X Lever???

Jon Miller · Post by **Jon Miller** » 8 Feb 2003 3:46 am

I think thats what it's called! Anyway, what string does it raise and how much would it cost to have one installed? Would it be worth it? Thanks

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Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 8 Feb 2003 3:57 am

Many people refer to the "x lever" as the one that lowers the B's 1/2 step. Remember that one lick in Together Again? Although Mr. Brumley didn't have this change, it's what is populary used for the lick.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 8 Feb 2003 8:22 am

Jon,

'tis correct, the "X" lever lowers the B's to Bb on E9th. The cost varies widely from guitar to guitar. Also, it depends on whether ya buy a kit or have someone do it for you. Then you have labor. So no way of stating the cost for sure. Try calling Bobbe Seymour and he will tell you. And treat ya good on top of that.

Incidently, this lever has been called, the H lever and even the V lever (for vertical). I heard a feller on this forum call it the Bb lever.

Is it true that "a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet"?

Carl

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 8 Feb 2003 8:59 am

Jon - As mentioned above, that lever lowers the B's to Bb. It is commonly used to make a nice sounding 9th chord. For example, you can play a C in the "pedals up" position on the 8th fret, then slide back two frets and engage the X lever and get a great C9.

To hear what it would sound like, you can achieve the same thing without the X lever. Do you have a lever that raises the E's to F?
If so, instead of sliding back two frets, slide back three frets, engage the E to F lever and press the "B" pedal. Same voicing.

Some people prefer to do it that way over using a lever. It's the same voicing. No extra hardware required!

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Dave Birkett · Post by **Dave Birkett** » 8 Feb 2003 9:38 am

Regarding the Together Again lick, I think it sounds better using the B pedal and sliding down a fret. The lack of perfection fits with the mood of the piece.

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 8 Feb 2003 9:41 am

Dave, I agree with you 100%!! I have this change on one of my guitars but DO NOT use it when playing that ride. I also think it sounds better.

rhcarden · Post by **rhcarden** » 8 Feb 2003 10:33 am

I call it pedal 4. I didn't have a Knee lever that I wanted to give up. Using the B pedal and moving the bar back one fret works great if your not on the first fret. How many sing "Together Again" in C#. Try doing both. Lower the 5th for the 2-9th,(8th fret strings 3,4,and 5 = E,C and F#) move the bar back 1 fret pressing the B pedal for a 5-13th (E,B and F. The "Together Again" effect is not the only use for this change.

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Bob Carden 66 Emmons P/P 8/9
BMI 13 string 7/7
[This message was edited by rhcarden on 08 February 2003 at 10:35 AM.]

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 8 Feb 2003 12:37 pm

At Tom's show in Branson, (when they do the "Buck Owens" medley), Tom does recorded version using strings 3 and 5; the first time around. The second time around, he uses the B to Bb lever (I believe on his right knee) and uses strings 3, 4 and 5.

Tom and I talked about this at length one time when I visited him in his home. And he agrees with the above posters as I agree. It is NOT the same. The "sinking" and haunting affect one gets sliding down one fret and bringing in the B pedal is what MADE that song a hit IMO. I have never found a way to get that exact sound using the B to Bb lever.

One other tidbit you may be interested in concerning this lick. I was telling Tom that players have argued with me when I tell them you did not use a knee lever. I said, "They swear you did!"

Tom's response was,

"carl, they argue with ME!"

He went on to say,

"It woulda been quite a trick to use a knee lever on that recording, since I had NO knee levers on the guitar at the time".

So the ole story, "everything is NOT always what it appears", is surely apropo in this case.

carl

Buck Dilly · Post by **Buck Dilly** » 11 Feb 2003 3:07 pm

Another strong use of this lever is:
Amin. - Am Maj 7 - Amin7 - amin/add6
5 --10 ------10x--------8---------8x
6 ------------------------8---------8
7 --10-------10---------------------
8 ------------------------8---------8
9 --10-------10--------------------
10--10-------10x--------8---------8x

as in "While My Guitar..." It permits a low movement that is otherwise only possible in higher notes.

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Steels and Guitars. Emmons PP, Nationals, Dan-O's, ES 340, Tube Amps only! "Blue Sparks From Hell", "Kings in Disguise".

[This message was edited by Buck Dilly on 11 February 2003 at 03:09 PM.]

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 13 Feb 2003 8:07 am

Since I play a form of E9/B6 universal I have my lowers on two different levers. I lower the 5th string on my LKV but not the 10th as it would interfere with my "6th" pedals in the lower registers. I tune my 2nd string to C# and bring it back to D# with LKL which also lowers the 10th string B to Bb(A#). If I need them both, on my guitar it's easy to activate the LKL and LKV at the same time. I agree with the part about not using this lever when playing "Together Again". Most people I've played it with do it in C and I have to use it there so I don't lose the vibrato as you'd have to go to the open position in that key. The band I'm in now, we do it in the key of G so I play the first part at the third fret and then go up to the 8th fret for that part which you do on strings 3 & 5 where you walk down those four notes on the 5th string.
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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 14 February 2003 at 05:28 AM.]

Bill Myrick · Post by **Bill Myrick** » 20 Feb 2003 6:28 pm

The "horizontal" lever that is spoke of---would that be what I call a "bump" lever ??
I have one above my left knee that lowers the 6th string from G# to G .

John Steele · Post by **John Steele** » 20 Feb 2003 6:38 pm

Buck Dilly,
Man, that's Beeeautiful.
Thanks for posting it ! Never noticed that before.
-John

Dave Frye · Post by **Dave Frye** » 24 Feb 2003 10:42 am

Hey Guys, A while back i got some licks off of the Sonbonne,s link, and he had some "horn hits" on there. Any body used them? I use them for church stuff. If Sonny Morris ever gets his website straightened out, go back and take a look at some his licks for the X lever. Interesting stuff there! Ole Dave Frye