The Steel Guitar Forum

I’m considering adding a zero pedal change, raising 6 from G# to B and 7 from F# to G#. This, combined with the A pedal would give me a very playable interpretation of Don Helms’ E6 tuning. Would this be too crazy of a pull, if I use a .020 plain for my sixth string? I know a .020 plain from A to B is common on C6, but I’m wanting a 1.5 step raise and I just wonder if that’s too extreme and sudden a change for that string.

You'd have to inquire of him about the string gauge, but Mr. Paul Franklin used this middle G# to B change for a few years. I'm guessing he used the .020 as listed in his other copedent charts but guess it is.

I have that change on all my guitars. It works with a .022" plain on my MSA Legend. Its works with a .026" wound on my Sierra and Excel guitars tuned to D13.

I have that change on my Franklin E9th vertical lever .. 020 plain string - works a treat !

I’m considering adding a zero pedal change, raising 6 from G# to B and 7 from F# to G#

That two string pull would be a useful change.. A cool way to maintain the 3rd and 5th in the E6/E13 voicing as you describe. If you had it on a lever, you'd be able to still do the Helms tuning stuff, but another use would be with pedals down A6, where it would effectively be what pedal 7 is to C6, raising the 6th and root up a whole tone...

4E
5C#
6A - > B
7F# - > G#
8E

I did that on my JCH SD10 on a vertical to get E6/E13. It worked great. I'm thinking about putting that on my Russler SD10 .


Tony

Tony, was it comfortable to press the A pedal and keep that vertical engaged for an entire song? My idea would be to use this combo to play entire songs at a time… Given the other changes I’d have on my copedent, vertical is looking like a likely location for this change.

Chris,

I recently purchased a “Show-Pro” which came with the G# to B change on the Vertical. I was going to consider changing that pull to a B to Bb. However with the A and B pedal down with the vertical it makes better change for me.

Chris, I don't think ever used it for a entire song but you should be able to adjust the vertical where it would be comfortable to use for a whole song. I'm raising my 6th to B and I'm going to add the 7th pull. It's been several years since I had that change.

Tony

Chris, I added the 7th string raise to my vertical with the 6th string raise to B. For me using that and A pedal for a whole would be very tiring. It was ok when I was a lot younger. The zero pedal would be the best way to go.

Tony

My first steel (a dreaded red-stained Maverick) had that G#-B pull on the B pedal, along with G#-A on string 3. I learned the basics with that on there, until I eventually realized it was wrong & it took me forever to get used to pulling both G#'s to A. I tried valiantly to get the Mav to do it but it would always slip back to B. I traded it off for a Squire P-Bass (a substantial gain) and then years later I was on a gig where I had heard the opening band had a steel I could use so I didn't bring mine - much to my surprise it was that old dog, and sure enough it was still pulling 6 up to B! I still miss it sometimes. . .