UNI 12 Knee Levers

Tony Kotula · From: Detroit, Michigan, USA

I was thinking about changing my "D" that lowers 2,4,8 strings from my LKR to LKL. (I'm a lefty)
I feel this might be more comfortable for me and allow me better access to my pedals in B6th mode.
Any of you players use your "D" on your outside knee?
Or do you think this will hinder the E9th playing?
Being left handed does not allow me to try other setups. So is it a matter of preference?
I am a little concerned about the travel distance of this pedal on the outside leg. My LKL when in use now is really close to my left rear leg. I have no problem with it. I have wide knees and needed the extra room, so I had GFI make the 2 left knees 6" apart. Thanks for reading!
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left handed Excel Dl0, left handed GFI UNI 12 Ultra, 2 n.ville 400's, DD3,Lexcicon MPX100...

Ryan Barwin · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

No reason the D lever can't be on LKL...it's just personal preference. And it's not uncommon for that lever to be on RKR (the equivalent for right-handed players).
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Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix0912/7979_LH_GFI_UNI_12_1_3.jpg

I think this is your guitar. A negative image of a typical right handed pedal steel. You are using the floor pedals with your right foot and the volume pedal with your left foot. Putting your E lower on LKL is the equivalent of RKR on a righty as Ryan says.

Jeff Newman, possibly the best known modern Uni 12 player around here, set up his guitars that way.

I can see where that would afford you more leg room using the leftmost pedals. Is that right? This is making me dizzy Confused

Some players have less trouble keeping a constant volume, while engaging levers with the volume pedal foot, in a particular direction.

Wherever the change is the most comfortable and lets you control the volume the smoothest is where you should put it.

Keep in mind if you've been playing your current configuration for any length of time, your brain is gonna lead you to the old lever direction, so a learning period is probably going to be necessary.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

For what it's worth, here is my tuning. Note that the 2nd string is tuned to C# and raised, rather than the other way around, the wrist lever, the changes on the bass strings, (including dropping the low B string to A on pedal 1,) and the duplication of the zero pedal and the second RKL. I use them both at different times.

With the exception of the zero pedal, I came up with this before I started playing classical music. I have found that this configuration is very conducive to playing this type of music. Despite the complexity of some of the things I'm attempting to play, everything just falls right into place.

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Tony Kotula · From: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Ryan, like Jerry also mentioned...a little adjustment to the switch will be necessary. I've been playing for many years w/ my LKR as my 4 & 8 lower.
On my new uni, either it's me or a the steel, but I'm finding that LKR drop a little stiff. And as Jerry mentioned about Jeff Newmans RKR. I saw that video and thought well that I am so used to it the way I have been using it that I'll just order it the way that I am used to. Now that I had the guitar for 4 months I am starting to bend my thinking to change this around. I really like this tuning. And am weening away slowly from my d10.Probably too slow! lol..I can hear Jeff saying..."put that dbl.neck away in a closet or bury it in the backyard!"...
The only way for me to try anything is to buy it!
I've been wanting to try the 12 string for long time.
It was worth it for me. But finding it a little differnt animal to deal with.

My LKL now drops my 2 and raises my 9. And is a very comfortable position in regards to it being on my volume pedal foot. What concerns me is the travel distance if I make the switch. The LKL is close to the edge now. My 2,4,8 lower with LKR seems to need a bit more travel.And switching concerns me for that reason to.
Mike, thank you for sharing your copedant! I would love to try that.I've read some threads on some players tuning their 2nd string C#.
Any reording of you playing your uni available?

Thank you all for your input. I guess now it's just a matter trying it!
Jerry, yes that was my uni in that pic. Here's the backside... don't get too dizzy~! lol...

Thanks again to all of you for sharing!!
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left handed Excel Dl0, left handed GFI UNI 12 Ultra, 2 n.ville 400's, DD3,Lexcicon MPX100...

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Tony, I'm on the Universal the second time around for a few months. I'm still playing D10's as well. Unlike the first time playing uni for 5 or 6 years, I chose to keep the D10 this time. Probably going to tune the back neck to B6 for visual continuity. What's a half step?

I was always sorry I heeded Jeff's advice to hide or sell the D10 particularly since it was a P/P that I sold for a song. I wouldn't lose the D10 if I were you until you are 100% sure that you will never ever go back to it. Being a lefty, they are shore 'nuff hard to find as well.

I find the 2, 4 and 8 pull stiff as well along with needing way more travel than just lowering 4 and 8. I elected to remove the 2nd string lower off that lever and use a half-stop on that string D/C# on the rkr lowering 2 and raising 9. Still a lot of travel required for those changes, but a tad more comfortable for me on the volume pedal foot. Either way, it's going to be more travel on one or the other lever. For me, the stiff pulls work better on levers moving to the inside.

Tuning it to C# gives you the chromatic feature, but I don't know how the feel/travel thing is different...if at all...raising it a whole step.

Good luck. Exclamation

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Tony Kotula · From: Detroit, Michigan, USA

MIKE, i was just listening to "Bourred" WOW that was excellant~!You adding the steel to c;assical just blew me away! Like you said, the quality of the musicians you play with are great! I will have to hear more!! Thank you for sharing that with me! And for all of you info and insight!
Jerry, I came real close to trading in my dbl0. Don E.Curtis said the samething about the lefty steels.
I don't think I could of done it. And if I had I am sure I would of gotten it back! Finding a l.h. pedal steel is a little tuff! I wish someday that the builders that will make a lefty will have one on display at the shows! Buying one without trying it out is one awful feeling. And looking at all those beautiful guitars at the show w/out being able to try any of them is even worse. I think that it would promote/encourage lefty's to want to play one!!
I think you're absolutely right on that pull thing w/2,3,8. I did not order the guitar the D# dbl lower because i did not like it on my D10. But now I wish I had! I am not crazy about that change on my D10 cuz that KL is a little staggered where it sits..and not real accesible for me. I have a tendency to over pull that change when I don't want to.
Obn my GFI I had 'em move the knees more rearward. And my LKL is dead comfy! Now that I think about it,
I think I might just do that. Remove it from my D lever. Probably better than switching the 2 K's altogether.
I'm thinking down the road on another steel. Probably an S10. What do you think about an S10 with 2 extra pedals added like the 5 & 6 of C6th or the B6th??
When I play my top neck..I sometimes use the faux 6th by lowering my E's. And then wish I had that 5 & 6 to go with it. Somebody somewhere has this setup. I just can't remember who!
You mentioned Jeff Newman... I was digging thru a ton of old pic's looking for something for another old bud...and I ran across this one of Jeff and his Thomas!
Now I am knee deep in old pics/memories. And still have'nt found what I was looking for! lol...
Jeff was my first contact with the steel guitar world way back in the 70's. He chuckled when he saw my converted Maverick. He said," Tony, you might have to start your own band!".
You also mentioned that your back on the Uni again?
Were you away from it for very long? Thanks to all for your help. Sorry about the long post! "Retired"

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left handed Excel Dl0, left handed GFI UNI 12 Ultra, 2 n.ville 400's, DD3,Lexcicon MPX100...

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I think an E9 S10 with 5 pedals is a great idea. You can play a lot of 6th stuff on that setup. The only drawback for me would be the 2 big bottom strings since I'm really used to them.

As you say, there's a lot to be had on the S10 with just lowering the E's.

I'm as fickle as everybody else. I played Universal 12's and 14's for about 6 or 7 years. I ended up with a couple D10's again, so I sold the Unis and went strictly with D10 until this spring when I found another Sierra 14. It's really the same as the 12 with just an extra string on top and bottom.

I've got ideas about changing things around, but as of now it's pretty much standard stuff.

I don't have much adjustment switching back and forth due to the # of strings, I do have some distraction when playing the C tuned D10 rear neck v. the Universal B. For this reason, I'm thinking I'll re-tune the rear C to B.

Tony Kotula · From: Detroit, Michigan, USA

I CAN SEE THE BENEFIT OF TUNING THE LOWER NECK TO B6th. I THINK IT MAKE THE TRANSITION A LOT MORE SMOOTHER. THE S10 W/5 PEDALS IS STARTING TO SOUND BETTER TO ME TOO. MY PROB IS THOSE LOWER STRINGS. I SEEM TO WANT TO GRAB'EM SOMETIMES. I DO NOT PLAY A LOT OF 6th. I DO LOVE THE SOUND AND USE THE CHORDS AND A FEW LICKS IS ALL. JEFF NEWMAN ONCE SAID THAT IF YOU DON'T PLAY A TON OF 6th THEN THE UNIVERSAL 12 COULD BE THE WAY TO GO. AND THAT STUCK IN MY HEAD FOR 30YRS.
THE UNI 12 OPENS UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR E9th. I AM NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP. BUT IT'S GIVEN ME SOME IDEAS FOR ANOTHER GUITAR. AND BEING LEFT HANDED, I WOULD HAVE TO BUY IT TO TRY IT!!
MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU FOR MOVING TO THE 14 STRING TOO!
YIKES! WHAT A HANDFUL!!
EXCEL HAD ONE ON DISPLAY IN O6

. IT WAS WHITE. HAD 2 HUMBUCKS ON IT. I THINK I HAVE A PIC OR 2 SOMEWHERE. MY JAW DROPPED WHEN I SAW THAT ONE. IT ALSO HAD THAT LOCKING LEVER FOR THE B6th.
THANKS AGAIN JERRY.I MAY CHANGE MY 2 LOWER TO C# TO MY LKL FIRST TO SEE WHAT THAT PULL IS LIKE AFTER THAT.
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left handed Excel Dl0, left handed GFI UNI 12 Ultra, 2 n.ville 400's, DD3,Lexcicon MPX100...

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