The Steel Guitar Forum

C13th on inside neck and B11th on the outside neck of my D8. Sometimes I go from one neck to the other on a song just to add some different colors.

On a single neck C13th would be my first choice.

Being a "Hawaii Calls" type fan, I use a B11th from high to low: E C# A F# D# B F# B This gives a dramatic sweep from that deep low B on up and also a nice low major chord on the low five strings. My repertoire is dependent on having both C6th and B11th available on my double eight but if ...

Hey Rick...I just "sense" the scale length from a picture of a steel based on my having played both short and long scale steels for many years although I might guess wrong from time to time. The intervals between the "fret" markers just appear to be bigger to my eye on the longer...

Santo Farina also preferred C#m7, that can be heard on Sleep Walk (Hi) E C# B G# E C# Not sure about the 2 low strings Many of those S&J tunes lay out beautifully in this tuning. Miles - good observation. Santo & Johnny's other hits such as "Teardrop" "Caravan" and "...

Being a "Hawaii Calls" fan I use C13th on the inside neck and B11th on the outside of my D8. In addition to the expected Hawaiian tunes on the B11th, I am delighted with the full, chord-rich arrangements I've been able to make with this tuning which, for me, is a great compliment to the C1...

I saw Buck Owens in concert in 1967 in Manhattan and Buck, Don, and Tom each had a Fender Twin Reverb. Volume to spare (I had a seat in the back of the theater) with no trace of distortion from any of them. Amazing sound.

Thanks C. Since I "only" have four knee levers and one vertical, I'm going to tie the LKR out of the way since I can live without it and therefore have much easier and more comfortable access to the B6th pedals.

Good to know I'm not the only one with this issue.

RKR on my Carter U12 with the Newman setup the guitar came with. This makes use of the volume pedal feel natural and easy for my right foot and gives my left foot a bit more freedom to access those B6th pedals on the right side. That LKR lever presents enough of an annoyance in that it feels "i...

Here's a version probably by Jules Ah See for the "Hawaii Calls: Hawaiian Strings" album...an album that got me addicted to Hawaiian style playing long ago and haunts me to this day. "South Sea Island Magic" is the first tune on the album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yujS4hXf...

In a "Guitar Player" interview many years ago, Santo said he recorded "Sleepwalk" and "Tear Drop" in C#m7 tuning.

Just one more comment...only after many years did I discover the C13th and B11th tunings that were featured prominently by Jules and Barney on "Hawaii Calls" when I thought as a novice that the steel guitar was simply tuned to an A major like my "Nick Manoloff Hawaiian Guitar Method&q...

Jeremy, that comment about the E7th tuning "just for effect" is a direct quote from a 1980's interview in "Guitar Player" magazine - "Unsung Heroes" column. I still have the clipping from that interview since an interview with Santo was so rare. His other two tunings we...

Yes, please let us know how you made out with the string change. A similar problem exists with standard guitars that have plain third strings (G string). They are really easy to bend but are considered by many to be inferior in tone to a wound G string. I improved the tone on some of my standard 6 s...

I tried that same GHS set and right away replaced the .026 with a wound string and the difference in tone and sustain was like night and day.

Try A6th. Santo did say that he had A6th on one of his necks in addition to C# minor 7th ("Sleep Walk,") and E7th.

I was in a music shop noodling with a standard guitar and playing some chord melodies to get the feel of it when a 17 year old approached me and said "You're playing melodies on the guitar." He thought only "licks" could be played on guitar. I engaged him in conversation about mu...

I use the Jules Ah-See ("Hawaii Calls") version that Barney Isaacs also used. From high to low: E C# A F# D# B F# B You may consider an A for that seventh string instead of the F#. I like the bottom four strings with that F# for the straight major chord as it gives me for some easy low-dow...

Having both C13th and B11th on my D8, I use B11th to accompany my vocalist on jazz standards such as "Fly Me To The Moon", "Mr. Lucky", "Girl From Ipanima" and other more or less jazzy standards. "Route 66" is another tune I use it for vocal accompanyment. It ...

I have the same guitar and use a C13th on the inner neck and a B11th on the outer neck. I play some jazz standards, pop standards, and Hawaiian tunes and use the B11th neck about half the time; sometimes both necks for one tune. For example the melody for "Blue Bossa" on the C13th and a ch...

I had one years ago. Its a ukulele pickup, made to be attached to the front of a uke with some kind of elastic or rubber band.

I use a .068 string for the low B on the B11th tuning on my Remington Steelmaster and I have the same problem. I have learned to live with it by being very careful when I use the bar on the first fret because of the added height of that fat 8th B string. I happen to use an F# for my seventh string s...

E for both C13th and B11th.

Here are some tunes I play in the original keys (based on available sheet music and song collections) on the B11th which gives fat chords for chord melody style on many old standards: Moonlight in Vermont Old Cape Cod Theme from "Picnic" Unforgettable Blue Velvet Prisoner of Love How Deep ...

Jack, Your extended G11th tuning sounds like a good move for accompanying those singers. One question - does that high G string sound a bit thin, enough to bother you? Butch, Good point. Jules' use of pedals explains why I could almost but not quite duplicate on non-pedal some of the chords he playe...

Give a listen to "Manuela Boy" from the "Hawaii Calls' Hawaiian Strings Vol. 3 - Favorite Instrumentals of the Islands" album presented by Webley Edwards. This is an excellent example of the G11th tuning and its' ability to lend a "jazzy" flavor to a tune. "Manuela...