It's here! My first pedal steel guitar!

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 22 Mar 2003 5:52 pm

I am now the proud owner of an S-12 Linkon II pedal steel guitar. It arrived yesterday morning and after sorting out a minor mechanical issue it now plays just fine. It's a nice sounding guitar, if you ask me, even through my little Subway Rocket amp (someday I'll own a proper steel amp but that's still a ways off--just don't have the money right now). One cute detail which I didn't notice in the pictures is that three of the fretboard markers are images from the Canadian five, ten and twenty-five cent coins. A beaver makes an excellent fret marker.

Tuning it has turned out to be surprisingly easy, considering the amount of stuff I've read on the forum about the various tuning problems people have, but then again I'm not feeling particularly picky right now. I'm just happy to have it. I'm sure I'll start getting pickier about the tuning as I get better.

Discovering all the different chords, scales and inversions that are possible is great fun, and at this stage I'm finding something new pretty much every minute.

Learning which string is which is a bit of challenge, as well as the narrow string spacing and the bizarre out of order strings on top. I still haven't figured out how those are supposed to be used. There's also a three position switch which acts as a bright/dark/volume cut switch, but I'm not sure what it's actually doing.

I'd like to mention that Jeff Bradshaw--who sold me the guitar--was very helpful and I can wholeheartedly recommend buying from him. He's in Alberta and his website is www.countrypickin.com.

One last note; I was noodling around on the top two strings as if they were the top two strings of a lap steel (tuned to an open G shape), using a slant to get the major third interval and a straight bar for the minor third. Then it was pointed out to me that the LKL drops the D# to a D, and that no slant was necessary. Yes!

-Travis[This message was edited by Travis Bernhardt on 22 March 2003 at 05:58 PM.]

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 23 Mar 2003 7:26 am

Congratulations, Travis
I know you must be excited. I just got a new guitar myself and can understand. I also compliment you on your choice of a U-12. I've been playing one for almost 30 years and I think it's a great way to go -- one big tuning with everything related to everything else.

Enjoy that git-tar -- but stop looking at it and GET TO WORK!!!!!

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 23 Mar 2003 11:20 am

Hey Travis..congrats !

Have fun

tp

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 23 Mar 2003 11:43 am

Well, Larry, as much as I'd like to accept your compliment, it's actually an Extended E9 tuning, five pedals and four knee levers. I'm interested the Universal tuning, but this was the "biggest" guitar I could afford at this time. I'm sure it'll keep me busy for a good long while.

-Travis

Nathan Delacretaz · Post by **Nathan Delacretaz** » 23 Mar 2003 1:44 pm

Hey Travis,

Congrats from a guy who is also just beginning this pedal steel journey (got my first "real" steel in Nov.'02.

Wanted to say also that I've had occasion to see and talk with Jeff Bradshaw and he was super nice - and although I've never heard him play, my fellow Austinite Redd Volkeart says he's a monster!

I was actually in Alberta on vacation last Oct. and en route from the Rockies to our relatives' place in Wetaskawin/Camrose, we stopped in Leslieville on a lark and whaddaya know - Jeff's shop was right on the little street we stopped on. He welcomed us very nicely and patiently listened to my novice questions about steel, etc.

So in summary, congrats on the new axe and hats off to Jeff and all of you in the Canadian steel community - can't say I've had anything but pleasant dealings with our cousins to the north.

Buck Dilly · Post by **Buck Dilly** » 23 Mar 2003 2:00 pm

I wish you well. Have fun! You are in for the ride of your life! Buck

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 23 Mar 2003 3:04 pm

Sorry, Travis
Must've misread your post. Well, I have a universal guitar with all the critical changes to cover a D-10 and it has 6x6. Something to think about.

Good luck

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 24 Mar 2003 1:05 pm

Yeah, that "Limited U-12" thread has got me thinking...

Actually, from my couple of days with the guitar now I'm still totally overwhelmed by the possibilities of the tuning I currently have (esp. as regards different inversions of chords, it's crazy!). But it's funny, 'cause I can already see why that low D string is controversial. It's good for some things, but it does sort of "get in the way" for some other things I've tried to do. I'm starting to understand a little bit of what that whole debate's about.

-Travis