How many U12er's play with 2 feet?

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 31 Dec 2006 1:16 pm

I find myself using my left foot for pedal 1 and 2 while using the right foot for some of the B6 pedals. The changes I utilize could be put on levers, but I already have 5 knee levers. Besides, the 1 & 2 pedals allow for more of a rocking action for those changes. What about you guys?

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 31 Dec 2006 1:34 pm

No matter how many pedals and levers you have and how cleverly you arrange them,you still have to use two feet (and bar slants) sometimes.

Jerry Heath · Post by **Jerry Heath** » 31 Dec 2006 2:08 pm

I do, there are just some pedal combinations on my Sierra that required two feet.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 31 Dec 2006 3:42 pm

I DON'T! By putting the B6 C pedal on a knee lever I can hit B and C, B and D, C and D, or all 3 without ever removing my right foot from the volume pedal.

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 31 Dec 2006 4:23 pm

Hi Mike, I'm confused by you mentioning a B6 B, C & D pedal, in
talking about not using 2 feet on the pedals. Can you give us the functions of those pedals & knees. When I think of a B pedal I think of the 2nd pedal from the left on the guitar, that raises the G#s to A......the C pedal raising 4 & 5 to F# & C#......but maybe this is not what you're saying?? I don't know about the D pedal/lever??

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 1 Jan 2007 9:20 am

Doug, I’m referring to the B6 pedals. The B6 B pedal is the one that raises strings 11 and 12 to F natural and C# respectively, and lowers the 7th string from F# to F natural. The B6 C pedal is the one that raises the 4th string from D# back up to E, and lowers the 8th string to D natural. And the B6 D pedal is the one that raised strings 5 from B and C# and 6 to G# and Bb.

On my guitars, the B6 D pedal is in position #4, next to the E9 C pedal. These 2 pedals, used together on the E9 side, yield a few interesting licks.

The B6 B pedal is next. By placing that pedal adjacent to the D pedal, I can hit both with one foot. Next is the Boo wah pedal, and while we never use these simultaneously, we frequently shift from one to the other, and having them next to each other makes this very easy.

The knee lever that functions as my B6 C pedal is my RKR. This lever lowers my 8th string to D natural and raises my 2nd string, which I tune to C#, to the same note (an octave higher of course,) thus giving me the missing D note from the E9 side of the tuning. It does not affect the 4th string. In order to raise the 4th string back to E, I release the E to Eb knee lever (LKR).

It’s a little convoluted, but it all works. I never have to take my right foot off the volume pedal.

BTW my B to Bb change on the 5th string is on a wrist lever. The wrist lever has the advantage of being available at all times regardless of what my feet are doing, but it takes some getting used to, and it’s impossible to chime while using it. Also, it sometimes gets in the way when I’m playing real high up the neck. I recommend it with reservations for U-12 players, but I’d not have one of I were playing an S or D-10. Here is a picture of it.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 1 Jan 2007 9:39 am

I agree with Mike on having the pedal which lowers your 8th string to D on a knee lever. That's what I like as it's usable on both E9 or B6. I however have mine on LKR and my E lowers on RKR and raises on RKL. This doesn't tie up the left leg and leaves it free to do any floor pedal or knee lever you need. I do use both feet on my 12 stringer but not for the B6 stuff. I have a "Mooney" pedal in the 8th position next to my volume pedal which I operate by tapping it with the right foot. It just raises my 4th string to F#. I had it raising the 8th string to F# also but I didn't use it much and it just made the pedal more stiff...........JH in Va.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 1 Jan 2007 9:58 am

Jerry Hayes wrote:I agree with Mike on having the pedal which lowers your 8th string to D on a knee lever. ... I however have mine on LKR and my E lowers on RKR and raises on RKL. This doesn't tie up the left leg and leaves it free to do any floor pedal or knee lever you need.

A lot of players seem to disagree over whether it's better to have the E string raises and lowers on the left or right foot on a U 12. I suppose it's all a matter of personal preference and what you're used to. I find that I have no problem manipulating the pedals and knee levers with the same foot.

Hey Jerry, I don't have your current E-ddress. Please send it to me.

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 2 Jan 2007 1:15 pm

Mike, I think you have 7 knee levers and a wrist pull, if the copedent I've seen of yours is up to date. You've got some nice options there. But I don't see how you can raise your strings 5,9 (B to C#), or your strings 3,6,10 (G# to A). This seems to work well from time to time with the standard B6 pedals 5&6.