Do I want to learn C6?

Tommy Boswell · From: Virginia, USA

After a year+ learning PSG (on a S10 with E9 tuning), I'm wondering about getting a D10. Questions for you D10 players:

1. How hard is it to switch back and forth between E9 and C6 necks? Are they similar enough (strings, pedals, knees) so you don't get confused?

2. Reaching across that C6 neck to play E9 feels awkward to me, at least for the 5 minutes I spent at a D10 recently. Do you ever get used to playing one neck with arms extended, and the other neck with arms close in?

3. Am I crazy?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Randy Wade · From: Batesville, Arkansas, USA

No problem switching back and forth. They are different enough you won't get confused. Reaching across the C6 neck won't bother you at all once you get used to it. Two necks, twice the fun! Go for it!

Tim Davidson · From: Glasgow, UK

Hi There,

Similar to you I just upgraded from E9 but i got a universal - i would recommend it to anyone - much lighter to carry, less to adapt to - you have all the E9 moves in the same positions and the whole world of B6/C6 without losing anything and it's all within reach!

To me it's a no brainer. Have a serious think about it.

I got a Sierra U12 and it's wonderful

Good Luck!

Tim
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Jim Hollingsworth · From: Way out West

Like anything new there is a learning curve. But one you get used to the C6 it is an easy shift - sometimes in the same song! As much as I love E9 I have come to love C6 more! ANd about the universal ... it depends on how much you want to get into it. I agree with Paul Franklin that you can't get all the changes you'd want on a universal. But if you only want to dabble in jazz & swing it'd be okay. But I am whole hog in learning how to play as many styles & approaches as possible on C6 so I have a D-10 with 8 & 8 and will be going to 9 & 9 soon. The great things about C6 is that is easier to get "your own voice" on it since the melodic playing less dependent on pedals & more on bar movement. So what it boils down to is how serious are you about playing those sounds associated with the C neck? If you are realy into it - go D-10. IF you only want to go a little ways into it - go universal.

But that's my opinion.

Jim

Jim Hollingsworth · From: Way out West

Like anything new there is a learning curve. But one you get used to the C6 it is an easy shift - sometimes in the same song! As much as I love E9 I have come to love C6 more! ANd about the universal ... it depends on how much you want to get into it. I agree with Paul Franklin that you can't get all the changes you'd want on a universal. But if you only want to dabble in jazz & swing it'd be okay. But I am whole hog in learning how to play as many styles & approaches as possible on C6 so I have a D-10 with 8 & 8 and will be going to 9 & 9 soon. The great things about C6 is that is easier to get "your own voice" on it since the melodic playing less dependent on pedals & more on bar movement. So what it boils down to is how serious are you about playing those sounds associated with the C neck? If you are realy into it - go D-10. IF you only want to go a little ways into it - go universal.

But that's my opinion.

Jim

Bert Berthold · From: Peralta, New Mexico, USA

Tommy,you are probably not any crazier than any other steel player and yes the E9 and the 6th are two diff,animals.I am far from being even an adequate player with either tuning but I aggree as said go w/ a uni.I love my Williams U 12.With levers and pedals you can go back and forth from one tuning to the other.I am no where that proficient to do this.I had Bill Rudolph put a lock lever on the E lowers and I have more fun than people are allowed to have.My Sierra keyless also has a lock but it weighs several pounds more than my Williams keyless.A uni is handier, lighter and half the cost(give or take a dollar) to replace strings.I know some players like and others dislike a Uni.This is my 2c.

Ryan Barwin · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

I definitely recommend learning C6 (or B6). It's a lot of fun and you'll love it. As much as they're different, they're also very much related, and once you get the feel of the C6, most of what you learn on one neck will help with the other neck.

As for whether to get a U12 or a D10, there's two ways of looking at it, and both have advantages and disadvantages. D10 players use E9 and C6 as two separate tunings, like two different modes of playing. They can get C6 sounds on the E9, and E9 sounds on the C6, but they are two different tunings. The advantage is that you can have all the changes you want on each neck. Personally, I play a D10 and I don't think I could have all the changes I want on an E9/B6 U12.

Many U12 players see the universal tuning as just one big tuning, where E9 and B6 are not separate, and all the changes are accessible at any time. This is an obvious advantage. I often find that when I'm playing one neck on my D10, there's changes from the other neck I want to use but don't have. This isn't an issue on a U12. The other major advantages are a lot more low range on the E9, and a U12 weighs a lot less than a D10. The two big disadvantages, are losing the D string on E9 (which is very useful), and not being able to have all the changes you want.

Either way, you'll have lots of fun with it, and they're just two different approaches to getting the same sounds.
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David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

Tommy...I am assuming from your second comment that you are currently playing a single neck guitar. After playing a double neck for a short time, I believe you will find that having the rear neck to act as an armrest can be quite comfortable and playing the C6 neck to be similar in feel to playing a single 10...Two practical advantages to a D-10 (as opposed to a U-12) that I can see are that there are generally more D-10's for sale at any given time which would make acquiring one much simpler and by the same token, easier to resell should you decide to change brands or upgrade....BTW..Where in Va. are you located?

Tommy Auldridge · From: Maryland, USA

THE ANSWER IS YES

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

For what it's worth, I played E9th for 20 years before I decided to learn C6th. My decision to expand was based on the desire for knowledge, not on any bandstand need. If you don't live in Texas, you don't need C6th to get work on pedal steel. It's a lot of fun, though. Very Happy

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Tommy Boswell · From: Virginia, USA

Thanks for all the info and suggestions.

I just might head back up to Billy Cooper's and test drive some more D10s and a U12.

Henry Matthews · From: Texarkana, Ark USA

D-10's are much more impressive looking when looked at by someone who doesn't know what it is or maybe thinks it's a keyboard. Other than that,C6th is fun and some stuff is just made for C6th. I think it is a very needed addtion to the steel guitar when playing country music and would be worth your time to have.
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.

Ernest Cawby · From: Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

C6 is really eaiser to play than E9th, only one string is out of tune all accross the neck string 9, and some time not even that one, on the fret cord all strings are in tune, and the neck has the same notes as E9th, both has E chord on at leasat 4 strings, also a chord.
Get Jeff Newmans C6 workshop you will be playing C6 in a week.

ernie

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

of course you wanna learn C6 Tommy
you would'nt have asked otherwise
if you've had a good time w: E9,
you'll have a blast on C6 Winking

it's a great tuning & back to the roots

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

When I get bored with my playing on one neck, I just move on to the next one. Repeat at least once every 10 minutes. Winking

Seriously, I've always felt that each neck can really help you learn new ideas on the other one...a good way to keep things fresh.

2 necks= 1 HUGE tuning! Smile

Brett Lanier · From: Madison, TN

C6 is really really fun to play, and people love dancing to it. There are a lot of songs that I play with bands that I don't designate to one neck or the other. It depends on the feel of the tune and what kind of mood i'm in. Plus, I think it helps your voice leading over time. Having one tuning in E and one in C, it'll make you more daring/intuitive with playing things that you hear.

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