pull and release vs all pull

Instruments, mechanical issues, copedents, techniques, etc.

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Jerry Malvern
Posts: 491
Joined: 30 Apr 2005 12:01 am
Location: Menifee, California, USA

pull and release vs all pull

Post by Jerry Malvern »

It seems there are more pull and release being made today. I have had all pull guitars and would like to get a new guitar. Is it something I should be concerned about. Thanks
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Dave Grafe
Posts: 5227
Joined: 29 Oct 2004 12:01 am
Location: Hudson River Valley NY

Re: pull and release vs all pull

Post by Dave Grafe »

From a technical point of view I would far rather work on an all-pull mechanism.
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Ian Rae
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Joined: 10 Oct 2013 11:49 am
Location: Redditch, England

Re: pull and release vs all pull

Post by Ian Rae »

My first guitar was a 1960s pull-release D10 which sounded awesome, and although many great players made some great music on such an instrument, I could never have done what I can do now on an all-pull U12.
I don't understand the comment on ease of doing work - the p/r is so simple there's no work to do!
To answer Jerry's question, they sound great if you only want basic changes.
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs
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Dave Grafe
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Joined: 29 Oct 2004 12:01 am
Location: Hudson River Valley NY

Re: pull and release vs all pull

Post by Dave Grafe »

Ian Rae wrote: 2 Dec 2025 1:26 am I don't understand the comment on ease of doing work - the p/r is so simple there's no work to do!.
Simple yes, but also little to be gained by trying.
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Tim Toberer
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Joined: 23 Oct 2021 11:58 am
Location: Nebraska, USA

Re: pull and release vs all pull

Post by Tim Toberer »

Pull Release is awesome, once it is set up there is very little to worry about, but they can be a pain to get set up well. Once you know the idiosyncrasies, it isn't that difficult. I have decided I like setting them up like the (new) Sho Bud Mavericks, where all the open strings are tuned at the headstock, as opposed to the old fashioned way. All options have their benefits and downfalls like everything else. I built a few because it is the only style of changer that someone without a serious machine shop can make, but now I am a dedicated follower of P/R!

There is a huge advantage to a P/R setup that is not often mentioned. A note that is lowered or released can be pulled without effecting the other notes, which allows combining pedals in a way not possible on an all pull guitar. My own copedant makes heavy use of this fact and I would guarantee that I can obtain a vast number of chords and combinations not possible on an all pull guitar. This requires sacrificing the volume pedal and playing with both feet. This isn't going to matter to someone using a standard copedant which is designed for an all pull guitar obviously, but for more experimental type tunings, it opens up a whole other world.