OK, Now I got it, what do I do ?

David Dunn · From: Hideaway , Tx USA

This old girl does not have pedals....need some help. '56 Rick Console 500, triple 8. I got this in a trade deal and I am really excited. Guitar is in good shape, original case included. Tone and volume pots are not scratchy and all pick-ups work fine. I tuned 1 neck to C6 and played thru my Twin and was very surprised with the tone, really 50's-60's ish. I plan to use the guitar for old Hank, Lefty, Patsy type songs and a lot of Texas Swing.

My questions are: 1. What tunings do I use, ( I am comfortable with a high C6) but clueless about what to put on the other 2 necks. 2. What should pick-up height be ?

Thanks,..........Dave

Scott Thomas · Posted 25 Jan 2010 6:31 pm

Congrats! That's a beauty! For old country and western swing one of the E13 tunings would complement your C6. Leave the outside neck unstrung to give you a place to set your beer glass and ashtray. (Just kidding, but I think Tom Morrell did that.)

A6 is a good 3rd tuning. With those three, you are all set for anything.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

What is all of the concern on a manufactured steel guitar's "pick-up" height?

I don't understand all of the recent SGF concern over this item.

Tell me more, okay?

David Dunn · From: Hideaway , Tx USA

Ray,

Pick-up height (distance from the strings) affects tone and brightness a lot. On my Sho-Buds, Emmons P/P, and Legrande II, a 1/32 of an inch makes a lot of difference in how the guitar sounds.

The reason I asked is that this Rick varies from 1/4 " to almost touching the strings on one of the necks.

Dave

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

A6th and C6th are very similar, I would opt for the Leavitt tuning on one neck and only one 6th tuning...
JMTC
Dom
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Jon Nygren · From: Wisconsin, USA

David-

Congrats on the rick....I have a double 8 SW model. I love it to death, like an improved Fender dual pro(to me anyway). I've always wanted one of those 500 series guitars.

Anyways, I found Rick Aiellos guide very helpful- http://www.horseshoemagnets.com/userfiles/ricky_height.rtf

With horseshoes, there is definitely a difference in tone with different heights. I like mine with the bobbin a bit lower than usual with old tube amps. With amps that dont distort much, I raise them a bit.

Morgan Scoggins · From: Georgia, USA

David,
Nice guitar.
For the kind of music you like I would suggest tunings of A6 (F#,A,C#,E,F#,A,C#,E) low to high,
E13( B,D,E,G#,B,C#,E,G#) and C6 which you already have.
The A6 tuning is a great tuning for Western Swing and any type of music where you need to hear big fat chords. This tuning is used by Herb Remington and was used by many of the 1940's era swing players.
E13 or "Don Helms" tuning will give you the authentic "honkey tonk" sound of Hank Williams.It is relative to the C6 tuning only four frets higher in pitch.
I dont play much in C6, but it is by far the most popular tuning and a lot more published learning material is available for C6.
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"Shoot low boys, the're ridin' Shetlands"

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

If you are familiar with E9 pedalsteel Tom morrel's E13 is very close . It's logical and useful. High to low:
G#
E
C#
B
G#
F#
E
D

You get familiar 6 tuning chord shapes along with E9 scale patterns. I mostly use C6 but the E13 comes in real handy.
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Bob

Jon Nygren · From: Wisconsin, USA

Bob, thanks for posting that tuning. I had never thought of that one.

Right now i'm using a straight E6 with g# on top and an e9 like Jerry Byrds on the bottom neck, with a country rock band. That way I get pedal steel stuff and a swinging 6th tuning.....but with that tuning it looks like I can kill two birds with one stone! I have never seen that tuning before, can't believe i didnt think of that earlier. Thats why I love this board!!

Only thing I would miss is the Big low E next to the B on the bottom(on the e9 I use)...I can get big rock power chords that way...hmm.

David Dunn · From: Hideaway , Tx USA

Thanks for the tuning suggestions, looks like 1 neck will be high C6, another E13.

Bob, when did you move from New York to Austin. I saw you in a gig in Brooklyna couple of years ago, great playing, you had a Franklin that evening.

Jon, thanks for the Rick Aiellos tab, that will fix me up.

Thanks,,,,,Dave

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

Okay, you've got yourself a 3 necked instrument. Now what you need are the arm-lengthening exercises. Very Happy

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Dave,
I moved to Austin last May when I picked up the gig with Wayne Hancock.

Jon,
I am having a D10 Clinesmith built that I should have in my hands next week. That way I'll have that low note on the bottom and an F# on top.
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Bob

Terry Farmer · From: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

I'm having fun with Morrell's E13. I like that big fat E on the bottom too so here's how I have it set up, Low to high E B D E F# G# B C# E F#.

There's a tune on You Tube by Animusic called "Aqua Harp" When I heard it I decided that I had to learn a version for steel. It's got a two octave arpeggio theme throughout. That's when I restrung, put the low E on bottom and lost the High G# on top.

I find Morrell's tuning intuitive for some reason. I can hear and find intervals better than I could with C6. It's probably years of ingrained E based standard guitar playing. What ever it is, I'm having a ball with this tuning. Very Happy

Jon Nygren · From: Wisconsin, USA

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

If you are into classic western swing the Leon mcaulife and Murphy E13 may be the way to go. I am going with the 10st tunings I use to maybe bring some of the things I am already into over from the pedalsteel. I've been practicing quite a bit so it might work.
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Bob

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Here's a glorified E maj. Let's you get most all the Helms/country stuff, old Hawaiian, and blues.

G#
E
C
B
G#
E
B
E

Jon Nygren · From: Wisconsin, USA

Is the Murphy 13th tuning the same as Leon's?

David Dunn · From: Hideaway , Tx USA

Thanks for the comments and ideas, finally decided on C6, B13, and b0b's E11.

Did the clean and polish thing this weekend for 2 days straight. I am now very happy

Thanks,

Dave

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