Difficulty "rocking" A and B pedals

Michael Hillman · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

I've made a couple of attempts at pedal steel, having played bass, guitar and Dobro for most of my life. At the age of 9 I contracted polio in 1953. Just 3 years before the vaccine was released. Although I can't run, wear a size 9 shoe on the left, and an 11 on the right, and the left leg is an inch shorter, and have a fairly bad limp, I've lived long enough to learn that there are many worse things in life. But I recently realized I can't "rock" the A and B pedals, and never will, at least not in the conventional manner. I'm curious if anyone has dealt with this problem with any degree of success. I might be better off spending my time on instruments that I am more comfortable with, but I do love what limited sound I get from my steels. I'd welcome any ideas and discussion from Forum members!
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1996’Epiphone Sheraton, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble.

Jerry H. Moore · From: Newnan, GA, USA

What about knee levers? Can you have someone change your setup and maybe use your foot for the A or B pedal and use to knee to "rock" instead? Or vice versa?

Jim Eaton · From: Santa Susana, Ca

I remember seeing a guy who had the pedals moved all the way to the right end of the guitar, his good foot, and placed his volume pedal on the left, his bad foot. He was able to control the volume pedal just fine with his bad foot and could use his floor pedals with his good foot. If your starting from scratch with playing steel, it would not matter if you did something similar as it's all new at that point. IMHO
JE:-)>

Michael Hillman · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

Thanks for the quick response, guys. Both of your ideas have great merit. I'm thinking that of the two choices, I might be more comfortable with the thoughts of moving my pedals to the right end, and they would sort of read from right to left, ABC, etc, on down the line-- as I know I could control the volume pedal with my left foot. Knee levers don't seem to be a problem. Give the different preferences in the steel guitar community, I'd put some thought into it, I still think for my purposes I'll keep my U12s, at least one of them and continue to work on this approach...
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1996’Epiphone Sheraton, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble.

Ben Rubright · From: Punta Gorda, Florida, USA

Michael:

Gene Fields of GFI Guitars has done a lot of special builds. I am sure he could help you with alternatives.

Michael Hillman · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

Thanks, Ben, I appreciate knowing of that possibility...Michael
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1996’Epiphone Sheraton, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble.

David Doggett · Posted 22 May 2007 7:30 pm

One idea might be to forget about E9 and become a specialist on C6. On a uni you could have a lock for the B6 mode. Or do what Reece Anderson and some other uni players do - have your uni setup so that the B6 mode is the normal unlevered mode, and you hit a lever to raise strings 4, 8 and 11 to get the E9 mode.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Many players using the Day pedal arrangement feel that it is more comfortable on the ankle than the Emmons set-up.

Michael Hillman · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

Thanks, guys, I appreciate all of your replies. David, I was reading your posts about the merits of Universal 12, that has helped me to understand a lot more about it, I hadn't considered that it could be set up as B6 and changed to E9 mode. And Danny, you are correct, I saw Thumbs play with Roger Miller many years ago, and it was nothing short of amazing. All of these responses are most helpful to me, Michael
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1996’Epiphone Sheraton, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Michael, One of the best steel players I ever knew or worked with used his volume pedal with his left foot. His name was "Bookie" Modin and I knew him in Southern California in the sixties & very early seventies. Bookie played about as good as you could get. He had no disability but played that way from being in the Navy in a small office. He told me that he had his steel setup next to a wall to the right of his desk and he'd just turn right and practice on his steel and use the floor pedals with his right foot so that became his "standard" way of playing. He later played with Dave Dudley and some other major artists. Sadly, he died from some sort of blood disease at a young age. Some others on here have probably heard of him. He was quite a player and guy............JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Michael Hillman · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

Thanks, Jerry, do you recall how he had set up his pedals? It would seem to me that starting with the A pedal on the far right in the reverse of the usual set up would be workable for me. I appreciate you taking the time to post on this question.
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1996’Epiphone Sheraton, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble.

Karlis Abolins · From: (near) Seattle, WA, USA

Hi Michael,
I have a similar problem except my legs are the reverse of yours. I can work the pedals just fine with my left foot. I have problems with the volume pedal. My right ankle was fused and I can't bring it up above 90 degrees. I have used several modifications that work such as putting a spring inside the pedal to help the return. I also raise the back of the volume pedal to help with the return and the angle.
I think for you, the best thing to do is to move the pedals to the right side of the guitar. If you have a S10 3 and 4, it is probably not practical. I would suggest talking to gene Fields about getting a guitar made to order this way. An alternative route is buying an older model U12 and restringing for extended S12 and using the pedals on the right side. In this case you can remove the pedals you are not using or you can experiment with adding some of the extra pedals (like the Franklin pedal).
I think you can accomplish a lot with a few minor adjustments.

Keep on picking.

Karlis

Michael Hillman · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

Thanks, Karlis, the more response I see from Forum members, the more I'm convinced that I should try reversing the pedals. I currently have a couple of U12s, both are nice guitars but I need to decide which one I'll keep and focus on. The Zum has 7 pedals, and the MSA has 8. I watched a demo of the Franklin pedal last weekend, it adds some nice possibilities. I'm wondering if a Day or Emmons set up with the pedals reversed might work out better. Thanks for your post Michael
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1996’Epiphone Sheraton, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble.

Jim Eaton · From: Santa Susana, Ca

I believe the guy I saw had just moved ABC to the right end of the guitar, had both E KL on the right too, so he had Emmons pedals and KL, just swapped to the other end of the guitar.
JE

Michael Hillman · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

Thanks, Jim, I can see that in time I should be able to adapt to those changes, I don't have enough time in on steel yet to have learned much in the way of pedals or knee levers. Appreciate your attention to this post, Michael
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1996’Epiphone Sheraton, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble.

Michael Hillman · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

Thanks for all of the response on this one, everyone, I appreciate all of your comments and ideas! Michael Hillman
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1996’Epiphone Sheraton, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Michael, as I think back, I believe Bookie M. might have had his ABC pedals at the right end of his guitar next to the changer and I watched him a lot in the old days and I seem to remember his feet in a little bit so he probably had the same as a "reversed" day set up. I don't have any idea on how his C6th pedals were set up. I do remember though that he never had both feet under the guitar. The left foot on the volume pedal seemed to be backed out and almost even with the back legs and turned to the left. It looked strange compared to other players but he played his butt off!.......JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Michael Hillman · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

Thanks again Jerry, all of these posts have given me some great ideas....I just need to decide what is most workable and stick with that
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1996’Epiphone Sheraton, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble.

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