| Author |
Topic: Sho~Bud 6139 help |
Paul Smith
From:
Ma
|
Posted 23 Apr 2015 5:54 am |
|
Hello Everyone,
Im a proud new owner of a ShoBud 6139, just got it. I havnt played pedal steel in over 10 years and had a few questions for you all to chime in on if possible...
Its the old rack and barrel type system, with 3 pedals and 1 knee lever. The 3 pedals are the emmons setup. however the knee lever apears to be split tuned and it lowers the low E string to Eb and it lowers string 2, but im not sure what to tune it to, currently it lowers it to a D note but is sharp..
So my first question,
what does the knee lever do in terms of chords? by lowering string 8 to Eb, and lowering string 2 (which i need to find out what note to tune string 2)
I know most guitars have both E notes lowered on the knee lever, would I be better off lowering both Es instead of the split tuning?
Also I would like to add another knee lever to Raise Es to F, and was wondering if anyone knows where I could get a kit of some type to be able to add that knee lever?
I would like to keep this thread open, as I have a bunch of questions en route...
I will try and post pics later today
thanks very much,
Smitty |
|
|
|
Skip Edwards
From:
LA,CA
|
Posted 23 Apr 2015 6:36 am
|
|
Yeah, the previous owner probably set the lever that way to do a sort of double duty…
It should really lower both E's to Eb. That lever, along with the B pedal will give you a 5/7 chord.
If you're going to add a lever, you might as well do the job right and add 3.
For lever kits, I'd contact Michael Yahl at PSG Parts, or James Morehead. You'll most likely get some 2 hole pullers with barrels…
If Ma means Mass, I'd think about contacting Tommy Cass to do the work and set your gtr up for you.
He's in CT or MA, I forget which it is.
I have a 6139 with 3 & 4 that I bought new in '72…wonderful gtr. |
|
|
|
Chris Brooks
From:
Providence, Rhode Island
|
Posted 23 Apr 2015 6:39 am
|
|
Yes, get Tommy Cass NW of Boston to install levers and generally tweak the whole axe. He is a master.
Chris |
|
|
|
Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
|
Posted 23 Apr 2015 8:09 am
|
|
The way it is set up now is how many were set up back in the beginning days of the PSG. Early guitars that couldn't raise AND lower the same string often came with the 1 knee lever lowering string 8 and lowering 2 to D (you have a D# on string 2). Only as changers developed to be able to both raise AND lower the same string, was the lever re-purposed to lower both E strings to D#. The 2nd string lower then moved to it's own knee lever.
EDIT: I would have both 4 & 8 raising and lowering if I could only have 2 levers.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
|
|
|
Paul Smith
From:
Ma
|
Posted 23 Apr 2015 8:17 am
|
|
| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
The way it is set up now is how many were set up back in the beginning days of the PSG. Early guitars that couldn't raise AND lower the same string often came with the 1 knee lever lowering string 8 and lowering 2 to D (you have a D# on string 2). Only as changers developed to be able to both raise AND lower the same string, was the lever re-purposed to lower both E strings to D#. The 2nd string lower then mo
ved to it's own knee lever.
Thanks for yout.input. Could you please yell me what the 2nd string lower to a D is used for? Thanks!
EDIT: I would have both 4 & 8 raising and lowering if I could only have 2 levers. |
|
|
|
|
Paul Smith
From:
Ma
|
Posted 23 Apr 2015 8:19 am
|
|
| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
The way it is set up now is how many were set up back in the beginning days of the PSG. Early guitars that couldn't raise AND lower the same string often came with the 1 knee lever lowering string 8 and lowering 2 to D (you have a D# on string 2). Only as changers developed to be able to both raise AND lower the same string, was the lever re-purposed to lower both E strings to D#. The 2nd string lower then mo
ved to it's own knee lever.
Thanks for yout.input. Could you please yell me what the 2nd string lower to a D is used for? Thanks!
EDIT: I would have both 4 & 8 raising and lowering if I could only have 2 levers. |
|
|
|
|
Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
|
Posted 23 Apr 2015 9:17 am
|
|
If they were on separate legs, my first knee would drop the Es, the second would drop 2 and 6 a whole tone.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
|
|
|
Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
|
Posted 23 Apr 2015 9:49 am
|
|
Back in the days of one knee lever, they were set up like yours is, because the high Eb note could be found on s.2. Jimmy Day didn't lower his s.4, and I believe Lloyd doesn't lower s.4 either.
My first S~B, a Crossover, had that single lever setup. If you wanted that note, you reached over to s.2.
So the wisdom was to lower s.2 to D to achieve that melody note (either a sub-dominant tone with AB down, or a dominant 7th with open tuning); and to get the Eb on s.8 as well. Rarely would the two strings be used together.
If you'll be adding levers, by all means lower both s.4 and s.8 with that or another lever. But if you plan on leaving the guitar simply as it is, keep that D#-D change, it's important. Just MHO.
The standard 4 knee levers on E9 are all necessary for convenience with today's music (I guess), but not mandatory. The great solos of the past can be played on guitars with one or no levers. You simply move the bar smoothly from position to position using correct right and left hand blocking technique.
Like most modern conveniences, knee levers actual made us lazy players, again just MHO.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
Last edited by Herb Steiner on 23 Apr 2015 10:04 am; edited 3 times in total |
|
|
|
Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
|
Posted 23 Apr 2015 9:55 am
|
|
The 2nd string lower to D is used mostly as a 7th of the open E chord. And it can be used to change the open B chord on strings 1,2 & 5 to a Bm chord. There are many other advanced chordal possibilities along with single string runs.
With only 2 levers, I would raise and lower the E's. Third would lower 2 to D/C# and 6 to F#, although I have the 6 string lower on a lever by itself.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
|
|
|
Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
|
Posted 23 Apr 2015 10:32 am
|
|
| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
The 2nd string lower to D is used mostly as a 7th of the open E chord. And it can be used to change the open B chord on strings 1,2 & 5 to a Bm chord. There are many other advanced chordal possibilities along with single string runs.
With only 2 levers, I would raise and lower the E's. Third would lower 2 to D/C# and 6 to F#, although I have the 6 string lower on a lever by itself. |
Like Richard said, I'd go with at least the 3 levers he mentioned, but better 4 with a lever raising s.1 F# to G or G#. I believe James Morehead has the parts you require.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
|
|
|
Paul Smith
From:
Ma
|
Posted 23 Apr 2015 4:30 pm
|
|
Like Richard said, I'd go with at least the 3 levers he mentioned, but better 4 with a lever raising s.1 F# to G or G#. I believe James Morehead has the parts you require.[/quote]
Thanks very much for your input... Incidently did you play on Jerry Jeff Walkers records? If that was you, I was down in North Carolina last week visiting a friend, and we were listening to some old "vinyl"... sounded really great.
Smitty |
|
|
|
