Beater Tele B bender (another homebrew)

[JayBee]

Following the build of my Parsons White type bender, I started thinking about a headstock mounted mechanism. After much experimentation, this is the result.

A little crude looking, but it works, and material costs nil!.
All I basically used were 2 X tuner mounting screws, shaped brass bracket (from old mail box), 5mm thick alloy, brass bush and spindle from an old fishing reel, shoe lace, small self tapping screw, small set screw, chain link, wood screw and part of a radio aerial.

The shoelace is super glued to the inside of the aerial which was drilled to thread the b string and runs through the headstock where it goes into the actuating lever, emerging via a 2 drilled holes to be clamped with 2 washers and a set screw. The cord is attached to the lever via a self tapping screw and a bent chain link at one end, and to the guitar strap at the other.
The screw in the front of the headstock is used to tune the bend via string deflection, one screw retaining the bracket acts as a lever stop and has 2 small washers under the head to limit lever movement.
B string is .011 and the pull feels very similar to my PW copy (set at 7/8 inch). Although not as smooth as the PW, the mechanism is quite linear and very usable, still fits in a guitar case as well.

Any suggestions on how to make the device better / neater welcome.
Also welcome are any requests for further details (PM if necessary), should anyone want to copy this design (non commercially) feel free!!.

[Raybob]

Now that's using your head. :) I do like the price advantage. Don't know if I'd use super glue and the shoe lace though. Maybe 20 pound test fishing line tied on.