changing seating positions when changing necks

[Geoff Barnes]

I have decided to finally have a look at the C6 neck on my guitar and am really having a lot of fun exploring it…

My question is about seating;
I need to physically move the steel over to the right to play that neck comfortably, so that my left foot is centred over the 5-6 pedals, with the LKR tucked up out of the way.
Not only that but when I switch back to the E9 neck I lift the steel up and move it back to the left so my feet are over the 1-2 pedals, and also find I need to angle it slightly compared to the C6 seating position which is pretty much square on to the face of the beast.

I can’t help but think that this is not the correct way to get at this and if (eventually) I decide to use both necks in a song then I won’t be able to because it takes me a minute or so to get the instrument to where it feels comfortable.

Yet if I try to find a central spot, my knees get in the way of the levers engaging the LKR slightly which not only is annoying but feels uncomfortable…. Like I am sneaking my foot around the corner to keep from pulling the sucker out of tune.
I know that eventually with practice I will get this sorted, but am also aware that bad habits formed early on, are hard to break…. Right now it’s a minor hassle, but I’m interested to know how you folks that regularly use both necks go about it.
Cheers,
Geoff

[Al Marcus]

Geoff-Maybe move the 5 and 6 pedals over one to the 4 and 5 pedals. I thought of doing that myself, and may just do that. Put Pedal 4 somwehere else. That might solve the problem. I think it would be perfect for me too...al.:)

[Kyle Everson]

I center my body at the 15th fret and that allows me to play both necks comfortably.

[b0b]

I play a Williams Crossover to avoid this very issue. I was never comfortable in the C6th sitting position.

[Jody Sanders]

What Kyle said, and I move a knee lever out of the way that lowers the Es on E9. Jody.

[Geoff Barnes]

ok... I guess I must be centered around the 10th fret for the E9 neck... I tried sitting at the 15th and am able to reach everything... it's a bit of a stretch and I feel like I'm slightly off balance at present but I guess it will come with time... I reckon' I must have stumpy legs after all

Ah well...Gotta make the most of what I was given!

Al..thanks for the advice, but I'm still too new at this game to be moving pedals about... And I'm a looong way from anyone who can put this baby back together if I get it wrong.
Thanks folks for the advice...appreciate it... 15th fret was the key I was looking for.

[Jack Stoner]

I can hit all the pedals on my Franklin without moving or even moving a knee lever out of the way.

I couldn't do that on my old PP Emmons.

[Tony Prior]

it's awkward and I believe most if not all of us have to compensate somewhat . The lower neck is physically in different position than the upper neck so it makes sense to shift your seating position a tad .

First off you are another 6 inches closer to the guitar ( lower neck) so your hand positions are different as as well.

My D10 has 3 MID knee levers, so not moving a tad to the right would make it very uncomfortable to ALIGN my left knee with these.

I have watched a few very able 6th players basically shift seat position a tad , it makes sense to me. Thats what I do, just shift a tad to the right .


I don't know how others do it bit basically there is no right or wrong. get yourself into a comfortable position and have at it !

tp

[Damien Odell]

Geoff,Tomi Grasso in Syd is a mechanical wizard when it comes to steels - especially Emmons cause that's what he plays. I'm sure he would be happy to help with any mechanical alterations. Once you start pulling these things apart it's not too bad, just take note of where everything came from....and if there's nuts and bolts left over at the end....you didn't need them anyway...
I have found that the correct seat and hand positions felt stupid at first, but with more playing they start feeling more natural and eventually make sense.
Damien

[Donny Hinson]

I need to physically move the steel over to the right to play that neck comfortably...Not only that but when I switch back to the E9 neck I lift the steel up and move it back to the left...(eventually) I decide to use both necks in a song then I won’t be able to because it takes me a minute or so to get the instrument to where it feels comfortable...I’m interested to know how you folks that regularly use both necks go about it.
Geoff

Are you, perchance, sitting on a tree stump?

I feel safe in saying most all players either just slide a little to either side, or move their seat slightly. I've never heard of anyone who moves their guitar to play either neck.

[Herb Steiner]

Listen to Kyle and Donny, they speak with straight tongue.

Center your body so that your navel is at f.15 or thereabouts, generally between 12 and 15 depending on placement of the pedals. Some guitars have their pedal placement more to the left or more to the right, as per brand characteristics. You should only have to move E9 LKR out of the way.

My guitars have 4 levers on C6 and occasionally I might have to quickly move the LKL on C6, but most of the time I just move my leg back out and then back in between the C6 levers.

One thing to pay attention to when you change body position is INTONATION. Your parallax view of the strings vis a' vis the fret markers will change, and you'll need to recalibrate how your eyes relate to the frets. This might be the most challenging part of the exercise.

[Al Marcus]

Geoff-This Forum sure is great for any info you might need. Herb, Kyle and Donny are giving you ideas of what you can do. When I had a D10 I had that same problem. I use my Left right knee for the C to B (mine is E to D# on E6)and it works good with P6, but I wished it was moved to P5 for a perfect fit for me, otherwise I had a tendency to touch P5 too when I didn't want to. I also have my sitting position at just over the 12 th Fret. I hardly ever play much over the 15th fret on my E6 tuning, as it is already tuned two whole tones higher than C6. But all in all, I have adjusted to the P5 and P6 positions as they are.Good Luck...al.:)

[Dave Van Allen]

to paraphrase Donny...it's a lot easier to move your butt than move your guitar

[Geoff Barnes]

Geoff,Tomi Grasso in Syd is a mechanical wizard when it comes to steels - especially Emmons cause that's what he plays. I'm sure he would be happy to help with any mechanical alterations.
Damien

Hi Damien, you're the second person that has mentioned Tomi Grasso to me this week in relation to my Emmons.... must be an omen. I need to search him out as I need my copedent changed back to Emmons standard for the C6 neck...

Are you, perchance, sitting on a tree stump?

I feel safe in saying most all players either just slide a little to either side, or move their seat slightly. I've never heard of anyone who moves their guitar to play either neck.

Hi Donny,
downunder we do love a good tree stump to sit on, and you aren't too far off the money.
I am presently using a guitarists stool, (see pic) there is no room for sliding. I have plans to import a pac-a-seat in the near future. I kinda figured that picking the guitar up wasn't the way to do it, which is why I posted... from the advice offered so far it seems to be a combination of centering my body closer to the bridge and having a seat which allows me to slide across a little.

To everyone who has posted offering advice, thanks, I appreciate your input... at times I find this instrument and all its subtleties a little overwhelming, this forum is a godsend and you guys rock!

[Damien Odell]

Geoff,
I can give you some contact info for Tomi. He is O/S at present, but I think he's back soon. Email me for his number
damienjoshua@hotmail.com
I am happy to help also with anything I can.

Damien

[Geoff Barnes]

Damien, thanks m8! You've got mail

[Donny Hinson]

Geoff, get an old piano bench or even a dining-room chair...just about anything would be better that what you're using!

(IMHO)

[Al Marcus]

Donny- I notice that too, and he is going to have to get a wider seat that that!....al.:)

[Geoff Barnes]

Geoff, get an old piano bench or even a dining-room chair...just about anything would be better that what you're using!

(IMHO)

Donny- I notice that too, and he is going to have to get a wider seat that that!....al.:)

Yep... I hear ya gentlemen.... it's only become a problem for me when I started adding the second neck into my practice sessions... In fact I only caught myself picking the steel up recently... it was almost a subconscious thing to get it to where I felt comfortable...(mind you, I never said I was the sharpest tool in the shed).

One thing to pay attention to when you change body position is INTONATION. Your parallax view of the strings vis a' vis the fret markers will change, and you'll need to recalibrate how your eyes relate to the frets. This might be the most challenging part of the exercise.

Parallax has been an issue to date...I am a guitar player of 40 years so the temptation to place the bar behind the frets is strongly ingrained... fortunately the CD tracks have steel accompaniment for the most part, and my "ear" pushes me onto pitch... when the steel drops out I really have to watch AND listen to my pitch... More than once I have stopped mid session to retune my guitar only to discover it was OK ... recording is even worse, because it sounds acceptable whilst I'm "in the phones"... but the playback is embarrassing....

Now my feet are a whole other topic!

I have just hit the lesson pages with 5-7/8 and 6-8 splits which means I need to bring in my right foot.... So now I am treading on my own toes under there.... What kind of evil genius invented this thing???

I will get to point where I can call myself a Steeler!

It may just take me a little longer than first anticipated.

[Alan Brookes]

As b0b said, that's why the Crossover mechanism was invented.

[Geoff Barnes]

As b0b said, that's why the Crossover mechanism was invented.

aah Alan, if wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.
Being a poor musician, I can only look on and enjoy these things from a distance.... and save for every purchase
I will buy a second PSG guitar in 08... and after reading b0b's post I wandered over to the Williams site for a rubberneck.
Interesting concept... there are so many beautiful guitars being made at present which makes the waters very muddy indeed.

[Shane Reilly]

G'day Geoff,If I were you i'd pick myself up a good quality drum stool.They're cheap,portable,rock solid and if I need to move it under me I can reach down with one hand and slide it pronto.Or you could get one of these(see picture),seems to work for that guy .Cheers,Shane.

[Geoff Barnes]

G'day Geoff,If I were you i'd pick myself up a good quality drum stool.They're cheap,portable,rock solid and if I need to move it under me I can reach down with one hand and slide it pronto.Or you could get one of these(see picture),seems to work for that guy .Cheers,Shane.

G'day Shane, Good to see some fellow Oz forumites out and about!
I have a friend who wants to replace the PUPs on his Bud, and get a Steeler's choice seat sent over as soon as his tax return arrives in the next month or so. I will also grab a seat with that order. The vendor needs $500.00 before he will play, so together we will meet this requirement. I had looked at some drum thrones, back when I bought my steel, but figured the seating area was about the same as my stool.... When I have the guitar at my studio, I am using the office stlye chairs in the control room which are on castors... both solutions are stop-gap measures and far from satisfactory.
(Cool pic btw... any man with an Elvis "doo", is alright by me)

[chris ivey]

'that guy' sure looks like lloyd green!!

[Ken Williams]

When I move to the C6th neck, I move just a tad to my right. One of the reasons I like the vinyl covered seat better that the velvet-like material is it allows you to change positions more easily. With the newer seat that I have, I feel like I'm wearing velcro britches.

Ken