U12 Jeff Newman Tuning Question - Knee Levers

[Dennis Montgomery]

I'm looking at Jeff Newman's E9/B6th U-12 tuning at https://steelguitarforum.com/b0b/jefftune.html. If I was to move from an Emmons E9 10-3x5 to a Uni 12-7x4, what would be the most logical way to order the knee levers?

I notice Jeff's tuning omits the LKR lever keeping the LKV, Is that because LKR gets in the way of accessing those additional 4 floor pedals with the left leg?

Also, I'm confused about his knee assignments. If I wanted to translate what I've learned in Emmons E9 to Newman's 12-Uni, would I make the following assignments or is there something else that makes more sense in the Uni-12 string world?

F = LKL
X = LKV
D = RKL
E = RKR

Thanks!

[Lee Baucum]

Take a look at how I arranged the knee-levers on my Mullen.

I was able to keep the LKR lever and reach the vertical lever from two directions.

Click Here

[Jim Bloomfield]

I'm a few months into a 7x5 Uni. I lower the E's (B6 mode) using LKR. That is what I was used to on a SD10. I have no problem reaching all the pedals while holding the lever. I can also hit LKV while holding LKR. My legs are fairly long though.

[Slim Heilpern]

After I got my Williams U12 (7x5 with the boo-wah pedal in position 4) I made one change which I'm very happy with, and that was to put the lowered Es on RKL instead of RKR allowing me to use both feet on the pedals for C6-style playing when needed (without a lock).

Took a while to get used to, but I love the flexibility this offers.

- Slim.

[Pete Burak]

I'm looking at Jeff Newman's E9/B6th U-12 tuning at https://steelguitarforum.com/b0b/jefftune.html. If I was to move from an Emmons E9 10-3x5 to a Uni 12-7x4, what would be the most logical way to order the knee levers?

I notice Jeff's tuning omits the LKR lever keeping the LKV, Is that because LKR gets in the way of accessing those additional 4 floor pedals with the left leg?

Also, I'm confused about his knee assignments. If I wanted to translate what I've learned in Emmons E9 to Newman's 12-Uni, would I make the following assignments or is there something else that makes more sense in the Uni-12 string world?

F = LKL
X = LKV
D = RKL
E = RKR

Thanks!

I am a Jeff Newman S12U player, and lower E's on RKR.

Jeff did not have a LKR on every S12U he had. He did on some. Yes his reason was to not block the left leg from moving to the B6th pedals. You can have LKR if you want, but don't need it. I have the 6th string full-tone lower on my LKR (I did not have a LKR for my first 15 years on Uni).
He insisted that everything you would need to gig with a band was available on his 7x4 S12U.
'Hard for me to disagree.

[Slim Heilpern]

FWIW, I forgot to add that I have the LKR on mine and even with my short legs, have no problem reaching all the pedals.

[Ken Metcalf]

I lower Es on RKL

[Pete Burak]

I lower Es on RKL

In his Universal E9/B6 Course, you can see where Jeff notes the those RKL/RKR levers can be reversed per user preference (top right of pic).
Jeff's Course:
https://www.jeffrancollege.com/product- ... 9th-course

[Dennis Montgomery]

I lower the E's (B6 mode) using LKR. That is what I was used to on a SD10.

I think I want to do the same. It's not like I've been playing E9 Emmons for a very long time or anything so couldn't learn a new approach, but I like the idea of keeping the F, D and E levers where they currently are on my SD-10. I'm looking at:

LKL = F
LKR = D
RKL = X
RKR = E

Is there anything in the U-12 way of doing things that would make this a really bad idea?

[Pete Burak]

On Sierra S12U's with E's lowering on LKR, they made the LKR so that you could lower the E's to Eb, "Lock" them there with a flip of a switch, then flip the Lever up and out of the way until the next E9th song.

[Bobby D. Jones]

Hi Dennis, I made the dive over 1 year ago. I went from a MSA S10 to a GFI U12. I went through several months of how to set it up. I got copies of Jeff Newman, Carl Dixon's Excel, BMI, Sierra, and GFI copendent's. All the open tuning is pretty close. But knee levers are different. One or two have a front and rear Left Knee levers. I settled on Jeff Newman's tuning.
From your post, I take it, You are using the Emmon's pedal set up A-B-C, Would make the LKL good for using the A pedal and LKL together. I suggest the D knee lever moved to the RKR. It is more natural and the weight of your leg will help keep the D Knee Lever engaged for B6th playing.
Good Luck in this venture and Happy Steelin.

[John Goux]

I use both 12 ext E, and a Uni variation.
Advantages and disadvantages.

On the 12 with a D string, being able to lower your E’s (on LKR) and lower your Str 9 D to C# at the same time, on right knee, gives you lots of B6 and pentatonic scales.

I’ve personally found the Str 8 E to D lower on a pedal to be less facile than same on a knee lever. It’s great for diminished and Dom7b9, but a bit tedious for D chords to hold it down and engage AB at the same time. That change can go on your Str 2 lever as well.

John

[Ken Metcalf]

Typo

[Pete Burak]

I recommend Lowering String-12 from B-to-A on the A-pedal.

[Dennis Montgomery]

Just drew that line in the sand and finalized the tuning for my U-12 order with Mullen. Went with my original idea of Jeff's tuning at: https://steelguitarforum.com/b0b/jefftune.html with knees of:

F = LKL
X = LKV
D = RKL
E = RKR

Figured I can always make minor adjustments as I go but thought it was important to start out with something standard...or as standard as any U-12 tuning could ever really be Also ordered Jeff's 12 string E9/B9 Universal tuning DVD to get me on my way.

Thanks everyone for your input

[Pete Burak]

I give free S12U Lessons in Portland if you are ever interested.
'Been playing/gigging S12U's since 1982.
'Love 'em

[Dennis Montgomery]

I give free S12U Lessons in Portland if you are ever interested.
'Been playing/gigging S12U's since 1982.
'Love 'em

Thanks Pete, that's very kind of you to offer! I'm a little over 2 hours away near Olympia, though I don't get down Portland way often due to my wife's back problems. I'll definitely keep this in mind and drop you a line if I take a trip to your neighborhood

[Pete Burak]

You have a world class 12-string player/instructor in your town.
Professor Twang!...aka John McClung.

http://www.steelguitarlessons.com/

[Dennis Montgomery]

Cool! I'd heard of John before but didn't know he played a 12

[Tom Mossburg]

Dennis, I've been playing a U 12 for a long time. I originally had the E lowers or D lever on my RKL. Actually it got set up that way at a class in Nashville with Jeff Newman. After playing it that way for years, I switched it to RKR. It was hard to get used to at first but it now feels natural to me. The reason I did this was to have more room for my left leg to move between pedals. I found that an added benefit was that the muscles in my right leg could hold that lever engaged longer than RKL, without cramping or tiring. ie its easier to hold out on the lever than to hold it in. My advice would be to put it on the RKR for these reasons. Especially if your just starting. This is just my opinion based on my experience. There have been many threads discussing this.

[Pete Burak]

Sometimes Jeff's chart confuses me, with the knee lever labels.
I wanted to note that I also lower my E's on RKR.
'Works for me Ergonomically while playing, and my leg naturally falls that way.

[John De Maille]

I've been playing my U-12 Zum for about 14 years now and my tuning is very similar to Jeff Newmans. My RKR lowers my E's and is quite comfortable and seems natural to use. Kind of like "set it and forget it".
However, I do have a LKR that I use also. It does not interfere with my left foot use on pedals 4-7.

[Gord Cole]

Lower E's RKL