Uni Players, Raise Low E ?

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Guys that use the typical 12 string E9/B6 universal tuning..... on the KL that you raise 4 & 8 from E to F, do you also raise the 11th string E?

Like to get your thinking on why or why not do it.

Thanks JO.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Absolutely -- it finishes off the A+F position -- you get the same major triad voicing you have on 3,4,5,6,8 (scale tones are 3,1,5,3,1) an octave lower on 6,8,9,10,11.

I can think of a good reason NOT to lower the 11th (for sixth tuning reasons) but the E to F works very well on the 11th. The E natural doesn't add anything, as far as I can see -- it's a b3 tone of the C# Major scale (A+F chord).

My push-pull U-12 doesn't have it and I MISS IT. (not enough to mess with it though) Whoa!

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Gary Dunn · From: near Camel City, NC

Mine has this change Smile

Dave O'Brien · From: Florida and New Jersey

I don't have it, never missed it, but guess I'll be trying it soon right Gary? I also removed the 2nd string lower from the E-Eb lever and use a 1/2 stop for the 2nd string on another lever (D lever)-don't want any extra resistance from either E lever. Use 'em too much I guess.

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

I have the bellcrank there on my Fessenden U-12, but I ran out of parts. I am going to add that (and a few other pulls), as soon as I can locate more rods and tuners.

Clete

Sherman Willden · From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

when I ordered my Carter I didn't know which copenant to get so just ordered the Most Requested Tuning. I have the 11th string E->F.
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Sherman L. Willden
It is easy to play the steel guitar. Playing so that the audience finds it pleasing is the difficult act.

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

I have it on my Mullen RP,as well as the pedal 1 whole step raise on the low B string.

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

I have the change. Why not? It's an "E". One out of three. I raise it, because I haven't thought about it that much. Just sounds good and 'right'. Thinking mostly now on the "E9th" side. Smile

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Randy Brown · From: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

I have it (and also have the low B->C# on my A pedal), but don't really use them often. So I usually keep those hex nuts loosened so the pulls don't engage. Some good reasons for removing or disabling those lower pulls are 1) the extra force required on those pedals/knees, and 2) the increased potential for string noise.

In my (limited) experience, I find that I generally use the lower strings more for B6-style chords, rather than E9 licks... so for me I don't consider them a necessity... but it's nice to have the rods in place so I can tune them up real quick if the need arises.

Ultimately it comes down to your playing style. If you are often in the lower register playing E9 stuff, then they might be useful to you. Otherwise if you're mainly doing B6 work down there, you already have pulls on those strings happening with your b6 pedals.

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

I have pretty much all the E9th changes that are on strings 4-8 duplicated on strings 8-12.
(My string-12 B lowers to A on the A-pedal, instead of C#).

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

NO

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Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Thanks fellers. No stranger here to the Universal tuning. I played a Sierra SCM 14SE back in the 90's for a few years. I don't believe it had that low E to F change. I'm getting reacquainted with the tuning and doing a ton of setup changes on another Sierra Crown. I needed to decide now while doing the changes. If you've ever done setup changes on a Crown series, you know what I mean. [Stop laughing Armon Exclamation

]

Anyhow, I put it on there. I can always detune it if it gets in the way. Better now than later.

The low pulls on the A and B pedals seem to affect the feel much more than that E raise. It's always a trade off between feel and versatility though, so I didn't want to add anything unnecessary.

I was able to put all the 8+7 stuff on there along with some of my own personal twists, and all the Franklin changes as well.

Pete, I have used the B to A changes on pedal 8 for years on my D10's, and duplicated it on this Universal. It works OK for me there particularly since I have the Boo-Wah/splat pedal over on #4.

I may have to make some changes for better feel and less travel in the future but for now, the major work is done and I can just concentrate on getting used to it once more.

If any of you guys can take the time to measure the playing height on your Sierra Crown Universal or single neck, I'd appreciate it. Looking for standard dimensions for a player of average size. This would save me some trial and error as you have to adjust the pedals every time you move the front legs. I could also use 2 or 3 Crown bellcranks if anyone has some laying around.

Thanks again, JO.

Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

I raise my lower E.
Not to "steel" the thread but do you raise the lower B. I found I had to remove it to speed up the change. I have a Fessenden 12U

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Jim, yes the low B to C# raise is on there. There is some added effort required with that, but it's expected what with trying to get it all on one tuning. I'll have to see how it goes, making adjustments with regard to pulls and feel as I go along.

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