The Steel Guitar Forum

What a great site! Ok I'm addicted to PSG
I have been primarily a six string player for many years and have dabbled
in PSG on and off since someone turned me on to Buddy Emmons Sings Bob
Wills in the late 70's. Unusual taste for someone who grew up on Rock and Roll.
Still one of my favorite recordings of all time.
Anyway I finally have found my way around E9 on my wonderful MSA Classic.
I want to move forward and am trying to decide on a D-10 or universal 12?
Looking for help in this decision. I am well educated in music theory but
can't yet determine if there are shortcomings with U12 for playing swing or jazz.
I like the fact of only having one neck.
Being in the chicago area there are not a whole lot of players to go watch and checkout. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks to all

Good morning, Ron. You are going to hear a lot but I'll start it off. D-10 is the standard and C6 is probably easier to get into on its own neck. S-12 is a lot more fun plus it has extended E9th capability. For blues, jazz, and swing the extended E9th and sixth capability of the S-12 make it the premier product.

Sherm

Ron Fox wrote: Looking for help in this decision. I am well educated in music theory but can't yet determine if there are shortcomings with U12 for playing swing or jazz.
I like the fact of only having one neck.

No, I don't think you'd find any limitations with the Universal 12. Probably quite the opposite. You can think E9/B6 methods or the "one big tuning" idea. Lots of jazz steelers like the U12/14.

Some adjustments will be necessary if you're used to playing a 10 string E9 when you move to the 12 though. Most U12's tune the 9th string to B and pull that string up to D on a KL for your normal 9th string pull, so your lower string grips will change. Also some differences for the C6 tuning string positions, but if you're not experienced with that tuning, that shouldn't be a problem.

You'll hear from several Uni players here I'm sure. You might want to check out some of the tuning charts from the links feature top of page too. Best of Luck whatever your decision.

ron,
if you want, you can come to my house in mundelein,ill to play my m.s.a d-10 here.
give me a call 608-495-2101 #cell

p.w