My first post -- Has anyone else had this problem

Garth · October 25th, 2006, 06:08 PM

Hi:

This is my first post on the board. I have used a stringbender on my guitars since the mid 1980s. I have had a couple of Hipshots, a Glaser b-bender installed on a Warmoth Strat, a Parsons Green B-bender tele and now two Parsons White benders -- one a long stroke bender on a JD tele and the other a classic PW bender on a G&L ASAT classic.

O.K., here is the question. I recently started developing a lot of pain in my left elbow. I went to the doc and was told that I have a classic case of tennis elbow. As I analyzed this, I was shocked and dismayed to learn that the condition is caused by my B Benders. The tension on my ASAT bender is tight and I think this is what has aggravated my elbow. First, is there a way of loosening some of the tension in the spring? Second, I may have to switch to a different type of bending mechanism. I have thought about having Music One install a belt loop activated bending system in my Eric Clapton strat. Has anyone else used the Music One Strat benders? If so, what is your opinion?

Thanks,

Garth

Don Miller · October 25th, 2006, 10:40 PM

On the Parsons White you can regulate the tension by moving the screw that anchors the spring,,,or by replacing the spring itself. I used a spring I bought at Lowes and moved the anchor screw to tighten up my Parsons White (Bores clone)..I bought 3-4 springs...and as luck would have it the first one I tried did the trick. If youre drilling a pilot hole vertically in the bottom of the route forthe anchor screw be careful you dont go too deep and come out the face of the guitar...and if the spring is too loose youll have alot of accidental bends...

J. Hayes · October 26th, 2006, 12:16 PM

to loosen the helper springs was just to get a flat blade screwdriver and insert the blade between a couple of the coils and just twist the handle a little. This will work on bender springs as I've done it to mine. You can just loosen it a little or a lot without dismantling anything.......JH in Va.

Boogie · October 26th, 2006, 01:37 PM

This isn't the answer you were looking for, but I'd suggest:

Ice packs
Ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory (prescription?)
Lay off using the Bender for a couple of weeks
Stretching exercises before and after you play

Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, but I play one on the Internet.

October 25th, 2006, 06:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Garth NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hoquiam, Washington Age: 54 Posts: 5	My first post -- Has anyone else had this problem Hi: This is my first post on the board. I have used a stringbender on my guitars since the mid 1980s. I have had a couple of Hipshots, a Glaser b-bender installed on a Warmoth Strat, a Parsons Green B-bender tele and now two Parsons White benders -- one a long stroke bender on a JD tele and the other a classic PW bender on a G&L ASAT classic. O.K., here is the question. I recently started developing a lot of pain in my left elbow. I went to the doc and was told that I have a classic case of tennis elbow. As I analyzed this, I was shocked and dismayed to learn that the condition is caused by my B Benders. The tension on my ASAT bender is tight and I think this is what has aggravated my elbow. First, is there a way of loosening some of the tension in the spring? Second, I may have to switch to a different type of bending mechanism. I have thought about having Music One install a belt loop activated bending system in my Eric Clapton strat. Has anyone else used the Music One Strat benders? If so, what is your opinion? Thanks, Garth

October 26th, 2006, 12:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
J. Hayes Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. Posts: 974	An old trick used by pedal steelers........... to loosen the helper springs was just to get a flat blade screwdriver and insert the blade between a couple of the coils and just twist the handle a little. This will work on bender springs as I've done it to mine. You can just loosen it a little or a lot without dismantling anything.......JH in Va. __________________ Ralph Mooney rules!!

October 26th, 2006, 01:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Boogie Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The Late Great Golden State Posts: 178 14 Photos	This isn't the answer you were looking for, but I'd suggest: Ice packs Ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory (prescription?) Lay off using the Bender for a couple of weeks Stretching exercises before and after you play Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, but I play one on the Internet.

October 25th, 2006, 10:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Don Miller Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Age: 57 Posts: 593 14 Photos	On the Parsons White you can regulate the tension by moving the screw that anchors the spring,,,or by replacing the spring itself. I used a spring I bought at Lowes and moved the anchor screw to tighten up my Parsons White (Bores clone)..I bought 3-4 springs...and as luck would have it the first one I tried did the trick. If youre drilling a pilot hole vertically in the bottom of the route forthe anchor screw be careful you dont go too deep and come out the face of the guitar...and if the spring is too loose youll have alot of accidental bends...