The Steel Guitar Forum

Recently, I purchased a Mullen RP U12 E9/B6 (4 Knees, 7 pedals) and I love it, but I feel its missing some key changes, and I don't want to get too far down the road without getting the basics down. The picture above is the copedent currently.

As of right now, these are the changes I'm thinking about:

1) Install LVL - lower String 5 a half step to Bb
2) LKL - remove all existing changes; Raise String 9 one and a half steps to D; Lower String 2 a half step to D;
3) RKR - Add String 2 Lower one step to C#;

I'd like to find a place to put a String 1 raise a step to G# (P5 maybe?). I know that newer Mullen come with a Lever that does this along with raising String 2 a half step to E and lowering String 6 one step to F#.

I've been digging the G# lower lever, but I know its not that popular.
So I'd love thoughts, advice, and suggestions from everyone, I'm open minded, but I do want to keep it in the E9/B6 world and have the basics covered to get the most out of all the learning material that's available. Nothing is set in stone, I just want to be able to order the necessary parts ahead of time.

Thanks!!

For E9 playing a lever that raises string 1 to G# and string 2 to E is very nice. I've been using that with the C + B pedals a lot. The G# -> G lower seems kinda redundant on a E9/B6 universal because you have a very similar change already on your P6 if you are thinking in B6 mode.

From what you are wanting to do. Jeff Newman's copendent would come real close. It would move your 5th string lower to a LKV and give you back LKL for 9th string D for E9th. With a fold up LKR lever you could add the 1st-2nd-6th or 7th string pulls.

If you go to links at the top of the page you can go to Mr. Newman's tuning chart.

Nice set up Andy and great ideas.
For what its worth, I love that string one F# to G# raise on a lever and use it a ton on my main S10 gigging guitar. It really is a useful addition to so many voicings
(Ama7, B13, high5th on any C# type chord etc ). I don't pull string 2 with it. I like that Eb to be available under it.
All that said, I've been setting up and tweaking a D10 over the past several months and have opted to omit that change. Not having it really pushes me to look at the ways I use it in plain musical terms, and practice workarounds. There're not all possible of course but the unison licks are all mostly still there at least with C pedal and/or E lever.

The G# lower you have is very cool. I've thought about that a great deal, as I too use 3 G# strings in my E tuning.
Again FWIW, your BC pedal combination yields a very similar voicing and inversion 2 frets behind what that G#lower lever does. Of course its not exactly the same and you'll lose that nice semitone rub between 6&7, but something to consider. A lot of players have that change on E9 or uniE9. I believe Joe Wright has it somewhere on the right hand side of his copedent and Emmons used it on a 12 string if I'm not mistaken.

Thanks for the feedback. It's tricky finding the right balance. It seems like what I'm after is mostly the E9 standards, with a few basic B6 changes. Just making sure I didn't miss anything crucial.

I think this may be the answer. It balances E9 essentials with a lot of B6 options throughout.

Basically, it's this:

- Add P8 and relocate BooWah (C6 P8)
- Move the G# lower change to P4
- Add Left Vertical knee lever and move the B to Bb lower (and add the 9th string)
- LKL add the String 1,2, 7 Raise
- RKL add the String 2 D lower & the String 9 D raise
- RKR add the String 2 C# lower


Of course, I'm still open to suggestions, especially if there is something I'm not seeing. Thanks!!

Would you consider, Adding another pull to LKR and Raise the 11th string to F with 4-8 That will give 9B-10G#-11E-F another octive grip with a growl. Just like 3-4-5 or 4-5-6.

I think in your new final co-pendent you may have a Typing Error it shows string in 8 instead of 9 going to C on your 8th pedal.

Just something to think about, If you put the 1st G#, 2nd E and 7th G# on LKR You could fold the LKR up and play B6th pedals with your left foot.
I play a S12 with Jeff Newman's U12 copendent and I find it easy to fold up the LKR, I am not serious into the B6th yet.

Good Luck in getting a good copendent that fits you.

Thanks!! Definitely a typing error while I was moving things around. I love the idea of raising String 11 to F as well.