Duesenberg MULTIBENDER User manual

The Duesenberg Multibender enables you to play authen-
tic sounding pedalsteel licks on nearly every normal electric
guitar or lapsteel with a flat top. You can raise or lower Indi-
vidual strings from 1 to 3 half tones (depending on the string
gauge used) by pressing with the palm of the right hand on
one or more of the multibender‘s levers, which is normally
done with a foot pedal or knee lever on a pedalsteel guitar.
The levers are attached to an axle behind the center sup-
port. The strings to be bent are fixed to the levers and then
run over rollers through the center support. Each lever has
two screws for adjusting the resting point and the amount
of pitch change.
MANUAL
If you wish to add or remove a lever, now would be the
best time to do this. Loosen the two Allen screws on the
end of the base plate and slide the axle to one side. When
adding an extra lever, don‘t forget to install the enclosed
washer which prevents friction between the levers. When
completed, slide the axle back in place and tighten the two
Allen screws.
Mounting preparation
First of all make sure that the height of the multibender‘s
bridge saddles (11-14 mm) is compatible to the given neck
angle on the guitar so that the action of the guitar can be
properly adjusted.
Please note: The metal ear on the right side of the multi-
bender‘s base plate is meant to be used on a guitar with a
tremolo routing and must otherwise be removed to avoid
damage to the surface of the instrument!
Installation on a body without tremolo routing
Before removing the original bridge, first measure the
distance between the nut and the bridge saddle of the high
e-string. This measurement is needed for the exact positio-
ning of the Multibender bridge.
Before positioning the Multibender it is recommended to
protect the respective area on the guitar top using masking
tape to avoid scratching the surface.
Place the Multibender on the guitar top so that the high
e-string saddle position matches the previous measure-
ment (see above). The front of the base plate should be per-
pendicular to the center line of the guitar. Then use a piece
of thread stretched between the nut and the bridge saddles
of the outer strings to center the bridge. When the distance
between the thread and the edge of the fingerboard is the
same on both sides, the bridge is in place.
Now mark the positions for the eight attachment screws
and drill the holes with a 2mm drill. Use the enclosed
screws to mount the bridge.
The basic equipment includes two levers. Theoretically
there is space for up to three additional levers, although
a maximum of three levers in total is recommended for
convenient operation.
Allen screws for securing the axle Installation on a body with vintage tremolo routing
(i.e. Fender Stratocaster)
In this instance only the front six screw holes are needed.
A new positioning of the bridge is not necessary, because
the six original holes are in the right place. However, these
holes must be doweled and re-drilled with a 2mm bit.
If the guitar is equipped with a modern tremolo with a two-
bolt mounting system, the existing holes can not be used
for positioning the Multibender bridge. In this case follow
the instructions for installation on a body without tremolo
routing. It may be necessary to dowel the original holes.
Front attachment holes (6 screws)
Metal ear
Front adjustment
screws
Rear adjustment screws
Lever axle
Rear attachment holes
(2 screws)
Center support
THREE STEPS AHEAD
DUESENBERG.DE
MULTIBENDER

The rear two attachment holes shall not be used. Instead
use the enclosed mounting bracket to secure the Multi-
bender under the lip of the tremolo routing. The bracket is
screwed into the base plate with the supplied Allen screw.
The metal ear on the right side of the base plate is meant to
cover the visible part of the routing.
Additional levers for the Multibender as well as other acces-
sories are available directly at the Duesenberg Store:
store.duesenberg.de
Duesenberg Guitars - Hannover, Germany
duesenberg.de
If you decide to remove the Multibender and re-install the
original tremolo no visible marks will have been left on the
guitar. The six mounting holes will however need to be
re-drilled.
Stringing
Align each lever so that the string runs straight through
the center support under the roller and then over the brid-
ge saddle. There are no rollers for the low E and A string.
If the pitch of the string is to be raised by the bender, then the
ball-end needs to be inserted at the end of the lever. If the
pitch is to be be lowered, the other string mounting hole in
front of the axle should be used. The string should then be
threaded through the center support and over the saddle.
Mounting Bracket Installed Multibender
Lever spring
This somewhat tricky job is made easier if you first unscrew
the rear tuning screw completely so that you can lift the
lever as far as possible. Then push the lever in question side-
ways slightly out of its position, clamp the spring and then
push the lever back into place.
The non-levered strings are fed directly into the center
support.
The levers that lower the pitch of a string require an
extra spring which is inserted underneath. The spring must
be clamped between the small pin on the lever and the
corresponding screw head on the base plate.
Adjustment
The string height is adjusted using the two 1.5mm Allen
screws near the front of the saddle. To adjust the intonation
loosen the third Allen screw (first loosen the string tension!)
and push the saddle into the proper position. Then push
down the end of the saddle and re-tighten the screw.
Two screws for height adjustment
One screw to lock the saddle
The two longer threaded screws are used to adjust the ad-
justment range of the multibender levers. The rear screw
determines the rest position of the lever. The front screw
is used to set the interval by which the string should be
detuned when the lever is operated.
To adjust the lateral mobility of the front lever section, the
front screw incl. spring must be removed. Then use a 3mm
hex wrench to adjust the strength of the lever (see photo
below).
The large nut on the bottom holds everything together
and must not be loosened under any circumstances!
Rear string slot
Front string slot
Interval adjustment
Rest position adjustment
3mm hex screw