How Many Play S10 C6 Pedal Steel

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 1 Sep 2010 4:08 pm

How many of you out there have a single-necked pedal steel guitar tuned to C6 ?

Usually when one has a single-necked PSG it's tuned to E9, and one only sees C6 on the second neck or on non-pedal instruments.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 1 Sep 2010 4:22 pm

I have a single 8 Fender 400 tuned B6. Does that count? It's not my main gig axe but I hope to take it out on some jobs soon.
Dave

admin · Post by **b0b** » 1 Sep 2010 4:55 pm

I have a single 8 Desert Rose tuned to D6. Does that count? It is my main gig axe, but I don't get many gigs.

Stan Schober · Post by **Stan Schober** » 1 Sep 2010 6:12 pm

The more I play my C6th lap steels, the more I consider this.
If I did, it would be on my Emmons S-8, and I think I'd try a modified version of Murph's copedent.

Code: Select all

 
               LKL  1   2   LKR   RKL  3   4
   1 G (.013)
   2 E (.016)           F          Eb
   3 C (.020)   D            C#
   4 A (.024)                              Bb
   5 G (.028)                          F#
   6 E (.032)           Eb
   7 C#(.038)       C
   8 B (.020)

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 1 Sep 2010 6:49 pm

I have a single 8 Fender 400 tuned B6 too. It's in the case right now. Does that count?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 1 Sep 2010 6:59 pm

I have an Excel S10 C6 with 3+5. I don't use it much anymore, though, so it will soon be for sale. If anyone's interested, email me through the Forum.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 1 Sep 2010 7:24 pm

I'm not too sure those count, Sneaky's Dave & Russ...
But they sure are cool...

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 2 Sep 2010 2:16 am

I had an Emmons S10 6&2 p/p that, when I got it, was set up for E9th. I really wish I had changed it all to C6th because I'm playing so much of that now. Alas, I sold it and regret that. I did pick up another S10 p/p a week ago but it's a 3&4.

Eldon Cangas · Post by **Eldon Cangas** » 2 Sep 2010 4:34 am

I've made a 6 and 10 string laps last winter I made my 10 string pedal steel. All C6 tuning. I'm a jazz western swing guy who likes big chords.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 2 Sep 2010 4:39 am

Me - Carter 5+5. I don't play traditional country, so I don't miss the E9th.

But seriously, avoiding cliches is important to me, and by now the E9th has been milked so thoroughly that only steel players can tell one E9th player from another! And a player has in many circumstances been judged by how much he sounds like so-and-so, not by what he brings to the song. I would blame ignorant producers looking for that "traditional" sound much more that the players, BTW. If more other people had heard Mike Perlowin, Dave Easley, Bruce Kaphan etc. they would be calling on the steel for what it can do, not for what it did do 40 years ago.

The question then becomes "What do you want to do? Play other people's licks, or play music?" And I find the C6th to be better suited for the music I like. I should add - pedal steel has always been a pleasure or luxury to me, bass and guitar pay for the toys... if I had to depend on steel to make money around here, it wouldn't matter which tuning I used, I'd be playing it at home under the Rt. 50 bridge.

Ferdinando Ghidelli · Post by **Ferdinando Ghidelli** » 2 Sep 2010 5:10 am

I have a beautiful Mullen RP SD C6, 6 pedals and 5 knee levers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6PbVO7CA7I

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 2 Sep 2010 5:14 am

I love the sixth mode. I have a universal and find myself flatting the E's and mashing the last four pedals often.
But, I've heard from many a Nashville steel session guy that the quickest way to loose work is to play the rear neck on a double neck.
Listen to what Hughey did on Vince Gille's "Honey I'll Take Texas". It's very 6th sounding but I know he did it on the front E9 neck. He's was a great C6 guy. Perhaps he did it on the E9 neck in case an industry type was looking over his shoulder.
How do you get a C6 pedal steel player off your porch? Pay for the pizza

Alfred Ewell · Post by **Alfred Ewell** » 2 Sep 2010 5:25 am

Dave I was starting to think there was no (other) steel on the Eastern Shore! Good to see... I'm driving home from DC (work) into Earl this afternoon to jam (bluegrass fiddle) in Craddockville tonight then home near the Cape (where my Red Baron lives!)
Good to hear from any other steelers on ES!
-Sorry to be long-winded, must be the hurricaine

Jan Jonsson · Post by **Jan Jonsson** » 2 Sep 2010 8:02 am

Since two years, I exclusively play C6. And I have more gigs than ever

. I recently bought my second C6 single neck pedal steel, a Desert Rose "Delta Blues" dual-pickup model, to cover even more sound bases (primarily jazz and blues). If I ever should have to play some country-style steel I bring out my C6 single neck Sho-Bud Pro I and emulate the few E9 licks I have managed to learn.

-- Jan

David Easley · Post by **David Easley** » 6 Sep 2010 12:29 pm

Here's my S12 Excel Superb C6 right after I bought it.

I've changed out the pickups since then. Now I've got an Alumitone in the neck and a Jason Lollar at the bridge.

I didn't opt for the universal. I don't play very much E 9th and I've still got my Emmons D10 in case I need it.

Dave E.

Ryan Barwin · Post by **Ryan Barwin** » 6 Sep 2010 12:45 pm

Why would the pedals for S-10 C6th still be in the middle, like on a D-10? Is it just what you're used to? Or is it more comfortable? Personally, if I had a S-10 C6th guitar, I'd find it way more comfortable to have them much further left.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 6 Sep 2010 3:47 pm

Dual-foot mashing! I don't even hardly know how to hit pedal 5(eight)* with my left foot, and pedal 4(seven)* gets it's share of the right foot too. I find the further you get from the E9th cliches, the less important the volume pedal gets. I stick a piece of foam under it's pedal that keeps it around 80% loud with my foot off, and ignore it for quite long stretches sometimes. Decay can be as musically fun as sustain.

*(Converted for you doubleneckers)

Howard Nash · Post by **Howard Nash** » 7 Sep 2010 7:34 am

Most of the time I play a Carter S-10 tuned to C6. This guitar has 6 pedals and 6 knee levers. I use it to play chord melody jazz, my main musical interest.

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 7 Sep 2010 11:26 am

David Easley,
That is a really neat Excel you have there! With those two pickup combinations, you should be able to get any sound you want.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 7 Sep 2010 1:29 pm

I have one. A '67 Sho-Bud 6 and 2. It's not in C6th right now, nor E9th. It's foolin' around as a Blues steel. I will return it to C6th when I sell it. Here's a pic during restoration;

Ryan Barwin · Post by **Ryan Barwin** » 7 Sep 2010 2:08 pm

Dave, what's the copedent on the Excel? Very nice guitar.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 7 Sep 2010 2:18 pm

Yes Dave...please let us know!

Rick Winfield · Post by **Rick Winfield** » 9 Sep 2010 1:25 am

Howard Nash:
I have a Carter S10DB,3x5, and have quite often considered changing it to "full time" C6 neck, but lack the mechanical "know-how".
My thoughts were to develop a C6 neck, using my existing 3x5, to emulate a C6 w/5x3.
Would it simply be a matter of re-rodding and adjusting the strings ?
or, would it be simpler to add a few pedals and make a "sort-of" 10 string uni ?
Not really a country player, I'm presently working on playing jazz chords on E9.
Basically, standards like Misty,Satin Doll, et-al.
thanks
Rick

Geoff Cline · Post by **Geoff Cline** » 10 Sep 2010 8:54 am

I'm in...A Sho Bud with 6 pedals and 1 knee...dedicated C6th. Now I just need to be more dedicated to playing it.

William Lake · Post by **William Lake** » 10 Sep 2010 10:24 am

I thought I was the only nut that played a S10 C6

I have (had) a D10 and took off the E9 neck. Moved the C6 to the top and added a pad. I now have a C6 8x5 but I only use 6 pedals. 3 on the right and 3 on the left and the middle two to separate the others or a place to rest my beer.
I guess you can tell I am not interested in Country music, only Jazz and Western Swing.
Copedant is standard Emmons with an extra pedal and knee. Vertical knee G to F. Pedal is a reverse 6.
Any ideas on what to do with the extra two pedals? I can always get the OL to hold the beer.

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