B-Bender Ric

[kiramdear]

Cowabunga, Dude!

[jingle_jangle]

Twango bango!

[firstbassman]

I've never used any kind of bender though I love the sound and would certainly like to try.

But according to those "in the know" any of these hand/palm/finger-type devices interfere with your usual way of playing (with your right hand) and require a change in technique.
I can see their point.

The only "non-interfering" type of benders are either the original Parsons and White one or the more recent Hipshot bender.

[loopyreed]

I've never used any kind of bender though I love the sound and would certainly like to try.

But according to those "in the know" any of these hand/palm/finger-type devices interfere with your usual way of playing (with your right hand) and require a change in technique.
I can see their point.

The only "non-interfering" type of benders are either the original Parsons and White one or the more recent Hipshot bender.

Actually the Hipshot is interfering too, but in its own way. True, it doesn't change your hand technique. But often it requires you to hold the guitar a different way (i.e. off to the side, at a different angle) and it doesn't really let you move until it's time to bend the b string. And then you bend the string by doing an awkward reverse pelvic thrust, or by pulling the guitar neck to the left...they're weird beasts, but some people are crazy about them.

That's the one for SGs and the like. (As if the neck wasn't bendy enough )

I've got one of the Model 12s, which is for thinline, large-bodied, semi-hollow guitars "like ES335s" according to the manufacturer. (They have apparently forgotten Gretsch, from whom they obtained the rights a few years back.) This morning, I got mine out of its box and held it up to my 6122-59 Che Atkins, and it's a perfect fit; even mounts using the same holes as the standard Bigsby that's on it.

So, it's time to try this thing out. Interesting possibilities, although it is quite limited in scope with only 2 levers.

They make them with up to SIX levers, which makes the guitar look like a cross between a combine and a medieval torture device.

bppflier-1.jpg

I saw someone using a six-lever palm bender once, and it was confusing. I wonder exactly when you'd be able to use the other 4 levers since the B and G strings are pretty easy to work with.

[jingle_jangle]

If steel pedal players can manage the footsy thing, and a Hammond whiz can play their pedals on a B3 like it was just another keyboard, guitar players are gonna always want to go 'em one better...

I'm surprised no one caught on to my "Ché Atkins" reference. He's the original guerrilla finger-picker...

[jimk]

And here I thought you had finally made a typo, Paul. Ché Atkins, indeed!

JimK

[jingle_jangle]

OK, inspired by Ché, I've put my money where my mouth is, and here's the result, installed on my 6122-59 Atkins fingerpickin' model...



'

It went right on in the space of a half-hour, in place of the Bigsby vibrato. All of the holes lined up with the Bigsby holes at the hinge end, and the two holes I had to drill in the guitar's face are covered by the Bigsby vibrato when it's in place, should I decide to switch back.

The B and G string levers are tuned to raise one full step when pressed. This allows all sorts of possibilities in resolving suspended chords, changing majors to 6ths, 6ths to maj7ths, and gives interesting ways to end a song that would charm the heck out of a listener. It's definitely got that pedal steel vibe in a limited way. I'm gonna work awhile on it.

[kiramdear]

Bit of a learning curve I imagine, but it sure looks sophisticated. Very cool, I'm game to try it.

[loopyreed]

OK, inspired by Ché, I've put my money where my mouth is, and here's the result, installed on my 6122-59 Atkins fingerpickin' model...



'

It went right on in the space of a half-hour, in place of the Bigsby vibrato. All of the holes lined up with the Bigsby holes at the hinge end, and the two holes I had to drill in the guitar's face are covered by the Bigsby vibrato when it's in place, should I decide to switch back.

The B and G string levers are tuned to raise one full step when pressed. This allows all sorts of possibilities in resolving suspended chords, changing majors to 6ths, 6ths to maj7ths, and gives interesting ways to end a song that would charm the heck out of a listener. It's definitely got that pedal steel vibe in a limited way. I'm gonna work awhile on it.

That shore is a purty git-tar. Let's hear it!

[wittyair]

After having played pedal steel for many years I bought one of those Duesenberg lap steels with the palm levers
( called a Pomona 6 ). Thought it would be a piece of cake to pick up..........Nuh-uh......totally different......pedals
and knee levers, I can deal with......those palm levers were like walking and chewing gum at the same time.

[jingle_jangle]

As I was walking to the office today, I popped a piece of gum in my mouth and immediately tripped and did a face-plant.

"Uh-oh," I thought, "that Palm Pedal is gonna give me no end of trouble..."

Seriously, though, Craig and members who are following this thread, if I ever get good enough with the thing to actually rouse the ghost of Gram Parsons, I will be mighty pleased!

[loopyreed]

After having played pedal steel for many years I bought one of those Duesenberg lap steels with the palm levers
( called a Pomona 6 ). Thought it would be a piece of cake to pick up..........Nuh-uh......totally different......pedals
and knee levers, I can deal with......those palm levers were like walking and chewing gum at the same time.

The YouTube demo of that lap steel makes it look easy...dangerously easy. I don't see how palm levers on a lap steel could work, since you're supposed to mute the strings with your palm right before picking a new note. Did yours have the nut that moved down the fretboard? That looks like such a good idea - I wish I had thought of it first.

[jingle_jangle]

Good point, Marshall, about the muting, if I may jump in. It is tricky to do, with the levers an inch above the strings. The demo shown on the Jaqcksons Rare Guitars website, of the Pomona, makes it look soooo easy.

BTW, that Pomona is one sweet piece o' kit. For $3K it should be!

[wittyair]

I don't think they're quite as successful with the Pomona as they thought consequently you can
run into a decent deal on one every once in a while. And that was certainly one of the major problems,
Marshall, you can't use the levers and mute at the same time......kinda like walking and..............you
get the picture. Paul, Sneaky Pete's the ghost you wanna rouse!!

[loopyreed]

I don't think they're quite as successful with the Pomona as they thought consequently you can
run into a decent deal on one every once in a while. And that was certainly one of the major problems,
Marshall, you can't use the levers and mute at the same time......kinda like walking and..............you
get the picture. Paul, Sneaky Pete's the ghost you wanna rouse!!

Let me just point out how happy it makes me to start a thread about Ricks with B-benders, and have the conversation make its way to Sneaky Pete within two pages.

<-- That happy.