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Post new topic Any tips for the Fessenden Six Shooter (6 str pedal steel)?
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Author Topic:  Any tips for the Fessenden Six Shooter (6 str pedal steel)?
Steve Ahola


From:
Concord, California
Post  Posted 19 Aug 2011 8:12 am    
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I just got this from a forum member, figuring it would be a good transition from lap steel to pedal steel. I was wondering if anyone here has done anything interesting with it, like changing the tuning and copedent. It is tuned B-E-G#-B-E-G# (low to high) with just two pedals. The A pedal raises both B's to C# and the B pedal raised both G#'s to A.

The two tunings I use the most on 6 string lap steel are E9 (B-D-F#-G#-B-E) and C6/A7 (C/C#-E-G-A-C-E). I was wondering if anyone here has used either of those tunings with the Six Shooter. Or added a knee lever or 3rd pedal...

Thanks!

Steve Ahola

EDIT I'm thinking about doing this with the E9th tuning I like:

Code:
E
B  A pedal raises to C#
G# B pedal raises to A
F# (opt. added knee lever lowers to E)
D  A pedal raises to E
B

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Mike Perlowin


From:
Los Angeles CA
Post  Posted 19 Aug 2011 9:19 am    
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Steve, sooner or later you're going to want a 10 or 12 stringed instrument. In my opinion, you should forget about the 6 stringer and take the plunge now.
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Steve Ahola


From:
Concord, California
Post  Posted 19 Aug 2011 9:31 am    
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Mike Perlowin wrote:
Steve, sooner or later you're going to want a 10 or 12 stringed instrument. In my opinion, you should forget about the 6 stringer and take the plunge now.


I already have a 1972 ShoBud Pro S10 with the undercarriage rebuilt last year but I have set that aside while getting my left and right hand chops together playing lap steel. It is a lot easier to bring the Six Shooter to a jam than set up 10 string pedal steel so I am looking at it more as a console steel with pedals.

Steve Ahola
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 19 Aug 2011 12:11 pm    
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If your aim is to transition to your S-10, E9th guitar, it's in the perfect tuning already. I wouldn't change it.
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Steve Ahola


From:
Concord, California
Post  Posted 20 Aug 2011 1:51 pm    
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I've been using E9th tunings on my 6 and 8 string non-pedal steels for almost a year now [E-B-G#-F#-D-B-(G#)-(E)] hi to lo, reportedly something that Buddy Emmons came up with in the 50's. So I feel kinda lost without that D and F# in there. Sad

I'm going to see if it will work to have the B pedal raise the B 6th string to C# which would give me 9 consecutive diatonic scale pitchs at one position (or 11 if I slid to the 7th:D or D#)

Code:

           string gauges   
    PEDALS
    A    B  lite    heavy
E           .015    .015
B  ++C#     .017    .018
G#      +A  .022p/w .024w
F#          .026    .030
D  ++E      .030    .036
B      ++C# .038    .042


I appreciate all of the comments here- I decided that I am ready to start working with my ShoBud S10. I will use the Six Shooter to extend the capabilities of the 6 string E9th tuning I've been using, with the pedals replacing some of the slant positions and slides I've been using.

Thanks!

Steve

P.S. Here is a 6 string C6 Six Shooter tuning inspired by an old 8 string C6 copedent I found on the site here. I had to omit all of the lowers since the Six Shooter is not set up for that and rearranged the raises for 2 pedals. (I don't think that I would ever try it but it might be interesting for Hawaiian styles.)

Code:

    A   B
E      +F
C  ++D
A  ++B
G
E
C      +C#

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