C6th: lowering A string(s)

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

This is a question for C6th players. Buddy Emmons famously lowered his 4th string A a half step on his inside LKR. How many of you have that change? Do you also lower your 8th string A on the same lever?
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Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

When I ordered my Zum, Mike Auldridge suggested that I drop 4 to Ab and 8 to G. Stuck with it ever since.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
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b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

They pull together.
In all honesty, I've not yet had occasion to wish for a high G or low Ab
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Luke Sullivan · From: El Paso de Robles, CA, USA

I play C6 a lot and have contemplated my chosen changes. But the A lowers, I have not explored. Judging by it's popularity, I must be missing something. I can't quite visualize the potential. If someone could mention it's possible uses; I do intend to give 'A to Ab' a go.
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b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

I don't have it, Luke, but now and then I feel the need. It's usually when there's a descending line on a minor chord. Also, it would be handy for an augmented chord now and then. I usually cover the need with a bar slant, but the lever would be nice.

I think that some people have a split with P7 to get a 9th chord.
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Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I use it often for the Augmented, to turn F into Fm, there are oodles of places where one wishes it'd drop. So I drop them.
When I asked Mike how it'd be useful, he just laughed and told me it's useful and has a lot of fun in it.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

I lower both.
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Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

I have it on LKR and only lower s.4, though I can see certain situations where lowering s.8 as well would be convenient. Trade-off.
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Christopher Woitach · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

On my Bb6 12 string tuning (Reece's last one), I have 3 G strings (same as A on C6), and my LKV lowers all 3. I use all three very regularly and can't imagine not having all 3
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Tony Smart · From: Harlow. Essex. England

Both on LV.

Jeff Harbour · From: Western Ohio, USA

I voted No since I don't have it at the present time. I did try lowering the 4th string a half step for a while, but took it off to get back the change I eliminated.

I may retry this lower in the future if I notice anything else I'm not using and can live without.

John Houstoulakis · From: Greece

How much offset(in cents) do you tune the knee lever?
I tune mine to -10 cents but -15 sounds good also..
I use it to get the #11 along with the B pedal,so,
the combination of B pedal and the A to Ab knee lever,
makes a D7/9#11 chord.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I tune Ab -4 and G straight up
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

In C6th meantone temperament, G# and Ab are two different notes separated by 30 cents. If you want the note to harmonize with E (-5 cents), you would use the G# (-15 cents). If you want it to harmonize with pedal 6 Eb (+12.5 cents) or F, you would use the Ab (+15 cents).

I can't make up my mind, but I bet there's a way to do that with a compensator.
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Thiel Hatt · From: Utah, USA

Somebody's always got to be different, and that's me. I lower the A string but mine is on RKR and it is the only C6th change on that lever. It operates on the E9th also and raises 4 and 8 a half step (E to F)

Ron Funk · From: Ballwin, Missouri

Bob

My review of BE's setups indicates he Lowered 3rd and 4th strings by levers moving to the Left, and Raised 3rd and 4th strings by levers moving to the Right

Lever moving Left = Lower string's pitch
Lever moving Right = Raise string's pitch

Left leg levers worked 4th string
4th string Lowered by LKL
4th string Raised by LKR

Right leg levers worked 3rd string
3rd string Lowered by RKL
3rd string Raised by RKR

All of my PP's are set up in the above fashion.

I only raise and lower the 3rd and 4th strings, not their corresponding Octave strings on strings 7 and 8.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

You are correct, Rob. I stated it wrong in my original post above. Don't know where I got that idea.
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John Swain · From: Winchester, Va

I raise 3+7 1/2 step, raise 4+8 1/2 step, lower 4+8 1/2 step, lower 3 1/2 step, lower 6 whole step on KLs. I also have reverse 6 pedal on p4 with str10 raising whole step. lowering As to Ab with p6 gives a Cmaj7 on 4th fret with 8 str as root, same pedals on 7th fret Cminorwith 9th str root. Ab with p5 open strings is D7b5( A Train chord).

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

I'm surprised at how many people have this change. I was under the impression that most D-10s are sold with just one knee lever - lower C to B - which is ganged onto an E9th lever. Apparently I was mistaken.
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Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

b0b, I think you're exactly correct about how most steels come as standard equipment. I think you've attracted an unrepresentative sample of C6 nuts by the nature of the question.

Susan Alcorn · From: Baltimore, MD, USA

I lower my 4th string a half step from A to Ab, and I lower my 9th string on a separate knee lever from A to G with a half stop at (of course) Ab. I think that having them on separate knee levers gives you so much more in the realm of possibilities, especially for modern chords.
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Steve Knight · From: NC

I have my C6 setup like BE's that you posted above, Bob. I use the Ab LKL with P6 to get some nice m7 voicings, and to change the A-C (strings 3 & 4) minor 3rd interval to a major 3rd. I probably use that latter change too often. It's a quick way to play some harmonized lines in 3rds like you would on strings 5 & 6 on the E9 neck with the A&B pedals. You don't get that E9 A&B pedal sound, but the ease of spelling out a melody in thirds on string 3 & 4 is there. I like the timbre of those strings, too.

Steve Knight · From: NC

One quick example of how I use that change, walking down from a one chord to a five chord in C, I'll hit string 2 & 3 for CE for a C major at the 12th fret, then hit strings 3 & 4 at the 14th fret (BD), slide back to the 12th fret for AC, then slide back to the 11th fret and hit the LVL to lower Ab B to become GB.

Christopher Woitach · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

Some of the many reasons that change is important to me:

In the very common progression min, min/ma7/min7/min6 (Funny Valentine, Michelle, etc), you lower the root 1/2 step on the 2nd chord with this change, making it possible all in the same fret

For Dom7#5, 4 frets up from open position, Ped5 and lower the A

For a min7 with the root on string 9, standard Ped6, lower the A

I need all of these
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