Carter half stop question

[Marvin Born]

I am setting up a Carter S10 for a friend. Everything works as it should except the string 2 halfstop. It does nothing. Looking under I see that the pull rod from the dummy nylon tuner is connected to string 10, (B) it just moves with the A pedal. Does nothing. It may have been moved by a earlier owner.

Where does the pull rod connect to operate the half stop on string two? I suspect it probably pulls up string 9; when string 2 lower to C#is adjusted and string 9’s lower is adjusted to place the string 2 half stop to D. With those adjustments made, then when string 9 is lowered to C# it is flat. Does anyone know where to place the pull rod? (to pull it up) This Carter has no split screws.

Note this is the first Carter I have worked on. I speak Zum or Excel.

Thanks, Marvin

[Richard Sinkler]

The half stop tuner is a half finger where an 11th string would be, not the 10th string. The nylon tuner hits the half stop finger when string 2 is at the D note. There is no reason the 2nd string doesn't lower when the knee lever is pushed, unless there is a problem with the linkage on string 2.


If you want a "stiffer" half stop point, you can loosen the string to reduce tension on string 2 (and 9 if it is also lowering it to C#), remove the spring on the half stop finger. Cut one loop off the string, bend the end of the string to how it originally was, put it back on the front of the finger. Only do one loop or it will take 4 people and a crane to activate the knee lever.