8 String C6th

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

On a single 8 with 6 pedals...

Paul Redmond · From: Illinois, USA

b0b - I would add the C# pull also to the 3rd string (the 'F' change on an E9 tuning as I use that change often on '6th stuff'). Other than that, looks fine!!
PRR

Matthew Prouty · From: Warsaw, Poland

This is an interesting topic as I have been thinking about this same subject.

I am picking up an 8 string E9 with pedal A, B, and C. The guitar is a Marlen Pull-Release and I was comtemplating putting C6 on it.

Can anyone tell me what they think about having only three pedals on a C6?

Is it worth it or should I just keep it E9?

What changes would you choose?

Thanks
M.

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

If you got an eight string C6, pedals 5,6,7 on the standard set up or pedals 2,3,4 on b0b's set up are the most useful. They are what was there when players first started adding pedals on C6 tuning.

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

I like b0b's tuning/copedent.

I also agree with Jussi... as usual. Wink

I can get by with 3 pedals on C6, but they have to be those he mentioned.

EDIT: Alternatives would be a D on string 1, allowing a 13th chord with pedal 3. And a tonic note on top with pedal 2.

Also, as Uncle Doug suggested, lower an inversion and have F through E, as many tunings were in the olden days.

I'd eschew the high C-C# change as you'd already have a 5th-on-top inversion with pedal 4. But that's just my choice. It does offer a nice A7 chord.

If you kept the G on s.1, an alternative would be G-F# lower, which was a common Hank Thompson change. But you'd lose the augmented note. Six of one, etc. tradeoff.

One more thought: lowering s.3 with p.6 and raising s.4 with p.1 is somewhat redundant, though I have both on my 10 string tunings with knee levers. Better to have one pedal or the other raising s.4 a half tone A-Bb. I'd put it on p.6.
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Doug Seymour · From: Jamestown NY USA (deceased)

I'd like the C# Paul mentions and in that case you wouldn't need G as a 1st string......the same voiceing 3 frets up the neck. A C chord at the 3rd fret. Maybe have E as your 1st string and put the F note back on the 8th string.....some nice 4 note voicings with that tuning. (8, 6, 5 & 3 for example, an Fmaj7th)

Jack Mansfield · From: Reno, NV

Bob, is that the rickenbacker pedal steel you inquired about?

Matthew Prouty · From: Warsaw, Poland

Jussi and Herb,

Thanks for the encouraging replies. Now I just need to figure out how to make some kind of mechanical device that lowers a note on this guitar. I saw some pics of some linkage that pivoted and pushed the finger to lower the note when the opposite side was pulled and the finger returned with a spring. Do you all know where there are some plans or diagrams for these things?

M.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Robbie Daniels · From: Casper, Wyoming, USA

I recently picked up a Fender 400 and I tune it as follows.

John Poston · From: Albuquerque, NM, USA

b0b - You may not remember, but this is one of my favorite topics. I change the pulls on my 400 all the time.
I know you love the P4 change (P1 here) and I do too, but I would have to give it up to raise string 4 A to Bb. I would actually move all the pedals over to the left one and add it to the rightmost pedal.

Another idea if you like G to F# on both strings at once (I think it has merits), you can add top G to G# on the pedal that is raising low C to C#, I've done that and they really don't get in each other's way.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

I Have a Sierra S8 5x4.
From high to low (in B6th mode): G#, F# Eb, B, G#, F#, Eb, B.
This, for my 6th playing style, is where the "meat" of my 6th playing lies, so it is a slam dunk for me.
This steel is actually an S8U.
Pedals are A,B,5,6,7.
LKL=E's>F's, LKV=B's>Bb's, RKL=Low B>D and high E>F#, RKR=E's>Eb's.
Funn Stuff!
Pete B.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Here's what I'm thinking now:

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

John Poston · From: Albuquerque, NM, USA

b0b - I think that's a great all around tuning with a fast learning curve. Everything is very familiar from regular C6 and lap tunings. Don't give me too much credit - I think I stole the idea from the Fender 400 manual and just split the change like the old timer's did, albeit in reverse.

Have fun two-footin' it!

Colby Tipton · From: Crosby, Texas, USA

I will not comment about the setup on the Rickenbacker. Everyone sets them up different. I can say one thing from first hand knowlege about that Rickenbacker in particular he is working on. When he gets it done we will all get to go back in time to the early 60's and I bet it is going to a real treat to hear the music that comes from that old instrument. Just do it b0b.

Colby

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Regarding the E to D pedal, Tom Bradshaw sent me an email saying:

David Doggett · Posted 6 Feb 2007 4:39 pm

Awhile back, in preperation for one of Reece's lap steel C6 workshops, there was a lively discussion about which inversion to use on an 8-string. Some traditionalists were highly offended by having a 5th on top and loosing the 4th or something else on the bottom. The 3rd on top and 4th on bottom does seem to be more traditional; and it is also more like E9 on top. Using the F on the bottom as the root for what then becomes an F maj7 9 neck is very central to a lot of C6 jazz playing. I would not want to be without it. As an old Dobro player, I understand the appeal of the 5th on top, but for me, it would not be worth giving up the F on the bottom.

John Poston · From: Albuquerque, NM, USA

I think the point of losing the low F is a good one - some players even never added a top D or G when going to 10 strings. In my case for most comping/soloing situations with a band I don't use the F much and it's nice to have the higher range and timbre, at least with the country/swing stuff I've used the 8 string for.

I was looking something up in Winnie's Pedal Steel book yesterday and noticed that at the time Curly Chalker, Jimmy Day and Buddy Cage all had a pedal to lower top E to D. Curly lowered E to D and C to B together, Jimmy lowered the bottom A to G with the change, and Buddy Cage raised the C on string 7 to D with the change on a knee lever.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

This Ric has a sweet, melodic tone. Jerry Byrd always said that the steel guitar is a lead instrument, and I'm sort of thinking of this guitar as a pedal version of JB's 7-string Ric.

I don't use the low F a lot on my D-12, but I do use the high G. I know that the standard "C6th sound" includes a lot of low notes, but I really don't play that style. Look at it this way - with a low A, it's already lower than the standard E9th. Smile

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b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Tom Bradshaw's been working on my Ric today. I'm hoping to pick it up this weekend. Very Happy

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