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Dennis Montgomery


From:
Western Washington
Post  Posted 6 May 2018 5:21 pm    
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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!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK

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Lee Baucum


From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
Post  Posted 6 May 2018 5:58 pm    
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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
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Jim Bloomfield

 

From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 6 May 2018 9:53 pm    
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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.
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Slim Heilpern


From:
Aptos California, USA
Post  Posted 7 May 2018 5:54 am    
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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.
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Pete Burak

 

From:
Portland, OR USA
Post  Posted 7 May 2018 11:29 am     Re: U12 Jeff Newman Tuning Question - Knee Levers
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Dennis Montgomery wrote:
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. Smile


Last edited by Pete Burak on 9 May 2018 5:57 am; edited 1 time in total
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Slim Heilpern


From:
Aptos California, USA
Post  Posted 7 May 2018 11:54 am    
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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.
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Ken Metcalf


From:
San Antonio Texas USA
Post  Posted 7 May 2018 2:30 pm    
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I lower Es on RKL
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Pete Burak

 

From:
Portland, OR USA
Post  Posted 7 May 2018 2:42 pm    
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Ken Metcalf wrote:
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-page/the-universal-e9th-course
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Dennis Montgomery


From:
Western Washington
Post  Posted 7 May 2018 5:05 pm    
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Jim Bloomfield wrote:
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?
_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK

Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW

Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
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Pete Burak

 

From:
Portland, OR USA
Post  Posted 7 May 2018 6:45 pm    
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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.
Smile
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Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 7 May 2018 7:34 pm     U12 Jeff Newman's Tuning Question-Knee Levers
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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.
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John Goux

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 7 May 2018 9:48 pm    
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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
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Ken Metcalf


From:
San Antonio Texas USA
Post  Posted 8 May 2018 6:56 am    
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Typo

Last edited by Ken Metcalf on 9 May 2018 6:08 am; edited 1 time in total
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Pete Burak

 

From:
Portland, OR USA
Post  Posted 8 May 2018 7:03 am    
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I recommend Lowering String-12 from B-to-A on the A-pedal.
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Dennis Montgomery


From:
Western Washington
Post  Posted 8 May 2018 8:22 am    
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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 Wink Also ordered Jeff's 12 string E9/B9 Universal tuning DVD to get me on my way.

Thanks everyone for your input Smile
_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK

Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW

Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2f0JOyiXpZyzNrvnJObliA
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Pete Burak

 

From:
Portland, OR USA
Post  Posted 8 May 2018 9:12 am    
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I give free S12U Lessons in Portland if you are ever interested.
'Been playing/gigging S12U's since 1982.
'Love 'em Smile
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Dennis Montgomery


From:
Western Washington
Post  Posted 8 May 2018 9:23 am    
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Pete Burak wrote:
I give free S12U Lessons in Portland if you are ever interested.
'Been playing/gigging S12U's since 1982.
'Love 'em Smile


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 Smile
_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK

Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW

Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2f0JOyiXpZyzNrvnJObliA
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Pete Burak

 

From:
Portland, OR USA
Post  Posted 8 May 2018 9:44 am    
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You have a world class 12-string player/instructor in your town.
Professor Twang!...aka John McClung.
Smile
http://www.steelguitarlessons.com/
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Dennis Montgomery


From:
Western Washington
Post  Posted 8 May 2018 3:11 pm    
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Cool! I'd heard of John before but didn't know he played a 12 Wink
_________________
Hear my latest album, "Celestial" featuring a combination of Mullen SD12 and Synthesizers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh6b_xXTx4&list=PLfXm8aXRTFz0x-Sxso0NWw493qAouK

Hear my album, "Armistice" featuring Fender 400 on every song:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2Pz_GXhvmjne7lPEtsplyW

Hear my Pedal Steel Only playlist featuring Mullen G2 SD12 on covers like Candyman, Wild Horses, Across the Universe & more...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfXm8aXRTFz2f0JOyiXpZyzNrvnJObliA
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Tom Mossburg


From:
AZ,
Post  Posted 8 May 2018 6:23 pm     U12 Levers
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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.
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Pete Burak

 

From:
Portland, OR USA
Post  Posted 9 May 2018 5:56 am    
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Sometimes Jeff's chart confuses me, with the knee lever labels. Confused
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.
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John De Maille


From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
Post  Posted 9 May 2018 7:35 am    
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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.
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Gord Cole


From:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 9 May 2018 3:05 pm     Universal B6
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Lower E's RKL
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