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Author Topic:  Carco Clave's tuning?
Don McGregor

 

From:
Memphis, Tennessee
Post  Posted 8 Jan 2010 8:01 am    
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I am very interested to know any details of Carco Clave's 10 string lap steel seen in some of Rick Alexander's videos.
I understand he built it.
Anyone know what tuning(s) he uses?
Same tuning on "Over the Rainbow" as on "Hey Good Lookin'"?
What scale length?
String Spacing?
What pickup?
Also, has the coordination between Carco's hands and brain been secretly enhanced by some new breakthrough in neuro/synaptic surgical technology that I haven't yet heard about?
Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 8 Jan 2010 9:55 am    
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I don't see him doing Over The Rainbow on a nonpedal axe, but here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBryf2z6dsA
is Hey Good Looking in the key of C with a lot of open strings. You can count 10 strings in the close up. You can hear the open D in the first bridge section.
And here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOTrl9HWvgg&feature=related
is Boot Heel Drag in A where you can hear him do the low pickup notes on the low C string.
So it looks like the same C6 that most guys use on pedal steel:
D
E
C
A
G
E
C
A
F
C
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Don McGregor

 

From:
Memphis, Tennessee
Post  Posted 8 Jan 2010 10:57 am    
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Thank you, Earnest,
Looks like you're right. I had some similar information about Billy Robinson's instrument, and Carco's tuning seems to be close to his. I'm not sure, but I think Billy Robinson's 9th and 10th strings are G and F. Does that sound right?
On my double 8, I've been mostly using A6 and high C6 with a G on top, but now that I'm building a 10 string, I'm going to have to bow to the wisdom of these guys. I think, until I can get my 10 string up and running, I need to string one neck up with a 3rd on top, just to get my fingers used to the idea. I've started this past year learning E9 on pedal, so that, at least, helps solidify the concept in my head.
BTW, here's Carco on non pedal, with his wife, Renae' on "Over the Rainbow".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orKmYP6oibM
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Robert Colvert


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 3 Feb 2010 8:12 am    
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Carco did build the lap steel you see in the videos. Earnest has his tuning correct, standard C6 with a D on top. The scale length is 24.25, the string spacing is comparable to an Emmons (so, 3/8 between strings) and Carco is using a single coil Emmons pickup. He told me he wanted this lap steel to be exactly the same as his Emmons D-10s. I don't know the ohms of the pickup, but Carco told me he generally likes them wound to about 17.5.

I agree with you Don about Carco's style. I like his playing very much. Very musical and "earthy". IMHO he has taste, talent, tone, plus touch !
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John Bechtel


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 4 Feb 2010 10:52 pm    
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Billy Robinson's 10-str. C6:
F~A~C~E~G~A~C~E~G~D
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My T-10 Remington Steelmaster
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