U-12 Knees

[Dennis Detweiler]

What's your favorite additional knee lever after the standard four...1=(E to F),2=(E to Eb),3=(B to D and 2nd string pull), 4=(B to Bb)?
Thanks
Dennis

[David Doggett]

1) Es to F; 2) Es to Eb, and 2nd string to C# (like having a D on C6, also works good with the minor chord in E9 mode); 3) 2nd string to D, 9th string to Bb; 4) middle E to D; 5) LKV raises 1st and 7th strings to G for the flatted 7th with the AB pedals down (it's a blues thing).

[Michael Johnstone]

In addition to the standard Emmons 4th&8th raise on LKL and 4th&8th lower on LKR and 5th string lower B>Bb on RKL2,I have F#s to G(LKV1). And also you'll find that when you put the 2nd string changes on a lever with the Es to D# you lose a bunch of combinations not to mention loading down the lever mechanically on most guitars. I much prefer to have the 2nd string on it's own lever w/a half stop(RKL1). Also I have all 3 G#s to G on a lever(RKR) and I couldn't live without it. On my lever(I have it as a zero pedal)that raises my 9th string B to D,it also raises my 10th string G# to B.This gives you the first 10 strings exactly as on an E9 10 string.I have another one that lowers my 6th string from G# to F#(LKL2) plus a lever that raises it to A>A# w/a half stop(LKR2). And on my 9th lever which is a 2nd vertical I lower my 4th and 8th strings E to D. I play an Excel keyless U-12 w/8+9 BTW. It's a tight squeeze under there but I've got it tweaked to fit and everything works real smooth thanks to the genius of Mitsuo Fuji. -MJ-

[J D Sauser]

LKL - 2nd string Eb->D, 9th string B->D.
LV - All G#->G.
LKR - 5th string B->Bb.
RKL - 4th and 8th string E->Eb.
RKR - 4th and 8th string E->F

Note:
1.)I would not carry this change on a pedal steel until I can mechanically solve the JI tuning combination issues) but that my be a drastic change I would not expect anybody to get comfortabe with. Since I have taken a long vacation from pedals I can imagine living quite happily without any of these changes. When you get to play non-pedal ONE change has a whole new meaning.
2.)I used to have a long throw LV (a la Newman) in between fairly far away spaced LKL and LKR. Today I would use two shorter LV in between that space (LVL and LVR).

... J-D

[mickd]

i've got LKL raising 4&8, LKR lowering same,
RKL lowering 5, RKR doing B->D and lowering 2.
My LKL also lowers 2 to C# for the top 'D' when in B6 mode. Its true that this does come with a physical cost, but I'm really used to it now.

My LKV raises 1&7, and this is occasionally useful for a dominant 7th with A&B down, but otherwise I rarely use it - so I was thinking what else I could change it to. Interesting that JD has this lowering the G# - how do you use that JD ?

[C Dixon]

I have 3 of them. Sorry I could not live with just one. They are RKL, RKR and RKR2 below.

<font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>
LKL LKL2 LKV LKR RKL RKR RKR2

F# G#
D# D E C#
G#
E F Eb F
B Bb
G# F#
F#
E F Eb D
B D C#
G# B F#
E F
B A
</pre></font>

carl