Dussenberg bender on lap steel - string lower function

[John Watson]

Anyone ever use one of these on a lap steel. I've heard the string lower isn't really too functional, but the raises are good?
Thanks

[Karlis Abolins]

I have a Duesenberg bender on my 25.5 inch scale Doozietone. Both of my levers are lowers. Guitar is tuned D A D F# A D. One lever lowers F# a half step to F. The other lowers The high D a full step to C. The half step lower was a piece of cake to do. For the the full step lower, I had to shim the spring to get enough tension to return the full step. They both work great. I use the F# to F all the time to make a 6 string minor (without slants!). The Duesenberg bender that is commercially available is really better suited to regular guitar with average string tension of 17 -18 pounds. The heavier gauges on a lap steel require modifications that I suspect are reserved for the Paloma and Fairytail guitars.

Karlis

[John Watson]

Hey thanks Karlis - good information. I'll do some experimenting.