How many play D-12s?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Dec 2003 8:14 am

It seemed like Sho~Bud and the early Emmons could be ordered with whatever number of strings you wanted per neck. But now it is pretty much standardized @ 10 strings per neck. I'm just wondering, who plays a D-12 pedal steel and what brand. I recently traded for a S-12 Sho~Bud with Bobbe and am interested in obtaining a D-12. That fellow in Canada that builds steels has a photo on his site that has a 10 string C6th neck and a 12 string E9th neck. That sure makes for an interesting looking steel.
Erv

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 13 Dec 2003 9:39 am

I have a D-12 Dekley that barely resembles the original guitar, that gets used for "metal" recordings. I took off all of the pedals, knees and mechanicals on the C neck which is now (usually) tuned all C's and G's with an E on the 2nd string, for "power chords". The E9 neck has the "bare minimum" set up, 3 and 3, with B's and E's on the bottom for, you guessed it, "power chords".

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 13 Dec 2003 10:54 am

I too have a D12 10+6 Dekley that mostly stays at home in my music room. It's just too heavy to haul around as much as I'd need it to. I have 7 pedals and 5 KLs on the C6. It has so many cool changes that it almost becomes another tuning!(that I like to call the "C-lestial" tuning.)

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 13 Dec 2003 11:39 am

Erv, for years I played a MSA D-12 Classic. I wanted to upgrade to a newer and had Mullen build me a D-11 that I've played for years and considering going back to a D-12 primarily for the extended range on the C6 and some lower strings on the E9 as well. There's currently a MSA D-12 on EBay. The only problem with the older guitars, they are not easy to change setups whereas the newer ones can be changed in a jiffy. Some are very heavy but the new Carters are quite a bit lighter.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 13 Dec 2003 12:57 pm

I've played D-12's for over 30 years. The extra strings let me play six string guitar licks on E9 and keep both the high D and G on C6.

------------------
Jim Smith jimsmith94@comcast.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden D-12 9&9=-
-=Emmons D-12 push pull 9&4 (soon to be 9&9)=-
Stereo Steel rig w/Boss GX-700
IVL SteelRider w/JV-880

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 14 Dec 2003 7:18 am

Do you really need the extra strings on the C6th neck? I would like to have a couple of extra low strings on the E9th neck because of the upper chromatic strings. I contacted Bill Rudolph w/Williams guitar and he will build me a guitar with a 12 string E9th neck and a 10 string C6th neck. Now, that would truly be a "custom" guitar. What do you think???
Erv[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 14 December 2003 at 07:25 AM.]

Chick Donner · Post by **Chick Donner** » 14 Dec 2003 9:37 am

I have 2 D12 PP's that I dearly love. One rosewood (sn 127D) one black laquer (sn 116D). I played an 11-10 ZB for 29 yrs prior to that.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 14 Dec 2003 9:41 am

Do you really need the extra strings on the C6th neck?

Apparently not, as D-12 guitars and players are quite rare. However, the extra strings at the top of the C6 neck work great as chromatics, very similar to the first two strings on E9.

I tune my first five strings to F-D-G-E-C, which gives the same structure as the A&F knee lever on E9 on the first five strings, one fret lower. Some tune theirs D-B-G-E-C. If you want the middle D, you could still keep the high G and D by tuning to D-G-E-C-A-G-E-D-C-A-F-C.

All very cool ideas without the limitations of "only" 10 strings.

I believe Buddy Emmons new JCH will have a 10 string E9 and a 12 string tuning of some sort on the back neck, probably C6 or E13.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 14 Dec 2003 5:45 pm

It would be nice to have a 12 string Extended E9th and the standard 10 string C6th as an option from manufacturers !!!
It would suit me perfectly ..

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 15 Dec 2003 7:44 am

I got an e-mail from Bill Rudolph and he said that he would build me a 12/10 guitar. I think that 10 strings on the C6th neck would be enough for me. I'm not so much into the chromatic strings for this neck. However, it would be fun to have the extended range that 12 strings would give me on the E9th neck. The "Willy" is built just down the road a piece from where I live so it would be real easy to get together with Bill on a guitar. I especially like the fact that he doesn't charge extra for lacquer. I also heard from Ed Julawka in Canada. Does anybody out there play a "Fulawka"??

Erv[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 15 December 2003 at 07:45 AM.]

Bob Hayes · Post by **Bob Hayes** » 19 Dec 2003 7:16 pm

I've had my Carter D12 almost 2 Years now..I played and MSA D10 for almost 29 years and a Shobud Pro D10 for years prior to that. My Carter is a lot LIGHTER Than both of thos. and the Carter people John& Ann Fabien and Bud Carter do you right, I saw John at a jam in SC he measured me..worked out the set up and worked out the financing with my "CEO". Anne kept me up to date with the manufacturing progres...and I had it 30 days after the order!
I'm very satisfied,,and my back is happy also
Grouchyvet

Dale Hall · Post by **Dale Hall** » 21 Dec 2003 8:53 am

I have a 2001 Carter D12 @Love it.

Robbie Daniels · Post by **Robbie Daniels** » 31 Dec 2003 10:22 am

I have been playing D12's for 40 years and love them. The D12 I presently use is an MSA Classic built for me in 1974. It has 9 pedals and 5 knee levers. Three of the knee levers work E9 and C6. My E9 is tuned as follows: f# D# G# E B G# F# E D B G# E
My C6 is tuned as follows: D G E C A G E C A F C F
Suits my style and I mainly worry about what I like. I do not particularly try to imitate others. As an example I pull the E9 third string to F# rather than using a C pedal. Plus I have some other variations that I prefer. The steel is so unlimited that any individual can adjust the steel to their own liking. For this reason I feel that the steel is one of the most misunderstood instrument around, pedals or not.

Tom Moorman · Post by **Tom Moorman** » 7 Jan 2004 6:59 am

I have a 1976 MSA D-12, tobacco brown lacquer 8+4. Bought it in 1978. Marvelous instrument.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 7 Jan 2004 9:12 am

I'm hoping to get a Williams D-12 crossover someday.

------------------
<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax