uni tuning

Bob Moore · From: N. Rose, New York

I would like the standard uni tuning. Everything I see is someone's else tuning. I just got a uni with 5&7. thanks for the help. Bob Moore

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

There's not quite a standard Uni.
And 7 pedals and 5 knees means some common changes are missing.
Sorry for the not completely helpful answer.
At 7 and 5, I'd suggest (if you're not used to raising 1&2 to G# and E)
P1-3 A-C
P4:P8 of C6
P5:P5 (I'd really rather that on a knee, but you can't have everything)
P6&7: P6&7
LKL: raise Es
LKV: lower 5
LKR: either raise 1 to G and lower 6 to F# or lower Es.
RKL: the other one
RKR: lower 2 to C# with half stop at D and raise 9th string B to D.

That's COMMON, but not really standard.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Bob Moore · From: N. Rose, New York

LANE I am looking for string notes from 1to 12 not pedalsetup. I all ready have what is on the steel but I don't know open string notes so I can tune it. thanks Bob

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Oops, misunderstood you.
That's simple
F#
D#
G#
E
B
G#
F#
E
B
G#
E
B
For E9/B6 uni.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Lane is correct. But I tune my 2nd string to C# and raise it instead of the other way around. I think that works better on a universal.

I got the idea from B.J.Cole, who also plays a u-12, and also tunes his 2nd string to C#.
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Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

For that matter, the Bb6 (and, by extension, my unflatted version, I started out Bb, but missed my open Es and As too much) moves the first string down to the third, which I kinda like and think makes sense (and isn't hard to get used to), so it goes like this (B6 values to keep from confusing)
D#
G#
F#
D# (in mine I raise to E for the E9 pockets)
B et c.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

fwiw, Most of the current builders have an S12U setup listed on their website.
MSA is probably the only one that lists a Bb6th Uni setup.

I too tune the first/top 3 strings 1-D#, 2-G#, 3-F#, but this is not what is typically listed as Standard.

How is your S12U currently setup?

Here's a 7x5 you can pull up from the Williams website:
http://williamsguitarcompany.com/E9_B6_Universal_Tuning.htm

Here's a 7x5 setup from GFI:
http://www.gfimusicalproducts.com/Tables/Copedant%20Tables.htm

Here's a 7x5 setup from the Carter Website:
https://www.steelguitar.com/sampleS12Tuning.html

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I also tune my 2nd string to C# and have for a long time. I agree with Mike P. that it works better for a UNI, also some E9 players with double necks tune it to C#. A couple who come to mind are Weldon Myrick and the late Hal Rugg........JH in Va.
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Bob Moore · From: N. Rose, New York

thanks for the info. go everything hooked up but one and need help. How do you get the plastic adjustment nut off when it is stripped? Is there a secret to do this? This particular one goes to the vert lever b-Bb
thanks for any help out there. Bob

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I'd use needlenosed vise grips, simultaneously turning and pulling. If it's an MSA or Dekley, or some other with straight rods, you could pull the rod out of the guitar.
Obviously wouldn't work on Carter, comb-style Zum, et c..
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Bob Moore · From: N. Rose, New York

Thanks Lane. We somewhat tried that but I finally got a allen wrench so I can move the rod out where I can get ahold of it. It's on a Fessy. Bob

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

Respectfully, I have to say that there's a few things in the majority of the factory Uni setups I've seen, that tell me that most are thinking of the B6 side of this potentially great tuning as an afterthought.

The traditional Emmons E9 left knee levers, which are brilliantly placed on a standard E9 set up, might well not be the best idea if your intention is to play the B6 side of the tuning equally as much.

IMO, putting the 5th string half tone lower(who's equivalent is very important on C6!) on the LKV, is a clumsy place at best...especially if the E-Eb lowers are on the same knee! Like I said, it's fine on E9, but for B6? .... not so much. I think the B-Bb needs to be on the opposite knee from the E-Eb, and easy to use when you're rocking between the pedals on the far right.

Also, would somebody tell me that there's another reason to have the "Boo Wah" on pedal 4, next to the traditional pedal 5 on C6, other than just an easy way to play the old 60's "Hold It" lick??? If you're holding the E-Eb on your LKR, how can you rock your foot both directions on pedals 6&7? Wouldn't it make more sense to have whats on pedals 6&7 moved closer to the left? You can't play the Boo Wah and pedal 5 at the same time, but you CAN use it quite effectively with pedal 7!

With a "Lock" on the E-Eb LKR, I suppose some of these issues are lessened, but then the "One Big Tuning" concept looses some validity.

These opinions might not be shared by a lot here, but I've been teaching a few Uni players lately and I've had to bite my tongue when we focus on the B6 side. Some things are needlessly difficult to do.

FWIW

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I'm with you, Rick. That's why I borrowed HEAVILY (in fact everything but the root) from the Bb6.
I tune open to B6, raising to E on RKL. Since I already believe in putting P5 on a knee, I put it on RKR. All the knees on the left have uses in both sets of pockets (save for the rear LKR, lowering the F#: I've not messed with it in the E9 pockets, not sure how useful it is there).
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

Rick, There are a few good "Universal" concept articles that you might find helpful with regard to helping your S12U students with the B6th side;
Larry Bell has a great Website which is largely dedicated to Universal concepts.
Here is one article called "Derivation of E9/B6 from the C6 Tuning":
http://www.larrybell.org/id24.htm

Here is a great Article by Maurice Anderson that looks at the D10 vs S12U thing as he sees it:
http://www.b0b.com/infoedu/future1.htm

I personally started on S12U as a Jeff Newman student, and have never owned a Steel with the E to Eb lever on the left knee.
I'm pretty sure it was his idea to put the BooWha next to P5, and do away with P4 (with regard to P4, He would say stuff like "Nobody uses it anymore." and "You don't need it").
His basic S12U setup doesn't even have a LKR... a "Reduced Instruction Set" if you will, maybe? Smile

I have E to Eb's on RKR, and my Sierra does have a lever lock to furthur expand the Universal factor (if you have it, you can either use it or not use it, if you don't have it, you have to hold the lever every time).
I have The Boo-Wha pedal on P4 on my Sierra and on P8 on my Zum. I don't really have a preferance.
I think it has alot to do with how we learned to play and what we are used to.
Some guys really like to load up a D10 with pedals/levers and changes.
You can't duplicate that on an S12U due to the physical limitations of the instrument.
But... Having listended to much of what the non-pedal, S10-E9th, and D10 masters have recorded over the years, balanced with the 9th/6th styles that are typically requiered to play a gig, the S12U really becomes a perfect balance for many of us.
Respectfully,
Pete B.

Christopher Woitach · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

I play Bb6

I think Rick is absolutely correct - I like the 5th string lower (Bb-A, B-A# for E9/B6) on the LKL, not LKV. When I had used the more standard Uni E9/B6, the 4th and 8th string lower was on RKL. I still have the raise on RKL - much easier to hold with the volume pedal foot, in my opinion.

I like the standard pedal 4 - very useful for chromatic lines

I love Bb6 Uni, it makes sense to me. The whole Uni concept has been easier for me to learn, for some reason.
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cw@affmusic.com
www.affmusic.com

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

Hey Pete... thanks for the links to Larry's website! I like his set up considerably more, except for my own personal taste would have the B-Bb on LKR.

Hope I didn't seem like I don't approve of U12. Even though I'm a confirmed double neck guy, I have been trying to play a universal on some gigs. Unfortunately the one I have, has a lot of inherent tuning problems due to the aluminum crossrods flexing. I won't mention the name of the brand, but they've since improved with steel crossrods.

Here is my set up:

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

I play an E9/B6 Universal and lower the E's with my RKL lever.

Take a look at this ---> Click Here
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Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.

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