The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Tunings
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Tunings
Steven Paris

 

From:
Los Angeles
Post  Posted 30 Oct 2014 2:58 am    
Reply with quote

On 12-string steels, what is the difference between "Universal" and "Extended E-9" tunings? Do they use the same changers/necks? Can one be converted to the other?
_________________
Emmons & Peavey
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Scott Duckworth


From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
Post  Posted 30 Oct 2014 3:39 am    
Reply with quote

Universal is an E9 / B6 tuning, which captures a lot of what the E9 and C6 necks of a D-10 can do.
Example - http://www.larrybell.org/id23.htm

E9 Extended is just that, an extended E9 tuning.
Example - http://b0b.com/tunings/mcclung.htm

As for conversion, it probably depends on the guitar.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it

I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 30 Oct 2014 4:50 am    
Reply with quote

The main difference lies in the D string. It doesn't exist in the uni.
Conversion from Extended E9th to uni is pretty easy on a guitar with at least 3 raises per string. With fewer than that, you have to get clever on strings 5 and 6.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Yahoo Messenger

Quentin Hickey

 

From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
Post  Posted 30 Oct 2014 9:47 am    
Reply with quote

Yes the D string is the trade off to getting a 6TH tuning
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Richard Sinkler


From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
Post  Posted 30 Oct 2014 11:12 am    
Reply with quote

Don't forget the extra pedals needed on a uni as opposed to an Ext setup.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 30 Oct 2014 12:56 pm    
Reply with quote

There's nothing stopping one from adding those to E9th...
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Yahoo Messenger

Richard Sinkler


From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
Post  Posted 30 Oct 2014 4:08 pm    
Reply with quote

Sure they can be added. But your "usual" E9 Ext guitar usually has 3 or 4 floor pedals, well, as far as I have seen over the years. The OP questioned whether one can be converted to the other. Uni to Ext easy, Ext to Uni, much more complicated.

That's more of a difference than just the D string.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Bill C. Buntin

 

Post  Posted 30 Oct 2014 5:46 pm    
Reply with quote

Universal was the name Maurice Anderson used for his Bb 6 tuning (the one I'm experimenting with) as noted above, the E9 B6 version probably became more popular due to many reasons. It's fair to mention the late Jeff Newman here. Lots of material for E9/B6 considered standard, typically is due to Jeff Newman, and many others.

I would say universal is more common among advanced players compared to extended E9.
View user's profile Send private message

Clete Ritta


From:
San Antonio, Texas
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2014 2:49 am     Re: Tunings
Reply with quote

Steven Paris wrote:
...Can one be converted to the other?

Yes, as noted above. If it's a Uni it is relatively easy to rerod to Ext E9 (especially if you're Mickey Adams as he graciously did on my Mullen S12). The 4 lower string gauges and tunings are different. Unused cranks, pedals and rods can be removed.

If it is an Ext E9 however, it may require adding more pedals that may or may not exist currently on a guitar. Some Ext E9 pedal boards may not accommodate adding pedals easily. Unis 7 or 8 pedals, Ext E9 3 to 5. 5 knee levers on both.

Unis also often lower Es on the right knee, whereas many Emmons E9 copedants have both E levers on the left.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2014 3:20 am    
Reply with quote

The Larry Bell link is the best presentation I know of re: what the modern E9/B6 12 string Universal tuning is about in relation to the D-10 E9 & C6 pedal steel.

A short answer to that aspect of the original question is that an S-12 Uni has all of the pedals that a D-10 guitar has because it is intended to do all that a D-10 E9/C6 can do.

The Ext E9 does not try to do C6 and does not need these pedals. It exactly is an E9 neck with two added strings on the bottom.

If you see a 12 string with 3 pedals you can presume it is Ext E9. Except for my Sho-Bud.

There is always an exception.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2014 8:34 am    
Reply with quote

Jon Light wrote:
The Ext E9 does not try to do C6 and does not need these pedals. It exactly is an E9 neck with two added strings on the bottom.

I agree and my ext E9 does not try to be C6. In particular I don't try to copy the pulls from the low end of C6. But my ext E9 does have equivalent P567 and all the common knee levers from C6.
P5: I have a knee lever to lower 7 F# a half step. (and further to a whole step which is very useful.)
P7: I have a "zero pedal" to raise middle G# to A#. It's actually better than P7 because the pulls are separate.
View user's profile Send private message


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP