B-Bender

, B-Benders are available to fit many solid-body electric guitars, and even acoustics.

The B-Bender was invented by Gene Parsons and Clarence White of Nashville West and The Byrds, and was originally called the Parsons/White Pull-String, later changed to StringBender. Their early prototypes included multiple bending devices for the E, B, G and D strings, but White decided he preferred a single B string bender in the final design (image at right). The B string is bent up a full tone by pulling the guitar neck down. This puts pressure on the strap, which is attached to a spring-loaded lever at the base of the neck. The lever arm passes through the body of the guitar and is connected to the B string behind the bridge. [Citation
inventor-last = Parsons
inventor-first = Gene
inventorlink =
inventor2-last = White
inventor2-first = Clarence
inventorlink2 =
publication-date = 1968
issue-date = 1970.
title = Shoulder Strap Control for String Instruments
country-code = US
description =
patent-number = 3512443] White's 1954 Telecaster with the first Pull-String is now owned and regularly played by Marty Stuart. [ [http://www.martystuart.com/zArt-VintageGuitar4-04.htm Russell, Rusty. "Clarence": The Granddaddy of Bender Guitars. Reprinted from "Vintage Guitar Magazine," April 2004, Vol 18 No 6.] ] Parsons and White licensed the StringBender to Leo Fender at Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, who made some changes to simplify the design for mass production. [Citation
inventor-last = Fender
inventor-first = Clarence
inventorlink =
inventor2-last =
inventor2-first =
inventorlink2 =
publication-date = 1971
issue-date = 1972.
title = Shoulder Strap-Operated Pitch-Changing Means for Spanish Guitars
country-code = US
description =
patent-number = 3686993] However, this model never went into production.

decided to begin offering the StringBender in their [http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0118342706 American Standard Nashville B-Bender Telecaster] , and began production in 1996 using an updated design by Parsons and Green. [ [http://www.vintageguitar.com/features/brands/details.asp?AID=1179 Driscoll, Edward and Forte, Dan. "Parsons-White String Bender," "Vintage Guitar Magazine," April 2004, Vol 18 No 6] ]

Another type of B-Bender is activated by the picking hand, like the Bigsby tailpiece. Unlike the Parsons/White model, this type does not require any structural modifications to the guitar body, and simply installs with a few screws. Examples are the Bigsby Palm Pedal, the Hipshot Palm Lever, and the Duesenberg Guitars Multibender. Each of these can bend multiple strings using different levers.

B-Bender, developed by David Borisoff, also mounts to the tailpiece end of the guitar without requiring any modifications. A lever extends behind the guitar and rests against the player's body. The bender is activated by moving the whole guitar against the player's body. [Citation
inventor-last = Borisoff
inventor-first = David
inventorlink =
inventor2-last =
inventor2-first =
inventorlink2 =
publication-date = 1984
issue-date = 1985.
title = String bender attachment construction
country-code = US
description =
patent-number = 4535670] While this version bends the string up, James Hennessey developed a version that can bend the string either up or down, although mounting it requires modification of the guitar body (image at left). [Citation
inventor-last = Hennessey
inventor-first = James
inventorlink =
inventor2-last =
inventor2-first =
inventorlink2 =
publication-date = 1986
issue-date = 1987.
title = Rear Operated Control Device for Guitar
country-code = US
description =
patent-number = 4658693] The same type of mechanics can be applied to other strings besides the B, with the G string being the most common. Brad Paisley is a well-known proponent of the "G-Bender" and uses a model from Charlie McVay. "Double Benders" can bend both the B and G strings independently. The B string pull operates like the Parsons/White design, by pushing the neck down against the strap. The G string pull uses a push-away motion of the neck and depends on a lanyard attached to the player's belt.

A variation developed by Joseph Glaser can bend up to three different strings independently. Like the Double Benders, Glaser's design uses a downward pull of the guitar neck to bend the B string and a push-away against a belt lanyard to bend the G string. The third bend for the low E string uses a backward pull of the neck toward the player's body (see diagram at right). [Citation
inventor-last = Glaser II
inventor-first = Joseph
inventorlink =
inventor2-last =
inventor2-first =
inventorlink2 =
publication-date = 1981
issue-date = 1982.
title = Tone changer for stringed instrument
country-code = US
description =
patent-number = 4354417] Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio has Glaser Double-Benders (B & G) in his instruments and, unlike most bender players, uses them more as a stylistic enhancement than for a steel guitar sound.

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