Where to learn to be Pedal Steel Tech

[David Cannon]

Hello, I have been playing pedal steel for about 3 years and currently own, Emmons Resound 65 D10, Shopro SD10, Justice D10, and ShoBud Pro SD10...I want to learn to work on them. Is there anywhere to get training, there isn't much information on the Internet on that particular subject. Thanks for any and all advice.

[Jerry Overstreet]

There is some info out there on Emmons push/pull as in your Resound, but I can't recall the source for it. Perhaps someone else here can point you to it.
Any information you get on those guitars needs to be specific to them as they are a different beast and it's easy to get them out of adjustment not knowing how they work.

The other 3 are all pull instruments and general information is common to all of them.

Here is a link to a good source for understanding the mechanics of pedal steels thanks to the legacy of John Fabian and Carter guitars archive. You'll find a lot of good info here.
https://steelguitar.com/

[George Piburn]

The Dallas Steel Guitar Jamboree is comin up quickly in early March. There is a thread about it, I believe it is in Fort Worth now.

All of the major manufacturers usually show there - great place to meet and greet pretty much all things steel guitar.

[Mike Preuss]

You're in the right place in the Builders Corner!
When I first had the desire to learn the mechanics all I had to work on was a new Mullen G2. That guitar was so valuable to me I was afraid of messing it by tooling around on it.

What I've probably learned the most from has been buying C6 parts from people who converted their d10 guitar to an sd10.

Rebuilding a guitar can teach you a ton.

And the friendly folks here on the forum are huge body of knowledge. And typically very generous with their wisdom. There is no pedal steel tech school. But this forum, along with some intrinsic motivation is just as good, if not better.

Oh, and having the right tools along with knowing how to use them can save time, frustration, and digits.

[Patrick Fleming]

Here is a link to a thread about that very thing. There are a number of them out there but this one has a link to Mickey Adams repair and Maintenance video. His video is a great starting place for all pull maintenance.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... s#p3240524

This is the link directly to Mickey's Video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GcFVpTzY0I

[Jim Palenscar]

I am always willing to help.

[J D Sauser]

Pedal Steel Guitars use very basic mechanical lever and linkage and adjustable (“tunable”) stop/butting systems, not much more complicated than a 1960’s GM “TriPower” carbureter linkage.

Some great players have proven themselves not to be very handy with a screw driver and thus limited themselves to fiddle’round the top side.
Few of the great builders were great players too, and most came from some kind of mechanical background.

I think that a person from a mechanical background, once understanding the musical demands (tuning and opperational feel) will rather be surprised by the simplicity of these instrument’s mechanics than anything else.

For those who like to think that PSGs are “modern marvels”, check this out from the 18th Century (around 200 years BEFORE the first PSG) : https://youtu.be/iz8lB3y5euk

I think what is important, is to understand the operational differences, like a PushPull, PullRelease and the different AllPull (ShoBud based vs. FenderPS210/Anapeg/Excel/NewSierra systems) and their tuning protocols.
And then are vintage designs like Bigsby or earlier Fender cable PSGs too.

Most good techs I have known eventually start prototyping or building their own at some point.

I am just not sure that in today’s ages, it would still make economical sense for a well versed mechanical professional to dedicate him/herself to servicing PSGs

On the other hand, it would help the instrument to see more people actively involved.

… JD.