D9, pros and cons

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 23 Jun 2002 7:33 pm

I'm thinking of changing from E9 to D9, and I need some input on cost of strings, as well as the gauges, and any other point that could be brought up about this tuning. Does anyone sell D9th sets? I would imagine there would be a wound string on the sixth. I'm after a mellow Ed Bickard type sound. Any input would be appreciated.
Andy Greatrix

Post by **b0b** » 23 Jun 2002 8:07 pm

Andy, if one of the nickel wound sets in the Forum catalog is close to the gauges you want, you can do substitutions from the singles list at little or no extra cost. Here's what I'd use:
<pre>E .014
C# .016
F# .013
D .015
A .020p
F# .026w
E .030
D .034
C .038
A .042</pre>With these gauges, you could substitute a few strings from the Tommy White E9th set and it would only cost you 50 cents more ($10.50 total, postage paid).

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/coolb0b2.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
-System Administrator

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 23 Jun 2002 9:25 pm

Thanks for the reply, B0b. I won't be
back to Canada until Sept., and my
single neck MSA is at home. If the
finances permit, i may buy a lighter
guitar and have it set up with Bobbes
(trick knee)Z lever but keep my
F knee lever which would be an
E-flat knee lever.
Another question, if I raise the
D to E-flat with the left going left,
put the Z lever on the left going right,
and the D to D-flat on the right knee
going left, what would anyone suggest
I use on the right knee going right?
I have a month and a half to deside.
Thanks again all,
Andy Greatrix

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 24 Jun 2002 2:36 pm

Lower your F#'s (3 and 6) to F, for a Dm.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 24 Jun 2002 3:33 pm

Thanks B0b.Also, I have been thinking of raising the bottom D to E with the C peddle, along with raising strings 4 and 5 a whole tone. This is getting interesting.

Gil Berry · Post by **Gil Berry** » 25 Jun 2002 12:27 pm

Curious about your response, B0b. If the reason for going from E9th to D9th is to reduce breakage on the infamous high G#, why go to heavier strings? Do you feel that an .011 tuned to F# is to "sloppy"? If, of course, the purpose is to achieve a fatter - more C6th-type sound, then it makes sense - but otherwise??

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 25 Jun 2002 12:55 pm

I didn't think of change in terms of reducing string breakage. I thought Andy was lowering his tuning for a mellower sound. If you kept the E9 gauges, I think it would be harder to play because the weight of the bar would affect the tuning more.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 25 Jun 2002 3:17 pm

B0B is right.
I will use heavier gauge strings so they will be as taut as the E9th tuning. I am after a sound that is fat a low volumes.
I would like to get a gearless guitar that is small and light.with the knee peddle set-up I have in mind, it should be good for a lounge volume trio act, or even as a single act. With my sterio Goodrich volume peddle, I can line out into one channel of a PA to a strip with no reverb or effects with the bass frequencies emphisized, and another strip with reverb and delay on the top end.
I would also like to get a tube pre-amp for the strip with the higher frequencies. If I am successful, It will sound fat at low volumes and be reminiscent of the old Hammond spinet model Organs.
I will need a clean PA with at least 200 watts a side, with a sub-woofer. I have a sound in my head that I'm trying to accomplish.(I can dream)[This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 25 June 2002 at 04:50 PM.]

Jeff Peterson · Post by **Jeff Peterson** » 25 Jun 2002 3:22 pm

I tried a D9/D6 tuning in the late 70's, all the guys I played with said I sounded like a 45 record playing on 33 1/3. It lasted about 3 days.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 25 Jun 2002 7:46 pm

I will still have my MSA with the BL pickup for Honky-Tonk gigs.(I'm an incurable Ralph Mooney fan!)With this new steel, I will have a C6th tone but not with Jazz Chords. They will be altered a tad, but not enough to go over the peoples heads who clap on one and three. With the D being between C and E, it just might work. If it doesn't, I can switch it back to E9th and still have a small light guitar that won't cost me a fortune on the airplane.

Gil Berry · Post by **Gil Berry** » 26 Jun 2002 11:27 am

Interesting. Almost every steel guitar manufacturer has gone to metal necks to get "that" sound - that being the twangy nashville sound emphasizing highs. And now we're looking for a fatter sound? Ever hear of wood necks, i.e. MSA classics? Personally, I like both - brilliant highs and clean lows - maybe a combination of metal necks and fatter strings would do it! I doubt, B0b, that the slightly reduced tension tuning E9th strings down to D9 would have much effect on playing, though - unless you're one of those guys who uses a two-pound, 1-1/2 inch diameter bar.....[This message was edited by Gil Berry on 26 June 2002 at 12:27 PM.]