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Topic: Till I Can Gain Control Again |
David Wisson
From:
Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 17 Jun 2023 5:09 am |
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| Sounds great David. I am familiar with both singers versions. Perfect for pedal steel guitar. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 17 Jun 2023 5:23 am
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Extremely good, David!
Crowell's song is a masterpiece of simplicity and you get to the heart of it.
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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David Wisson
From:
Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
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Posted 17 Jun 2023 10:42 am
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Hi Larry thank you. The first semi pro band I was in did a lot of Gram Parsons. That's when I first heard Emmylou. Dave  |
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David Wisson
From:
Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
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Posted 17 Jun 2023 11:39 am
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| Hi Roger Thank you. I used to play song for the life in one of the bands I was in many years ago. Used to be just me and the bass players song. the rest of the band took a break. I see your a Day pedal player as well. John Davis sold me my first steel which was an 8 string Pearce that was the Day setup and I stuck with it. Dave |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 17 Jun 2023 12:01 pm
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Yes, David.
Eric Snowball was the first dealer to import steels in any quantity in the early-1970s. His shop was in Maidstone.
Gordon Huntley was his tech guy and Gordon played 'Day: as a result, the majority of guitars that Eric sold had that setup.
We're in good company, though: Tommy White does, so did Hughey, Weldon and others. I couldn't change now.
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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David Wisson
From:
Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
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Posted 17 Jun 2023 12:23 pm
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| Hi Roger yes John Davis was having lessons from Gordon. When he upgraded to a ZB I had his Pearce. John took me to Gordons house and I had a great evening listening and watching Gordon Play. Also brought my Emmons Loafer from Eric Snowball. I Couldn't change now either. But manged to get used to having the E & F knee levers on the right as I now play a Uni and love it. Just started getting in to C6th and finding I am starting to mix both tunings in to one. the Hush a bye mountain medley was one of my dabbles no backing track and even the bass is on Steel. Just looking forward to Retirement so I can play more. Daven |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 17 Jun 2023 12:38 pm
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Ah, okay: you know the history, then.
Back in '81, I played steel for the six month run of 'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' in the West End; I took a week's holiday and got Gordon to sub for me.
I have a 12-string D13th coming. It's a Williams and it's taking longer than I thought! It's sort-of Johnny Cox' tuning but I've adapted it a bit: 8 pedals and 6 KLs, it really is a genuinely integrated tuning. The main difference will be an extra string at #5 which, when thinking '9th', I may have to learn to skip over. I'll have everything that E9 has (including my beloved 9th string b7) but it'll be D9; and everything C6th offers, but D6th.
Johnny's idea is very clever. I suppose I shouldn't toy with it, but it's me that's going to play it.
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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David Wisson
From:
Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
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Posted 17 Jun 2023 1:41 pm
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Hi Roger Yes I have done the Whorehouse. Not in your league It was a local Dramatics company along time ago. Really enjoyed it. Had some guys from the USAF base at Chick sands in the cast. one had the lead roll. Really good. The other one did the narration on the opening song over a simple acoustic guitar rhythm. Then had to start singing. Missed his que every night. The band were taking bets when he would come in. He would never look at the band for a nod.
Hope the Williams turns up soon. I will have to take a look at Johnny's tunning. Yes losing the 9th string D took me some getting used to. I have it on a Lever. I have 8/6 my Bb lever is a forward moving lever. The guitar is one I made. I also find I play a wider grip on E9th. you get used to a fatter sound and the usual E9th tenth string B doesn't sound as low as it used to. Dave |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 19 Jun 2023 4:40 am
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I know it's sacrilege, but I think E9 (or some sort of 9th or 13th tuning) is more adaptable and versatile than C6. That's what drew me to look at D13th.
If I have an issue with E9, it's that it only goes as low as that 10th string B (or, in my case, an A with my RKR). And the key to its versatility is the 9th string D and the ability to lower it a half-step. I'd hate to have to be engaging a KL just to get the D.
JC's idea of pitching the tuning halfway between C and E is clever: C6th's customary fat bottom is still there.
Here's my chart for the 12-string. Note the left pedals are similar to my current Day E9 (as are the left KLs). Pedals 4-7 replicate the old C6th and are enabled with an extra string (a 6th tone) between the old 4th and 5th string (in D, that's a B string; it'd be a C# if it were still E9).
Sorry, but this is an old chart.
Since this one was saved, I've added a pedal to the left of P1 lowering the 6th to G and raising the 12th to (hence the 8 pedals).
LKV has changed, too: now now it raises 1 to F, 3 to F# and 6 to C.
RKL now lowers 5 to A# and 11 to a B.
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This is unquestionably an experiment to see me through retirement; I wouldn't dream of changing from the D10 if I were still out there. I stopped playing shows and touring when I had to go on dialysis. The tuning I've attached is very much open to change once I've played it for a while. I'm assured that Williams guitars are easy to switch pulls on (unlike my current D-10 LeGrande!) and you never know: this may end up the most loaded Extended E9 in history if that extra string proves too challenging.
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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David Wisson
From:
Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
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Posted 23 Jun 2023 8:31 am
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| Hi Roger Took me a while to get it with that 5 string in there. You get used to the pedal patterns. I think that would drive me mad. But saying that I thought the 9th string D was the end of the world but you get used to it. I built the Uni because I haven't played live since my Daughter was born. She is 32 now. Like you I wanted a future challenge for my retirement. I love having the extra low strings. I think I need another life time to squeeze out all of the wonderful licks that are hiding in there. Dave |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 24 Jun 2023 5:01 am
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David:
Right at this moment, I'm completely mystified as to why I got drawn into this D13th concept. I'm committed, however, and the guitar will eventually get here.
The truth is that I have more than enough to occupy me in my last years: two necks on my Emmons, neither of which I've come close to conquering (does anyone?)
I, too, love the idea of the low strings. If I were still playing for my living I wouldn't think of such a change. The desire to hear that bottom end, though, probably comes from too much time playing music alone and wanting a bigger, warmer sound. In the professional field, E9 is just fine as it is. Even guys who play 12-strings probably avoid the bottom end when in a band setting.
As for that extra string: that's why my mind is open to the new guitar maybe becoming an Ext E9. Or maybe not.....
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 24 Jun 2023 5:23 am
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Apologies, David: I just realised that this thread is on 'Steel on the Web' and the subject is your excellent
rendition of the Crowell song.
The way I'm rambling on, you'd think we were in 'Pedal Steel'. Sorry for the topic-drift, but with this final comment:
As disenchanted as I've become with tackling a new tuning at my age, I do believe that Johnny's notion could be the future of steel, at least as we conceive things today. It has everything both necks now offer.
Back to the scheduled programming!
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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