The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm about to get a new guitar ( ), and I'm still undecided about the C6th 'knees'. This has been partly dealt with in another current thread, but I'd appreciate some input from you seasoned C6 guys.

On my current guitar I have the standard pedals, and DON'T want to give up the 4th pedal raise on the 'A's (I use that a lot). My LKL lowers the 3rd, my LKR raises both the 'C's, and my RKR raises the 'A's to A# - these I want to keep, as I consider them vital.

I'm less convinced about the RKL I have lowering the 'A's to Ab - I almost never use it, but I do think that lowering the 5th a tone would be very useful. I also would like to raise the 'E'(6th) to an 'F', along with, maybe, raising 10 a whole step. I'm prepared to get a fifth (LKV) knee on my back-neck to accommodate these changes, as well as giving up my almost-redundant 'A' string 'lower'.

Am I being too hasty here, or do some of you guys find little use for that 'pull'?

In case it's not already obvious, I have a 'D' on the top string.

I'd appreciate some informed suggestions, please - it's getting very close to the time when I have to tell the man (his name starts with a 'B') how I want the guitar set-up.

Many thanks,

Roger Rettig<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 28 April 2003 at 11:48 AM.]</p></FONT>

I had Mike Cass add some Knees a laquer Emmons PP D10 9+9. In addition to the usual I use A's to Ab constantly. not only for It is great for min7 but minMAJ 7, augmented chords, passing tones, and an additional Maj, Maj7 and Dom. position on strings 2-8. I also added middle E to F on left Verticle, and a high E to Eb which is on "junk pedal" #9. I use the A's to Ab frequently, and recommend it highly.

I just switched the A4-Ab to A4-Bb,
and wished I had weeks ago the moment I heard it..

.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jeff Lampert on 28 April 2003 at 06:25 PM.]</p></FONT>

Hi Roger,
My thoughts on your question are as follows. You ask are if you are being too hasty. You are confident in what you want to keep, so I imagine that you have tried all the pedals long enough to know what you need and what you can do without. Getting an F note by either raising string 6 or lowering string 5 is a good option that many players have so it is worth trying IMO (since you are certain the A->Ab has limitied value to you). My copedent lowers string 5, but I've heard good stuff raising the 6 as well. Lowering string 5 gives you a 1/2 tone dissonance with string 6. It also allows you to flip a voicing a full-tone, often creating altered tones, working with pedals 6,7 and/or 8. It also works well with pedal 5 since pedal 5 lowers string 5 a 1/2 tone, thus creating opportunities for convenient voice-leading. By the way, I personally feel the A->Ab is more important than the F note, but that is strictly based on what I try to play. Best of luck to you. .. Jeff


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Jeff's Jazz

The A to Ab (LKV2)is a must for me. I use it a lot with pedal 7 (C to D and A to B) to get a 9th (split to Bb). Works good with the 6th string E to F (RKL) raise for a minor. It can also be split with pedal 4 to get a 7th. I don't have the A to Bb or C to C# levers. I get the Bb and C# using splits. I have 3rd string C to B (LKV1) and 6th string C to D (RKR). I'm old and slow and still use a 1st string G.

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Bob Carden 66 Emmons P/P 8/9
BMI 13 string 7/7

Thanks, you guys - I'm off to England now for a few days, and I'll be pondering your input.

Jeff - thanks. I'll have another go at calling you when I return in mid-May (I kept getting your machine a few weeks back).

I have to decide how I want to get that 'F' - lowering 5 or raising 6. I know I'd like the D in the middle somehow.

I appreciate everyone's time!

RR

The four most common knee lever changes on C6 are:

(In the order of importance IMO)

1. Lower 3 a half a tone.

2. Raise 4 (possibly a half a tone.

3. Raise 3 and 7 a half a tone.

4. Lower 4 (possibly a half tone.

If one has all four, I would suggest the following set up for the levers:

RKL lowers 3 a half a tone.

RKR raises 3 and 7 a half a tone.

LKL lowers 4 a half a tone.

LKR raises 4 a half a tone.

carl

Having said that I like to just knock around on C6, Maestro Carl's changes make good "starting out" sense to me.
Here's another bee for your bonnett:
My 4 & 8 raise is on a center knee (CKL) & it will soon have a half stop. My 1st gtr. had this & it was extremely handy. On my present gtr. I "fish" for the Bb which is no problem, but I'm going to have one put on anyway. NO, the octaves won't tune perfectly, but close enough & the main objective is the 1/2 stop at the 4th string, (A to Bb). Works great for me.
THEN, I'll have a CKR that will take care of 4 & 8 -1/2.
There's that version.