E9/C6 Lock Lever?

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 31 May 2005 7:20 am

Maybe with the electronic changer of the future you could change tunings like this by just pressing a button. All of the pedals and knee levers would change too.

Yesterday I took all of the strings off of my Williams like Big John suggested, and all steel guitar problems disappeared! It looked great, and Mrs. Lee said I've never sounded better. Then I strung it up again and I was back to the real world.

Ernie, you changed the copedent on a Kline? I'm impressed!

Many people have pointed out the numerous pitfalls in this idea. I concede that it's unworkable and it might not even be a good idea if it worked perfectly. You have to throw out some ideas just to reach an understanding of the problem. The universal E9/B6 is a better idea than E9/C6 for a variety of reasons. Now we know what they are.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6)

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 31 May 2005 9:49 am

Another beautiful idea destroyed by the ugly facts.

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 31 May 2005 1:08 pm

Yeah, but MUSICALLY workable- the mechanics/electronics wizards just have to get together and figure out how to whip up a Quasarmobile!

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Hans Holzherr · Post by **Hans Holzherr** » 1 Jun 2005 4:11 am

IMO, the E9th to C6th change lock would make most sense IF E9th were E9th Extended as opposed to E9th/B6th Universal.

Another beautiful idea destroyed by the ugly facts.

NOT the last word.... Here at Schild Steels we think this lock is absolutely possible.... but we have yet to prove it. Switchable 5 pedal/5 lever guitar that has it all.

Hans[This message was edited by Hans Holzherr on 01 June 2005 at 12:05 PM.]

bob grossman · Post by **bob grossman** » 1 Jun 2005 6:08 am

I'm no longer a member? I've missed something.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 1 Jun 2005 4:51 pm

The E-->Eb, is a simple, yet elegant solution.

The Pedal Steel is a fairly rigid instrument from a mechanical standpoint. It makes more sense for the player to adjust to the the 1/2 step tuning change, than to ask the opposite.

C'mon you guys, you've already done the "hard part".....you actually learned how to play this "Newtonian nightmare". By comparison, transposing your knowledge one 1/2 step should be a "piece of a cake". After 3-4 mos you'd probably not miss the C6th.

That said, I will never switch from my Emmons D-10, for reasons which have nothing to do w/ rational thought.

Also,I worked for Sierra when we developed the Eb-lock, I think that was around 1979 or so.[This message was edited by Tony Glassman on 01 June 2005 at 05:52 PM.]

SveinungL · Post by **SveinungL** » 5 Jun 2005 6:34 am

Instead of putting on a lever with 9 or 11 pulls, wouldn't it be easier to make a good capo for pedal steel? On dobro they do it. Why not PSG? Then you could play Remington Ride in the original key..... Has anyone made such a capo?
You could also imagine a moveable fretboard. Move it one fret up with the capo, and you're in C6!

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Thanks Sveinung Lilleheier
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Kentucky Riders

[This message was edited by SveinungL on 05 June 2005 at 08:03 AM.]

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 5 Jun 2005 7:34 pm

Sveinung's idea could work. You would just need a long block of aluminum of appropriate height with a set of nut rollers mounted on it. Lay it on its side to slide it under the strings at the first fret. Then turn it upright so the strings rest on it and it forms a new nut at the first fret. You might want a strip of rubber on the bottom to protect the fret board and hold the capo in place. For a C6 neck, get a second fret board and put some double sided tape on the back., or some little magnets or some way to hold it in place. That's a lot of trouble to go to, but if you are a veteran C6 player and just want to do it all on one neck, and keep those key-of-C instrumentals, it's doable. I never learned C6 and don't play any such instrumentals, so for me playing a B6 neck presents no problems (well no more problems than everything else about this crazy instrument).