Fulawka 12 string universal

[Dan Campbell]

I recently acquired a 12 string Fulawka with 8 pedals and 4 knees and a 5th knee/lever to switch from E9 to C6. This was an investment because I got it at a great price and intend to resell it.

Two questions: [1] Does anyone have a ballpark idea of the current value and/or perhaps it's original selling price? [2] Has anyone had trouble with the knee/lever switch mentioned above and if so how to repair?

[Bobby D. Jones]

Very nice beautiful guitar.
Is the lever to change the whole guitar to C6th. Or is the lever to lock the "D knee lever" 2nd string C# Lower, 4th string lower E to D# , 8th string E to D# lower. Changing the guitar to something like Newman's E9th/B6th Universal tuning.
Check what the back apron "Lock Lever" is attached to.
Or someone may have just disconnected the lock. And played it straight E9th.
Good Luck on solving the mystery of your new guitar.

[Dan Campbell]

Thanks for your information. I’m at the Sacred Steel Summit at the Florida Folk Festival this weekend. When I get back home I’ll investigate and get back with you. Dan

[Bobby D. Jones]

I notice there is what looks like a single hex bolt in the back/middle of the changer frame.
Is that a bolt that can be tightened to stop flex in the Changer shaft?
Just asking, I like to know all I can find on different makes of steel.

[Kim Turnbull]

I notice there is what looks like a single hex bolt in the back/middle of the changer frame.
Is that a bolt that can be tightened to stop flex in the Changer shaft?
Just asking, I like to know all I can find on different makes of steel.

I think you are seeing a coil tap toggle switch like in this picture of another Fulawka.

[Dan Campbell]

Thanks for everyone's comments --they are very helpful. I have fixed the knee/lever problem. It just needed a small adjustment and I'm showing the adjusting screw in the pics below.

I'm also including the tuning the guitar is currently in. That doesn't mean it is correct because it may not have been tuned for quite some time. So any thoughts about this would be helpful. The lever adjusts the 4th and the 8th strings (treble A# to base D#).





1 B
2 A#
3 D
4 A#
5 B
6 G
7 B
8 D#
9 D
10 B
11 F
12 B

[Dan Campbell]

I think this may be Newman's E9th/B6th universal tuning but not sure.

[Bobby D. Jones]

Thanks, With a picture from the changer end, Easy to see it is a switch.
Here is Jeff Newman's E9th/B6th tuning. The first 8 strings are standard E9th tuning. Some guitars have a lever to lock 2-4-8 (D knee lever) strings for B6th, Instead of holding in the knee lever to play B6th, For long practice/playing B6th tuning.


Something looks out of place on the 5th and 9th strings. The lower return levers look out of place. On most guitars all Lower return lever springs are a straight line across the bottom of the changer, Resting against a stop bar of some sort.

Good luck getting the guitar setup in playing order.

[Dan Campbell]

Very helpful.