Reconstructing The Franklin Change - Feedback Needed

Chris Bauer · From: Nashville, TN USA

I have a knee lever (LKR) that raises my high F# to G#, Eb to E, and lowers my low G# to F#. Right now, I have the Franklin change on pedal four. (I know it makes more sense to have it on the first pedal but I'm waaaaaaaaay too much of a creature of habit to change that, it seems.)

My question is this:

It seems to me that it opens up a number of both harmonic and lick opportunities to use pedal four to only lower the B's to A and then also use the G# to F# change on the knee lever when I want to have the 'complete' Franklin change.

I can't think of time I'd want to use the Franklin change with strings one and two so using that knee lever shouldn't interfere. (Am I missing something there?)

Thoughts on this? It seems like a no-brainer in theory but I've so often seen obvious-looking ideas turn out to be completely idiotic on only slightly closer inspection. Whadya think?

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

Another thing to consider, Chris, is that the Franklin change alternatively can be achieved by raising only the 4th string to F# and sliding down 2 frets (effectively lowering #'s 5 and 6 a whole step while keeping the 4th string constant). This opens up an entirely new bag of tricks- especially when done with a knee lever- ie.- getting the C pedal change while keeping A and B depressed, raising the C pedal by itself, etc.

Chris Bauer · From: Nashville, TN USA

I had that change on my guitar years ago and loved it for all kinds of things but don't remember ever thinking to use it in that particular way. Good call!

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

hi guys...i've always had the E-F# change on a knee lever separately...don't even have the unnecessary C pedal configuration.

Chris Bauer · From: Nashville, TN USA

Just one of the two hundred or so reasons I could never figure out how to play your guitar, My Ivey! Sad

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Chris, I've got the Franklin change as my zero pedal, just lowering the B's, since I have the G# > F# change on another KL. While it's a little tricky getting the timing down to combine the pedal and KL to get the complete Franklin change, the benefit is lots of other interesting and pretty possibilities with those changes split apart that I value.

There's some nice stuff going from pedal A to my "half" Franklin pedal. If you have room to put a pedal to the left of your normal A pedal, that's a great solution. I have it that way on both my Mullen and my Carter. I don't blame you for not wanting to move your main pedals around.
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Mike Cass · Posted 18 Feb 2008 5:28 am

Chris,

splitting up the B lowers from the G# to F# will increase the opprotunity to find things you'd never get with the changes together on one knee or pedal. I have the B lowers on an extra LKL(inside)which works perfectly with my G# to F# which is on RKL. Having both these changes on one pedal or knee is like having no split pedals. Vocabulary is increased greatly by splitting up these changes,and using them together as Paul does will still be easy to do and will sound the same. Since the LKR is near pedal 4 Id think that its current placement should be pretty comfortable for you. On an 8x4 guitar I once had, I put the F# to G# and G# to F# on RKL and placed the B lowers on pedal 8, which is similar to what you have now, only on the right knee instead of the left. I will say that my inclination with a new change is to overuse it at first. Having one on a pedal and the other on a knee helped that problem greatly at the time. Good luck!

P Gleespen · From: Toledo, OH USA

I'll second the idea of splitting it like Mike said. LOTS of great stuff to be had when it's split.
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Frank Parish · From: Nashville,Tn. USA

Chris,

For me it's a lot better to have the PF change on pedal 4 as you can use your E-Eb lever and most any other knee lever except the E-F lever (that would be the argued chord!) along with that change. I've got that change split up on the Carter with the ped 4 only lowering the B's. It can get a little busy under there but I've heard Tommy White do that for years on the Opry and I assume he still has his split up too.

Robbie Daniels · From: Casper, Wyoming, USA

On my D12 I have C pedal on knee lever by pulling E to F# and I have the PF pedal on a knee lever. It seems to me I can get more action on the PF pedal by using it on a knee lever. The E to F# gives the same sound as the PF pedal, but in a different arrival method.
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Richard Durrer · From: Alberta, Canada

This thread has really started me thinking. I have contemplated adding the Franklin change as Pedal 4. However, I raise and lower my E's with my Left Knee. I also have the X vertical on my left knee that lowers the B. What about putting the Franklin change ( all 3 string lowers) on a Right Knee Vertical? Would that work or would I ever need to use it along with the standard Emmons Right and Left knee functions, where pedal 4 might be better? It would take fewer parts to add a knee lever than to add a pedal.
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Robbie Daniels · From: Casper, Wyoming, USA

Richard
It would seem to me that you would be better off with the PF change on your fourth pedal. It might be a bit awkward using right vertical. You can use PF pedal in conjunction with your Eb lowers just like pedals B&C and with PF on pedal 4 you are right in line with your knee lever that lowers your E's, if I am reading you right.
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Chris Bauer · From: Nashville, TN USA

Thanks to all of you for the reality check on this. I'm glad that, for once, something that looks good in theory actually seems to translate well into the real world.

Keep the ideas coming coming, though. Interesting stuff.

Mike and Frank - It's been way too long since I've seen either one of you. I'll hope to cross paths sometime soon again.

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