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Author Topic:  The " Z " Lever
Michael Breid

 

From:
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2005 1:46 pm    
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I read an article by Bobbe Seymour talking about the " Z " lever. What is it? According to Bobbe everybody wants one. I sent him my copedent, but he said I do not have the infamous " Z " lever on my steel. Can anyone out there tell me what the heck this Z lever is? Thanks-

Michael in the Ozarks
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Jack Francis

 

From:
Queen Creek, Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2005 2:11 pm    
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If we told ya.........well, you know the rest!
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Al Udeen

 

From:
maple grove mn usa
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2005 4:15 pm    
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Will one of these open Zip Files? Iv'e got about 600 of them I cant open in folders.
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Bob Tuttle


From:
Republic, MO 65738
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2005 4:38 pm    
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Michael, the Seymour "Z" lever lowers the second string Eb to D, raises the 7th F# to G#, and lowers the 9th D to C#. It is used in conjunction with the lever which lowers the E's to Eb, so it should be on the opposite knee. Bobbe Seymour has some instruction videos which explains the use of these two "magic" knee levers. There is, indeed, a lot of stuff there. If I could only have two knee levers, that would be the two I would want.

[This message was edited by Bob Tuttle on 25 November 2005 at 04:42 PM.]

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Grant Johnson


From:
Nashville TN
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2005 5:02 pm    
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I have this lever on my Sho-Bud. I am just starting to scratch the surface of it, but you can get some real cool voicings with it.
I am considering getting the video from Bobbe.
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George Kimery

 

From:
Limestone, TN, USA
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2005 7:33 pm    
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I have all the changes of the Z lever, but not all on one lever. I have the 2nd string D# to D and the 9th string D to C# on RKR. I have the 7th string F# to G# on RKL. My E to Eb is on LKR. Will this setup work as a Z lever, or must EVERYTHING be on one lever? Would Bobbe's video do me any good with the set up that I have? Would it be worthwhile to change my 7th string F# to G# to the RKR? This would then make all three changes on one lever, a true Z lever.
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Roy Ayres


From:
Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2005 8:18 pm    
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I understand that in naming knee levers, after the English alphabet has been exhausted, we go to the Greek alphabet. Right, Bobbe?

------------------

Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
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John Bechtel


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2005 8:54 pm    
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It's my understanding that with the (Z)-Lever + the (E)-Lever plus all your other changes on the E9 tuning, if you f©©l around long enough you will find the “Lost~Chord” and won't even know it!

------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
Soon to be: New Burgundy D–10 Derby (w/6 & Cool
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence
web site
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John Daugherty


From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 26 Nov 2005 4:34 am    
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You are right, BJ. That is why they still call it the lost chord. While you are fooling around, looking for the lost chord, the kid down the street with 2 pedals and 1 knee lever is getting all the jobs.

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www.phelpscountychoppers.com/steelguitar


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Ray Minich

 

From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
Post  Posted 26 Nov 2005 8:12 am    
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John B., your response made me laugh so hard it hurt... especially the optics...

The "Z" lever is why they invented spare pedal steel guitars. Don't monkey with the main gig rig! Learn it on the spare. THEN try for the extra gas mileage.
(Just tryin' to help ya sell more steels Bobbe )

[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 26 November 2005 at 08:20 AM.]

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Brandon Housewright

 

From:
Statesboro, Georgia, USA
Post  Posted 26 Nov 2005 9:09 am    
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I had my Marrs rebuild Pro I set up with only 3+2...ABC pedals, lowering E's LKR and the Z lever RKL and I love it. Makes you think more which I believe makes you a better player. Never miss the F lever or those other levers...you can get those sounds with several different methods if you try. Plus, I'm a "less is more" kinda man anyway. Most can't live without lots of levers, but I'm one who can.
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Bobbe Seymour

 

From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 29 Nov 2005 9:29 am    
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Brandon, I agree totally. When I met Weldon Myrick, he was playing a 10 and 10 D-10. Now he's playing a 3-3 S-10, and playing more .
I'm playing a D-10 with 7 and 3 on most jobs in Nashville. And playing more than ever.
The "Z" lever replaces about four other knees so it makes you play a lot more with a lot less, I love this,
Bobbe
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Lee Baucum


From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
Post  Posted 29 Nov 2005 11:23 am    
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I think Bobbe must have had some help in developing the Z Lever.

Click Here

------------------
Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Mullen U-12, Evans FET-500, Fender Steel King

[This message was edited by Lee Baucum on 29 November 2005 at 11:25 AM.]

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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 29 Nov 2005 1:12 pm    
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Lee, Bwahahahaha! Never know what you'll find whilst searchin' the web!
I remember a Jimmy Durante sketch from my childhood. He played the "Lost Chord" on his piano, then lost it again, and proceeded to rip the piano to pieces! Very funny!
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Bob Snelgrove


From:
san jose, ca
Post  Posted 29 Nov 2005 3:47 pm    
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Anybody want to post some Z lever licks?


bob
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John Bechtel


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 29 Nov 2005 11:17 pm    
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That would be infringment against Bobbe!

------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
Coming Soon: New Burgundy D–10 Derby (w/6 & Cool,
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence.
Current Equipment
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Bobbe Seymour

 

From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 30 Nov 2005 2:38 pm    
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The great thing is that the "Z" lever isn't a "lick lever", it's a music lever. Just like your "E" lower isn't a lick lever, it's a music lever to help get chords you can't get in other ways.. The Franklin lever is a "Lick" lever,(primarily) as is the first string raise lever.
I feel that musically, the "Z" lever is a much more nesessary tool and equal to the "E" lower lever in importance.
Not a "lick" lever. Neal Flanz understands and knows it's not a "lick" lever!

Bobbe

[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 30 November 2005 at 02:39 PM.]

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Bobbe Seymour

 

From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 30 Nov 2005 2:40 pm    
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Lee Baucum, you are hilarious! (Susan Z. Lever huh?)
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Al Marcus


From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 30 Nov 2005 6:18 pm    
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It looks to me like you can get a lot more into E6 stuff with the Z lever. Eh?...al

------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/


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Darryl Hattenhauer


From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 30 Nov 2005 8:46 pm    
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Lee and Bobbe,

That's why the Z lever's chemistry is right.

------------------
"Elmore James kept playing the same licks over and over, but I get the feeling he meant it." Frank Zappa
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Charlie McDonald


From:
out of the blue
Post  Posted 1 Dec 2005 5:26 am    
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Interestingly, I've been working out (on paper) a compressed E9 with a slightly extended bass, influenced by Ed Packard's PST13, characterized by stacked thirds.
F#
D
G#
E
B
G#
E
C#
A
E

It appears I have a 'Z' tuning.
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David Doggett


From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
Post  Posted 1 Dec 2005 6:28 am    
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Charlie, you have created an E13 tuning that has the same intervals as C6 on the bottom 6 strings, and intervals like E9 on the top 6 strings (except you have a 7b instead of 7 on string 2). From low to high you have: 1 4 6 1 3 5 1 3 7b 2. The Z lever with the Es lowered gives: 1 2 3 6 6 1 3 6 3b 5. That can be considered a B6 tuning with roots on strings 5 and 10 and a minor 3rd on sting 2; or it is a G# minor tuning with roots on strings 3, 6 and 7. I suppose it could also be considered an E tuning with no roots: 5 6 7 3 3 5 7 3 7b 2. Then if you let off of the E lower lever you get the roots: 5 6 1 3 3 5 1 3 7b 2. In other words, the E lever toggles between the root and a major 7. That gives you an E6 on the bottom and an E9 on the top. There's a lot of stuff in all of the above copedents. But, with 10 strings, 3 or 4 pedals, and 4 or 5 levers, you will get a lot with virtually any copedent. You get a lot of the above with a universal, and you get two extra low strings. You pays yo money, and you takes what you gits.
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David Doggett


From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
Post  Posted 1 Dec 2005 6:35 am    
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Has anyone noticed that you number scales and chords from the bottom up, but we number the strings from the top down. Why is that? Also, your touchtone phone is numbered from the top down; but your calculator or computer number pad goes from the bottom up, like an adding machine. I think Democrats designed some of these things, and Republicans designed the others.
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David L. Donald


From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
Post  Posted 1 Dec 2005 7:10 am    
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QWERTY or DVORACK...
Pers Anthony or the rest of the world.

Sounds like a steel guitar discusion till time ends.

I believe I have had it on the Bud for sometime,
an Earnest Bovine influence in this case.
Interesting changes.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 01 December 2005 at 07:12 AM.]

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David Doggett


From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
Post  Posted 1 Dec 2005 8:00 am    
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And Peavey tone knobs are -15 to +15, but Fender's knobs are all 0 to 10, except on a modern Bassman, which has tone knobs like Peavey.

And on my car the wipers are on the little arm on the left side of the steering wheel, and the lights are on the dash buttons. But other cars have the lights on the little arm, and the wipers on dash buttons. I had a fender bender in my wife's car once because of that quirk. I was eyeballing the controls and some jerk pulled out of a parking place in front of me.
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