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Post new topic My First E9th
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Author Topic:  My First E9th
Bobby Lee


From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
Post  Posted 12 Jun 2005 5:21 pm    
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In another topic I described my first pedal steel:
quote:
It was a piece of junk that stood on two legs that screwed into the case. There were 4 pedals mounted in the case. They were center mounted on an axle so that the heel and toe gave different changes. They connected to the string puller (I hesitate to call it a changer) with cables.

The thing was horribly unstable. It wouldn't stay in tune, and the screws that tugged on the strings literally sawed them until they broke. I trashed the guitar rather than trying to sell it, because nobody should have to try to play an instrument like that.

Today I was rummaging through my old notebooks and I came across my copedent chart. It's interesting that I still have all of the changes that I put on that contraption back in '71 or '72.

Someone must have showed me the basic E9th (Tom Bradshaw in GP, maybe?) because my earlier lap steel tuning was very different.

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6)
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Jim Phelps

 

From:
Mexico City, Mexico
Post  Posted 12 Jun 2005 5:22 pm    
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Got any pics?
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Bobby Lee


From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
Post  Posted 12 Jun 2005 5:51 pm    
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No, I've never been much of a photographer. I have no pictures of my life at all from 1967 until my daughter was born in 1974.
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Bobby Lee


From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
Post  Posted 12 Jun 2005 8:06 pm    
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Here's a chart that I just made to show it a little better:

Apparently I didn't have the third pedal hooked up. I was probably using it for spare parts.
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Howard Tate


From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 15 Jun 2005 11:16 am    
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Heel changes? Sorry,I'm speechless. It does sound like a workable idea if implemented correctly but you'd have to be really coordinated. I'm not. Edited after I read the original description a little better.
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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Sierra Session D-10
http://www.Charmedmusic.com

[This message was edited by Howard Tate on 15 June 2005 at 12:17 PM.]

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John Poston

 

From:
Albuquerque, NM, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2005 7:19 am    
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It must have been a crazy intrument.

The thing that stands out the most to me is that 3rd string raise all by it's lonesome on P4 toe. It works well with the P4 heel change, but then the 8th string raise is way over on P2 both heel and toe!

All of the changes are super useful, of course. Especially if you're two-footin' it. For some reason, an old phrase from junior high school dance class just came into my mind, "heel and toe, heel and toe, slide slide slide"
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Bobby Lee


From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2005 7:51 am    
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My right foot stayed on pedal 4, and my left foot alternated between pedals 1 and 2 (mostly pedal 2).

I don't think it was practical to push two pedals with one foot. The pedals were large, about the size of a volume pedal, and there were big spaces between them. The little drawing is fairly accurate regarding their dimensions and relationship to each other.

Anyone know who made that instrument? (Someone told me once and I forgot.)

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6)
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Bobby Lee


From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2005 7:55 am    
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By the way, John, you couldn't use the heel and toe positions of a pedal at the same time. They pivoted on a axle in the middle. Push your toe for one change, your heel for another.
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Frank Parish

 

From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2005 2:17 pm    
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Who made this guitar or was it a homebuilt by you? I never heard of "heel pedals". About how much did it weigh? Did you gig with it? Was it a wood body or formica, what color????
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2005 2:28 pm    
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I don't think it was "home made", but there can't have been too many like it.

This was long before I could play well enough to do play in public. I'm sure it wouldn't have worked well on stage. I had to prop it against the edge of an open door to keep the body from moving when I pressed a pedal.

I don't remember the finish or color. It was not pretty by any standard. I think maybe it was painted wood.
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