RKL set-up!

Neil Lang · Post by **Neil Lang** » 13 May 2006 9:47 am

Just wondering,
I drop both E's on E9th tuning with RKL. Am I in the minority or majority???
Thanks,
Neil

mtulbert · Post by **mtulbert** » 13 May 2006 9:51 am

Probably in the minority. But I am there with you on this one!!!

M

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 13 May 2006 10:00 am

I think that started when steels had only one knee lever, which was RKL. They lowered the E strings, or at least one of them. Then it became a habit hard to break.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 13 May 2006 10:03 am

RKL for me........

Shaun Marshall · Post by **Shaun Marshall** » 13 May 2006 10:06 am

I always had E's lowered with RKL, it makes sense to my brain that when you lower them they moved to the left just like if you were lowering them with the bar, you would moved a half step to your left. I also like having the Raise from E to F on RKR because it creates a physical balance for me when used with the A pedal.

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Shaun Marshall
68' ZB-S10, Emmons Legrande D-10

Ernie Pollock · Post by **Ernie Pollock** » 13 May 2006 10:07 am

I think a lot of the older shobuds lowered the E's on the RKL, why, who knows, but it works. I had a student model steel set up in the Day version [CBA] with the E lower change on RKL, worked great for me. But what the hey, I am back playing a universal with the emmons setup. I swear, I have tried em all!!

Ernie

http://www.hereintown.net/~shobud75/stock.htm

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Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 13 May 2006 10:33 am

I used to lower the E's on LKR, but I moved it to RKL after a Forum discussion about 7 years ago.

I use the F lever (on LKL) a lot. By putting the E lowers on RKL, I can get a smooth full-step transition from F to D#. The F is the 3rd of the chord in the A+F position. That transition has the same effect that the A pedal has in pedals down A+B position, but on a higher string.

Paul Franklin and many other professionals have the E lower on their right knee. Buddy Emmons and many other professionals lower their E's on LKR. Lloyd Green doesn't lower his 4th string, proving that the change really isn't even necessary.

I played a Speedy West guitar for a while that didn't lower the E strings at all. It was interesting...

Also, I own a Maverick 2+1 that's set up with A, B and F. No problem. I keep it in Pennsylvania for family jams.

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<font size="1"><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b2005.gif" width="78 height="78">Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - 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) My Blog </font>

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 13 May 2006 10:53 am

I was lowering the E's on RKL but moved them to LKR after a Forum discussion about 3 years ago !

It appears these Forum discussions can be quite dangerous to our mechanical health !

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 13 May 2006 11:15 am

I lower on RKL as well
Raise on LKL

I believe MSA guitars were also set up from the factory with that change on RKL, in addition to ShoBuds. A lot of players started out on one of those two brands. Many adhere to the Buddy Emmons theory that you don't need to use both at the same time so raising on LKL and lowering on LKR makes good sense. It does but I still lower E's on RKL mostly because I play a U-12 and use that change with P4-7 or 4-8 and find it more difficult to hold LKR and press the last few pedals than the same combos with a lever on the right knee.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 13 May 2006 11:28 am

RKL for me too!

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72 Professional 8&5,73 PRO II 8&4, 79/80 PRO III 8&4,Fender Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 13 May 2006 11:34 am

<---- RKL

Hook

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www.HookMoore.com

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 13 May 2006 11:38 am

RKL, which puts me in a not insubstantial minority. My first pro calibre guitar, a Sho Bud, was set up that way, and in fact in the late 70's it seemed like most guitars I sat down at were the same. I don't have a lot of trouble playing one that is set up LKR though - just have to think about things a little more.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 13 May 2006 11:40 am

My Sho-Bud drops the E's on the RKL and my Emmons drops them on the LKR, so I switch between the two.
It's never been a problem to go back & forth between setups.

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 13 May 2006 11:44 am

I use RKL to lower the Es for a similar reason to Larry's, only on a standard E9 10 string 3+4. I use that change with lots of A and B pedal (single or combination), and I simply find it easier to move around on those pedals with my left foot while the right knee is "locked" on the lever. My LKL raises Es per "standard" (whatever that means on this instrument

)

Dan

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Dan Beller-McKenna
Big Red
Durham, NH

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 13 May 2006 11:46 am

Me to!

Michael Barone · Post by **Michael Barone** » 13 May 2006 11:56 am

Lower on RKL, Raise on RKR, stock on my Pro-1 when I bought it.

Mike

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 13 May 2006 12:17 pm

Raise on LKL, Lower on LKR ..
stock on my Sho-Bud Pro III purchased new...

just thought I would throw that wrinkle in for all who think they came from the factory with a specific setup..

Chuck Lemasters · Post by **Chuck Lemasters** » 13 May 2006 12:39 pm

It makes sense to have both E changes on the same knee. So I hooked my guitar up like that. Then in the heat of battle I went back to RKL. Oops! I ended up changing back to lowering the E's on RKL.

Don Powalka · Post by **Don Powalka** » 13 May 2006 8:27 pm

On my 'Bud S12U RKR lowers the E's, RKL raises the E's. My guitar is set up with a Jeff Neuman (sp) copedant. It makes it easy to hold the E drop when playing in B6th mode.

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Fender Strat Fender Tele Gibson Les Paul ShoBud U12 Genuine Dobro Washburn B16 banjo for aggravation

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 13 May 2006 9:10 pm

This will warp you head if you try it! For more than 40-yrs. I Lowered the (E)'s on LKR and Raised the (E)'s on LKL. For the past 5-mos. I'm still getting used to Lowering the (E)'s on LKL and Raising the (E)'s on LKR¡

I switched from the Emmons to the Hughey (Day) Setup! What was I thinking? Who'd have ever thunk it, but; I didn't have much choice!

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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment

Anders Brundell · Post by **Anders Brundell** » 14 May 2006 1:27 am

I'm with you, Neil. I got used to that set-up when I started playing steel some 25 years ago and I just can't get used to any other combination. This is what I have now http://www.countryneers.com/bilder/S14U_stamning_steel.jpg
I tried other set-ups for several years after recommendations from both Jimmie Crawford and Terry Crisp, but I just couldn't get used to them so I had to get back to what I started with. Luckily Lloyd Green recommends to stick with what you've got and not mess around with the changes. That's like moving the keys around a piano and that's only confusing, he says, and I agree totally. I think that that's a really good advice from a real super picker.
But I've heard that BE modifies his set up more or less constantly, so there are at least two valid truths to choose from in this case, depending on what kind of person you are.

Bill Mayville · Post by **Bill Mayville** » 14 May 2006 3:28 am

The set up with Emmons factory standard is a design,thought of by a master.The AB,and the (LKL that raises)and the (LKR) lowering,put together ,makes playing a certain style of music so much easier.Bandstand back is made easy.Turn around chords are right there,and all the passing chords. For instance. Playing your cheating heart ,with ALL the chords,on one fret.It's possible and easy with that setup.I have played the other set up.Didn't seem to hard ,but I had to think a little longer.I also had the X lever put on the (RKL)on both D-10's.My dumbness starts with the Vertical.I loose control once my leg comes up,for some reason.
I have never said that the other setup is wrong or right.I just know for fact ,students catch on much faster with the Emmons setup.But then again,I don't try to get them to play regular songs either.
Just music put together by me,and positions
that are not to easy.
Bill

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 14 May 2006 6:14 am

I have the E to Eb change on RKR> and E to F on RKL< . It was the stock set up on my MSA.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 14 May 2006 6:45 am

my first psg was a Sho~Bud
so i'm still usin' RKL lowers the Es to Eb
& LKL raises the Es to F

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 14 May 2006 8:24 am

Raise E's LKL
Lower E's RKR
Zum U-12 E9th-B6th