Franklin Pedal position

Fred Nolen · From: Mohawk, Tennessee, USA

Where do most of you who use the Franklin pedal position it - first or fourth pedal?

Thanks,

Ol' Fred

Rains SD10, Nashville 112.

Casey Lowmiller · From: Kansas

I think you'll get about an equal number of both.

Lots of folks use the 0 pedal, then again, lots of people use the 4th pedal.

I think it all depends on what you're comfortable with or how much switching around you want to do.

Personally, if I were ordering a new steel, I would probably go with the 0 pedal. If I were setting up a steel that didn't come with that already setup...I would be inclined to put it on the 4th pedal just to avoid switching everything around.

I really think its a matter of personal preference/comfort.

[This message was edited by Casey Lowmiller on 19 June 2006 at 06:34 PM.]

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

If your playing a D10 it's a good idea to do what I did and shift the whole C6th setup one step right(by adding a 9th pedal), and then dedicating that extra Franklin pedal to E9th only ie: not having any extra pulls on the C6th neck as well, otherwise it can get a tad on the stiff side.

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

I tried the 4th,
but moved it to the 0 position.

I would even consider making a companion pull for it,
and moving the left knees over on another steel.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 20 June 2006 at 08:41 AM.]

Jerry Heath · From: Harrah, Oklahoma, USA

Position "0" works for me, especially when I use it with the AB pedals.

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Jerry Heath
Sierra Sessions U-12
Nashville 400
Sessions 400
Profex II
Pod XT

Casey Lowmiller · From: Kansas

I'm surprised more people haven't responded. If you do a search for Franklin Pedal, you'll find quite a few people on either side of the "Franklin Pedal position" debate.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I've had it on the '0' Pedal, the 4th Pedal, on a knee lever and split on two knee levers. All work fine. I finally settled on the '0' Pedal.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

0 position..my previous Steel has it at #4..

I really prefer it at 0..

t

Gary Steele · From: Columbus, Ohio, USA

Mine is on my O pedal. I raised it way up so when i push it i dont hit the A pedal. It is up just enough to clear the A pedal. I love this like i have it.
Gary.

Fred Layman · From: Springfield, Missouri USA

Doesn't it make a difference whether one is playing with the Emmons or Day pedal setup? Shouldn't it be next to the A pedal for smoother, easier alternating from the A pedal to the Franklin pedal, that is, at the 0 position for the Emmons setup and at the 4 position for the Day setup?

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

It would probably depend on how the left knee levers are aligned in relation to pedal 1. If you put the Franklin pedal on position 0, you may not have enough adjustment in the knees to use them comfortably with the A pedal in positin 2 ...this would depend a lot on the type of guitar, and whether or not the pedal was incorporated with a custom build, or was an add-on to an existing setup. But at the end of the day use it the way it is most comfortable for you !

Bobby Boggs · From: Upstate SC.

Emmons set-up. 4th pedal position.I like Larry also have it split.I guess it doesn't matter where as long as you can use with all the standard knee's except the E's to F.

I guess if you're slow or unsure with your pedal foot. 0 would be best for the Emmons set-up.Because if you're going to use it like Paul.You need to be really fast at getting from the A pedal to the Frank pedal. I can't see moving the whole standard set-up down one.If you have to choose you are better off to split the pedal.Especially if you don't raise the 7th string a whole tone. But to each his own..bb

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

i'm no reference in the matter
i recently got the Franklin pedal in the 0 position on my new Zum
i found it awkward for me when using my left knee levers
so i moved it over to position 4 & i have found it more suitable

so for the tambien/timebein' i'm leavin' it there & jumpin from A to 4 & back

different strokes fer .......

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I'm quite sure Paul has it on #4 because he thinks it belongs there! If you don't put it there, you're on your own!

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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment

Daniel Vorp · From: Burlington, NC USA

I have good reason to lower the 3rds a half-tone in the pedal 0 position so I have the Franklin pedal in position 4.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I ordered a new guitar with the Franklin pedal installed in position "0". I just couoldn't get used to it there. I like to be able to just flop my foot over there and find the "A" pedal in 1st position. I wound up moving it to 4th position.

Jack Latimer · From: Ontario, Canada

Mine is in the "0" position. Can't really tell you if this is the best or not as it's totally up to the individual. I ordered Paul's cd on the use of this pedal and even he says there is no right or wrong place to postion this pedal. I think it's however you learn with it becomes the position you'll live with it.

Hook Moore · From: South Charleston,West Virginia

Pedal 4

Hook

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www.HookMoore.com

John McGann · From: Boston, Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.

split As on one knee and F# on another.

Bengt Erlandsen · From: Brekstad, NORWAY

I feel the E's-Eb is an essetial change to use together w the Franklin pedal so placing the pedal so you can use both at the same time would be a good solution.
Bengt Erlandsen

Bill Bosler · From: Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, USA

Bengt-
Am I missing something? I just picked up a Carter with a PF pedal in the number 4 slot. You said you lower the Es together with the PF pedal. That's no different than just raising the Es and leaving everything else alone. It's a diminished chord. Why go to all that trouble?
Bill

Bengt Erlandsen · From: Brekstad, NORWAY

Yes you are missing something. The voicing of the notes will be the same but what is more important is how you get there and how you go to the next voicing. If you use the E's-F to simulate the same voicing you can't raise that note another halftone as you would be able to do by releasing the E's - Eb lever and holding the Franklin pedal

Bengt

Bill Bosler · From: Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, USA

Bengt-
Not to belabor the point, but at the eighth fret with the PF pedal and Es lowered, on strings 4,5&6, I get a Bdim, release the Es and I get a Dm7 with no 5th. At the same fret with the A&B pedals and strings 4,5,6&7,I get a full Dm7. To me, the PF pedal seems like the hard way to do things.

Bengt Erlandsen · From: Brekstad, NORWAY

Different viewpoint at the 8fret.
Strings 8 6 5 E's-Eb & Fr-pedal = G7(no root)
same strings only Fr-pedal G7sus4
same strings only E's-Eb = G6.
When I have the E's lowered, many times I feel it appropriate to lower 5&6 a whole tone because that is the way the melody goes.
If I wanted the Dm I would probably use A+B at 8th fret and strings 7 6 5 as you say or I might keep strings 8 6 5 ringing and slide up 1 fret and apply E's to F and squeeze half Apedal (Or 2frets up and lower 6 string a halftone). I might even try strings 8 7 5 w 7 raised a whole tone(at 8 fret) Slide to 10th fret while releasing 7th string back to normal and at 10th fret squeeze the lever to get the b3rd of the Dm chord. It all depends on how one wants the musical line to sound. The road from chord "A" to chord "B" can be made lots of ways. That is the beauty of the steel guitar and also one of the reason Buddy Emmons, Paul Franklin, Lloyd Green, Jimmy Day and so on don't same the same when they lay voicings over the same set of chords.
Also there is the slight change bar position.
In order to get the Bdim E's-F to sound in tune you might have to be slightly offset in regards the fret while the E's-Eb+Fr-pedal will be in tune at the fret.
Try all knee-levers one at a time together w the Fr-pedal and listen to the different voicings. My bet is that the E's-Eb and 2&9-C# will win over all other knee-levers. That is why I choose to have the Fr-pedal so I can easily use either E's-Eb (LKR+Frpedal) or 2&9-C#(RKL+Fr-pedal)
Some voicings found w the Fr-pedal can easily be found other places but some changes moving from one chord to another might be the exact place where the Fr-pedal makes wonders.

Bengt Erlandsen

Gary Steele · From: Columbus, Ohio, USA

Fred, I would want it next to my A pedal on any setup.
Gary.

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