Would You Play E9th If....

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 18 Feb 2009 3:36 pm

I would play it in a bar
Yes I would play my steel guitar!
I would play it in a house
I would play it for my spouse
A and B are all I need
To whoop it up like Danny Sneed
I don't need levers to have my fill
I like to play it, Bill-I-Will!

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 18 Feb 2009 4:05 pm

Dan,

Thanks Dan for sharing your wonderful sense of humor. Yes, you can do wonders with the A&B pedals. It didn't take a lot of time to realize that I needed a 7th chord, followed by the need for lowering the 8th string. Really, 5 knee levers are the bare minimum required to get seriously involved in playing steel. When a detuning ritual occurs daily, something should be done to rectify that nuisance. Playing a whole set with a string or two off pitch will be noticed by nonplayers who hear tuning discrepancies nonetheless.

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 18 Feb 2009 5:10 pm

Bill, Maybe this would be another alternitive to the 4/8 string knee levers.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... ht=thimble

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 19 Feb 2009 2:40 am

Bo Legg,

Zigzagging from Texas to Maine, Alaska to Florida, like a giant sized sewing machine on a cloth map, a steel guitarist who is single could sow some oats, and have the time of his life. I prefer not to get into a gender sqabble with ladies who play steel guitars. I just couldn't endorse an agreement to see daughters trudging off to their vehicle, and waving farewell to family and friends. I don't recall reading written proof on this forum by current female players, of desiring to go meandering in crosscountry circuits. Having said that, the evidence shows that any mechanical problems would require assistance by an aggregation of whomever happens to be in the vicinity of the distress call. We've all been made aware through modern technologies, that this may become too risky for a lone female traveler away from home. That isn't to say that it would be entirely safe, because of gender. Assuming to have the ability for example to jack up a vehicle safely, and manage to remove a flat tire, is NOT a recommendable procedure. Mastering the steel guitar is a real challenge, much like venturing off on a planned itinerary with tight finances. Acquainting ourselves with the instrument, can be an endless source of pleasure.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 19 Feb 2009 5:36 am

I'm amazed at the straightforwards answers given in this thread depicting the universally accepted through necessity, 4th and 8th string changes. I wonder about the exact moment that the most recorded steel guitarist in Nashville realized the vast potential of the E to F change? I realize that most discoveries are not that easily broken down to time sequences. There are no official records to my knowledge, of detailed activities during that period.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 19 Feb 2009 7:31 am

The Sho-Bud Crossover only has one knee lever, but players over the decades have managed to get some good music out of it on the E9 neck...

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 19 Feb 2009 7:51 am

Bill, I think you can exactly determine the point in time when the E->F change became essential: shortly after Lloyd Green played the D-I-V-O-R-C-E session for Tammy Wynette. At least according to accounts on this forum.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 19 Feb 2009 8:26 am

Alan,

There were things very much amiss in the notion that one knee lever would compliment the crossover steel guitar built between '67 and '70. I don't believe that anyone in good conscience would endorse a delusionary one knee lever installation by today's standards. BTW, The Sho-Bud student models in the race with other makes and models built in the '70's together, were little heaps of junk!

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 19 Feb 2009 8:38 am

Dan,

Since Lloyds famous accompaniment on Tammy's D-i-v-o-r-c-e, the E-F change is utilized in virtually every recording made in Nashville. It is the absolute knee lever crutch at recording sessions.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 19 Feb 2009 12:07 pm

I think of pedals and knee levers as analogous to a guitarist's fingers. If the E to F lever is a crutch, is a guitarist's left pinky also a crutch? Perhaps guitarists should abandon their crutches and use a single digit to fret their strings.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 19 Feb 2009 1:17 pm

b0b,

I should know better than make profound statements such as comparing knee levers to crutches, or referring to the Jackson/Emmons student model as a little "heap of junk". It's always risky when making statements that may provoke the readers. He/she may request further proof for going out on the limb. My only regrets on the subject of the Sho-Bud student model steel guitar, are the inabilities to speak to the original builders. I do have a good buddy who worked for the Sho-Bud Company. I see him if I'm lucky, once a year. I've never questioned him about the construction of the student model. I will remember to do so this year.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 19 Feb 2009 5:07 pm

Bill Hankey wrote:...I don't believe that anyone in good conscience would endorse a delusionary one knee lever installation by today's standards.

If I could add another three knee levers I would. I've thought about doing that ever since I got the Crossover, but I've had so many other projects on I haven't had time to get round to it yet.

I have two other PSGs that do have four knee levers, so the Crossover hasn't reached priority #1 yet, it's somewhere about twelfth in the queue.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 19 Feb 2009 5:57 pm

Alan,

I like the legibility in your writing style. You can be sure that I will be paying attention to your written messages in the future. It will be interesting if you bend your priorities, and scope out whatever is needed to add those levers to your Sho-Bud Crossover steel. You would do well to install the 5th lever on any steel equipped without the LKV. A good change on that lever will promote a better balance, and a sense of control. I'm assuming from reading your words that you don't have that particular lever.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 20 Feb 2009 3:31 am

I'm sensing that the majority of players from a pool of regionalism steel guitarists, in and around Nashville, for the most part, concern themselves very little with their neighbors to the north. Liner notes written on albums of successful entertainers, usually denote the "HARD TIMES" they've been through in Nashville, while making it to the top. Now those problems of 50's, 60's and 70's are dwarfed by the youth of the city, who need the space (on the Opry) for example, to show just how things should be done. Nothing known to man will recover the youth and vitality of the artistic entertainers who one by one are moving to the sidelines. Who knows how much the changes taking place, such as attracting large gatherings at the "new" Opry facility, will be for the better. After living through the gradual shifting of 5 pieces country bands to orchestral presentations, (Ray Price and Eddy Arnold) come to mind, I've waved off the approaching noncountry elements of change. Similarly this thread is a beacon of faith suggesting that not everyone is subject to change.

Bill Myrick · Post by **Bill Myrick** » 20 Feb 2009 4:12 am

The "accomplished" players will probably be more willing to play without the levers but as far as players still learning-- I have a friend that had been playing for sometime and was struggling to advance in progress and I talked him into arranging the levers to raise and lower the E's in conjunction with A & B pedals and he says it opened up a whole new world for him and he's improving daily.
Like I always do, not to embarrass with names--his initials--Larry Garret.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 20 Feb 2009 4:41 am

Bill Myrick,

I'm sure that a lot of water will flow over dams before Larry forgets your helpful advice. Touting the E-F change may be somewhat hasty in the order of preferences. After experiencing the usefullness of each knee lever, the second string lower, and lowered 4th and 8th are right up there in the order of needful changes. The (A) pedal becomes heavily relied upon in combination with the E-F change actuated. Maybe someone could improve on Lloyd's great discovery. It's doubtful due to its practicality and convenience.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 20 Feb 2009 11:19 am

For the moment I've decided to educate myself on the quantities of select woods that were used in the construction of steel guitars. I had referred to the Maverick student model as a little "heap of junk". It becomes very distasteful when there are no subjects surviving to refute such comments. It wasn't something that just popped out of the blue. I had taken one home for a friend, and proceeded to try and recreate a workable changer. As I write, I'm remembering those hardened steel adjustment screws chewing up the finger pulls and the opposite sides of the fingers cutting grooves in the intended stops. It was tunable as long as no pedals were pushed or the one knee lever actuated. Most assuredly, the few adjustments were hopeless. Everything shifted the makeshift design of the finger pulls, and the whole process of readjusting would be necessary. It became obvious that the pickup, tuners, and birds-eye maple were the best features on the instrument. It WAS NOT equipped with a positive means of keeping a stable tuning. Of the three different student models that I added knee levers and changer designs to, the Maverick was by far the best value. I really was awakened to a new image of suppliers and consumers.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 20 Feb 2009 11:29 am

I will not disagree with your assessment, Bill.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 20 Feb 2009 2:18 pm

b0b,

I appreciate your ability to scan the forum and discreetly direct your attention to any discrepancies that may be found to exist beyond the normal conveyances of communications. I can't imagine how you do so much with only two hands.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 21 Feb 2009 1:12 am

Keep it simple! Make your point, and hopefully someone will repond to an interesting thread. When you consider the number of steel players who are regional, and others located further in distance, very few in percentages will take the time to put it on paper by offering a few thoughts of their own. Is this an indication promising fewer aspects of learning from written material? Those who do not partake in commenting, will find it difficult to explain away that they know so very little to report on matters concerning the E-F change. "Why bother", may become a way of life.