An E9 11 string? (with E on bottom)

Jon Voth · From: Virginia, USA

I started music a a teen in the 80s playing along with Maiden, Priest, Metallica etc. in my basement.

Decades later, I'm learning PSG. And for fun I plug in some distortion and try to emulate a lot of the ZZ Top, Billy Squire, Black Sabbath, whatever. Some of it goes surprisingly well.

I miss the low E string. Is there an 11 string PSG with low E? I know I might retune the whole thing but I would miss the top string.

Is there anyone who uses this, or is there a maker of an 11 string? I've looked but haven't found a lot.

Any rockers here that think of this? Thanks.

Benjamin Franz · From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

There are ZB guitars that have eleven strings, some just on the E neck some on both necks. I think it’s standard to have an eleven string E neck with a low E a la Tom Brumley. I have a low E on my ZB D11.

Eric Dahlhoff · From: Point Arena, California

I am hooked on having the low E on my ZB-11, also the low G# like this...

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Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

I met a steel player named Big Jim Baron from California and he played a doubleneck 11 string built by Fessenden. This was several years ago. He may build you one.
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Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

Easiest solution would be to find a much more common Ext E9 12 string.

Bill Flores · From: Ventura, California, USA

I have a Williams S-11.......pickup selections are a bit limited though,

K Maul · From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL

I have a custom made S11 EXCEL. It was no problem at all. He makes his own pickups. Not too many pre-owned ones out there I would think. More ZBs than any other.
You could consider the “semi universal” 10 string, low note being G# with no D string and then have a pedal or lever lowering that down to E. I did that with some success on a GFI that I had.
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Chris Brooks · From: Providence, Rhode Island

I'm with Jon. Get a 12 string.

Chris

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

To be clear, I am totally all for an 11 string if that is specifically what you want. But 12 string E9 is a fairly standard config that you will have a much easier time finding.

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

You could also get those intervals on the low strings by having your C pedal drop the low B string to an A.
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Dylan Schorer · From: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Eric Heywood, who plays with The Pretenders and Ray Lamontagne, plays a recently-built 11-string Williams. It's a standard E9 with a low E added. Not sure what the customization charge is but, but Williams will build an 11-string using their keyless head.

I play a 12-string Williams with extended E9 with a low E and G#. I like the low strings, but barely miss them when I move back to 10-string.

Sonny Jenkins · From: Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx

I'm starting a rebuild on an old 11 string BMI that belonged to Tom Brumley. It will have 5 and 5,,,He gave it to me back in the 80s,,I sold it and recently got it back as pretty much a basket case,,,it will hopefully be as new when finished.

Hugo Knef · From: Vallejo , California

I put a .48 on 10 for low E. Moved B to 9 with a lever raise to D. Vertical lever for F# to G#. Don’t know if I am missing something but it works for me. Easy to chug along on rock and blues and stuff. Easy to try. I dig it.
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Jon Voth · From: Virginia, USA

Thanks all for replies!

I'm just farting around, don't see myself being in/using PSG in an 80's glam metal cover band though that would be sweet.

But now I know it's possible! And it's a lot of fun doing that. An 11 string with extra E would be the way to go.

BTW Go Nats-I play tuba for the Army & my quintet could perform if they make it to game 5!

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

I'm all in favor of the 11 string thing. I wish I'd had one when I was doing gigs with a 4 piece band... I would've been able to comp rhythm way better if I'd had that low E string.
If I ever get another steel, that's what it'll be.

John Goux · From: California, USA

Another easy way to accomplish this is to buy a 12 string Uni and take off the low B string. It will give you an 11 string coped similar to Eric, above.

I play both, standard 10 string, and Ext E9 12 string. I love the low E and G# strings, but sometimes 12 strings across can be visually and mentally challenging. I do sometimes fantasize about a simpler setup that still has those low notes. 11 could be fun.
John

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Going to 12 strings is a big step just to play power chords. Bob Hoffner's suggestion is much simpler. Gives you great power chords with A+B down and lots of other interesting stuff in the low string grips. I have this on all my steels. You lose the raise on string 10 from B-C#, but you can put that on a different pedal or lever (I have it on my LKV).

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

It is all about making choices…
http://www.gunlaug.no/tos/var/s10tt-10.html
I have had those low strings on my main S10s (Extended E (- not E9)) since back in -88, and miss them every time I play one of my regular E9 tuned steels.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Bob Carlucci wrote:

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Bob, I'm thinking about doing something similar to my old S10...
Only difference is I think I'd keep string 9 D, and lose string 7 F#, and get that note back by lowering 6.

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

I play a 12-string universal. I don't use the 12th string much, so mostly I ignore it.
And then today I found a use for it in a particular song, so I'm still glad it's there.
So Jon, by all means get an 11-string if one comes along, but you'll have more choice of 12s.
When was the last time a wildcard won the World Series?

Skip, while you're at it you could get rid of 9 too (and raise B to D). Then from top down you'd have
F# D# G# E B G# E B G# E, which might be nice.
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Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Ian, I considered that. I've been able to mess around with an 11 stringer a bit, and one of the things I really liked was being able to have a pronounced pick attack between the B raise to C#, and the 9th string D. To me, that was more important than having the F#, or the low A.
Whatever... having that low E string is the bomb.

Jon Voth · From: Virginia, USA

Thanks Ian,

Being new, I'd need it to be standard E9 tuning (but with the low E added). A universal 12 has a different tuning? Maybe it could be changed to act like that-I'm not experienced enough to know that at the moment. But it's a good plan if it's easier to acquire a 12 string.

Regarding baseball, as of now it looks like it will go to game 5. Just learned Army Brass Quintet will perform Anthem both Sat and Sun. But I actually have a PSG gig tomorrow night so I'll have to get a sub, but excited for Sunday!

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

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