomics can be all about "feeling at home" on the guitar. I can't extenf the distance between my heel and my knees. I'm gonna have to live with what the Good Lord gave me. Adding height to my seat doesn't change that. Yes, adjustable legs are on the guitar, but it seems as though they are longer than what was on my Sho-Bud. I agree, the pedal rods would also need to be shortened. I guess this weekend I'll really take a hard look at this and your responses. I bought my Derby from Charlie in Dallas. So, maybe a call to Charlie and a trip to Brooks, KY may be in order. Thanks again.  |
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