Going out of tune

[Leif Nicklas]

Hello everyone, new steel player here. I bought a Zum 10 string on this site a few months ago and in my learning process I have just begun exploring the pedals. Problem is certain pedals are wildly out of tune, for example on right side pedal the 4th string is very sharp, and with all pedals down it makes the 2nd string flat. I am brand new to steel so it’s a real bummer to start of with such an out of whack instrument, but so it is. Anyone have a good rescource on getting this thing playing back in tune? Thank you very much

[Leif Nicklas]

As a note of clarification, when I press the pedal, it raises the 4th string way too sharp, but the 5th string raises up in tune. Any ideas?

[Bill McCloskey]

Do you know how to tune the levers and pedals?

[Leif Nicklas]

I just figured it out and was trying to g to delete the post, but thank you.

[Richard Sinkler]

Just an FYI, after there has been a response to your original post, you can't delete it. Best way to stop responses is to edit the original post subject line and add "Close" so the moderators will see it and close your post.

[Dave Grafe]

I suggest you reach out to other steel pickers in your area, the PNW has a great steel guitar community with regular jamborees held in Portland yearly. If you're starting from scratch it's good to have local support.

[J D Sauser]

Hello everyone, new steel player here. I bought a Zum 10 string on this site a few months ago and in my learning process I have just begun exploring the pedals. Problem is certain pedals are wildly out of tune, for example on right side pedal the 4th string is very sharp, and with all pedals down it makes the 2nd string flat. I am brand new to steel so it’s a real bummer to start of with such an out of whack instrument, but so it is. Anyone have a good rescource on getting this thing playing back in tune? Thank you very much

https://steelguitar.com/manuals/ZumSteel_Manual.pdf

https://steelguitar.com/adjustments.html#pedals

Your ZumSteel will most likely be a so called ALL-PULL Pedal Steel Guitar, which uses a "scissor" mechanism to actuate the changer finger to raise and/or lower.

Raising:


Lowering:



Generally, the tuning of your raises or lowers will be done at the opening in the endplate at the changer end, by tightening or loosing the plastic hex-tuners.

IF there are mechanical restrictions, the possible travel can be adjusted near the pedal rod hookup or a knee levers butting stop.
On a guitar on which the setup is being or has been changed, one can change the leverage ratios on the bell cranks vs. the changer's scissor position.

... J-D.