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Topic: Why so many knee levers? |
Carson Leighton
From:
N.B. Canada
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Posted 5 Apr 2005 2:54 am |
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I only have 4 knees on one guitar and 5 on the other, but I could probably handle 6, as there is another change I would like to put on my Carter. However, I see where some people have as many as 8 to 10 knee levers. I'm getting to the point where I run downstairs or out to the Garage for something and forget what I went for......Carson
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 5 Apr 2005 6:20 am
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Hey Carson, in my experimental stage of steel playing I went all the way up to 7 knee levers (The Crawford Cluster) and then went back to 5 where I've remained for the last 20 years. I don't have any plans to put anything else on my guitar. I like sitting on my pack seat and not having to slide forward or backward or folding this up or that down, etc. Have a good 'un..JH in va.
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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 5 Apr 2005 6:56 am
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I have a D-10 with 10 knee levers and no Crawford clusters. I have the usual 3 knee levers for the left knee, E9th neck. Then I have a separate set of 3 middle levers (left knee) for the C6th neck. And then I have separate levers for the C6th and E9th necks on the right knee, 2 of each.
Erv |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 5 Apr 2005 8:03 am
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| gosh guys, I only have two knees and while I can't copy everything I hear I still haven't run out of notes to play myself.... |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 5 Apr 2005 8:25 am
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| I have 9 on my Excel 12 string and I'm glad I do. The way I see it, if they do something interesting and they can be placed and dialed in so I can get to them in a logical and timely fashion and I'm still young enough to remember what they all do - then why not? It can only add to the possible combinations and what's wrong with that? There's a couple I don't use too much but those can be used for science experiments...... -MJ- |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 5 Apr 2005 9:42 am
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I think I was a better picker when I only had one knee lever. I now play a U12 w/4 knees.
I now have so many options for playing a lick, that sometimes I hesitate while deciding how I want to play a lick or where I want to play a chord.
I was much faster when I had fewer options,partially because I don't have enough time to practice.
IMHO,If you're gonna have a lot of levers you need a lot of time to get "bonded" to your guitar so you play by habit and eliminate some of the thinking process. |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 5 Apr 2005 12:27 pm
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I only have five. I like it that way - each movement is in a unique direction. I tried having more and kept getting wires crossed in my brain. I finally came to the realization that five is my limit.
On the crossover those 5 lever work both necks, so I guess it's the equivalent of ten. 
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 Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6) |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 5 Apr 2005 12:34 pm
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| The real problem isn't too many knee levers. The real problem is too few knees! |
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John McGann
From:
Boston, Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 5 Apr 2005 12:37 pm
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Musical reasons!
Sometimes we play music that requires more chords and possibilities. I doubt John Hughey, Doug Jernigan, Buddy or PF would want to give up what they have. I can see the need for more than what I have now (8 & 7 Emmons setup)...if I want to voice a low Fm79 F Eb G Ab with that nice tight interval between G and Ab, then by cracky, I'm a needin' that 4th string lower w/ P6...and I use that all the time... if you can do what you need with what you have, more power to ya! I have thought many times about having a 5th string lower, and by gum, I'm getting one, 'cause I hear it and need it!
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http://www.johnmcgann.com
Info for musicians, transcribers, technique tips and fun stuff. Joaquin Murphey transcription book, Rhythm Tuneup DVD and more...
[This message was edited by John McGann, RKLCV2, on 05 April 2005 at 01:39 PM.] [This message was edited by John McGann on 05 April 2005 at 01:41 PM.] |
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Larry Hamilton
From:
Amarillo,Tx
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Posted 5 Apr 2005 3:04 pm
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I just added two more Knee levers to make a Crawford cluster. It is more to think about and learn to use. When I have a new guitar built I'm going to add at least a couple more to the C6th, so I'l have a genuine mess under the guitar. But, it is easier to take them off than to put them on. Just my reply.
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Keep pickin', Larry |
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Charles Curtis
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Posted 5 Apr 2005 4:04 pm
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| I attended a jam in Va a while back and had the pleasure of watching Rudy Gabaletto play his Sho-Bud. I only saw three knee levers; two on the right side and one on the left as Rudy will often switch necks when he is playing. I first saw Rudy back in the 60's at Andrews AFB and I think he was fantastic then and also now. |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 6 Apr 2005 6:28 pm
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I was not inferring in any way that more than two levers is not a good thing or impuning the wisdom of the very many who have mastered more of the instrument than I. I'm ALWAYS wishing I had this change or that change but it has never been fiscally responsible to do anything about it.
I'm sure to add at least two more before I give up, but I have played without many levers for a very long time and it has probably increased my bar control and blocking skills, taught me to play STEEL GUITAR more creatively and most of all, forced me to find chordal inversions that I might never have gone looking for if I had that lever that just does it now.
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Wayne Franco
From:
silverdale, WA. USA
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Posted 7 Apr 2005 1:38 pm
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| It is just a matter of time before someone has another knee surgically installed. Remember Christine Jorgenson...went abroad and came back abroad. What happens if you go get kneeded ? [This message was edited by W Franco on 07 April 2005 at 02:41 PM.] |
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Don E. Curtis
From:
St Louis, Missouri, USA (deceased)
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Posted 7 Apr 2005 2:44 pm
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In my opinion no matter how many knees you have you will never have all the changes nor will you be able to play every ultimate combintion. So I cut down to 6 knees as I personaly do not want to squirm around and do Yoga on a Pac-A-Seat just to play the instrument...I got rid of all the staggered knees and would never want forward moving levers and I can't sit like a girl, so I can't have center levers to the left or right. Now I can just sit there and play and not be overwhelmed by the instrument. If I were more flexible and not so big it might be a different story. That's also why I have to play the "Day" setup. It's whatever works best for the individual I guess.
I'm finally happy with 9&6 which includes two verticals...I can work those.
Keep Pickin'
Don E. |
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Carson Leighton
From:
N.B. Canada
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Posted 7 Apr 2005 3:37 pm
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| A surgically installed knee! Now there's one I never thought of. But where would we put it??? I guess there's a solution to just about everything....And Don, your post sounded really funny too.... Carson |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Apr 2005 7:39 pm
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Before you think too hard about that 3rd knee, do a little thinking about what you might have to "Give Up"!!
Larry
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Emmons S/D-10, 3/4, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"
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Carson Leighton
From:
N.B. Canada
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Posted 8 Apr 2005 4:01 am
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| When you start looking at all your lowers as raises, and all your raises as lowers, the combinations are endless. It just depends on where you start. When you look at it in this perspective, you will find you can do a lot more than you thought with 3 pedals and 4 knees. However, if anyone can handle more than six knees with multiple pulls on each lever, than more power to them.......Regards, Carson |
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