Telecaster with B bender question

Hey guys. I have been trolling these forums for a while, never really post but please do not hold that against me.

I recently bought an American Nashville with a b bender. I love it, plays well and very happy over all with the guitar. The one problem I am having is that when I do play I am pretty active and I tend to actuate the bender when I do not want to.

The solution I am thinking about is this: I was going to put another guitar strap button on the back of the guitar, so on the songs I am not using the bender I can just switch the strap to the back button and not have to worry about actuating the bender. On the few songs I am actually using it for, I will switch it back before the song. Does this sound valid? Has anyone done this? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

Cody

In the Late 90's I bought an American Tele B Bender guitar, I liked it a bunch, sold it but should have kept it. I had the exact same issue that you are describing, I had to concentrate on NOT using it rather than using it. I believe over time I would have come to learn how to PLAY that guitar...I don't think I would change strap buttons as that would eliminate the opportunity to use the Bender on the fly. What I would do is when playing at home, stand up , play 15 or 20 minutes a day for a month standing up... I think you can solve the problem. My current Bender guitar has two palm levers but I would get another Fender /Parsons if the deal was good.

good luck

t

The Fender Parsons Greene bender has a really loose spring tension. If you remove the outside row of screws and take the bender off, its pretty easy to remove the spring and cut off a couple of loops to shorten the spring. Theres no adjustment.

I cut three loops off of mine and it was much better, very few accidental bends.

Forbana,

One of our Fender experts will probably help you out here. I don't think there is a tension adjustment on that bender, but, I'm thinking you can clip a few turns of the spring to make it "stiffer", and possibly cut down on the accidental bends.

Just as info, I would have the same problem (I'm not a dancin' player, but I tend to put pressure on the neck while I play), but my Evans Pull String is infinitely adjustable. I've got mine set tight enough that I don't engage when playing unless I want to.

T Prior, yes....give it another chance! Get one that's adjustable!

Bender Lock


http://www.benderguitars.com/images/gallery/bender_lock/

"Bender Lock" is for a Parson's White style bender. On a Parson's Green simply shorten the existing spring or put a stronger spring from a hardware store such as Ace. I had the same problem when I first started to play my benders, I don't have it now. The good news is that it is an easy cheap fix. BTW, only remove the eleven small wood screws on the outside of the bender plate. Do not touch the four larger ones that hold the tower and adjustment wheel or the large head black/chrome allen screw. Pull the bender off. To re-install, make sure the O ring is on the tower and push the bender back in place on the guitar. Re-install the screws

These treads detail the process. Search the forum, this has been discussed 100's of times.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/b-bender-forum/257480-b-bender-removal.html

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/b-bender-forum/263238-adjusting-b-bender-tension.html