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Topic: Multi-Kord |
Eric Dunlop
From:
Hampshire, UK
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Posted 28 Jan 2008 3:22 am |
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Hello everyone, new member just joined.
My experience is very limited with the Steel Guitar. I am at present working my way through a tuition course (enjoying it very much) based on the A maj. low bass tuning.
My instrument for the moment is a Fender Stringmaster D8.
I have two questions that I am hoping you will be able to help me with.
The tuning mentioned above is based upon 6 strings. Both of my decks have 8.
The strings at present are tuned as follows starting at the 1st string: -
E C# A E A E
can you suggest a tuning for strings 7 & 8.
My second question related to my friend who has just aquired a Multi-Kord 6 string, 4 pedal steel guitar.
He has asked me to set it up for him.
I have tuned the six strings to match with mine above and the instrument sounds fine as a table lap steel.
I have no information on tuning the pedals. There seems to be a set of adjusting screws with locking nuts at one end of the instrument.
Can anyone provide a hint as to what the pedals should be tuned to or better still guide us to where we might obtain a User Manual.
Thanks for you time and trouble
Regards
Eric Dunlop |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 28 Jan 2008 3:44 am
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OK Point Made
Last edited by basilh on 28 Jan 2008 4:46 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Eric Dunlop
From:
Hampshire, UK
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Posted 28 Jan 2008 4:17 am Muti-Kord
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Thank you Jon,
That information is most helpful.
The general feeling That I got was that the Multi-Kord was not a good instrument for a beginner.
Most probably the repair and maintenance will be quite difficult. We live in a small country town of Whitchurch in Hampshire, UK. Obtaining cables should one get broken might be a problem.
Must keep positive, we shall attempt to make the adjustments to the pedals so as to make life as easy for my friend as possible.
Thanks again Jon |
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Eric Dunlop
From:
Hampshire, UK
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Posted 28 Jan 2008 7:30 am Multi-Kord
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Thank you Basil,
I shall alter the tuning to A Maj. High Bass.
I have found another Multi-Kord for sale, this is also a six string, 4 pedal.
I must say that I am very tempted but I am making slow but steady progress with the Fender Stringmaster. Changing horses mid-stream might not be a good idea.
My friends Multi-Kord does seem to be a bit wobbley although the frame and brackets seem tight enough. Is this normal?
Regards
Eric |
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Jim Mitchell
From:
Phily,Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2008 2:26 pm Harlin Brothers MULTI KORD
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I just picked one up and I have it tuned to C6
I am trying to just play it with out the pedals
just to get the feel like a lap top
DON'T NEED NO STINKEN PEDALS YET
I have been tabbing up some single note stuff
like this
What I Have in there to date
1 A White Sports Coat
2 Bad Moon Risen
3 Steel Guitar Rag
4 Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
5 Marty Robbins-- BIG IRON on his hip
Go to my site it is free go to the steel guitar page
http://www.geocities.com/insp/SUPRO6420.html
DO NOT LOOK AT THE BIG JIM PICTURE YOU WILL NOT SLEEP
TRUST ME ON THAT
_________________
I am trying to play a Harlin Brothers 1956 Multi Kord 6 String 4 Pedal Steel Guitar
and a RONDO lap
Retired from Boeing Helicopters in Ridley Park Pa.
we build the CH47 |
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Eric Dunlop
From:
Hampshire, UK
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Posted 28 Jan 2008 4:13 pm Multi-Kord
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Thanks Big Jim.
I have looked at your site, downloaded the key chart.
Do you have any setting up information on the Multi-Kord?
If I can find out how to set the pedals up I might be tempted to buy this guitar.
Your "Key Chart" can be transposed to A Maj. High Bass, this will then enable me to find the chord slant positions (I think!)that I need for the Fender Stringmaster.
Regards
Eric Dunlop |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 28 Jan 2008 6:55 pm
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Eric, that tuning is a six string acoustic steel tuning, (for the old fashioned self accompanied style)
You'd be better off to use the A "High Bass" tuning which is the beginners electric tuning.
As for an 8 string version I would say an extended High Bass.
E C# A E C# A E LOW A
The tunings available on a Multi-kord are limited by your initial tuning.
Any given pedal can tune any number of strings, but the more strings are altered the harder the pedal action becomes, until you reach a point of impracticality.
What IS desirable is the capability of obtaining the three inversions of a major chord, sevenths, minors, diminished and augmented. To this end it's quite a fine art to develop a usable copedent.
Call me and we'll talk, 0182-770-4110 or 0781-687-2166.
Basil
I know a lot about a little, fortunately the little in this instance is relevant. |
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James Collett
From:
San Dimas, CA
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Posted 28 Jan 2008 7:13 pm
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| Quote: |
| I know a lot about a little |
basil- don't we all! 
_________________
James Collett |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 28 Jan 2008 7:36 pm
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Eric: the Multi-Kord was a very early pedal steel and as you know has pedals to one side. That makes for a very awkward playing position, which is why the design was soon abandoned in favor of regularly-spaced pedals as on all modern pedal steels. I have three Multi-Kords, but it's mainly because I'm an enthusiast. I wouldn't play one as my main instrument. The only advantage it has is that it's easy to change the copedant, (that's which pedals pull which strings.)
If you're used to playing a regular guitar you'll be familiar with the common mistake that newcomers make, to buy the cheapest guitar they can get their hands on, to see if they have an aptitude for it, but they end up with a guitar with such bad action that even a professional couldn't play, and then they figure that it's their own fault that they can't play it, and they give up. Starting on a Multi-Kord is a bit like that.
....and don't buy a starter steel like the Carter Starter, buy a used professional model, which probably won't be that much more. |
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Jim Mitchell
From:
Phily,Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 29 Jan 2008 4:11 am MULTI KORD
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Alan,
You are absolutely right about not buying a cheep starter guitar you will just get frustrated and give up the art.
I picked up my Multi Kord in a Pawn shop in Myrtle Beach SC last September for $500.00 I have been playing Guitar since I was 14 I am 60 now I think I needed a challenge.
I just wanted to add some steel guitar in to my recording tracks, but now I play it more than my REAL GUITAR I am learning it as a non-pedal lap steel guitar I want to experiment with different tunings
Yes I got the bug I do want a Professional Steel Guitar now but I can’t find any in the Philadelphia Area ( WE GOT TONS OF SAXAPHONES THEM DAM MUMMERS )
And you are right again the CARTER STARTER is not the one I want.
My brother In-law got one of them Guitars you see on TV you know the guy with the big black hat “ESTERBON” and the ( PROFESSIONAL AMP )
The strings are NO LIE ¼ inch above the fret board.
Yes he gave up his fingers got sore I wonder why
I let him play my Tennessee Rose, Model / Gretchen where the strings are 0.010 from the frets he had no problem playing the C-- F and G chords he learned.
But he still gave up I think he was to old to start 47 years old you got to start young I think.
I am going to do some tab for the MULTI KORD on my site using the pedals in the future.
MY SITE
http://www.geocities.com/insp/SUPRO6420.html
_________________
I am trying to play a Harlin Brothers 1956 Multi Kord 6 String 4 Pedal Steel Guitar
and a RONDO lap
Retired from Boeing Helicopters in Ridley Park Pa.
we build the CH47 |
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Eric Dunlop
From:
Hampshire, UK
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Posted 29 Jan 2008 7:03 pm Multi-Kord
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Basil, Alan and Jim,
Thank you for your guidance on the Multi-Kord. I do recall many years ago when I bought my first guitar. The action was so high and the fretboard so flat it was a wonder that I learnt anything at all. I did not progress until I swopped a racing bicycle for a Framus guitar.
For the time being I will remain with my Fender Stringmaster D8. For which the 8 string tuning of A Maj. High sounds very pleasing.
The information received will enable me to assist my friend in setting up his Multi-Kord, he at least has played Pedal Steel for some years so the challenge should not be too much for him.
I shall keep my eyes open for a good second hand pedal steel, something like a "Sho-bud" or "MSA SideKick" or I see on eBay there is a 10 string Fuzzy.
I have moved up from 6 to 8 strings but feel a little daunted by 10. The learning curve required to instill in my mind the note positions on a 10 string will take me years to achieve. I am 69 years old this April, I could be the only 100 year old player by the time I can understand all those note positions. Oh well, just another of life's little challenges.
With friends like you around for guidance it can't be that bad.
I would appreciate your comments on what a suitable pedal steel as a complete novise I should be looking for.
Thanks
Eric |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 30 Jan 2008 7:27 pm
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Eric:
In the meantime you should realise that your Stringmaster is a top-of-the-line instrument that many people would die for. You can't get any better in the non-pedal arena. Don't think of selling it.
If you;re happy with your Sringmaster I suggest that you look for a Fender pedal steel, which will have all your familiar features, plus pedals, |
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Eric Dunlop
From:
Hampshire, UK
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Posted 30 Jan 2008 8:13 pm Multi-Kord
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Alan,
I have no intention at this time to part with my Fender Stringmaster D8. I am just now beginning to play some tunes on it much to the surprize of my family.
My interest has been regenerated in Pedal Steel following my involvement with my friends Multi-Kord.
Incedentaly it is now set up and I have heard him play. Sounds great.
Many years ago I bought a Sho-Bud and went to see Gerry Hogan who kindly spent an afternoon with me giving me some tuition. Living as I did at that time in a working houshold, there was no space to leave the guitar set up. It took time to erect and tune and I could only spend 30 minutes practice time and then it had to be dismanteled and put away. I just lost interest after a time and took up the saxophone.
The household is now more stable, my wife has retired, I have slowed down and now work from home running my own architectural design business. So now having purchased the Fender, it stands in the lounge ready to play at a minutes notice.
I have tried many tunings which I found very confusing. I have now settled for the A Maj. High Bass. I just love the sound.
I will keep my eyes and ears open for a Fender Pedal Steel, I have located a "Fuzzy" XL 1000 (S-10) it is a 10 string 3 pedal and 4 lever instrument. How in your opinion does this compare with a Fender?
I havn't seen a Fender advertised before in my neck of the woods.
Regards
Eric |
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