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Topic: First Pedal Steel: Emmons blackrock. Need help. |
Riley Cocklin
From:
Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted 8 Sep 2022 11:53 pm |
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So about two weeks ago I took the plunge and bought my first pedal
Steel. I’ve always wanted to learn how to play one. I love the sound.
I live in Auckland, New Zealand, so these don’t come up often. An Emmons Blackrock was for sale locally, so I grabbed it.
I’d like to get it professionally looked at and setup, but I don’t know anyone in NZ that can do that.
It’s an E9 3x2 model, but someone has purchased the additional 2 knee levers and installed them. Tho I think it was a DIY job, and I’m unsure if they’ve done it right.
The copedence doesn’t seem to match those I can find online.
I’d appreciate any help.
1. Is this a standard setup? And if so, what’s it called?
2. If I wanted to modify this to a standard copedence, where should I start reading / learning?
3. Long shot: Does anyone know anyone in New Zealand that has the skills to work on one of these?
Looking forward to becoming a part of this forum and knuckling down on learning how to play this thing.  |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 9 Sep 2022 12:35 am
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The RKR as printed on your chart is normal - 2 to D/C# and 9 to C#
The RKL lowering 6 to F# would normally also raise 1 to G
Good luck with sorting it out. By the way, skills can be acquired. My first PSG was a wreck and scared me to death, but eventually I built my own from scratch. I don't know anything about Emmons guitars specifically but you will find a wealth of knowledge and info on this forum.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Bobby Hearn
From:
Henrietta, Tx
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Rich Gibson
From:
Pittsburgh Pa.
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Posted 9 Sep 2022 6:10 am
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Hi Riley you have a great instrument and the pedal knee lever set up is fine.I wouldn’t mess with it at this point.Do read carefully the sticky just above your post on tuning an Emmons push-pull.It’s easy to get these out of wack if you don’t understand how they work.
If after playing it for a while and asking more questions you do need to make some minor adjustments read and download the Emmons wildernesses guide
http://www.melmusic.com/laceyj/guide.html
Pretty much all you need to know
Take your time and read carefully it’s not as complicated as it looks at first glance. |
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john buffington
From:
Owasso OK - USA
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Posted 9 Sep 2022 12:55 pm
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| I have a BR and tone wise they are killer it is a true "bolt on" for sure and 0 cabinet drop. They are great for a go to when C6th is not in the picture. |
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Riley Cocklin
From:
Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted 9 Sep 2022 1:21 pm
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Nice. Thanks for the responses.
It’s a black rock, but without the volume control on the top. It came with a Hilton volume pedal.
I’ll just keep learning it then, and leave the knee levels configured as they are for now.
I’ll read the tuning guide a few more times too.
Really appreciate the direction. |
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Riley Cocklin
From:
Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted 9 Sep 2022 1:25 pm
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P.S: this is a good example of what drew me to the pedal steel, and where I hope to take it.
https://brighteyes.bandcamp.com/track/double-joe
Written by Simon Joyner, performed by Conor Oberst / Bright eyes. Steel played by Mike Mogis. |
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Dave Magram
From:
San Jose, California, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2022 8:56 am
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Riley,
That Emmons student model was my first pedal steel, and it sounded great!
Regardless of what some people say, Emmons push-pulls are easy to understand and work on, and if they are set up properly and with the correct amount of slack on strings that are both raised and lowered, they are very stable and maintenance-free.
Since there may not be too many PSG techs where you live...
I'd highly recommend Clem Schmitz's bargain-priced booklet "Methodology And Practice In Pedal Steel Guitar" to any Emmons push-pull owner. Clem used to own a steel guitar store and repair shop in Minneapolis, then one in Nashville, where he worked on Emmons push-pulls owned by players such as Mike Johnson.
The 24-page booklet shows how to make basic adjustments to an Emmons push-pull or even take the entire guitar apart and put it back together!
In his booklet, Clem explains step by step (with photos) exactly how to disassemble, re-assemble, and adjust push-pull guitars with several clever little tricks that would take a very long time to figure out--including a simple solution to setting the correct amount of slack on the 4th string in 5 seconds or less! (Just that tip alone is worth the bargain price of Clem's booklet & DVD!)
He sells the booklet and a DVD combo package on eBay listed as "Pedal Steel Guitar 83 METHODOLOGY P/P Book & 2008 2 DVD's Package" for just $20!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274497649883?hash=item3fe955bcdb:g:BvkAAMXQMmJROe-R
Highly recommended!
If Clem's material is no longer on eBay, try contacting him at freedomsauce(at)comcast(dot)net (replace the "at" with "@", and "dot" with ".")
Emmons push-pull guitars are very reliable and stable and I almost never need Clem's booklet, but it's great to have for the rare time every 10 years or so when some little Allen screw loosens up somewhere, or a string pitch change isn't happening the way it should and you have to leave for a gig in the next 30 minutes.
Clem is a very helpful guy; I've heard that if you are really stuck, he will guide you through the fix via Skype for a very nominal fee.
- Dave |
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Brendan Mitchell
From:
Melbourne Australia
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Posted 13 Sep 2022 12:51 am
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| I know there are a few steel players in NZ but Paddy Long in Christchurch is the only one I can think of at the moment . I’m sure Paddy could put you in touch with someone closer to you . |
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Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
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